as the National Urban Search and Rescue Response Sys-
tem that provides a national network of standardized 
search and rescue resources to assist State, local, and trib-
al governments in responding to acts of terrorism, natural 
disasters, and other emergencies. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM.— 
‘‘(1) TASK FORCE PARTICIPATION.—The Under 
Secretary for Emergency Management shall select 
eligible urban search and rescue teams that are 
sponsored by State and local government entities to 
participate as task forces in the System. The Under 
Secretary shall determine the criteria for such par-
ticipation. 
‘‘(2) AGREEMENTS
WITH
SPONSORING
AGEN-
CIES.—The Under Secretary shall enter into an 
agreement with the State or local government entity 
that sponsors each search and rescue team selected 
under paragraph (1) with respect the team’s partici-
pation as a task force in the System. 
‘‘(3) URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM PER-
SONNEL.—Personnel of an urban search and rescue 
team that participates as a task force under this sec-
tion may be— 
‘‘(A) personnel of the State or local gov-
ernment sponsor; or 
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‘‘(B) personnel of any other Federal, 
State, or local government entity that enters 
into a participation agency agreement with the 
State or local government sponsor of the team. 
‘‘(4) MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL TEAMS.— 
The Under Secretary shall maintain such manage-
ment and other technical teams as are necessary to 
administer the System. 
‘‘(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall 
establish and maintain an advisory committee to 
provide expert recommendations to the Under Sec-
retary with respect to administering the System. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The advisory committee 
shall be geographically diverse, and shall include, at 
a minimum— 
‘‘(A) the chief officer or senior executive 
from each of at least three State or local gov-
ernments that sponsor urban search and rescue 
teams selected to participate in the System as 
task forces; 
‘‘(B) the senior emergency manager from 
each of at least two States in which such local 
governments are located; and 
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‘‘(C) at least one representative selected by 
the leaders of the task forces. 
‘‘(3) TERMINATION.—The advisory committee 
shall terminate on the date that is two years after 
the date of the enactment of the National Emer-
gency Management Reform and Enhancement Act of 
2006. 
‘‘SEC. 545. METROPOLITAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department a 
Metropolitan Medical Response System. Under the Sys-
tem, the Assistant Secretary for Grants and Planning 
shall administer grants to develop, maintain, and enhance 
medical preparedness systems that are capable of respond-
ing effectively during the initial hours of a public health 
crisis or mass-casualty event caused by an act of ter-
rorism, natural disaster, or other emergency. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Metropolitan Medical Re-
sponse System shall make grants to local governments to 
enhance any of the following activities: 
‘‘(1) Medical surge capacity. 
‘‘(2) Mass prophylaxis. 
‘‘(3) Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, 
and explosive detection, response, and decontamina-
tion capabilities. 
‘‘(4) Emergency communications capabilities. 
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‘‘(5) Information sharing and collaboration ca-
pabilities. 
‘‘(6) Regional collaboration. 
‘‘(7) Triage and pre-hospital treatment. 
‘‘(8) Medical supply management and distribu-
tion. 
‘‘(9) Fatality management. 
‘‘(10) Such other activities as the Secretary 
may provide. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2010. 
‘‘SEC. 546. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COM-
PACT AUTHORIZATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Under Secretary for Emergency Management, may 
make grants for the purposes of administering the Emer-
gency Management Assistance Compact consented to by 
Public Law 104–321. 
‘‘(b) USES.—A grant under this section shall be 
used— 
‘‘(1) to carry out recommendations identified in 
after-action reports for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane 
season issued under the Emergency Management 
Assistance Compact; 
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‘‘(2) to coordinate with the Department and 
other Federal Government agencies; or 
‘‘(3) to coordinate with State and local govern-
ment entities and their respective national associa-
tions. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $4,000,000 for each fiscal year. Amounts 
appropriated under this section shall remain available for 
3 fiscal years. 
‘‘Subtitle D—Emergency 
Communications 
‘‘SEC. 561. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department an 
Office of Emergency Communications, which shall be 
under the authority of the Under Secretary for Emergency 
Management. 
