[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 164 (Thursday, August 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43388-43389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21369]


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NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM


National Communications System Directive; Communications Resource 
Information Sharing Initiative

AGENCY: National Communications System (NCS).

ACTION: Notice of NCS Directive.

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SUMMARY: This directive establishes National Communications System 
(NCS) policies pertaining to administering and using the NCS 
Communications Resource Information Sharing (CRIS) initiative.
    Information: Telephone (703) 607-6104 or write the Manager, 
National Communications System, 701 S. Courthouse Rd., Arlington, VA 
22204-2198.
Dennis Bodson,
Chief, Technology and Standards Division.

NCS Directive 3-9

Telecommunications Operations

Communications Resource Information Sharing Initiative
    1. Purpose. This directive establishes National Communications 
System (NCS) policies pertaining to administrating and using the NCS 
Communications Resource Information Sharing (CRIS) initiative.
    2. Applicability. This directive is binding upon NCS and other 
Executive entities that voluntarily elect to participate in the CRIS 
initiative.
    2. Authority. This directive is issued under the authority of 
Executive Order No. 12472, ``Assignment of National Security and 
Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications Functions,'' April 3, 1984; 
49 Federal Register 13471, April 5, 1984; and NCS Directive 1-1, 
``National Communications System (NCS) Issuance System,'' November 30, 
1987.
    4. References.
    a. Executive Order No. 12472, ``Assignment of National Security and 
Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications Functions,'' April 3, 1984, 
49 Federal Register 13471.
    b. Executive Order No. 12656, ``Assignment of Emergency 
Preparedness Responsibilities,'' November 18, 1988.
    c. ``A Concept of Operations for the NCS Communications Resource 
Information Sharing (CRIS) Initiative,'' April 2, 1994.
    5. General.
    a. Many Federal departments and agencies possess communications 
resources in the form of assets, services, and capabilities which could 
be shared

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voluntarily with other Federal departments and agencies. The NCS CRIS 
initiative establishes an information source which provides resource 
points of contact, associated communications resources, and supporting 
information for use by CRIS participants.
    b. The CRIS information source will facilitate on a voluntary basis 
the sharing of communications resources in non-Presidentially declared 
disasters, emergencies, or as necessary for critical needs.
    c. Use of CRIS shall not interfere with departmental or agency 
missions and operations.
    d. Participants will identify resource points of contact to 
facilitate the rapid coordination and sharing of resources.
    e. Participants having centralized control points or operations 
centers for managing communications assets may elect to identify only 
the control point as the point of contact. If the resources are 
regionally based and administered, the controlling entity may elect to 
decentralize CRIS participation and identify regional control points as 
the points of contact.
    f. Identification of CRIS resources may include government-owned 
and -leased or otherwise government-controlled communications 
resources.
    g. Supporting information in the CRIS information source will 
include minimum coordination guidance to ensure non-interference.
    h. Providers of CRIS resources may establish terms and conditions 
related to the sharing of CRIS resources.
    6. Responsibilities.
    a. The NCS Committee of Principals is the approving body for the 
CRIS Initiative. The Office of the Manager, NCS (OMNCS), will provide 
technical, administrative, and maintenance support in developing and 
implementing CRIS. Upon implementation, the OMNCS will also act as a 
coordinator for CRIS.
    b. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services 
Administration (GSA), and OMNCS will coordinate on implementing and 
maintaining the CRIS information source, and distributing the 
information to ensure CRIS activities do not conflict with the disaster 
and emergency management responsibilities of FEMA and GSA during 
Presidentially declared emergencies.
    c. CRIS participants will:
    (1) Help develop the CRIS information source and maintain the 
currency and accuracy of their information contained in the information 
source.
    (2) Use CRIS in conjunction with other activities (e.g., national 
security and emergency preparedness exercises) to assess its 
effectiveness.
    (3) Ensure that the missions and operations of departments and 
agencies are not adversely impacted when using CRIS.
    (4) Coordinate the use of existing radio frequency authorizations 
to ensure that interference with other authorized radio services does 
not occur when loaning spectrum-dependent resources.
    7. Authorizing Provisions. An NCS Handbook to support this 
directive is authorized.
    8. Effective Date. This Directive is effective immediately.
    9. Expiration. This Directive is in effect until superseded or 
canceled.

    Dated: February 12, 1996.
John H. Gibbons,
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy.
[FR Doc. 96-21369 Filed 8-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-03-M