The Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) is the federal interagency focal point for interoperable and operable communications coordination. Its members represent the federal government's broad role in emergency communications, including regulation, policy, operations, grants, and technical assistance.

The ECPC is comprised of 14 federal departments and agencies: U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and the Treasury. The Federal Communications Commission and the General Services Administration are also members of the ECPC.

Background

Following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission Report and lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Congress identified the need for stronger coordination and national leadership to address gaps in emergency responders' abilities to communicate across jurisdictions and functions. To address these issues, Congress authorized the establishment of the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) (Section 671, Pub. Law No. 109-295).

Interagency Priorities

The ECPC's strategic priorities include:

• Increase efficiencies at the federal level through joint investment and resource sharing
• Improve alignment of strategic and operational emergency communications planning across levels of government
• Improve alignment of federal investments in state/local/tribal capabilities to ensure focus on critical gaps and priorities
• Leveraging collective resources to drive Research & Development (R&D) and standards for existing and emerging technologies

Since its establishment in 2009, the ECPC has made notable progress in advancing these priorities. For example, it developed the ECPC Recommendations for Federal Agencies on Financial Assistance for Emergency Communications to help grant program managers implement consistent guidance across more than 40 emergency communications grant programs. It has also coordinated federal input on national policies and regulation, and identified best practices for infrastructure sharing.

Contact

ECPC Administrator: Office of Emergency Communications

Contact ECPC by e-mail: ECPC@dhs.gov