1.This Act may be cited as the
Improve Interoperable Communications
for First Responders Act of 2005
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)A major barrier to sharing information
among police, firefighters, and others who may be called on to respond to
terrorist attacks and other large-scale emergencies is the lack of
interoperable communications systems, which can enable public safety agencies
to talk to one another and share important, sometimes critical, information in
an emergency.
(2)Communications interoperability has been
identified by the Department of Homeland Security as 1 of the most essential
capabilities necessary for first responders to achieve the national
preparedness goal the Department of Homeland Security has established for the
Nation.
(3)The lack of interoperability costs lives
during terrorist attacks or natural disasters, but also during everyday
emergency operations.
(4)Achieving interoperability is difficult
because some 50,000 local agencies typically make independent decisions about
communications systems. This lack of coordination also dramatically increases
the cost of public safety communications to Federal, State, local, and tribal
governments.
(5)Achieving the level of communications
interoperability that is needed will require an unprecedented level of
coordination and cooperation among Federal, State, local, and tribal public
safety agencies. Establishing multidisciplinary, cross-jurisdictional
governance structures to achieve the necessary level of collaboration is
essential to accomplishing this goal.
(6)The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with other Federal officials, to establish a program to ensure
public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government.
(7)However, much more remains to be done. For
example, in January 2005, the National Governors Association reported that
while achieving interoperability ranked as the top priority for States,
obtaining the equipment and technology to fulfill this goal remains a
challenge. The large majority of States report that they have not yet achieved
interoperability in their States.
(8)Over 70 percent of public safety
communications equipment is still analog, rather than digital. In fact, much of
the communications equipment used by emergency responders is outdated and
incompatible, which inhibits communication between State and local governments
and between neighboring local jurisdictions. Additional grant funding would
facilitate the acquisition of new technology to enable interoperability.
(9)Stronger and more effective national,
statewide, and regional leadership are required to improve interoperability.
The Department of Homeland Security must provide national leadership by
conducting nationwide outreach to each State, fostering the development of
regional leadership, and providing substantial technical assistance to State,
local, and tribal public safety officials, while more effectively utilizing
grant programs that fund interoperable equipment and systems.
(10)The Department of Homeland Security must
implement pilot programs and fund and conduct research to develop and promote
adoption of next-generation solutions for public safety communications. The
Department of Homeland Security must also further develop its own internal
expertise to enable it to better lead national interoperability efforts and to
provide technically sound advice to State and local officials.
(11)Achieving interoperability requires the
sustained commitment of substantial resources. A non-partisan task force of the
Council on Foreign Relations recommended spending at least $6,800,000,000 over
5 years towards achieving interoperability. The Department of Homeland Security
has estimated the cost of modernizing first-responder equipment for the
2,500,000 public safety first responders across the country at
$40,000,000,000.
(12)Communications interoperability can be
accomplished at a much lower cost if strong national leadership drives
cooperation and adoption of smart, new technology solutions.
3.Office for
interoperability and compatibility
(a)Section 7303(a)(2) of
the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C.
194(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
(2)Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility
(A)There is
established an Office for Interoperability and Compatibility within the
Directorate of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to
carry out this subsection.
(B)There shall be a Director of the Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
(C)The Director of the Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility shall—
(i)assist the Secretary of Homeland Security
in developing and implementing the program described in paragraph (1);
(ii)carry out the Department of Homeland
Security’s responsibilities and authorities relating to the SAFECOM
Program;
(iii)carry out section 510 of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002; and
(iv)conduct extensive, nationwide outreach and
foster the development of interoperable communications systems by State, local,
and tribal governments and public safety agencies, and by regional consortia
thereof, by—
(I)developing, updating, and implementing a
national strategy to achieve communications interoperability, with goals and
timetables;
(II)developing a national architecture, which
defines the components of an interoperable system and how they fit
together;
(III)establishing and maintaining a task force
that represents the broad customer base of State, local, and tribal public
safety agencies, as well as Federal agencies, involved in public safety
disciplines such as law enforcement, firefighting, public health, and disaster
recovery, in order to receive input and coordinate efforts to achieve
communications interoperability;
(IV)working with the Office of Domestic
Preparedness Interoperable Communication Communications Technical Assistance
Program to—
- (aa)provide technical assistance to State,
local, and tribal officials; and
- (bb)facilitate the creation of regional task
forces in each State, with appropriate governance structures and representation
from State, local, and tribal governments and public safety agencies and from
the Federal Government, to effectively address interoperability and other
information-sharing needs;
(V)promoting a greater understanding of the
importance of interoperability and the benefits of sharing resources among all
levels of State, local, tribal, and Federal government;
(VI)promoting development of standard operating
procedures for incident response and facilitating the sharing of information on
best practices (including from governments abroad) for achieving
interoperability;
(VII)making recommendations to Congress about
any changes in Federal law necessary to remove barriers to achieving
communications interoperability;
(VIII)funding and conducting pilot programs, as
necessary, in order to—
- (aa)evaluate and validate new technology
concepts in real-world environments to achieve public safety communications
interoperability;
- (bb)encourage more efficient use of existing
resources, including equipment and spectrum; and
- (cc)test and deploy public safety
communications systems that are less prone to failure, support new non-voice
services, consume less spectrum, and cost less; and
(IX)performing other functions necessary to
achieve communications interoperability.
