March 23, 1999
DR 3300-1
APPENDIX J
NATIONAL SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
1 PURPOSE
This appendix establishes policies and assigns responsibility for the management and use of National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunications within the United States Department of Agriculture.
2 BACKGROUND
The primary objective of the National Communications System (NCS) is to ensure government has the telecommunications capabilities to obtain access and use critical information services during any emergency situation. All of the NCS programs and activities work toward that end.
3 REFERENCES
Source Publication Title/Subject
EOP E. O. 12472 Assignment of NS/EP Telecommunications Functions
EOP E. O. 12656 Assignment of NS/EP Responsibility
GSA 47 CFR 201-216 Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Security Council
USDA DR 1800-1 Departmental Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities
USDA DR 3140-1 Information Systems Security Policy
4 ABBREVIATIONS
EOP - Executive Office of the President
NCS - National Communications System
NS/EP - National Security and Emergency Preparedness
TSP - Telecommunications Service Priority
5 POLICY
a Agencies shall determine their current NS/EP telecommunications requirements.
b Agencies shall ensure that Federally owned or managed domestic telecommunications facilities and services meet appropriate NS/EP requirements.
c The FTS2000/2001 contract is the mandatory source for the implementation of NS/EP telecommunications requirements.
d The cost for NS/EP telecommunications requirements shall be borne by the agency or staff office requesting the service.
e Where available, GSA local services shall be used to meet local NS/EP requirements.
6 RESPONSIBILITIES
a The Office of Chief Information Officer will:
(1) Coordinate telecommunication priority services which cannot be restored by normal procedures; and
(2) Serve as the USDA representative on the National Communications System Committee of Principals.
b Agencies and Staff Offices will:
(1) Be familiar with emergency program responsibilities and essential functions (DR 1800-1);
(2) Maintain a file on NS/EP telecommunication requirements and revalidate annually;
(3) Submit telecommunications service priority requests for services to OCIO which cannot be restored by using normal procedures; and
(4) Include plans for disaster recovery of telecommunications systems as requested in the Status policy report of the Information Systems Security Plan submission.
7 DEFINITIONS
a National Security and Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications. Telecommunications services which are used to maintain a state of readiness or to respond to and manage any event or crisis which causes or could cause injury or harm to population, damage to or loss of property, or degrades or threatens the NS/EP posture of the United States.
b National Communications System. The NCS is a confederation arrangement in which member Federal agencies participate with their owned and leased telecommunications assets to provide necessary communications services for the Federal Government, under all conditions, including nuclear war.
c NS/EP Telecommunications Service Priority. The Telecommunications Service Priority system is the regulatory, administrative, and operational authority that enables priority treatment of telecommunications services for all Government users, as well as nongovernment NS/EP users.
(1) A TSP provisioning priority is obtained to facilitate the priority installations of new NS/EP telecommunications services.
(2) A TSP restoration priority is applied to existing NS/EP services and requires telecommunications carriers to restore the service before any system without a TSP assignment.