I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6349 
To establish within the Department of Homeland Security an Office of Emer-
gency Communications that will carry out the department’s responsibil-
ities related to emergency communications. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 5, 2006 
Mr. BARTON of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee 
on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish within the Department of Homeland Security 
an Office of Emergency Communications that will carry 
out the department’s responsibilities related to emergency 
communications. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006’’. 
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(b) IN GENERAL.—The Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new title: 
‘‘TITLE XVIII—EMERGENCY 
COMMUNICATIONS 
‘‘SEC. 1801. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the De-
partment an Office of Emergency Communications. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The head of the office shall be the 
Director for Emergency Communications. The Director 
shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity 
and Communications. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director for Emer-
gency Communications shall— 
‘‘(1) assist the Secretary in developing and im-
plementing 
the 
program 
described 
in 
section 
7303(a)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 
Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(a)(1)), except 
as provided in section 314; 
‘‘(2) administer the Department’s responsibil-
ities and authorities relating to the SAFECOM Pro-
gram, excluding elements related to research, devel-
opment, testing, and evaluation and standards; 
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‘‘(3) administer the Department’s responsibil-
ities and authorities relating to the Integrated Wire-
less Network program; 
‘‘(4) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to 
support and promote the ability of emergency re-
sponse providers and relevant government officials to 
continue to communicate in the event of natural dis-
asters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disas-
ters; 
‘‘(5) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach and 
foster the development of interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities by State, regional, local, 
and tribal governments and public safety agencies, 
and by regional consortia thereof; 
‘‘(6) provide technical assistance to State, re-
gional, local, and tribal government officials with re-
spect to use of interoperable emergency communica-
tions capabilities; 
‘‘(7) coordinate with the Regional Administra-
tors regarding the activities of Regional Emergency 
Communications 
Coordination 
Working 
Groups 
under section 1805; 
‘‘(8) promote the development of standard oper-
ating procedures and best practices with respect to 
use of interoperable emergency communications ca-
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pabilities for incident response, and facilitate the 
sharing of information on such best practices for 
achieving, maintaining, and enhancing interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities for such re-
sponse; 
‘‘(9) coordinate, in cooperation with the Na-
tional Communications System, the establishment of 
a national response capability with initial and ongo-
ing planning, implementation, and training for the 
deployment of communications equipment for rel-
evant State, local, and tribal governments and emer-
gency response providers in the event of a cata-
strophic loss of local and regional emergency com-
munications services; 
‘‘(10) assist the President, the National Secu-
rity Council, the Homeland Security Council, and 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et in ensuring the continued operation of the tele-
communications functions and responsibilities of the 
Federal Government, excluding spectrum manage-
ment; 
‘‘(11) establish, in coordination with the Direc-
tor of the Office for Interoperability and Compat-
ibility, requirements for interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities, which shall be non-
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proprietary where standards for such capabilities 
exist, for all public safety radio and data commu-
nications systems and equipment purchased using 
homeland security assistance administered by the 
Department, excluding any alert and warning device, 
technology, or system; 
‘‘(12) review, in consultation with the Assistant 
Secretary for Grants and Training, all interoperable 
emergency communications plans of Federal, State, 
local, and tribal governments, including Statewide 
and tactical interoperability plans, developed pursu-
ant to homeland security assistance administered by 
the Department, but excluding spectrum allocation 
and management related to such plans; 
‘‘(13) develop and update periodically, as appro-
priate, a National Emergency Communications Plan 
under section 1802; 
‘‘(14) perform such other duties of the Depart-
ment necessary to support and promote the ability 
of emergency response providers and relevant gov-
ernment officials to continue to communicate in the 
event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters; and 
‘‘(15) perform other duties of the Department 
necessary to achieve the goal of and maintain and 
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enhance interoperable emergency communications 
capabilities. 
