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| - The National Communications System (NCS), an entity within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, had responsibility for the communications infrastructure that carries data and applications and carried out its duty through its coordination center, NCC, and its operations center, NCC Watch. NCS was dissolved on July 6, 2012, by Executive Order 13618.
- The genesis of the 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 Security Council (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 cr
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| abstract
| - The National Communications System (NCS), an entity within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, had responsibility for the communications infrastructure that carries data and applications and carried out its duty through its coordination center, NCC, and its operations center, NCC Watch. NCS was responsible for ensuring that Department of Homeland Security federal government is available under all conditions — ranging from normal situations to national emergencies and international crises. The system did this through several activities, including a program that gives calling priority to federal executives, first responders, and other key officials in times of emergency. NCS was established by presidential direction in August 1963 in response to voice communication failures associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Its role was further clarified through an executive order issued in April 1984 that established the Secretary of Defense as the executive agent for NCS. In 2003, it was transferred to the responsibility of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. NCS was composed of members from 24 federal departments and agencies. Although it originally focused on "traditional" voice services via common carriers, NCS later took a larger role in Internet-related issues due to the convergence of voice and data networks. For example, it helped to manage issues related to disruptions of the Internet backbone (e.g., high-capacity data routes). NCS was dissolved on July 6, 2012, by Executive Order 13618.
- The genesis of the 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 Security Council (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. Each NCS member organization is represented on the NCS through the Committee of Principals (COP) -- and its subordinate Council of Representatives (COR). The COP, formed as a result of Executive Order 12472, provides advice and recommendations to the NCS and the National Security Council through the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board on NS/EP telecommunications and its ties to other critical infrastructures. The NCS also participates in joint industry-Government planning through its work with the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), with the NCS's National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications (NCC) and the NCC's subordinate Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). After nearly 40 years with the Secretary of Defense serving as its Executive Agent, President George W. Bush transferred the National Communications System to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The NCS was one of 22 Federal agencies transferred to the Department on March 1, 2003, in accordance with Executive Order 13286. A revised Executive Order 12472 reflects the changes of E.O. 13286. On November 15, 2005, the NCS became part of the Department's Directorate for Preparedness after nearly two years under the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate. In March 2007 the NCS became an entity of the National Protection and Programs Directorate. Currently, the DHS Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs Directorate serves as the NCS Manager.
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