21st Century Essential Guide to the National Communications System (NCS), Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), Wireless Priority (CD-ROM)

This electronic book on CD-ROM provides a unique and comprehensive collection of federal documents and guidelines from the National Communications System (NCS) and its associated programs, the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), and Wireless Priority Service (WPS). The NCS states its mission as follows: “Assist the President, the National Security Council, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in (1) the exercise of the telecommunications functions and responsibilities, and (2) the coordination of the planning for and provision of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Federal government under all circumstances, including crisis or emergency, attack, recovery and reconstitution.” Background and History: “The genesis of the National Communications System (NCS) began in 1962 after the Cuban missile crisis when communications problems among the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and foreign heads of state threatened to complicate the crisis further. After the crisis, President John F. Kennedy ordered an investigation of national security communications, and the National SecurityCouncil (NSC) formed an interdepartmental committee to examine the communications networks and institute changes. This interdepartmental committee recommended the formation of a single unified communications system to serve the President, Department of Defense, diplomatic and intelligence activities, and civilian leaders. Consequently, in order to provide better communications support to critical Government functions during emergencies, President Kennedy established the National Communications System by a Presidential Memorandum on August 21, 1963. The NCS mandate included linking, improving, and extending the communications facilities and components of various Federal agencies, focusing on interconnectivity and survivability. On April 3, 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order (E.O.) 12472 which broadened the NCS' national security and emergency preparedness (NS/ EP) capabilities and superseded President Kennedy's original 1963 memorandum. The NCS expanded! from its original six members to an interagency group of 23 Federal departments and agencies, and began coordinating and planning NS/EP telecommunications to support crises and disasters. With the United States Information Agency being absorbed into the U.S. State Department in October 2000, the NCS membership currently stands at 23 members.” Contents include a full roster of the NCS directives and manuals: · NCS Directive 1-1: Organization, Membership, and Administration National Communications System (NCS) Issuance System · NCS Manual 1-1-1: Organization, Membership, and Administration Procedures and Format for NCS Issuances · NCS Directive 1-2: Organization, Membership, and Administration National Communications System (NCS) Membership · NCS Directive 2-1: Plans, Programs, and Fiscal Management National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Telecommunications Planning Process · NCS Directive 2-2: Plans, Programs, and Fiscal Management National Level NS/EP Telecommunications Program (NLP) Funding · NCS Directive 3-1: Telecommunications Operations Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) System for NS/EP · NCS Manual 3-1-1: Telecommunications Operations Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) System for NS/EP - Service User Manual · NCS Handbook 3-1-2: Telecommunications Operations Service Vendor Handbook for the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program · NCS Directive 3-3: Telecommunications Operations Shared Resources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program · NCS Manual 3-3-1: Telecommunications Operations Shared Resources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program - Manual · NCS Directive 3-4: Telecommunications Operatio