‘‘(d) PERFORMANCE OF PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED 
FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary shall transfer to, and admin-
ister through, the Director for Emergency Communica-
tions the following programs and responsibilities: 
‘‘(1) The SAFECOM Program, excluding ele-
ments related to research, development, testing, and 
evaluation and standards. 
‘‘(2) The responsibilities of the Chief Informa-
tion Officer related to the implementation of the In-
tegrated Wireless Network. 
‘‘(3) The Interoperable Communications Tech-
nical Assistance Program. 
‘‘(e) COORDINATION.—The Director for Emergency 
Communications shall coordinate— 
‘‘(1) as appropriate, with the Director of the 
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility with re-
spect to the responsibilities described in section 314; 
and 
‘‘(2) with the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency with respect to the 
responsibilities described in this title. 
‘‘(f) SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES PLAN.— 
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‘‘(1) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the resources 
and staff necessary to carry out fully the responsibil-
ities under this title. 
‘‘(2) COMPTROLLER
GENERAL
REVIEW.—The 
Comptroller General shall review the validity of the 
report submitted by the Secretary under paragraph 
(1). Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
such report is submitted, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
findings of such review. 
‘‘SEC. 1802. NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 
PLAN. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director for Emergency Communications, and in co-
operation with the Department of National Communica-
tions System (as appropriate), shall, in cooperation with 
State, local, and tribal governments, Federal departments 
and agencies, emergency response providers, and the pri-
vate sector, develop not later than 180 days after the com-
pletion of the baseline assessment under section 1803, and 
periodically update, a National Emergency Communica-
tions Plan to provide recommendations regarding how the 
United States should— 
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‘‘(1) support and promote the ability of emer-
gency response providers and relevant government 
officials to continue to communicate in the event of 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; and 
‘‘(2) ensure, accelerate, and attain interoperable 
emergency communications nationwide. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Emergency Communica-
tions Preparedness Center under section 1806 shall co-
ordinate the development of the Federal aspects of the Na-
tional Emergency Communications Plan. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—The National Emergency Commu-
nications Plan shall— 
‘‘(1) include recommendations developed in con-
sultation with the Federal Communications Commis-
sion and the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology for a process for expediting national vol-
untary consensus standards for emergency commu-
nications equipment for the purchase and use by 
public safety agencies of interoperable emergency 
communications equipment and technologies; 
‘‘(2) identify the appropriate capabilities nec-
essary for emergency response providers and rel-
evant government officials to continue to commu-
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nicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of ter-
rorism, and other man-made disasters; 
‘‘(3) identify the appropriate interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities necessary for 
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments in the 
event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters; 
‘‘(4) recommend both short-term and long-term 
solutions for ensuring that emergency response pro-
viders and relevant government officials can continue 
to communicate in the event of natural disasters, 
acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
‘‘(5) recommend both short-term and long-term 
solutions for deploying interoperable emergency com-
munications systems for Federal, State, local, and 
tribal governments throughout the Nation, including 
through the provision of existing and emerging tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(6) identify how Federal departments and 
agencies that respond to natural disasters, acts of 
terrorism, and other man-made disasters can work 
effectively with State, local, and tribal governments, 
in all States, and with other entities; 
‘‘(7) identify obstacles to deploying interoper-
able emergency communications capabilities nation-
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wide and recommend short-term and long-term 
measures to overcome those obstacles, including rec-
ommendations for multijurisdictional coordination 
among Federal, State, local, and tribal governments; 
‘‘(8) recommend goals and timeframes for the 
deployment of emergency, command-level commu-
nications systems based on new and existing equip-
ment across the United States and develop a time-
table for the deployment of interoperable emergency 
communications systems nationwide; and 
‘‘(9) recommend appropriate measures that 
emergency response providers should employ to en-
sure the continued operation of relevant govern-
mental communications infrastructure in the event 
of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man- 
made disasters. 
‘‘SEC. 1803. ASSESSMENTS AND REPORTS. 
