Table of Contents:
	NCC Response Principles
	NTMS Response Levels and NCC Functions
	NCC Operational Phases

NTMS RESPONSE LEVELS AND NCC FUNCTIONS

This section provides a short description of each NTMS emergency response level and its associated NCC functions.

NTMS RESPONSE LEVEL I
NTMS Response Level I is the lowest level of enhanced NTMS operations and defines day-to-day operations and response activities triggered by minor emergencies and disasters affecting the telecommunications infrastructure. Level I is in effect throughout a broad range of low-level emergencies or disasters, up to major disasters where the Federal Response Plan (FRP) is not activated, and extraordinary situations, as declared by the Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A Federal Emergency Communications Coordinator (FECC) may be involved during NTMS Response Level I situations.

The Manager, NCC, and the NCC Telecommunications Manager monitor crises and emergencies occurring within NTMS Response Level I to ensure that adequate national security/emergency preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunication services are being provided. To that end, the NCC coordinates with the telecommunications industry, government representatives, Federal department and agency operations and watch centers, and the NCS Regional Manager or FECC (if deployed) as required.

During emergencies, disasters, and crisis situations, the NCC will perform the following emergency management functions:

• Receive damage reports, reports of service outages and estimates of restoration capabilities from affected government and industry entities
  
  
• Identify NS/EP telecommunications service requirements
  
  
• Assess the need for telecommunications industry support so that such support is available as needed
  
  
• Prioritize Federal Government NS/EP telecommunication requirements for service initiation or restoration
  
  
• Confer with industry and government NCC representatives on Federal Government NS/EP telecommunications service outages and proposed courses of action for service initiation or restoration
  
  
• Monitor the status of the telecommunications industry and Federal Government response
  
  
• Obtain from the National Weather Service (NWS), or the FECC, the latest weather report for the affected area, including present conditions, the 24-hour forecast, and the long-range forecast
  
  
• Maintain contact with FEMA regarding the emergency or crisis
  
  
• Manage and coordinate TSP requests
  
  
• Ensure that all information regarding potential or actual emergency situations with significant telecommunication implications is brought to the attention of the Director, OSTP, and Manager, NCS
  
  
• Deploy an NCS Disaster Area Liaison Officer (DALO) as necessary.
  

NTMS RESPONSE LEVEL II
Activation of NTMS Response Level II occurs concurrently with a national Emergency Support Function #2 (ESF #2) activation under FRP provisions. During Response Level II, FEMA activates elements to provide an initial response to the disaster or emergency. These elements perform an initial assessment of the severity and impact of the disaster, and provide information needed to determine requirements and identify the critical resources needed to support response activities. Some of these elements continue to provide emergency response throughout the entire disaster. The elements activated during Response Level II are described as follows.

The FRP elements activated in conjunction with an ESF #2 activation, and the corresponding NTMS Level II Response, include the Catastrophic Disaster Response Group (CDRG), the Advance Element of the Emergency Response Team (ERT-A), Ground Assessment Task Force (Task Force), and the Emergency Response Team (ERT). Specific ESF #2 elements activated include an FECC, Emergency Communications Staff (ECS), NCC, NCS DALO, NCS representative to the CDRG, and the ESF #2 representative to the Emergency Support Team (EST). The Manager, NCS, the Director, OSTP, and, if required, the Joint Telecommunications Resources Board (JTRB) monitor the disaster response.

During NTMS Response Level II operations, the NCC performs the following functions in addition to its normal day-to-day functions:

• Monitor the status of critical situations that may require emergency telecommunications support
  
  
• Receive damage reports, reports of service outages, and estimates of restoration capabilities from affected government and industry entities
  
  
• Identify, alert, schedule, and dispatch the OMNCS and NTMS personnel to support CDRG, EST, and NCC emergency response operations
  
  
• Deploy a DALO as necessary
  
  
• Assess the need for telecommunications industry support so that such support can be made available as needed in the NCC and at the disaster site
  
