(a) Clarification of Responsibilities.--The Director of the
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility shall--
(1) assist the Secretary in developing and
implementing the science and technology aspects of the
program described in subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and
(G) of section 7303(a)(1) of the Intelligence Reform
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C.
194(a)(1));
(2) in coordination with the Federal Communications
Commission, the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, and other Federal departments and agencies
with responsibility for standards, support the creation
of national voluntary consensus standards for
interoperable emergency communications;
(3) establish a comprehensive research,
development, testing, and evaluation program for
improving interoperable emergency communications;
(4) establish, in coordination with the Director
for Emergency Communications, 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;
(5) carry out the Department's responsibilities and
authorities relating to research, development, testing,
evaluation, or standards-related elements of the
SAFECOM Program;
(6) evaluate and assess new technology in real-
world environments to achieve interoperable emergency
communications capabilities;
(7) encourage more efficient use of existing
resources, including equipment, to achieve
interoperable emergency communications capabilities;
(8) test public safety communications systems that
are less prone to failure, support new nonvoice
services, use spectrum more efficiently, and cost less
than existing systems;
(9) coordinate with the private sector to develop
solutions to improve emergency communications
capabilities and achieve interoperable emergency
communications capabilities; and
(10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination with
the Director for Emergency Communications, to test and
demonstrate technologies, including data and video,
that enhance--
(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
capabilities.
(b) Coordination.--The Director of the Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility shall coordinate with the
Director for Emergency Communications with respect to the
SAFECOM program.
(c) Sufficiency of Resources.--The Secretary shall provide
the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility the resources
and staff necessary to carry out the responsibilities under
this section.
SEC. 315. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science and
Technology, acting through the Director of the Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility, shall establish a
comprehensive research and development program to support and
promote--
(1) 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
(2) interoperable emergency communications
capabilities among emergency response providers and
relevant government officials, including by--
(A) supporting research on a competitive
basis, including through the Directorate of
Science and Technology and Homeland Security
Advanced Research Projects Agency; and
(B) considering the establishment of a
Center of Excellence under the Department of
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Program
focused on improving emergency response
providers' communication capabilities.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program established
under subsection (a) include--
(1) supporting research, development, testing, and
evaluation on emergency communication capabilities;
(2) understanding the strengths and weaknesses of
the public safety communications systems in use;
(3) examining how current and emerging technology
can make emergency response providers more effective,
and how Federal, State, local, and tribal government
agencies can use this technology in a coherent and
cost-effective manner;
(4) investigating technologies that could lead to
long-term advancements in emergency communications
capabilities and supporting research on advanced
technologies and potential systemic changes to
dramatically improve emergency communications; and
(5) evaluating and validating advanced technology
concepts, and facilitating the development and
deployment of interoperable emergency communication
capabilities.
(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term
``interoperable'', with respect to emergency communications,
has the meaning given the term in section 1808.