‘‘(a) BASELINE ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section and not less 
than every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, acting 
through the Director for Emergency Communications, 
shall conduct an assessment of Federal, State, local, and 
tribal governments that— 
‘‘(1) defines the range of capabilities needed by 
emergency response providers and relevant govern-
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ment officials to continue to communicate in the 
event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters; 
‘‘(2) defines the range of interoperable emer-
gency communications capabilities needed for spe-
cific events; 
‘‘(3) assesses the current available capabilities 
to meet such communications needs; 
‘‘(4) identifies the gap between such current ca-
pabilities and defined requirements; and 
‘‘(5) includes a national interoperable emer-
gency communications inventory to be completed by 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary 
of Commerce, and the Chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission that— 
‘‘(A) identifies for each Federal depart-
ment and agency— 
‘‘(i) the channels and frequencies 
used; 
‘‘(ii) the nomenclature used to refer to 
each channel or frequency used; and 
‘‘(iii) the types of communications 
systems and equipment used; and 
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‘‘(B) identifies the interoperable emergency 
communications systems in use by public safety 
agencies in the United States. 
‘‘(b) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The baseline assessment 
under this section may include a classified annex including 
information provided under subsection (a)(5)(A). 
‘‘(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—In conducting the baseline 
assessment under this section, the Secretary may incor-
porate findings from assessments conducted before, or on-
going on, the date of enactment of this title. 
‘‘(d) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this section and biennially 
thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Director for 
Emergency Communications, shall submit to Congress a 
report on the progress of the Department in achieving the 
goals of, and carrying out its responsibilities under, this 
title, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of the findings of the most 
recent baseline assessment conducted under sub-
section (a); 
‘‘(2) a determination of the degree to which 
interoperable emergency communications capabilities 
have been attained to date and the gaps that remain 
for interoperability to be achieved; 
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‘‘(3) an evaluation of the ability to continue to 
communicate and to provide and maintain interoper-
able emergency communications by emergency man-
agers, emergency response providers, and relevant 
government officials in the event of— 
‘‘(A) natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 
or other man-made disasters, including Inci-
dents of National Significance declared by the 
Secretary under the National Response Plan; 
and 
‘‘(B) a catastrophic loss of local and re-
gional communications services; 
‘‘(4) a list of best practices relating to the abil-
ity to continue to communicate and to provide and 
maintain interoperable emergency communications 
in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 
or other man-made disasters; and 
‘‘(5) an evaluation of the feasibility and desir-
ability of the Department developing, on its own or 
in conjunction with the Department of Defense, a 
mobile communications capability, modeled on the 
Army Signal Corps, that could be deployed to sup-
port emergency communications at the site of nat-
ural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made 
disasters. 
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‘‘SEC. 1804. COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY 
COMMUNICATIONS GRANT PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) COORDINATION OF GRANTS AND STANDARDS 
PROGRAMS.—The Secretary, acting through the Director 
for Emergency Communications, shall ensure that grant 
guidelines for the use of homeland security assistance ad-
ministered by the Department relating to interoperable 
emergency communications are coordinated and consistent 
with the goals and recommendations in the National 
Emergency Communications Plan under section 1802. 
‘‘(b) DENIAL OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Grants and 
Planning, and in consultation with the Director for 
Emergency Communications, may prohibit any 
State, local, or tribal government from using home-
land security assistance administered by the Depart-
ment to achieve, maintain, or enhance emergency 
communications capabilities, if— 
‘‘(A) such government has not complied 
with the requirement to submit a Statewide 
Interoperable Communications Plan as required 
by section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform 
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 
U.S.C. 194(f)); 
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‘‘(B) such government has proposed to up-
grade or purchase new equipment or systems 
that do not meet or exceed any applicable na-
tional voluntary consensus standards and has 
not provided a reasonable explanation of why 
such equipment or systems will serve the needs 
of the applicant better than equipment or sys-
tems that meet or exceed such standards; and 
‘‘(C) as of the date that is 3 years after 
the date of the completion of the initial Na-
tional Emergency Communications Plan under 
section 1802, national voluntary consensus 
standards for interoperable emergency commu-
nications capabilities have not been developed 
and promulgated. 
