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Committee of Principals (COP)

The Committee of Principals (COP) is a Presidentially designated interagency group that provides advice and recommendations on national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications to the Executive Office of the President.

The COP is composed of high-level Government officials representing Federal operational, policy, regulatory, and enforcement organizations. Its diverse representation across 24 Federal departments and agencies embraces the full spectrum of Federal telecommunications assets and responsibilities. As an interagency group, it serves as a forum for members to review, evaluate, and present views and recommendations on current or prospective NCS programs to the Manager, NCS, the Executive Agent (the Secretary of Homeland Security), and the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

The Manager of the National Communications System chairs the Committee of Principals. Each member department and agency of the NCS is responsible for providing a principal member to sit on the Committee of Principals (COP) with the role of executing the responsibilities originally assigned by Executive Order 12472, "Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Telecommunications Functions."

The COP Principal is responsible for providing the position of their parent organization on policy, technical, and programmatic NS/EP telecommunications issues. Principals ensure that written reports, comments, and recommendations are made available to the Committee through the Executive Secretary (the NCS Deputy Manager). Principals also participate as members of subordinate groups, as required, and provide guidance and direction to their respective organizations' representatives.

The COP meets bi-monthy. At these meetings, the COP receives a series of briefings designated for action or information. Often, the Committee is asked to recommend forwarding a report or issuance to the Executive Office of the President. It is by the COP's consensus and direction that the majority of the programs and activities of the NCS take place. The COP Bylaws outline these procedures.

The Council of Representatives (COR) was formally established by the Committee Bylaws as a permanent subordinate group to participate in NCS activities. Each department and agency provides a representative to the Council of Representatives (COR). The Office of the Manager, NCS provides support to the COP, COR, and their subgroups.

As the working group of the COP, the COR reviews initiatives from many sources for forwarding to the Committee. For example, the COP may be tasked by the Executive Office of the President or the National Security Council to investigate a specific area and produce recommendations for action. The Committee, in turn, may task the COR to study that area and provide a report within a specific period of time. The COR may convene a subcommittee to fulfill the COP's request. As another example, the OMNCS may present or initiate a new program for consideration by the COR and the COP. Alternatively, an NCS member organization may present a briefing for NCS consideration.

As needed, the COR establishes technical and planning subcommittees and implementation teams which support processes of the COR. These subcommittees and teams play an important role in the NCS and its deployment of NS/EP communications programs.

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