(D)The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall provide the Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility with the resources and staff necessary to carry out the purposes
of this section. The Secretary shall further ensure that there is sufficient
staff within the Office of Interoperability and Compatibility, the Office for
Domestic Preparedness, and other offices of the Department of Homeland Security
as necessary, to provide dedicated support to public safety organizations
consistent with the responsibilities set forth in subparagraph
(C)(iv).
.
(b)Section 7303(g)(1) of the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(g)(1)) is amended to
read as follows:
(1)Interoperable
Communications and Communications InteroperabilityThe
terms interoperable communications and communications
interoperability mean the ability of emergency response providers and
relevant Federal, State, and local government agencies to communicate with each
other as necessary, utilizing information technology systems and radio
communications systems, and to exchange voice, data, or video with one another
on demand, in real time, as
necessary.
.
(c)Title III of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
314.Interoperability
assessment and report
(a)The Secretary,
acting through the Director of the Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility, shall conduct a nationwide assessment to determine the degree to
which communications interoperability has been achieved to date and to
ascertain the needs that remain for interoperability to be achieved.
(b)Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives a report on the Department’s progress in
implementing and achieving the goals of the Improve Interoperable Communications for First Responders
Act of 2005. The first report submitted under this subsection
shall include a description of the findings of the assessment conducted under
subsection
(a).
.
4.
(a)Title III of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as amended by section 3,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
315.Interoperability
Research and Development
(a)The Secretary shall
establish a comprehensive research and development program to promote
communications interoperability among first responders, including by—
(1)promoting research on a competitive basis
through the Directorate of Science and Technology Homeland Security Advanced
Research Projects Agency; and
(2)considering establishment of a Center of
Excellence under the Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence
Program, using a competitive process, focused on enhancing information and
communications systems for first responders.
(b)The purposes of the program established
under subsection (a) include—
(1)understanding the strengths and weaknesses
of the diverse public safety communications systems currently in use;
(2)examining how current and emerging
technology can make public safety organizations more effective, and how
Federal, State, and local agencies can utilize this technology in a coherent
and cost-effective manner;
(3)exploring Federal, State, and local
policies that will move systematically towards long-term solutions;
(4)evaluating and validating new technology
concepts, and promoting the deployment of advanced public safety information
technologies for interoperability; and
(5)advancing the creation of a national
strategy to promote interoperability and efficient use of spectrum in
communications systems, improve information sharing across organizations, and
use advanced information technology to increase the effectiveness of first
responders in valuable new
ways.
.
(b)Authorization
of AppropriationsIn addition
to the funds authorized to be appropriated by section 7303(a)(3) of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(a)(3)),
there are authorized to be appropriated for the operations of the Office for
Interoperability and Compatibility, to provide technical assistance through the
office for Domestic Preparedness, to fund and conduct research under section
315 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and for other appropriate entities
within the Department of Homeland Security to support the activities described
in section 7303 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
(6 U.S.C. 194) and sections 314 and 315 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002,
as added by this Act—
(1)$127,232,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2)$126,549,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3)$125,845,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4)$125,121,000 for fiscal year 2009;
and
(5)such sums as are necessary for each fiscal
year thereafter.
