Emergency Communications: National Communications System Provides Programs for Priority Calling, but Planning for New Initiatives and Performance Measurement Could Be Strengthened

Abstract

Government functions and effective disaster response and management rely on the ability of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) personnel to communicate. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Communications System (NCS), is responsible for ensuring continuity of NS/EP communications when network congestion or damage occurs. As requested, GAO assessed the (1) priority communication programs NCS provides, how it enlists subscribers, and to what extent NCS controls access to these programs; (2) challenges that can affect delivery of these programs; and (3) extent to which NCS plans for and evaluates its services. GAO reviewed NCS program documents, such as annual reports and access control procedures and data on program subscribers. GAO also interviewed officials from NCS and select state and local government entities. GAO compared NCS performance measures to federal best practices.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2009
Accession Number
AD1181057

Entities

People

  • Candice Wright
  • Kirk Kiester
  • William O. Jr Jenkins

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cellular Networks
  • Commerce
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Digital Communications
  • Electronic Mail
  • Emergency Response
  • Government Procurement
  • Homeland Security
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Network Protocols
  • Network Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Packet Switching
  • Personnel Management
  • Text Messaging
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Wireless Networks

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.