US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

6 U.S.C. § 571

Emergency Communications Division

(a)

In general

There is established in the Department an Emergency Communications Division. The Division shall be located in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

(b)

Executive Assistant Director

The head of the Division shall be the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications (in this section referred to as the “Executive Assistant Director”). The Executive Assistant Director shall report to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. All decisions of the Executive Assistant Director that entail the exercise of significant authority shall be subject to the approval of the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

(c)

Responsibilities

The Executive Assistant Director shall—
(1)
section 194(a)(1) of this titlesection 195 of this title assist the Secretary in developing and implementing the program described in , except as provided in ;
(2)
administer the Department’s responsibilities and authorities relating to the SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to research, development, testing, and evaluation and standards;
(3)
administer the Department’s responsibilities and authorities relating to the Integrated Wireless Network program;
(4)
conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to support and promote 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;
(5)
conduct extensive, nationwide outreach and foster the development of interoperable emergency communications capabilities by State, regional, local, and tribal governments and public safety agencies, and by regional consortia thereof;
(6)
provide technical assistance to State, regional, local, and tribal government officials with respect to use of interoperable emergency communications capabilities;
(7)
section 575 of this title coordinate with the Regional Administrators regarding the activities of Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Groups under ;
(8)
promote the development of standard operating procedures and best practices with respect to use of interoperable emergency communications capabilities for incident response, and facilitate the sharing of information on such best practices for achieving, maintaining, and enhancing interoperable emergency communications capabilities for such response;
(9)
coordinate, in cooperation with the National Communications System, the establishment of a national response capability with initial and ongoing planning, implementation, and training for the deployment of communications equipment for relevant State, local, and tribal governments and emergency response providers in the event of a catastrophic loss of local and regional emergency communications services;
(10)
assist the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in ensuring the continued operation of the telecommunications functions and responsibilities of the Federal Government, excluding spectrum management;
(11)
establish, in coordination with the Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, requirements for interoperable emergency communications capabilities, which shall be nonproprietary where standards for such capabilities exist, for all public safety radio and data communications systems and equipment purchased using homeland security assistance administered by the Department, excluding any alert and warning device, technology, or system;
(12)
review, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Grants and Training, all interoperable emergency communications plans of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, including Statewide and tactical interoperability plans, developed pursuant to homeland security assistance administered by the Department, but excluding spectrum allocation and management related to such plans;
(13)
section 572 of this title develop and update periodically, as appropriate, a National Emergency Communications Plan under ;
(14)
perform such other duties of the Department necessary to support and promote 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;
(15)
perform other duties of the Department necessary to achieve the goal of and maintain and enhance interoperable emergency communications capabilities; and
(16)
section 652(c)(7) of this title fully participate in the mechanisms required under .
(d)

Performance of previously transferred functions

The Secretary shall transfer to, and administer through, the Executive Assistant Director the following programs and responsibilities:
(1)
The SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to research, development, testing, and evaluation and standards.
(2)
The responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer related to the implementation of the Integrated Wireless Network.
(3)
The Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program.
(e)

Coordination

The Executive Assistant Director shall coordinate—
(1)
section 195 of this title as appropriate, with the Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility with respect to the responsibilities described in ; and
(2)
with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency with respect to the responsibilities described in this subchapter.
(f)

Sufficiency of resources plan

(1)

Report

Not later than 120 days after , the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the resources and staff necessary to carry out fully the responsibilities under this subchapter.

(2)

Comptroller General review

The Comptroller General shall review the validity of the report submitted by the Secretary under paragraph (1). Not later than 60 days after the date on which such report is submitted, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of such review.

(g)

Reference

Any reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.

Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1801Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b)120 Stat. 1433Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)132 Stat. 4179Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XC, § 9001(e)(1)134 Stat. 4767Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7143(c)(3)136 Stat. 3662(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 1801 of Pub. L. 107–296section 591 of this titleAnother was renumbered section 1901 and is classified to .

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–2632022—Subsec. (b). substituted “Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency” for “Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security” in two places.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(A)2021—Subsec. (b). , in heading, substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director” and, in text, substituted “Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications (in this section referred to as the ‘Executive Assistant Director’).” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.” and “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director” in two places.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(B)Subsec. (c). , substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(C)Subsec. (d). , substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(D)Subsec. (e). , substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(E)Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g).

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(i)2018—, substituted “Emergency Communications Division” for “Office of Emergency Communications” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(ii)Subsec. (a). , substituted “Emergency Communications Division” for “Office of Emergency Communications” and inserted at end “The Division shall be located in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.”

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iii)Subsec. (b). , amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The head of the office shall be the Director for Emergency Communications. The Director shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications.”

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iv)(I)Subsec. (c). , inserted “Assistant” before “Director” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iv)(II)Subsec. (c)(16). –(IV), added par. (16).

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(v)Subsecs. (d), (e). , (vi), inserted “Assistant” before “Director” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(c)132 Stat. 4175

“Any reference to—
“(1)
the Office of Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Emergency Communications Division; and
“(2)
the Director for Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 109–295section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295section 313 of this titleAny reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until , see , set out as a note under .

Savings Clause

Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 675120 Stat. 1444

Pub. L. 109–295section 101 of this title“Nothing in this subtitle [subtitle D (§§ 671–675) of title VI of , enacting this subchapter and sections 195 and 195a of this title and provisions set out as a note under ] shall be construed to transfer to the Office of Emergency Communications any function, personnel, asset, component, authority, grant program, or liability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as constituted on .”
, , , provided that:

Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 117–26344 U.S.C. 3502section 7143(f)(1) of Pub. L. 117–263section 650 of this titleNothing in amendment made by to be construed to alter the authorities, responsibilities, functions, or activities of any agency (as such term is defined in ) or officer or employee of the United States on or before , see , set out as a note under .

Continuation in Office

Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XC, § 9001(e)(2)134 Stat. 4768

“The individual serving as the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications of the Department of Homeland Security on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [] may serve as the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications on and after that date.”
, , , provided that:

Director for Emergency Communications Authorized To Serve as Assistant Director of Emergency Communications

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(b)(2)132 Stat. 4175

“The individual serving as the Director for Emergency Communications of the Department of Homeland Security on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [] may continue to serve as the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications of the Department on and after such date.”
, , , provided that: