Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1471

 120 STAT. 1440

PUBLIC LAW 109–295—OCT. 4, 2006 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 1802, 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 expanded use of emergency management and public safety communications mutual aid agreements; and ‘‘(4) coordinating the establishment of Federal, State, local, and tribal support services and networks designed to address the immediate and critical human needs in responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

6 USC 576.

‘‘SEC. 1806. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PREPAREDNESS CENTER.

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Emergency Communications 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 Attorney 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 Understanding 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 providers 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 communications; ‘‘(2) prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a strategic assessment regarding the coordination efforts of Federal departments and agencies to advance— ‘‘(A) the ability of emergency response providers 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 communications; ‘‘(3) consider, in preparing the strategic assessment under paragraph (2), the goals stated in the National Emergency Communications Plan under section 1802; and ‘‘(4) perform such other functions as are provided in the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) Charter described in subsection (b)(1).

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