6 U.S.C. § 195 : US Code - Section 195: Office for Interoperability and Compatibility

Search 6 U.S.C. § 195 : US Code - Section 195: Office for Interoperability and Compatibility

(a) Clarification of responsibilities
The Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
shall - 
(1) assist the Secretary in developing and implementing the
science and technology aspects of the program described in
subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G) of section 194(a)(1) of this
title;
(2) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission,
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other
Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for
standards, support the creation of national voluntary consensus
standards for interoperable emergency communications;
(3) establish a comprehensive research, development, testing,
and evaluation program for improving interoperable emergency
communications;
(4) establish, in coordination with the Director for Emergency
Communications, requirements for interoperable emergency
communications capabilities, which shall be nonproprietary where
standards for such capabilities exist, for all public safety
radio and data communications systems and equipment purchased
using homeland security assistance administered by the
Department, excluding any alert and warning device, technology,
or system;
(5) carry out the Department's responsibilities and authorities
relating to research, development, testing, evaluation, or
standards-related elements of the SAFECOM Program;
(6) evaluate and assess new technology in real-world
environments to achieve interoperable emergency communications
capabilities;
(7) encourage more efficient use of existing resources,
including equipment, to achieve interoperable emergency
communications capabilities;
(8) test public safety communications systems that are less
prone to failure, support new nonvoice services, use spectrum
more efficiently, and cost less than existing systems;
(9) coordinate with the private sector to develop solutions to
improve emergency communications capabilities and achieve
interoperable emergency communications capabilities; and
(10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination with the Director
for Emergency Communications, to test and demonstrate
technologies, including data and video, that enhance - 
(A) 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
(B) interoperable emergency communications capabilities.
(b) Coordination
The Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
shall coordinate with the Director for Emergency Communications
with respect to the SAFECOM program.
(c) Sufficiency of resources
The Secretary shall provide the Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility the resources and staff necessary to carry out the
responsibilities under this section.