SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

01 The purpose of this Order is to prescribe the policies, responsibilities and procedures for processing overseas communications consisting of cable and telex messages and published material distributed through the Department of Commerce Telecommunications Center.

.02 This revision reflects current office titles and provides a general update to the Order.

SECTION 2. SCOPE.

.01 Overseas communications, for the purpose of this Order include:

a. Transmittals between the Department of Commerce and the United States Foreign Service, the Trade Promotion and U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (TP/US&FCS), foreign government officials, business firms and individuals abroad;

b. Copies of commercial, economic, political, and administrative communications between the Foreign Service of the United States, including the TP/US&FCS, and the Departments of State, Commerce, Defense and Agriculture, the Agency for International Development, the U.S. Information Agency, and other government agencies having missions and representatives abroad; and

c. The transmittal of reports and published material.

SECTION 3. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

.01 The International Trade Administration, Office of the Under Secretary, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is assigned responsibility under Department Organization Order 40-1, “International Trade Administration,” for managing the Department of Commerce Telecommunications Center and providing overseas cable message communications services for all Departmental elements requiring access to the Department of State Diplomatic Telecommunications Systems. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Center will coordinate all policy matters and any major operational issues dealing with telecommunications and the Department of State through the Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer. The office will follow appropriate guidance found in the Department Handbook for Management of Information Technology.

.02 In carrying out this responsibility, the International Trade Administration, through its Telecommunications Center provides a Department-wide system for the receipt, analysis, control, action assignment, distribution and transmission of overseas communications.

.03 The Telecommunications Center publishes a communications guide to assist system users titled “Operations and Messaging Guide.” The communication guide supplements this Order and can be obtained from the Telecommunications Center, Room 6840, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

.04 Operating units shall be responsible for retrieving, storing and disposing of overseas communications received from the Telecommunications Center in accordance with their unit’s requirements and in compliance with security regulations.

SECTION 4. EFFECT ON OTHER ORDERS.

This Order supersedes Department Administrative Order 214-5, dated May 12, 1992.

Signed by: Under Secretary for International Trade

Approved by: Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration