---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 573"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "573"
heading: "Assessments and reports"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/573"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Emergency Communications"
---

# §573. Assessments and reports

- (a) **Baseline assessment—** Not later than 1 year after October 4, 2006, and not less than every 5 years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), acting through the Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) for [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications, shall conduct an assessment of Federal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal governments](/usc/6/701.md?p=16) that—
  - (1) defines the range of capabilities needed by [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), and other man-made disasters;
  - (2) defines the range of interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications capabilities needed for specific events;
  - (3) assesses the current available capabilities to meet such communications needs;
  - (4) identifies the gap between such current capabilities and defined requirements; and
  - (5) includes a national interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications inventory to be completed by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Commerce, and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission that—
    - (A) identifies for each Federal [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) and [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1)—
      - (i) the channels and frequencies used;
      - (ii) the nomenclature used to refer to each channel or frequency used; and
      - (iii) the types of communications systems and equipment used; and
    - (B) identifies the interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications systems in use by public safety [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (b) **Classified annex—** The baseline assessment under this section may include a classified annex including information provided under [subsection (a)(5)(A)](#a-5-A).
- (c) **Savings clause—** In conducting the baseline assessment under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) may incorporate findings from assessments conducted before, or ongoing on, October 4, 2006.
- (d) **Progress reports—** Not later than one year after October 4, 2006, and biennially thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), acting through the Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) for [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications, shall submit to Congress a report on the progress of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) in achieving the goals of, and carrying out its responsibilities under, this subchapter, including—
  - (1) a description of the findings of the most recent baseline assessment conducted under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) a determination of the degree to which interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications capabilities have been attained to date and the gaps that remain for interoperability to be achieved;
  - (3) an evaluation of the ability to continue to communicate and to provide and maintain interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications by [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) managers, [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6), and relevant government officials in the event of—
    - (A) natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), or other man-made disasters, including [Incidents](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) of National Significance declared by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) under the [National Response Plan](/usc/6/701.md?p=13); and
    - (B) a catastrophic [loss](/usc/6/444.md?p=5) of local and regional communications services;
  - (4) a list of best practices relating to the ability to continue to communicate and to provide and maintain interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications in the event of natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), or other man-made disasters; and
  - (A) [^1] an evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) developing, on its own or in conjunction with the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of Defense, a mobile communications capability, modeled on the Army Signal Corps, that could be deployed to support [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications at the site of natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), or other man-made disasters.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “(5)”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1803, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1437; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(B), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4179.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Another section 1803 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renumbered section 1903 and is classified to section 593 of this title.

### Amendments

2018—Subsecs. (a), (d). Pub. L. 115–278 substituted “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” for “Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications deemed to be a reference to the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, see section 571(g) of this title, enacted Jan. 1, 2021.