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Executive Order Establishes Emergency Communications Program, Office (7/9/12)
The president released an executive order on the assignment of national security and emergency preparedness communications functions to ensure communications under all conditions.

The order directed all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public to inform the development of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications policies, programs and capabilities. It established an NS/EP Communications Executive Committee to address emergency communications matters.

The committee will be composed of representatives designated by the heads of the departments of State, Defense, Justice, Commerce and Homeland Security; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI); the General Services Administration; and the FCC. The designees of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense shall serve as co-chairs.

The committee will advise and make policy recommendations to the president, develop a long-term strategic vision for NS/EP communications and propose funding requirements and plans, and coordinate the planning for, and provision of, NS/EP communications for the federal government under all hazards. The committee will also promote the optimal combination of hardness, redundancy, mobility, connectivity, interoperability, restorability and security for survivability of NS/EP communications under all circumstances. The committee will also recommend to the president, through the PPD-1 process, the regimes to test, exercise and evaluate the capabilities of existing and planned communications systems, along with reporting duties and developing a charter.

In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish an executive committee joint program office (JPO) to provide full-time, expert and administrative support for the committee's responsibilities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall provide resources to support the JPO.

The JPO shall coordinate programs that support NS/EP missions, priorities, goals and policy, as well as coordinate activities and develop policies for senior official review and approval.

The order also details specific department and agency responsibilities. The full order is available here.

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