‘‘(2) STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Federal Communications Commission, 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
and other Federal departments and agencies with re-
sponsibility for standards, shall support the develop-
ment, promulgation, and updating as necessary of 
national voluntary consensus standards for inter-
operable emergency communications. 
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‘‘SEC. 1805. REGIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CO-
ORDINATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in each Re-
gional Office a Regional Emergency Communications Co-
ordination Working Group (in this section referred to as 
an ‘RECC Working Group’). Each RECC Working Group 
shall report to the relevant Regional Administrator and 
coordinate its activities with the relevant Regional Advi-
sory Council. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each RECC Working Group 
shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(1) 
NON-FEDERAL.—Organizations 
rep-
resenting the interests of the following: 
‘‘(A) State officials. 
‘‘(B) Local government officials, including 
sheriffs. 
‘‘(C) State police departments. 
‘‘(D) Local police departments. 
‘‘(E) Local fire departments. 
‘‘(F) Public safety answering points (9–1– 
1 services). 
‘‘(G) State emergency managers, homeland 
security directors, or representatives of State 
Administrative Agencies. 
‘‘(H) Local emergency managers or home-
land security directors. 
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‘‘(I) Other emergency response providers 
as appropriate. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL.—Representatives from the De-
partment, the Federal Communications Commission, 
and other Federal departments and agencies with re-
sponsibility for coordinating interoperable emergency 
communications with or providing emergency sup-
port services to State, local, and tribal governments. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—Each RECC Working Group 
shall coordinate its activities with the following: 
‘‘(1) Communications equipment manufacturers 
and vendors (including broadband data service pro-
viders). 
‘‘(2) Local exchange carriers. 
‘‘(3) Local broadcast media. 
‘‘(4) Wireless carriers. 
‘‘(5) Satellite communications services. 
‘‘(6) Cable operators. 
‘‘(7) Hospitals. 
‘‘(8) Public utility services. 
‘‘(9) Emergency evacuation transit services. 
‘‘(10) Ambulance services. 
‘‘(11) HAM and amateur radio operators. 
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‘‘(12) Representatives from other private sector 
entities and nongovernmental organizations as the 
Regional Administrator determines appropriate. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The duties of each RECC Working 
Group shall include— 
‘‘(1) assessing the survivability, sustainability, 
and interoperability of local emergency communica-
tions systems to meet the goals of the National 
Emergency Communications Plan; 
‘‘(2) reporting annually to the relevant Regional 
Administrator, the Director for Emergency Commu-
nications, the Chairman of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission, and the Assistant Secretary for 
Communications and Information of the Department 
of Commerce on the status of its region in building 
robust and sustainable interoperable voice and data 
emergency communications networks and, not later 
than 60 days after the completion of the initial Na-
tional Emergency Communications Plan under sec-
tion 1802, on the progress of the region in meeting 
the goals of such plan; 
‘‘(3) ensuring a process for the coordination of 
effective multijurisdictional, multi-agency emergency 
communications networks for use during natural dis-
asters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disas-
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ters through the expanded use of emergency man-
agement and public safety communications mutual 
aid agreements; and 
‘‘(4) coordinating the establishment of Federal, 
State, local, and tribal support services and net-
works designed to address the immediate and critical 
human needs in responding to natural disasters, acts 
of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
‘‘SEC. 1806. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PREPARED-
NESS CENTER. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) OPERATION.—The Secretary, the Chairman of 