5.Dedicated funding to
achieve interoperabilityThe
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
<enum>XVIII</enum><header>Dedicated funding to achieve
interoperability.</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC7C81B2273C344FCA869B8F99B99A9E5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1801.</enum><header>Interoperability
grants</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7f4c0d38936642b0bf4fa080d02e827d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary,
through the Office, shall make grants to States and eligible regions for
initiatives necessary to achieve short-term or long-term solutions to
statewide, regional, national and, where appropriate, international
interoperability.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb85ed07aeada453a87ed67db80b06b1f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of Grant
Funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants awarded under
subsection (a) may be used for initiatives to achieve short-term or long-term
solutions to interoperability within the State or region and to assist with any
aspect of the communication life cycle, including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf49ea142888242f1b6dab5b6ef0acebb"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">statewide or regional communications
planning;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9c2949135b3a418687768fa96a4f58e5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">system design and engineering;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDef363f478b4b4d099bcc2a40548d32cb"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">procurement and installation of
equipment;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID39622a93f28140baa3f5ca3544e4d6fc"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">training and exercises; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5e9e8626090645e980798f8feace77a8"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other activities determined by the
Secretary to be integral to the achievement of communications
interoperability.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID85f5d50b1aa7438b94c8800f457f5b38"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall ensure that the Office
coordinates its activities with Office of Interoperability and Compatibility,
the Directorate of Science and Technology, and other Federal entities so that
grants awarded under this section, and other grant programs related to homeland
security, fulfill the purposes of this Act and facilitate the achievement of
communications interoperability consistent with the national strategy.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDba998951299a4903ac72daad62707ce6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA818EC08C24A43E3A9254CC736CBBF48"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State or eligible
region desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB2E9B22E6B264E40A98E41E0D146FC4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Minimum
contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At a minimum, each
application submitted under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID105eaeaccab6486bafc6effbd11a8692"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify the critical aspects of the
communications life cycle, including planning, system design and engineering,
procurement and installation, and training for which funding is
requested;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdfb08053ae124cf090a6758078d5f8cf"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describe how—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9f6b4a84c0c04f5da69c6c28c1adb64d"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the proposed use of funds would be
consistent with and address the goals in any applicable State homeland security
plan, and, unless the Secretary determines otherwise, are consistent with the
national strategy and architecture; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb2fd047c2d124817b873afd8444beb56"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the applicant intends to spend funds under
the grant, to administer such funds, and to allocate such funds among any
participating local governments; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7feb90bc5b494942830af7c02f61c00a"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be consistent with the Interoperable
Communications Plan required by section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(f)).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd33bcfc8394d473e97fa4b330976d9d8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>State Review
and Submission</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID29347d5652b142f2ab1201963b9ca510"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To ensure consistency
with State homeland security plans, an eligible region applying for a grant
under this section shall submit its application to each State within which any
part of the eligible region is located for review before submission of such
application to the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDeface6c664a24e3fa22c86f6a47bf1d7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days after receiving an
application from an eligible region under paragraph (1), each such State shall
transmit the application to the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe2d28277fc0f4136bdf29203fe6c8639"><enum>(3)</enum><header>State
Disagreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Governor
of any such State determines that a regional application is inconsistent with
the State homeland security plan of that State, or otherwise does not support
the application, the Governor shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2fe4627cce8a4904b99f804437de5f83"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notify the Secretary in writing of that
fact; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID93f3b02bf460472283908874e1bd8c84"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide an explanation of the reasons for
not supporting the application at the time of transmission of the
application.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf7fbe5fc15ab40d389c5e54cffe9532b"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Award of
Grants</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4f1f7c9f75b9470c91bcb4c045c2d89d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In approving applications and awarding
grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4e4dc8a0692447138731c422d5367131"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the nature of the threat to the State or
eligible region;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1d35f5349ca74e2bbec88f0553f183b4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the location, risk, or vulnerability of
critical infrastructure and key national assets, including the consequences
from an attack on critical infrastructure in nearby jurisdictions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdb80d66cf635452aa86b93997032bc13"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the size of the population, as well as the
population density of the area, that will be served by the interoperable
communications systems, except that the Secretary shall not establish a minimum
population requirement that would disqualify from consideration an area that
otherwise faces significant threats, vulnerabilities, or consequences;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID28c8391e37ef4621861305ae697a7d08"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which grants will be utilized
to implement interoperability solutions—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63530EA8A2E340AC8894EFC6E3BE2404"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consistent with the national strategy and
compatible with the national architecture; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB89DF8520CEC4D9DB13F57295CB9C8CA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">more efficient and cost effective than
current approaches;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb8b0af4387db45be9c8b86017c1f2f77"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of jurisdictions within regions
participating in the development of interoperable communications systems,
including the extent to which the application includes all incorporated
municipalities, counties, parishes, and tribal governments within the State or
eligible region, and their coordination with Federal and State agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID106ca2f7fbad48ed873b998b49f25052"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which a grant would expedite
the achievement of interoperability in the State or eligible region with
Federal, State, and local agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID87cecd73b081457fbfa27f7539ac5446"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which a State or eligible
region, given its financial capability, demonstrates its commitment to
expeditiously achieving communications interoperability by supplementing
Federal funds with non-Federal funds;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6a4b3f78403b44eea0bc1cb74cc17a46"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the State or eligible region is on
or near an international border;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB95B50727924072811B427B6C94F84C"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which geographic barriers
pose unusual obstacles to achieving communications interoperability; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDcb91be3815f949ee99b6f647c2c80103"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the threats, vulnerabilities, and
consequences faced by the State or eligible region related to at-risk site or
activities in nearby jurisdictions, including the need to respond to terrorist
attacks arising in those jurisdictions.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID515bc60683f04f4985f1179a97e9f3c4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review
Panel</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0F4CD77B60994799998636272E545981"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
establish a review panel under section 871(a) to assist in reviewing grant
applications under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id39A9939534B54B61803D8CB524EBE4D4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The review panel established under
subparagraph (A) shall make recommendations to the Secretary regarding
applications for grants under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9BC9B020D7D24E4B98441921F2858E71"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Membership</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The review panel established under
subparagraph (A) shall include individuals with technical expertise in
communications interoperability as well as emergency response providers and
other relevant State and local officials.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe646a46055134941a88721f6b08b09b7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Availability of
Funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any grant funds awarded
that may be used to support interoperability shall, as the Secretary may
determine, remain available for up to 3 years, consistent with section 7303(e)
of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C.