  
• Identify and prioritize NS/EP telecommunications service requirements
  
  
• Coordinate and manage the TSP System and respond to requests for TSP assignments
  
  
• Confer with industry and government NCC representatives on Federal Government NS/EP telecommunications service outages and proposed courses of action for service initiation or restoration
  
  
• Coordinate the allocation and use of government and industry telecommunication resources
  
  
• Monitor the status of the telecommunications industry and Federal Government response to the crisis
  
  
• Obtain from the NWS the latest weather report for the disaster area, including present conditions, the 24-hour forecast, and the long-range forecast
  
  
• Inventory Federal communication assets available to support the recovery mission, keeping the Manager, NCS, informed of these assets and their status
  
  
• Coordinate, when requested by the FECC, with NCS member organizations to obtain additional telecommunication specialists to augment the ECS
  
  
• Maintain coordination with, and assist the FECC as required
  
  
• Resolve any communication issues raised by the FECC or FEMA Regional Communications Manager (FRCM), or forward to the JTRB or the CDRG as appropriate
  
  
• Ensure that all information regarding potential and/or actual emergency situations with significant telecommunication implications is brought to the attention of the Director, OSTP, and Manager, NCS
  
  
• Provide a 24-hour a day point of contact
  
  
• Monitor the release and return of emergency telecommunication assets

NCC 24-hour operations will require that additional staff be identified over and above existing NCC staff. Emergency response staff may be drawn from all OMNCS offices. The staff will be trained in NCC and ESF #2 emergency operations. Additional resources include NCS Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA) and National Defense Executive Reserves (NDER).

NTMS RESPONSE LEVEL III
An activation of NTMS Response Level III will occur in anticipation of a national security emergency or concurrently with Presidential activation of the Federal national security structure. During Response Level III, staff assigned to the National Emergency Management Team (NEMT) Communications Functional Group (CFG), the NCC, multiple Regional Emergency Management Team (REMT) CFGs, and government and industry NTMS Operating Centers (OC) will move to predetermined locations and prepare to respond to the threat. Post movement activities will include reviewing applicable operations plans; performing communications checks between the NEMT, the NCC, the REMTs, and the OCs; reporting readiness status, and coordinating with other functional groups within the NEMT and REMTs. After an attack has occurred, these elements will perform an initial assessment of the severity and impact of the attack, provide information to determine requirements for critical resources needed to support response activities, and take actions to restore and reconstitute the nation's telecommunications infrastructure. An explanation of the elements activated in Response Level III, their interaction with other elements, the functions they perform, and their communications and information management requirements are detailed as follows.

During Response Level III operations, the NCC will continue to perform functions similar to its Response Level II functions for as long as it is operationally capable, or if the provisions of the OMNCS COOP apply. Additionally, the NCC will directly support the NEMT CFG and the Director, OSTP, in the formulation of national telecommunications policy and guidance, and provide a conduit for the execution of that policy through its government and industry representatives. The NCC will also provide technical assistance to, and when required, national-level coordination for, the REMT CFGs. The NCC performs the following functions:

• Coordinate telecommunications policy issues with the NEMT CFG
  
  
• Monitor response operations
  
  
• Coordinate and pass information to both the NEMT CFG and REMT CFGs
  
  
• Consolidate damage assessments and status reports from the REMT CFGs
  
  
• Identify NS/EP telecommunication requirements
  
  
• Prioritize telecommunication requirements
  
  
• Manage and operate the TSP System
  
  
• Coordinate the allocation and use of government/industry telecommunication resources
  
  
• Manage National Level NS/EP Telecommunications Program (NLP) initiatives and capabilities
  
  
• Disseminate Telecommunications Instructions (TELINST)
  
  
• Prepare status reports for the Director, OSTP, NEMT CFG, REMT CFGs, and other organizations as appropriate.

NCC Response Level III staffing may consist of government and industry representatives, NCS augmentees (IMAs and NDERs), and OMNCS personnel assigned to augment the NCC during national security emergencies to ensure 24-hour operational capability.

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