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The FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
officially began operations on Monday, September 25, 2006. This Bureau
is responsible for developing, recommending, and administering
the agency's policies pertaining to public safety communications
issues. These policies include 911 and E911; operability and
interoperability of public safety communications; communications
infrastructure protection and disaster response; and network
security and reliability. The Bureau also serves as a clearinghouse
for public safety communications information and takes the
lead on emergency response issues.
A primary goal of the Bureau is to support and advance initiatives
that further strengthen and enhance the security and reliability
of the nation's communications infrastructure and public safety
and emergency response capabilities that will better enable
the FCC to assist the public, first responders, law enforcement,
hospitals, the communications industry and all levels of government
in the event of a natural disaster, pandemic or terrorist attack.
The events on September 11, 2001 and past hurricane seasons
in the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States underscored
America’s dependence on an effective national communications
infrastructure. The Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
advances FCC initiatives aimed at protecting the public safety
and health by working to ensure the security and reliability
of the communication infrastructure.
Contact Information
- Front Office: 202.418.1300
- Email: PSHSBinfo@fcc.gov
- Communications Systems Analysis Division 202.418.2478
- Policy Division 202.418.1170
- Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division
202.418.1199
Functions & Issues
- 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 (TSP/WSP programs)
- Alert and warning of U.S.
citizens (EAS, etc)
- Continuity of government
operations (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning
- Public safety outreach (e.g., first
responder organizations and hospitals)
- Disaster management
coordination
- Disaster management
outreach
- Situational Awareness
(Disaster Information Reporting System)
- FCC 24/7 Communications
Center
- Communications
infrastructure protection
- Network reliability,
resiliency and security
- Advisory Committees and
panels focused on communications reliability and security issues
and public safety issues
- Studies and reports of public safety,
communications infrastructure, homeland security and
disaster management issues
Organizational Structure
The Bureau is organized into three divisions: Policy Division,
Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division, and the
Communications Systems Analysis Division. In addition, the
Bureau has a Front Office consisting of the Bureau's senior
leadership and management staff.
Policy Division
The Policy Division drafts, develops, and administers rules,
regulations, and policies, including those pertaining to the
911/Enhanced 911 (E911), Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs),
operability and interoperability for public safety communications,
communications infrastructure protection, network security
and reliability. In addition, the Policy Division oversees
the licensing of spectrum for public safety entities (e.g.,
police and fire departments).
Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division
Public Communications Outreach & Operations Division (PCOOD)
is the lead bureau group responsible for coordinating the Commission’s
emergency response procedures and operations. The Division
coordinates the Commission’s public safety, homeland
security, national security, disaster management and related
functions on a day-to-day basis.
During incidents or emergencies, PCOOD serves as the lead point
of contact for all inter-governmental coordination activities
with other Federal departments and agencies. The division also
operates the Commission’s Communications Center (COMM-CTR)
and High Frequency Direction Finding Capability (HFDFC) facilities.
Communications Systems Analysis Division
The Communications Systems Analysis Division (CSAD) administers
and updates the Commission’s Part 4 rules concerning
disruptions to communications and the Commission’s Network
Outage Reporting System (NORS) that was developed to facilitate
the filing of required communications outage reports. CSAD
monitors these reports, analyzes the data provided, and identifies
trends. It also works with the communications industry to develop
and implement improvements that help ensure the reliability,
redundancy and security of the Nation’s communications
infrastructure.
In addition, CSAD performs analyses and studies addressing
public safety, homeland security, emergency management and
preparedness, disaster management and national security issues.
Further, CSAD supports the work of the Commercial Mobile Service
Alert Advisory Committee which is developing recommendations
on technical standards and protocols to facilitate the ability
of commercial mobile service (CMS) providers to voluntarily
transmit emergency alerts to their subscribers pursuant to
the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act that was enacted
on October 13, 2006.
Once the necessary approval has been obtained from the Office
of Management and Budget, CSAD will administer the web-based
Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), which will facilitate
the collection of information needed to determine the status
of communications services in areas affected by major disasters.
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