‘‘(b) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The head of the office 
shall be the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Commu-
nications. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Assistant Secretary 
for Emergency 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 
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Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(a)(1)), except 
as provided in section 5 of the National Emergency 
Management Reform and Enhancement Act of 2006; 
‘‘(2) administer the Department’s responsibil-
ities and authorities relating to the SAFECOM Pro-
gram; 
‘‘(3) administer the Department’s responsibil-
ities and authorities relating to the Integrated Wire-
less Network program; 
‘‘(4) coordinate, as appropriate, with the Assist-
ant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Telecommuni-
cations, regarding the administration of the National 
Communications System; 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(6) provide technical assistance to State, re-
gional, local, and tribal officials with respect to use 
of interoperable emergency communications capabili-
ties; 
‘‘(7) facilitate the creation of Regional Emer-
gency 
Communications 
Coordination 
Working 
Groups under section 565; 
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‘‘(8) promote the development of standard oper-
ating procedures with respect to use of interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities for incident 
response and facilitate the sharing of information on 
best practices (including from governments abroad) 
for achieving, maintaining, and enhancing interoper-
able emergency communications capabilities for such 
response; 
‘‘(9) coordinate the establishment of a national 
response capability with initial and ongoing plan-
ning, implementation, and training for the deploy-
ment of backup communications services in the 
event of a catastrophic loss of local and regional 
emergency communications services; 
‘‘(10) assist the President, the National Secu-
rity Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy, and the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget in ensuring the operability of the tele-
communications functions and responsibilities of the 
Federal Government; 
‘‘(11) establish requirements for total and non-
proprietary interoperable emergency communications 
capabilities for all public safety radio and data com-
munications systems and equipment; 
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‘‘(12) help to establish an integrated national 
public alert and warning system that incorporates 
legacy systems; and 
‘‘(13) review, in consultation with Assistant 
Secretary for Grants and Planning, all interoperable 
emergency communications plans of Federal, State, 
local, and tribal governments, including Statewide 
and tactical interoperability plans. 
‘‘(d) PERFORMANCE OF PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED 
FUNCTIONS.—There is transferred to the Secretary the 
authority to administer, through the Assistant Secretary 
for Emergency Communications, the following: 
‘‘(1) The SAFECOM Program. 
‘‘(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 Assistant Secretary shall 
coordinate, as appropriate, with the Director of the Office 
for Interoperability and Compatibility the responsibilities 
described in section 104 of the National Emergency Man-
agement Reform and Enhancement Act of 2006. 
‘‘(f) SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary 
shall provide the Office of Emergency Communications the 
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resources and staff necessary to carry out the responsibil-
ities under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 
562. 
NATIONAL 
EMERGENCY 
COMMUNICATIONS 
STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Communications, 
shall, not later than one year after the completion of the 
baseline assessment under section 563, and in cooperation 
with State, local, and tribal governments, Federal depart-
ments and agencies, emergency response providers, emer-
gency response support responders, and the private sector, 
develop a National Emergency Communication Strategy 
to achieve interoperable emergency communications. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The national strategy shall— 
‘‘(1) include a national interoperable emergency 
communication inventory 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 
system and equipment used; 
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‘‘(B) identifies the interoperable emergency 
communication systems in use for public safety 
systems in the United States; and 
‘‘(C) provides a listing of public safety mu-
tual aid channels in operation and their ability 
to connect to an interoperable communications 
system; 
‘‘(2) include, in consultation with the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, a process for 
expediting national voluntary consensus-based emer-
gency communications equipment standards for the 
purchase and use by public safety agencies of inter-
operable emergency communications equipment and 
technologies; 
‘‘(3) identify the appropriate interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities necessary for 
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to op-
erate at all threat levels; 
‘‘(4) address both short-term and long-term so-
lutions to achieving Federal, State, local, and tribal 
interoperable emergency communications systems, 
including provision of commercially available equip-
ment that facilitates operability, interoperability, co-
ordination, and integration among existing emer-
gency communications systems; 
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‘‘(5) identify how Federal Government depart-
ments and agencies that respond to acts of ter-
rorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies can 
work effectively with State, local, and tribal govern-
ments, in all States, and such other entities as are 
necessary to implement the strategy; 
‘‘(6) include measures to identify and overcome 
all obstacles to achieving interoperable emergency 
communications; and 
‘‘(7) set goals and establish timeframes for the 
achievement of an emergency, command-level com-
munication system based on existing equipment 
across the United States and develop a timetable for 
a nationwide interoperable emergency communica-
tions system. 
‘‘SEC. 563. ASSESSMENTS AND REPORTS. 
