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

6 U.S.C. § 574

Coordination of Department emergency communications grant programs

(a)

Coordination of grants and standards programs

section 572 of this titleThe Secretary, acting through the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, shall ensure that grant guidelines for the use of homeland security assistance administered by the Department relating to interoperable emergency communications are coordinated and consistent with the goals and recommendations in the National Emergency Communications Plan under .

(b)

Denial of eligibility for grants

(1)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Grants and Planning, and in consultation with the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, may prohibit any State, local, or tribal government from using homeland security assistance administered by the Department to achieve, maintain, or enhance emergency communications capabilities, if—
(A)
section 194(f) of this title such government has not complied with the requirement to submit a Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan as required by ;
(B)
such government has proposed to upgrade or purchase new equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards and has not provided a reasonable explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that meet or exceed such standards; and
(C)
section 572 of this title as of the date that is 3 years after the date of the completion of the initial National Emergency Communications Plan under , national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable emergency communications capabilities have not been developed and promulgated.
(2)

Standards

The Secretary, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for standards, shall support the development, promulgation, and updating as necessary of national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable emergency communications.

Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1804Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b)120 Stat. 1438Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(B)132 Stat. 4179(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 1804 of Pub. L. 107–296section 594 of this titleAnother was renumbered section 1904 and is classified to .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–2782018—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). substituted “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” for “Director for Emergency Communications”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 571(g) of this titleReference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications deemed to be a reference to the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, see , enacted .