Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act
PL 114-29 (H.R.615), enacted 07/06/2015

129 STAT. 421 
PUBLIC LAW 114–29—JULY 6, 2015 
Public Law 114–29 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary 
for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to take administrative 
action to achieve and maintain interoperable communications capabilities among 
the components of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Homeland Security 
Interoperable Communications Act’’ or the ‘‘DHS Interoperable 
Communications Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Home-
land Security; 
(2) the term ‘‘interoperable communications’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 701(d) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002, as added by section 3; and 
(3) the term ‘‘Under Secretary for Management’’ means 
the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of 
Homeland Security. 
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILI-
TIES IN RESPONSIBILITIES OF UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
MANAGEMENT. 
Section 701 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
341) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘, including policies and directives to 
achieve and maintain interoperable communications among the 
components of the Department’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘interoperable communications’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 7303(g) of the Intelligence Reform and 
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(g)).’’. 
SEC. 4. STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Management shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a strategy, which shall be 
updated as necessary, for achieving and maintaining interoperable 
Deadline. 
Department of 
Homeland 
Security 
Interoperable 
Communications 
Act. 
6 USC 194 note. 
July 6, 2015 
[H.R. 615] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00419
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 422 
PUBLIC LAW 114–29—JULY 6, 2015 
communications among the components of the Department, 
including for daily operations, planned events, and emergencies, 
with corresponding milestones, that includes the following: 
(1) An assessment of interoperability gaps in radio commu-
nications among the components of the Department, as of the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) Information on efforts and activities, including current 
and planned policies, directives, and training, of the Depart-
ment since November 1, 2012, to achieve and maintain inter-
operable communications among the components of the Depart-
ment, and planned efforts and activities of the Department 
to achieve and maintain such interoperable communications. 
(3) An assessment of obstacles and challenges to achieving 
and maintaining interoperable communications among the 
components of the Department. 
(4) Information on, and an assessment of, the adequacy 
of mechanisms available to the Under Secretary for Manage-
ment to enforce and compel compliance with interoperable 
communications policies and directives of the Department. 
(5) Guidance provided to the components of the Department 
to implement interoperable communications policies and direc-
tives of the Department. 
(6) The total amount of funds expended by the Department 
since November 1, 2012, and projected future expenditures, 
to achieve interoperable communications, including on equip-
ment, infrastructure, and maintenance. 
(7) Dates upon which Department-wide interoperability is 
projected to be achieved for voice, data, and video communica-
tions, respectively, and interim milestones that correspond to 
the achievement of each such mode of communication. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL.—Together with the strategy 
required under subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Management 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate information on— 
(1) any intra-agency effort or task force that has been 
delegated certain responsibilities by the Under Secretary for 
Management relating to achieving and maintaining interoper-
able communications among the components of the Department 
by the dates referred to in subsection (a)(7); and 
(2) who, within each such component, is responsible for 
implementing policies and directives issued by the Under Sec-
retary for Management to so achieve and maintain such inter-
operable communications. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
Not later than 100 days after the date on which the strategy 
required under section 4(a) is submitted, and every 2 years there-
after for 6 years, the Under Secretary for Management shall submit 
to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the status of efforts to implement 
the strategy required under section 4(a), including the following: 
(1) Progress on each interim milestone referred to in section 
4(a)(7) toward achieving and maintaining interoperable commu-
nications among the components of the Department. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00420
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 423 
PUBLIC LAW 114–29—JULY 6, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 615: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–53 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
Feb. 2, considered and passed House. 
June 11, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
June 23, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
(2) Information on any policies, directives, guidance, and 
training established by the Under Secretary for Management. 
(3) An assessment of the level of compliance, adoption, 
and participation among the components of the Department 
with the policies, directives, guidance, and training established 
by the Under Secretary for Management to achieve and main-
tain interoperable communications among the components. 
(4) Information on any additional resources or authorities 
needed by the Under Secretary for Management. 
SEC. 6. APPLICABILITY. 
Sections 4 and 5 shall only apply with respect to the interoper-
able communications capabilities within the Department and 
components of the Department to communicate within the Depart-
ment. 
Approved July 6, 2015. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00421
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)