‘‘(a) BASELINE
OPERABILITY
AND
INTEROPER-
ABILITY ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Communications, 
shall periodically, but not less than every 5 years, conduct 
an assessment of Federal, State, local, and tribal govern-
ments, to— 
‘‘(1) define the range of operable and interoper-
able emergency communications capabilities needed 
for specific events; 
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‘‘(2) assess the current capabilities to meet 
such communications needs; 
‘‘(3) identify the gap between such current ca-
pabilities and defined requirements; 
‘‘(4) determine the degree to which interoper-
able emergency communications has been achieved 
to date and ascertain the needs that remain for 
interoperability to be achieved; 
‘‘(5) assess the ability of communities to pro-
vide and maintain interoperable emergency commu-
nications among emergency response providers, 
emergency response support providers, and govern-
ment officials in the event of acts of terrorism, nat-
ural disasters, or other emergencies, including Inci-
dents of National Significance declared by the Sec-
retary under the National Response Plan, and where 
there is substantial damage to ordinary communica-
tions infrastructure or sustained loss of electricity; 
‘‘(6) compile a list of best practices among com-
munities for providing and maintaining interoperable 
emergency communications in the event of acts of 
terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies; 
and 
‘‘(7) evaluate the feasibility and desirability of 
the Department developing, on its own or in con-
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junction with the Department of Defense, a mobile 
communications capability, modeled on the Army 
Signal Corps, that could be deployed to support 
emergency communications at the site of acts of ter-
rorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies. 
‘‘(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, and annually there-
after, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary for Emergency Communications, shall submit to 
Congress a report on the Department’s progress in imple-
menting and achieving the goals of this section, including 
a description of the findings of the nationwide assessment 
conducted under subsection (a). 
‘‘SEC. 564. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY COM-
MUNICATIONS GRANT PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) ASSESSMENT OF GRANTS AND STANDARDS PRO-
GRAMS.—The Secretary, acting through Assistant Sec-
retary for Emergency Communications, shall assess Fed-
eral grants and standards programs managed by other 
Federal departments and agencies to— 
‘‘(1) integrate and coordinate Federal grant 
guidelines for the use of Federal homeland security 
assistance relating to interoperable emergency com-
munications; 
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‘‘(2) assess and make recommendations to en-
sure that such guidelines are consistent with the 
mission of the Office of Emergency Communications; 
and 
‘‘(3) assess and make recommendations to en-
sure conformity with the goals and objectives identi-
fied in the National Emergency Communications 
Strategy. 
‘‘(b) DENIAL OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through Assistant Secretary for Grants and Plan-
ning, and in consultation with the Assistant Sec-
retary for Emergency Communications, may prohibit 
any State, local, or tribal government from using 
Federal homeland security assistance administered 
by the Department to achieve, maintain, or enhance 
interoperable emergency communications capabili-
ties, if— 
‘‘(A) such government has not complied 
with the requirement to submit a Statewide 
Interoperable Communications Plans as re-
quired by section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Re-
form and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 
U.S.C. 194(f)); and 
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‘‘(B) within three years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, national vol-
untary consensus standards for interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities have not 
been developed and promulgated. 
‘‘(2) STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with other Federal departments and agencies 
with responsibility for standards shall develop, pro-
mulgate, and revise national voluntary consensus 
standards on interoperable emergency communica-
tions within 4 years after the date of the enactment 
of this section, if the requirements of paragraph 
(1)(B) have not been satisfied. 
‘‘(c) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
the President shall transfer to the Assistant Secretary for 
Emergency Communications the functions authorized by 
section 3006 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 (Public 
Law 109–71; 120 Stat. 24), including the authority to 
borrow under 3006(b) of that Act. 
‘‘SEC. 565. REGIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CO-
ORDINATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in each Regional Office 
under section 504 a Regional Emergency Communications 
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Coordination Working Group (in this section referred to 
as an ‘RECC Working Group’). 
‘‘(b) SUBJECT
MATTER
EXPERTS.—The RECC 
Working Group shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(1) 
NON-FEDERAL.—Organizations 
rep-
resenting the interests of the following: 
‘‘(A) State officials. 
‘‘(B) Local elected officials. 
‘‘(C) State police departments. 
‘‘(D) Local police departments. 
‘‘(E) Local fire departments. 
‘‘(F) Public safety answering points (9–1– 
1 services). 
‘‘(G) Communications equipment vendors 
(including broadband data service providers). 
‘‘(H) Hospitals. 
‘‘(I) Public utility services. 
‘‘(J) Local exchange carriers. 
‘‘(K) Local broadcast media. 
‘‘(L) Wireless carriers. 
‘‘(M) Satellite communications services. 
‘‘(N) Emergency evacuation transit serv-
ices. 
‘‘(O) Ambulance services. 
‘‘(P) HAM and amateur radio operators. 
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‘‘(Q) Emergency Managers, Homeland Se-
curity Directors, or representatives of State Ad-
ministrative Agencies. 
‘‘(R) Other emergency response providers 
or emergency support providers as deemed ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL.—Representatives from the De-
partment and other Federal departments and agen-
cies with responsibility for coordinating interoperable 
emergency communications with or providing emer-
gency support services to State, local, and tribal gov-
ernments. 
