(a) Establishment.--There is established the Emergency
Communications Preparedness Center (in this section referred to
as the ``Center'').
(b) Operation.--The Secretary, the Chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Attorney General of the United
States, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies
or their designees shall jointly operate the Center in
accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding entitled,
``Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC)
Charter''.
(c) Functions.--The Center shall--
(1) serve as the focal point for interagency
efforts and as a clearinghouse with respect to all
relevant intergovernmental information to support and
promote (including specifically by working to avoid
duplication, hindrances, and counteractive efforts
among the participating Federal departments and
agencies)--
(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;
(2) prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual
basis, a strategic assessment regarding the
coordination efforts of Federal departments and
agencies to advance--
(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;
(3) consider, in preparing the strategic assessment
under paragraph (2), the goals stated in the National
Emergency Communications Plan under section 1802; and
(4) perform such other functions as are provided in
the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC)
Charter described in subsection (b)(1).
SEC. 1807. [6 U.S.C. 577] URBAN AND OTHER HIGH RISK AREA COMMUNICATIONS
CAPABILITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and the
Secretary of Defense, and with appropriate State, local, and
tribal government officials, shall provide technical guidance,
training, and other assistance, as appropriate, to support the
rapid establishment of consistent, secure, and effective
interoperable emergency communications capabilities in the
event of an emergency in urban and other areas determined by
the Secretary to be at consistently high levels of risk from
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made
disasters.
(b) Minimum Capabilities.--The interoperable emergency
communications capabilities established under subsection (a)
shall ensure the ability of all levels of government, emergency
response providers, the private sector, and other organizations
with emergency response capabilities--
(1) to communicate with each other in the event of
an emergency;
(2) to have appropriate and timely access to the
Information Sharing Environment described in section
1016 of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act
of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 321); and
(3) to be consistent with any applicable State or
Urban Area homeland strategy or plan.