Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Groups RECCWG National Public Safety Telecomm

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Regional Emergency Communications Coordination
Working Groups (RECCWG)National Public Safety
Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)Seattle,
WashingtonSeptember 15, 2008
Federal Emergency Management AgencyDisaster
Operations Directorate
Brian Carney National RECC Coordinator
brian.carney1_at_dhs.gov

202-212-4419
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Agenda

• Issue
• Title XVIII Legislation
• RECCWG as a coordination point
• RECCWG Draft Management Directive
• RECCWG Vision
• Resource Issues
• National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP)
  Reporting Requirement
• Discussion

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Issue

• The goal of operable, interoperable and
  survivable communications can only be realized
  through close coordination with Emergency
  Response Organizations and Partners.

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Title XVIII Legislation

• The Department of the Homeland Security Act of
  2002, as amended (P.L. 109-295), section 1805)d)
  established the RECCs.
• IN GENERAL.There is established in each Regional
  Office a Regional
  Emergency Communications Coordination Working
  Group (in this section referred to as an RECC
  Working Group). Each RECC Working Group shall
  report to the relevant Regional Administrator and
  coordinate its activities with the relevant
  Regional Advisory Council.
• MEMBERSHIP.Each RECC Working Group shall consist
  of the following (continued on next slide)

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Membership
Title XVIII Legislation (Cont.)
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RECC Coordination Responsibility
Title XVIII Legislation (Cont.)

• (c) COORDINATION.Each RECC Working Group shall
  coordinate its activities with the following
• (1) Communications equipment manufacturers and
  vendors (including broadband data service
  providers).
• (2) Local exchange carriers.
• (3) Local broadcast media.
• (4) Wireless carriers.
• (5) Satellite communications services.
• (6) Cable operators.
• (7) Hospitals.
• (8) Public utility services.
• (9) Emergency evacuation transit services.
• (10) Ambulance services.
• (11) HAM and amateur radio operators.
• (12) Representatives from other private sector
  entities and nongovernmental organizations as the
  Regional Administrator determines appropriate

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Title XVIII Legislation (Cont.)
RECC Duties

• The Department of the Homeland Security Act of
  2002, as amended (P.L. 109-295), section 1805
  assigns the following to the RECCs.
• (d) DUTIES.The duties of each RECC Working
  Group shall include
• (1) assessing the survivability, sustainability,
  and interoperability of local emergency
  communications systems to meet the goals of the
  National Emergency Communications Plan
• (2) reporting annually to the relevant Regional
  Administrator, the Director for Emergency
  Communications, the Chairman of the Federal
  Communications Commission, and the Assistant
  Secretary for Communications and Information of
  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

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RECC Duties (Cont.)
Title XVIII Legislation (Cont.)

• (3) ensuring a process for the coordination of
  effective multijurisdictional, multiagency
  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 manmade
  disasters.

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RECCs as a Coordination Point

• Proposal
• Establish and use the RECCs as a single Federal
  emergency communications coordination point for
  Federal interaction with the State, local and
  tribal governments.
• No Federal Office, Department or Agency would
  give up any of its authorities or
  responsibilities.
• Eventually all Federal Offices, Departments, and
  Agencies will coordinate their regional activates
  with the Regional administrator via the RECC thus
  minimizing different or conflicting advice or
  guidance to the State, local or Tribal officials.

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FEMA RECCWG Draft Management
Directive Overview
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RECC Vision
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Resource Issues and Actions

• RECC Activities currently not funded
• FEMA HQ has converted 10 FTE (at GS-14 level) to
  regional positions
• FEMA Disaster Operations Directorate has
  submitted FY10-14 Over Target budget required for
  National and Regional RECC support

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Overview of NECP 60 Day Reporting Requirement

• As noted earlier in Title XVIII Legislation, each
  RECC is required to provide a report on its
  regional progress in meeting the goals and
  milestones outlined in the NECP no later than 60
  days of the Plans release.
• The NECP was released by the Office of Emergency
  Communications (OEC) on July 31, 2008.
• To meet the deadline of September 30, 2008, FEMA
  Disaster Operations Directorate assisted in the
  development of the progress memo for each of the
  Regions based on information from the Statewide
  Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP), FEMA
  Disaster Emergency Communication (DEC) State
  Plans, and other available information.
• Each Regions reviewed, verified, and submitted
  the final progress memo to FEMA Disaster
  Operations Directorate for final submission to
  the Director for Emergency Communications, the
  Chairman of the Federal Communications
  Commission, and the Assistant Secretary for
  Communications and Information of the Department
  of Commerce.

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Regional Memo Structure

• The memos provide a current snapshot of the
  status of each RECCWG and the communications
  status of each state within the region.
• Introductionprovides a general overview of the
  Region and describes the purpose of the memo.
• Establishment of RECC Working Groupsdiscusses
  when the RECCWG was established and how many
  meetings have been held, identifies the RECC
  Coordinator, and summarizes the main topics of
  discussion and outcomes of the RECCWG meetings.
• Current Status of Interoperable
  Communicationsidentifies completed and planned
  regional efforts to better understand each
  States communications vulnerabilities, and
  describes the current status of interoperable and
  disaster emergency communications capabilities
  for each State, as well as planned activities to
  enhance interoperable communications in each
  State.
• Planned Activitiesidentifies future activities
  the RECCWG will pursue to continue working with
  the States to better understand their
  communications capabilities and help address any
  of interoperable communications concerns
  discussed at the RECCWG meetings, as well as to
  maintain and strengthen RECCWG participation
  levels.
• Challengesdescribes several potential challenges
  that may impact the ability of the RECCWGs to
  maintain consistent participation from Federal,
  State, and local representatives, as well as meet
  the needs of the States and locals in improving
  interoperable communications.

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Discussion