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EO 12472Executive OrderReagan · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 12472

Assignment of national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications functions

This executive order establishes the National Communications System (NCS) to coordinate federal national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications. It assigns specific responsibilities to the Secretary of Defense as Executive Agent, creates a Committee of Principals from key federal agencies, and designates roles for the National Security Council, OSTP, OMB, and other departments in wartime and non-wartime emergency communications planning.

49 FR 13471
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Impact dates

  1. EO effective upon Federal Register publication

Key directives

  • Establish the National Communications System (NCS) with Executive Agent (Secretary of Defense), Committee of Principals, and Manager
  • Secretary of Defense to designate NCS Manager
  • NCS Manager to develop recommended telecommunications architecture, priority plans, interoperability standards, test programs, and funding mechanisms
  • NCS to establish joint industry-government National Coordinating Center
  • OSTP Director to establish Joint Telecommunications Resources Board (JTRB)
  • All federal agencies to submit annual reports to NCS Manager on telecommunications activities
  • Revoke specified sections of EO 12046 and supersede 1963 Presidential Memorandum establishing prior NCS

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • NCS established upon Federal Register publication April 5, 1984
  • Secretary of Defense designated Executive Agent
  • Prior executive order sections revoked

Near term (90d)

  • Manager of NCS to be designated by Executive Agent
  • NCS Committee of Principals to be constituted with designated representatives
  • Joint Telecommunications Resources Board to be established by OSTP Director

Long term

  • Development of evolutionary telecommunications architecture
  • Establishment of joint industry-government National Coordinating Center
  • Ongoing annual reporting by all federal agencies to NCS Manager
  • Continuous planning for crisis and emergency telecommunications

Risks & tensions

  • Potential tension between NCS coordination and FCC statutory independence under Section 4(c) carve-out
  • Unclear funding mechanism creates dependency on OMB budget process and voluntary agency contributions
  • Dual wartime/non-wartime command structure with NSC and OSTP may create ambiguity in crisis response
  • Vague 'to the maximum extent practicable' qualifiers throughout may limit enforceability
  • Industry-government 'joint' planning structure lacks statutory enforcement authority over private carriers
Executive Order 12472: Assignment of national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications functions · Executive Orders