Obama clarifies plan to keep the internet running during emergencies in executive order

WASHINGTON (CN) – President Barack Obama has established a committee to make policy recommendations on enhancing the survivability, resilience, and future architecture of national security and emergency preparedness communications.
The National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Executive Committee, to be co-chaired by representatives from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, will consist of assistant secretary level or equivalent representatives designated by Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Commerce, and Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the General Services Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission.
The committee is charged with setting the requirements for the nation’s national security and emergency preparedness communication infrastructure and developing a long range strategic vision to implement and fund those needs.
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy will advise the committee on existing research and development for a national communications infrastructure.
Obama also ordered the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism along with the OSTP director to jointly monitor the committee’s activities and identify emerging needs and threats to the security and emergency communications infrastructure.
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