6 U.S.C. § 575 — Regional emergency communications co-

Page 287 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 575 (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 572 of this title, national vol- untary consensus standards for interoper- able emergency communications capabilities have not been developed and promulgated. (2) Standards The Secretary, in coordination with the Fed- eral Communications Commission, the Na- tional Institute of Standards and Technology, and other Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for standards, shall sup- port the development, promulgation, and up- dating as necessary of national voluntary con- sensus standards for interoperable emergency communications. (Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1804, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1438; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(B), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4179.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Another section 1804 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renum- bered section 1904 and is classified to section 594 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–278 substituted ‘‘Assistant Director for Emergency Communications’’ for ‘‘Director for Emergency Communications’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications deemed to be a reference to the Exec- utive Assistant Director for Emergency Communica- tions, see section 571(g) of this title, enacted Jan. 1, 2021. § 575. Regional emergency communications co- ordination (a) In general There is established in each Regional Office a Regional Emergency Communications Coordina- tion Working Group (in this section referred to as an ‘‘RECC Working Group’’). Each RECC Working Group shall report to the relevant Re- gional Administrator and coordinate its activi- ties with the relevant Regional Advisory Coun- cil. (b) Membership Each RECC Working Group shall consist of the following: (1) Non-Federal Organizations representing 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. (I) Other emergency response providers as appropriate. (2) Federal Representatives from the Department, the Federal Communications Commission, and other Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for coordinating interoperable emergency communications with or providing emergency support services to State, local, and tribal governments. (c) Coordination Each RECC Working Group shall coordinate its activities with the following: (1) Communications equipment manufactur- ers and vendors (including broadband data service providers). (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. (12) Representatives from other private sec- tor entities and nongovernmental organiza- tions as the Regional Administrator deter- mines appropriate. (d) Duties The duties of each RECC Working Group shall include— (1) assessing the survivability, sustain- ability, and interoperability of local emer- gency communications systems to meet the goals of the National Emergency Communica- tions Plan; (2) reporting annually to the relevant Re- gional Administrator, the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, the Chair- man of the Federal Communications Commis- sion, and the Assistant Secretary for Commu- nications 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 National Emergency Communications Plan under section 572 of this title, 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 disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters through the ex- panded use of emergency management and public safety communications mutual aid agreements; and (4) coordinating the establishment of Fed- eral, State, local, and tribal support services and networks designed to address the imme- diate and critical human needs in responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. (Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1805, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. Page 288 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 576 1 So in original. Subsection (b) of this section does not contain a paragraph (1). 1439; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(B), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4179.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Another section 1805 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renum- bered section 1905 and was classified to section 595 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–387, § 2(a)(4), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5163. AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–278 substituted ‘‘As- sistant Director for Emergency Communications’’ for ‘‘Director for Emergency Communications’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications deemed to be a reference to the Exec- utive Assistant Director for Emergency Communica- tions, see section 571(g) of this title, enacted Jan. 1, 2021. § 576. Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (a) Establishment There is established the Emergency Commu- nications 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 Attor- ney General 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 Under- standing entitled, ‘‘Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) Charter’’. (c) Functions The Center shall— (1) serve as the focal point for interagency efforts and as a clearinghouse with respect to all relevant intergovernmental information to support and 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 continue 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 coordination efforts of Federal depart- ments and agencies to advance— (A) the ability of emergency response pro- viders and relevant government officials to continue 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 as- sessment under paragraph (2), the goals stated in the National Emergency Communications Plan under section 572 of this title; and (4) perform such other functions as are pro- vided in the Emergency Communications Pre- paredness Center (ECPC) Charter described in subsection (b)(1).1 (Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1806, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1440.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Another section 1806 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renum- bered section 1906 and is classified to section 596 of this title. § 577. Urban and other high risk area commu- nications capabilities (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Chair- man of the Federal Communications Commis- sion and the Secretary of Defense, and with ap- propriate State, local, and tribal government of- ficials, shall provide technical guidance, train- ing, and other assistance, as appropriate, to sup- port the rapid establishment of consistent, se- cure, and effective interoperable emergency communications capabilities in the event of an emergency in urban and other areas determined by the Secretary to be at consistently high lev- els of risk from natural disasters, acts of ter- rorism, 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 govern- ment, emergency response providers, the private sector, and other organizations 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 de- scribed in section 485 of this title; and (3) to be consistent with any applicable State or Urban Area homeland strategy or plan. (Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1807, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1441.) § 578. Definition In this subchapter, the term ‘‘interoperable’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘interoperable communications’’ under section 194(g)(1) of this title. (Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1808, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1441.) § 579. Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish the Interoper- able Emergency Communications Grant Pro-