‘‘(c) 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 Strategy; 
‘‘(2) reporting annually to the Assistant Sec-
retary for Emergency Communications on the status 
of its region in building a robust and sustainable 
interoperable voice and data emergency communica-
tions network and on the progress of the region in 
meeting the goals of the National Emergency Com-
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munications Strategy under section 562 when such 
Strategy in complete; 
‘‘(3) coordinating the establishment of an effec-
tive multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency emergency 
communications network for use during acts of ter-
rorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies 
through the expanded use of emergency management 
and public safety communications mutual aid agree-
ments; 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 acts of terrorism, nat-
ural disasters, and other emergencies. 
‘‘SEC. 566. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PREPAREDNESS 
CENTER. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) OPERATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, the Chair-
man of the Federal Communication Commission, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Attorney General, and the heads of other Fed-
eral departments and agencies or their designees 
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100 
shall jointly operate the Center in accordance with 
the Memorandum of Understanding entitled, ‘Emer-
gency 
Communications 
Preparedness 
Center 
(ECPC) Charter’. 
‘‘(2) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall be the Chair 
of the Center. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) serve as the focal point for interagency ef-
forts to address operable and interoperable commu-
nications; 
‘‘(2) serve as a clearinghouse with respect to all 
relevant information regarding intergovernmental ef-
forts to achieve nationwide interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities; 
‘‘(3) ensure cooperation among the relevant 
Federal Government departments and agencies to 
improve effectiveness in the communication and im-
plementation of the goals of the National Emergency 
Communications Strategy, including specifically by 
working to avoid duplication, hindrances, and coun-
teractive efforts among the participating Federal de-
partments and agencies; 
‘‘(4) prepare and submit to Congress, on an an-
nual basis, a strategic assessment regarding the ef-
forts of Federal departments and agencies to imple-
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101 
ment the National Emergency Communications 
Strategy; and 
‘‘(5) perform such other functions as the Presi-
dent may assign. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the President shall 
transmit to the Congress a report regarding the implemen-
tation of this section, including a description of the staff-
ing and resource needs of the Center. 
‘‘SEC. 567. 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 terrorist attack. 
‘‘(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, emergency re-
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102 
sponse support providers, the private sector, and other or-
ganizations with emergency response capabilities— 
‘‘(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. 568. INTEGRATED NATIONAL ALERT AND WARNING 
SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Communications, 
and in coordination with the head of any Federal depart-
ment or agency that possesses or acquires alert and warn-
ing capabilities, including the Departments of Commerce 
and Defense and the Federal Communications Commis-
sion, shall develop, manage, operate, and coordinate an in-
tegrated national public alert and warning system that in-
corporates legacy systems. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Such system shall— 
‘‘(1) be operational within 3 years of the date 
of enactment of this section; 
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103 
‘‘(2) ensure effective collaboration with State, 
local, and tribal governments; 
‘‘(3) complement and provide interoperability 
with State, local, and tribal public alert and warning 
systems; 
‘‘(4) ensure the interoperability of commercially 
available equipment for radio and data communica-
tions systems; 
‘‘(5) carry alert and warning messages for acts 
of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emer-
gencies; 
‘‘(6) conduct regular internal training and exer-
cises on generating and disseminating public alert 
and warning messages; 
‘‘(7) support public education and outreach to 
increase community awareness of the integrated na-
tional alert and warning system; 
‘‘(8) incorporate, to the maximum extent pos-
sible, technologies and systems that warn and sup-
port the unique needs faced by persons with disabil-
ities or language barriers; 
‘‘(9) develop public–private partnerships to— 
‘‘(A) leverage government and industry 
needs, capabilities, and resources necessary to 
delivery effective disaster warnings; 
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104 
‘‘(B) facilitate the development, promulga-
tion, and regular updating of national voluntary 
consensus standards for public alert and warn-
ing technologies; 
‘‘(C) identify, in consultation with the As-
sistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection 
and the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity 
and Telecommunications, critical infrastructure 
and key resources necessary to provide accu-
rate, survivable, and sustainable public alerts 
and warnings; 
‘‘(D) incorporate private sector threat in-
formation sharing into Federal, State, and local 
alert and warning systems; and 
‘‘(E) ensure continuity of operations plans 
are in place to minimize the disruption to com-
munications infrastructure used for the dissemi-
nation of public alerts and warnings; 
‘‘(10) promulgate standard operating proce-
dures and protocols for the integrated national pub-
lic alert and warning system; and 
‘‘(11) identify and incorporate existing, new, 
and emerging technologies, including the utilization 
of both satellite and ground based alert and warning 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:36 May 12, 2006
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