FCC to Establish Public Safety, Homeland Security Bureau

March 29, 2006

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to establish a Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

The new bureau is designed to provide a more efficient, effective and responsive organizational structure to address public safety, homeland security, national security, emergency management and preparedness, disaster management and other related issues.

The changes are subject to congressional notification before they become effective. In addition, the FCC must work with the National Treasury Employees Union Local 209 to get approval for issues affecting the FCC's workforce.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will handle the following issues and functions that have been dispersed among seven different bureaus and offices:

Public safety communications
- 911/Enhanced 911 (E911) requirements.
- Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
- Interoperability and operability of public safety communications.
- Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).
Priority emergency communications (Telecommunications Security Priority/Wireline Service Provider programs).
Alert and warning of U.S. citizens (Emergency Alert System, etc.).
Continuity of government operations (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning.
Public safety outreach (Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), first responder organizations).
Disaster management coordination.
Disaster management outreach.
24/7 Communications Center.
Communications infrastructure protection.
Network reliability and resiliency.
Network security.
Advisory Committees and panels focused on public safety and security issues.
Studies and reports of public safety, homeland security and disaster management issues.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will be organized into three divisions: Policy Division, Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division and Communications Systems Analysis Division. In addition, the bureau will have a front office consisting of the bureau's senior leadership and management staff.

The Policy Division will:

Draft, develop and administer rules, regulations and policies including those pertaining to the 911/Enhanced 911 (E911), PSAPs, operability and interoperability for public safety communications, communications infrastructure protection, network security and reliability.
Handle the licensing of spectrum for public safety entities (police and fire departments) and related issues.

The Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division (PCOOD) will:

Be the lead division responsible for coordinating the FCC's emergency response procedures and operations.
Coordinate the FCC's public safety, homeland security, national security, disaster management and related functions on a day-to-day basis and during incidents or other emergencies.
Coordinate and communicate with public safety organizations and state and local governmental agencies.
Be the lead point of contact for all inter-governmental coordination activities with other federal departments and agencies.
Operate the Commission's Communications Center (COMM-CTR) and High Frequency Direction Finding Capability (HFDFC) facilities.

The Communications Systems Analysis Division (CSAD) will:

Administer the FCC's information collection requirements (network outage reports).
Perform analyses and studies concerning public safety, homeland security, national security, disaster management and related issues.

Source: U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).