[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36417-36418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16388]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; The Department of Homeland Security, Office of 
Emergency Communications, SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS)

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for comments; New Collection: 1670-
NEW.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Protection 
and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Office of Cybersecurity and 
Communications (CS&C), Office of Emergency Communications, will submit 
the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DHS previously published this ICR 
in the Federal Register for 60 days. The notice published as 60-Day 
Request for Comment on Thursday, April 27, 2017. DHS received comments 
from two stakeholders indicating an appreciation for public outreach. 
As a next step in the administrative process, a second notice will be 
published in the Federal Register. Its purpose is to allow an 
additional 30 days for the public to provide comments about the notice.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until September 5, 
2017. DHS and OMB conducts this process in accordance with Controlling 
Paperwork Burdens on the Public rules and regulations. 5 CFR 1320.1 
(1995).

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed ICR to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments should be addressed to 
OMB Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security and sent via 
electronic mail to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-
5806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Enactment of 6 U.S.C. 571 governs the Office 
of Emergency Communications (OEC) and establishes a Director with 
specific responsibilities. This includes assisting the DHS Secretary in 
developing and implementing a program to support and promote 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 ensure, 
accelerate, and attain interoperable emergency communications 
nationwide. In addition, 6 U.S.C. 573 authorizes the DHS Secretary 
acting through the OEC Director to conduct a baseline assessment of 
communications capabilities among emergency response providers and 
relevant government officials at all levels of government no less than 
once every five years. OEC is tasked with conducting a periodic 
nationwide assessment of emergency communications.
    OEC's governing statute provides a framework for its periodic 
assessment. Accordingly, OEC, in coordination with its stakeholder 
partners, developed the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS). The survey's 
purpose is to gather information to assess capabilities currently 
available, and identify gaps based on the needs of emergency response 
providers. This information will allow OEC and its stakeholders to 
understand critical capabilities more clearly, and to target resources 
more efficiently for communications during response situations of all 
scales and scope, from day-to-day to out-of-the-ordinary situations.
    To gather baseline assessment information, OEC will deploy four 
versions of the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS) tailored to address 
emergency response entities at each level of government: Federal, State 
and territorial, tribal, and local. Each SNS version is built upon a 
foundation of core planning elements identified by OEC and its 
stakeholders as fundamental to achieve open and secure communications 
operability, interoperability, and continuity. These elements are 
interdependent critical success factors that must be addressed to plan 
for and implement public safety communications capabilities. These 
elements are recognized as Governance, Standard Operating Procedures, 
Training and Exercises, Technology, Usage, Security and Equipment.
    The SNS questions align with each of these elements. This design 
enables DHS to determine jurisdictional capability levels of 
operability, interoperability, and continuity as they collectively 
pertain to the use of emergency communications. For example, Governance 
questions will pertain to matters related to decision-making groups, 
agreements, funding, and strategic planning. Standard Operating 
Procedure questions will focus on procedures, guidelines, and content. 
Training and Exercise questions will focus on their nature, scope, and 
frequency. Technology questions will focus on infrastructure, 
solutions, and information-sharing. Usage questions will address 
frequency of use, proficiency, and resource

[[Page 36418]]

capacity. Security will focus on cybersecurity in the context of 
emergency communications. Finally, Equipment questions focuses on the 
types of equipment or systems used. These SNS elements and sub-elements 
set forth the DHS OEC assessment framework. Collectively, will enable 
DHS OEC to fulfill its governing authority and identify a baseline of 
nationwide emergency communications capabilities.
    This is a new information collection. OMB is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and minimize the burden of the collection of information 
on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

Analysis

    Agency: Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, 
Office of Emergency Communications.
    OMB Number: 1670-NEW.
    Frequency: Once every five years.
    Affected Public: Federal, State, local and private sector emergency 
response personnel.
    Number of Respondents: 3,002 annually.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,501 annual burden hours.

    Dated: July 28, 2017.
David Epperson,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-16388 Filed 8-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-9P-P