6 U.S.C. § 195a — Emergency communications interoper-

Page 82 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 195a nications capabilities and achieve interoper- able emergency communications capabilities; and (10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination with the Director for Emergency Communica- tions,1 to test and demonstrate technologies, including data and video, that enhance— (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 capabilities. (b) Coordination The Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility shall coordinate with the Di- rector for Emergency Communications 1 with re- spect to the SAFECOM program. (c) Sufficiency of resources The Secretary shall provide the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility the re- sources and staff necessary to carry out the re- sponsibilities under this section. (Pub. L. 107–296, title III, § 314, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 672(a), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1441.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Reference to Director for Emergency Communica- tions deemed to be a reference to Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, see section 2(c)(2) of Pub. L. 115–278, set out as a note under section 571 of this title. § 195a. Emergency communications interoper- ability research and development (a) In general The Under Secretary for Science and Tech- nology, acting through the Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, shall es- tablish a comprehensive research and develop- ment program to support and promote— (1) the ability of emergency response pro- viders and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of nat- ural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and (2) interoperable emergency communica- tions 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 Secu- rity Advanced Research Projects Agency; and (B) considering the establishment of a Cen- ter of Excellence under the Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Program focused on improving emergency response providers’ communication capabili- ties. (b) Purposes The purposes of the program established under subsection (a) include— (1) supporting research, development, test- ing, and evaluation on emergency communica- tion capabilities; (2) understanding the strengths and weak- nesses of the public safety communications systems in use; (3) examining how current and emerging technology can make emergency response pro- viders more effective, and how Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies can use this technology in a coherent and cost-effec- tive manner; (4) investigating technologies that could lead to long-term advancements in emergency communications capabilities and supporting research on advanced technologies and poten- tial systemic changes to dramatically improve emergency communications; and (5) evaluating and validating advanced tech- nology concepts, and facilitating the develop- ment and deployment of interoperable emer- gency communication capabilities. (c) Definitions For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘inter- operable’’, with respect to emergency commu- nications, has the meaning given the term in section 578 of this title. (Pub. L. 107–296, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 673(a), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1443.) § 195b. National Biosurveillance Integration Cen- ter (a) Establishment The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall establish, operate, and maintain a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (referred to in this section as the ‘‘NBIC’’), which shall be headed by a Directing Officer, under an office or directorate of the De- partment that is in existence as of August 3, 2007. (b) Primary mission The primary mission of the NBIC is to— (1) enhance the capability of the Federal Government to— (A) rapidly identify, characterize, localize, and track a biological event of national con- cern by integrating and analyzing data re- lating to human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental monitoring systems (both national and international); and (B) disseminate alerts and other informa- tion to Member Agencies and, in coordina- tion with (and where possible through) Mem- ber Agencies, to agencies of State, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate, to en- hance the ability of such agencies to respond to a biological event of national concern; and (2) oversee development and operation of the National Biosurveillance Integration System. (c) Requirements The NBIC shall detect, as early as possible, a biological event of national concern that pre- sents a risk to the United States or the infra-