6 USC § 195a - Emergency communications interoperability research and development

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t6/s195a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "6 USC § 195a - Emergency communications interoperability research and development"
title_number: 6
title_name: "DOMESTIC SECURITY"
section_number: "195a"
section_name: "Emergency communications interoperability research and development"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–296, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 673(a), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1443.)"
---


# § 195a. Emergency communications interoperability research and development

**(a)** **In general** The Under Secretary for Science and Technology, acting through the Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, shall establish a comprehensive research and development program to support and promote—

**(1)** the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and

**(2)** interoperable emergency communications capabilities among emergency response providers and relevant government officials, including by—

**(A)** supporting research on a competitive basis, including through the Directorate of Science and Technology and Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency; and

**(B)** considering the establishment of a Center of Excellence under the Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Program focused on improving emergency response providers’ communication capabilities.

**(b)** **Purposes** The purposes of the program established under subsection (a) include—

**(1)** supporting research, development, testing, and evaluation on emergency communication capabilities;

**(2)** understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the public safety communications systems in use;

**(3)** examining how current and emerging technology can make emergency response providers more effective, and how Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies can use this technology in a coherent and cost-effective manner;

**(4)** investigating technologies that could lead to long-term advancements in emergency communications capabilities and supporting research on advanced technologies and potential systemic changes to dramatically improve emergency communications; and

**(5)** evaluating and validating advanced technology concepts, and facilitating the development and deployment of interoperable emergency communication capabilities.

**(c)** **Definitions** section 578 of this title

For purposes of this section, the term “interoperable”, with respect to emergency communications, has the meaning given the term in .

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–296, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 673(a), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1443.)