194(e)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID79fb7fe341f443e2b3ccf9e0adee7f80"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Allocation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3229992098994CAFACE5169AFE0ACE58"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In awarding grants
under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that each State receives, for
each fiscal year, the greater of—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID62998f31bda64acebf67709028138195"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">0.55 percent of the amounts appropriated
for grants under this section; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDac839c03d1664ba7a65e718f3eed37f8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the eligible State’s sliding scale baseline
allocation of 28.62 percent of the amounts appropriated for grants under this
section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0429961ef4324855953dcb9f522a1097"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Other
entities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that for each fiscal year—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58941A629C40412D9DF291FC80CE1B5F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the District of Columbia receives 0.55
percent of the amounts appropriated for grants under this section;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3CF8AAE9D5BC4105B10C4C2E0D51F2B1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico receives
0.35 percent of the amounts appropriated for grants under this section;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd8df6b9ca98d4e3fa4f5ca4dce3de23b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands each receive 0.055
percent of the amounts appropriated for grants under this section; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8CA070FAF59446AE814C3729E97606F9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Possessions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no
possession of the United States shall receive a baseline distribution under
subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf97e8c3e12a34fd48c6492bab69ceee1"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As used in this section, the following
definitions apply:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID17e4c7b1b959460fbfb34c3e39f31cf0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible
Region</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>eligible region</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID73b23db2d1f04d659de791f02f334e32"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 or more contiguous incorporated
municipalities, counties, parishes, Indian tribes or other general purpose
jurisdictions that—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0ADF6A41E64848DC8E15DED0A7752D21"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have joined together to enhance
communications interoperability between first responders in those jurisdictions
and with State and Federal officials; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id704AC4971532456FADBEC15B8262D8E9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">includes the largest city in any
metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Office of Management and
Budget; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb2316740e20a497295ed74f8c96003f0"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other area the Secretary determines to
be consistent with the definition of a region in the national preparedness
guidance issued under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA3AEA78FA1A9477DA10BAD9B3F5FCFEC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Interoperable
Communications and Communications Interoperability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
terms <term>interoperable communications</term> and <term>communications
interoperability</term> mean the ability of emergency response providers and
relevant Federal, State, and local government agencies to communicate with each
other as necessary, utilizing information technology systems and radio
communications systems, and to exchange voice, data, or video with one another
on demand, in real time, as necessary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE91EA497186F4FA6A937CBF5B20AEEF4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>office</term> refers to the
Office of Domestic Preparedness of the Office of State and Local Government
Preparedness and Coordination within the Department of Homeland
Security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfc80cff244f24c8d818acc39438d3cf8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Sliding scale
baseline allocation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>sliding scale baseline allocation</term> means 0.0001 multiplied by the
sum of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB2513237E26842BABCDFD05D217E32B5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the value of a State’s population relative
to that of the most populous of the 50 States of the United States, where the
population of such States has been normalized to a maximum value of 100;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD426506177044CA79C904CFFDEBA7671"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><fraction>1/4</fraction> of the value of a
State’s population density relative to that of the most densely populated of
the 50 States of the United States, where the population density of such States
has been normalized to a maximum value of 100</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID37305d6476064f72ad4c531a2dd5c364"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this section—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID92548782c729410f8098aa14584111b0"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$400,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2b703e3da5ca45c7bf35a6872b05b91b"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDded479c6109f45ed85958e4cc54d6f0d"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$600,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDceae6dab6dca45eda1f4c366b488cab4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$800,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd7ddd7925d104e0fa62550954e051788"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe635a643eef04611a796fe61ed59b2fb"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such sums as are necessary each fiscal year
thereafter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>.
6.Technical and
conforming amendmentsThe
table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 101) is amended by—
(1)inserting after the item relating to
section 313 the following:
Sec. 314. Interoperability
assessment and report.
Sec. 315. Interoperability
research and
development.
;
(2)adding at the end the following:
TITLE XVIII—Dedicated funding to achieve
interoperability.
Sec. 1801. Interoperability
grants.
.