the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary 
of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, the Attorney Gen-
eral of the United States, and the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies or their designees shall jointly 
operate the Center in accordance with the Memorandum 
of Understanding entitled, ‘Emergency Communications 
Preparedness Center (ECPC) Charter’. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) serve as the focal point for interagency ef-
forts and as a clearinghouse with respect to all rel-
evant intergovernmental information to support and 
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promote (including specifically by working to avoid 
duplication, hindrances, and counteractive efforts 
among the participating Federal departments and 
agencies)— 
‘‘(A) the ability of emergency response pro-
viders and relevant government officials to con-
tinue to communicate in the event of natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; and 
‘‘(B) interoperable emergency communica-
tions; 
‘‘(2) prepare and submit to Congress, on an an-
nual basis, a strategic assessment regarding the co-
ordination efforts of Federal departments and agen-
cies to advance— 
‘‘(A) the ability of emergency response pro-
viders and relevant government officials to con-
tinue to communicate in the event of natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; and 
‘‘(B) interoperable emergency communica-
tions; 
‘‘(3) consider, in preparing the strategic assess-
ment under paragraph (2), the goals stated in the 
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National Emergency Communications Plan under 
section 1802; and 
‘‘(4) perform such other functions as are pro-
vided in the Emergency Communications Prepared-
ness Center (ECPC) Charter described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
‘‘SEC. 1807. URBAN AND OTHER HIGH RISK AREA COMMU-
NICATIONS CAPABILITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Chairman of the Federal Communications Com-
mission and the Secretary of Defense, and with appro-
priate State, local, and tribal government officials, shall 
provide technical guidance, training, and other assistance, 
as appropriate, to support the rapid establishment of con-
sistent, secure, and effective interoperable emergency com-
munications capabilities in the event of an emergency in 
urban and other areas determined by the Secretary to be 
at consistently high levels of risk from natural disasters, 
acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM CAPABILITIES.—The interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities established under 
subsection (a) shall ensure the ability of all levels of gov-
ernment, emergency response providers, the private sector, 
and other organizations with emergency response capabili-
ties— 
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‘‘(1) to communicate with each other in the 
event of an emergency; 
‘‘(2) to have appropriate and timely access to 
the Information Sharing Environment described in 
section 1016 of the National Security Intelligence 
Reform Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 321); and 
‘‘(3) to be consistent with any applicable State 
or Urban Area homeland strategy or plan. 
‘‘SEC. 1808. DEFINITION. 
‘‘In this title, the term ‘interoperable’ has the mean-
ing given the term ‘interoperable communications’ under 
section 7303(g)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Ter-
rorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(g)(1)).’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘TITLE XVIII—EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 
‘‘Sec. 1801. Office for Emergency Communications. 
‘‘Sec. 1802. National Emergency Communications Plan. 
‘‘Sec. 1803. Assessments and reports. 
‘‘Sec. 1804. Coordination of Federal emergency communications grant pro-
grams. 
‘‘Sec. 1805. Regional emergency communications coordination. 
‘‘Sec. 1806. Emergency Communications Preparedness Center. 
‘‘Sec. 1807. Urban and other high risk area communications capabilities. 
‘‘Sec. 1808. Definition.’’. 
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SEC. 2. OFFICE FOR INTEROPERABILITY AND COMPAT-
IBILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 314. OFFICE FOR INTEROPERABILITY AND COMPAT-
IBILITY. 
