[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8688-8689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04000]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan Template and 
Progress Report

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Department 
of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for comments; revised collection, 
1670-0017.

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SUMMARY: The DHS NPPD Office of Cybersecurity and Communications 
(CS&C), 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. NPPD previously 
published this ICR in the Federal Register on Friday, December 1, 2017 
at 82 FR 56985 for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were 
received by NPPD. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 
30 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until March 30, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to OMB Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security and sent 
via electronic mail to [email protected]. All submissions must 
include the words ``Department of Homeland Security'' and the OMB 
Control Number 1670-0017.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available 
to the public through relevant websites. For this reason, please do not 
include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as 
sensitive personal information or proprietary information. If you send 
an email comment, your email address will be automatically captured and 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and 
made available on the internet. Please note that responses to this 
public comment request containing any routine notice about the 
confidentiality of the communication will be treated as public comments 
that may be made available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion 
of the routine notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Richard Tenney at 703-705-6281 or 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DHS NPPD CS&C Office of Emergency 
Communications (OEC), formed under Title XVIII of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 571 et seq., is required, pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 
572, to develop the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), 
which includes identification of goals, timeframes, and appropriate 
measures to achieve interoperable communications capabilities. The 
Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Template and 
Annual SCIP Snapshot Report are designed to meet and support these 
statutory requirements.
    OEC will use the information from the SCIP Template and Annual SCIP 
Snapshot to track the progress States are making in implementing 
milestones and demonstrating goals of the NECP, as required through the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 572. The SCIP Template and 
Annual SCIP Snapshot will provide OEC with broader capability data 
across the lanes of the Interoperability Continuum, which are key 
indicators of consistent success in response-level communications.
    In addition, the SCIP Template and the SCIP Snapshot will assist 
States in their strategic planning for interoperable and emergency 
communications while

[[Page 8689]]

demonstrating each State's achievements and challenges in accomplishing 
optimal interoperability for emergency responders. Moreover, certain 
government grants may require States to update their SCIP Templates and 
SCIP Snapshot to include broadband efforts in order to receive funding 
for interoperable and emergency communications.
    Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) will be responsible 
for collecting this information from their respective stakeholders and 
governance bodies, and will complete and submit the SCIP Snapshots 
directly to OEC through unclassified electronic submission.
    The SCIP Template and Annual SCIP Snapshot may be submitted through 
unclassified electronic submission to OEC by each State's SWIC in 
addition to being able to submit their respective SCIP Template and 
Annual SCIP Snapshot via email to [email protected].
    OEC streamlined its annual SCIP reporting process to obtain 
standard data to understand progress and challenges in emergency 
communications planning. OEC replaced the lengthier Annual Progress 
Report with the SCIP Snapshot as a reporting mechanism for States and 
territories for submitting SCIP progress, achievements and challenges. 
The data collected is based on calendar year reporting. The SCIP 
Snapshot also includes sections for States and territories to report on 
the status of governance structures, progress towards SCIP goals and 
initiatives, and overall successes and challenges in advancing 
interoperable emergency communications.
    This is a revised information collection. OMB is particularly 
interested in comments which:
    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
    4. 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.
    Title of Collection: Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan 
(SCIP) Template and Progress Report.
    OMB Control Number: 1670-0017.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Private and Public Sector.
    Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 6 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 336 hours.

David Epperson,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-04000 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-9P-P