Home DHS Secretary Ridge Creates New Division To Combat Cyber Threats WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2003 – The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Communications System (NCS) launched today a nationwide campaign to help ensure that the nation’s 9-1-1 call centers (called Public Safety Answering Points – PSAPs) are registered in the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) program to have their phone lines restored on a priority basis in the event of a national crisis or attack. TSP is a federal program that provides for priority installation and restoration of the telecommunications lines that are considered critical to the nation’s security and emergency preparedness, especially in times of disaster. The FCC and NCS also announced that the national organizations that represent PSAPs – the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA) and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, International (APCO) - are joining the FCC and NCS in this nationwide campaign to increase PSAP participation in the TSP program. This action follows a joint letter to the organizations from Brenton C. Greene, Deputy Manager of the NCS, and Edmond J. Thomas, Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology, that called for a nationwide initiative to help educate PSAPs about the TSP program and to promote enrollment. According to research conducted by the FCC and NCS, less than 10 percent of the nation’s approximately 7,500 9-1-1 call centers – or public safety answering points (PSAPs) – are currently participating in the TSP program. PSAP administrators who operate the nation’s 9-1-1 centers readily qualify for inclusion in the TSP program because their services are essential to the health and safety of American citizens. Greene and Thomas said in their letter, “PSAP administrators provide services that are essential to the protection of life and property of American citizens, and we believe they should avail themselves of the benefits of the TSP program. Lack of participation could jeopardize the restoration of essential service provided by the PSAP administrators during times of disaster and could put citizens at substantial risk of injury or loss of property at times when they are most vulnerable.” APCO president Vincent R. Stile said, “APCO recognizes the importance of the TSP program to the quick and efficient restoration of critical infrastructure and encourages all public safety communications centers to be aware of and participate in this program.” NASNA president Evelyn Bailey said, “The National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators recognizes that participation in the TSP program is a key component of homeland security. 9-1-1 operators were the first responders on September 11th. We must not become complacent. We must not assume that our 9-1-1 Service Provider or the telephone company will automatically give priority to 9-1-1 circuits if we haven't registered them with TSP. We urge 9-1-1 centers throughout the nation to be proactive and ensure participation in TSP." NENA president John Melcher said, "NENA supports TSP as desirable and essential for quick restoration of 9-1-1 network trunking, as well as other critical PSAP mission related communications circuits. As 9-1-1 becomes even more important in today’s world, this becomes critical." The Telecommunications Service Priority program provides for priority installation and restoration of the telecommunications lines most necessary to promote the nation’s security and emergency preparedness functions, especially in times of disaster. The FCC established the program in 1988 and NCS administers the program. The TSP program currently covers more than 50,000 of the nation’s most critical lines. It has been instrumental in the timely restoration of key telecommunications lines in many disasters. Most notably, the TSP program played a crucial role in the restoration of telecommunications services to lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 by prioritizing the restoration efforts of the telecommunications carriers. A fact sheet on the PSAP sign-up initiative follows. Additional information on the TSP program, including how to enroll, may be found at http://tsp.ncs.gov. Information on how to obtain FCC sponsorship and how to enroll in TSP may be found here.
About the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) The NCSD builds upon the existing capabilities transferred to DHS from the former Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, the National Infrastructure Protection Center, the Federal Computer Incident Response Center, and the National Communications System. The creation of the NCSD both strengthens government-wide processes for response and improves protection of critical cyber assets through maximizing and leveraging the resources of these previously separate offices. Robert Liscouski, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection, will oversee NCSD. With 60 employees, the Division is organized around three units designed to:
Consistent with law and policy, DHS’s NCSD will coordinate closely with the Office of Management and Budget and National Institute of Standards and Technology regarding the security of Federal systems and coordinate with Federal law enforcement authorities, as appropriate. NCSD will leverage other DHS components including the Science and Technology Directorate, the U.S. Secret Service and the Department’s Privacy Officer.
Questions or comments concerning this site? Please contact the webmaster. Reviewed December 07, 2006 |
               
|