‘‘(a) CLARIFICATION
OF RESPONSIBILITIES.—The 
Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compat-
ibility shall— 
‘‘(1) assist the Secretary in developing and im-
plementing the science and technology aspects of the 
program described in subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), 
and (G) of section 7303(a)(1) of the Intelligence Re-
form and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 
U.S.C. 194(a)(1)); 
‘‘(2) in coordination with the Federal Commu-
nications Commission, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and other Federal de-
partments and agencies with responsibility for stand-
ards, support the creation of national voluntary con-
sensus standards for interoperable emergency com-
munications; 
‘‘(3) establish a comprehensive research, devel-
opment, testing, and evaluation program for improv-
ing interoperable emergency communications; 
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‘‘(4) establish, in coordination with the Director 
for Emergency Communications, requirements for 
interoperable emergency communications capabili-
ties, which shall be nonproprietary where standards 
for such capabilities exist, for all public safety radio 
and data communications systems and equipment 
purchased using homeland security assistance ad-
ministered by the Department, excluding any alert 
and warning device, technology, or system; 
‘‘(5) carry out the Department’s responsibilities 
and authorities relating to research, development, 
testing, evaluation, or standards-related elements of 
the SAFECOM Program; 
‘‘(6) evaluate and assess new technology in real- 
world environments to achieve interoperable emer-
gency communications capabilities; 
‘‘(7) encourage more efficient use of existing re-
sources, including equipment, to achieve interoper-
able emergency communications capabilities; 
‘‘(8) test public safety communications systems 
that are less prone to failure, support new nonvoice 
services, use spectrum more efficiently, and cost less 
than existing systems; 
‘‘(9) coordinate with the private sector to de-
velop solutions to improve emergency communica-
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tions capabilities and achieve interoperable emer-
gency communications capabilities; and 
‘‘(10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination 
with the Director for Emergency Communications, 
to test and demonstrate technologies, including data 
and video, that enhance— 
‘‘(A) the ability of emergency response pro-
viders and relevant government officials to con-
tinue to communicate in the event of natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; and 
‘‘(B) interoperable emergency communica-
tions capabilities. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility shall coordinate with 
the Director for Emergency Communications with respect 
to the SAFECOM program. 
‘‘(c) SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary 
shall provide the Office for Interoperability and Compat-
ibility the resources and staff necessary to carry out the 
responsibilities under this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 313 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 314. Office for Interoperability and Compatibility.’’. 
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SEC. 
3. 
EMERGENCY 
COMMUNICATIONS 
INTEROPER-
ABILITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as amended by 
this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 315. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPER-
ABILITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Science 
and Technology, acting through the Director of the Office 
for Interoperability and Compatibility, shall establish a 
comprehensive research and development program to sup-
port and promote— 
‘‘(1) the ability of emergency response providers 
and relevant government officials to continue to 
communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts 
of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and 
‘‘(2) interoperable emergency communications 
capabilities among emergency response providers 
and relevant government officials, including by— 
‘‘(A) supporting research on a competitive 
basis, including through the Directorate of 
Science and Technology and Homeland Security 
Advanced Research Projects Agency; and 
‘‘(B) considering the establishment of a 
Center of Excellence under the Department of 
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Pro-
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gram focused on improving emergency response 
providers’ communication capabilities. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a) include— 
‘‘(1) supporting research, development, testing, 
and evaluation on emergency communication capa-
bilities; 
‘‘(2) understanding the strengths and weak-
nesses of the public safety communications systems 
in use; 
‘‘(3) examining how current and emerging tech-
nology can make emergency response providers more 
effective, and how Federal, State, local, and tribal 
government agencies can use this technology in a co-
herent and cost-effective manner; 
‘‘(4) investigating technologies that could lead 
to long-term advancements in emergency commu-
nications capabilities and supporting research on ad-
vanced technologies and potential systemic changes 
to dramatically improve emergency communications; 
and 
‘‘(5) evaluating and validating advanced tech-
nology concepts, and facilitating the development 
and deployment of interoperable emergency commu-
nication capabilities. 
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‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘interoperable’, with respect to emergency commu-
nications, has the meaning given the term in section 
1808.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 314, as added by this Act, the following: 
‘‘Sec. 315. Emergency communications interoperability research and develop-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 4. 911 AND E911 SERVICES REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Communications 
Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the sta-
tus of efforts of State, local, and tribal governments to 
develop plans for rerouting 911 and E911 services in the 
event that public safety answering points are disabled dur-
ing natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters. 
SEC. 5. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to transfer to 
the Office of Emergency Communications any function, 
personnel, asset, component, authority, grant program, or 
liability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
as constituted on June 1, 2006. 
Æ 
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