---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 576"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "576"
heading: "Emergency Communications Preparedness Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/576"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Emergency Communications"
---

# §576. Emergency Communications Preparedness Center

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established the [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications Preparedness [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) (in this section referred to as the “[Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1)”).
- (b) **Operation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Commerce, the Attorney General of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), and the heads of other Federal [departments](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) and [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) or their designees shall jointly operate the [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding entitled, “[Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications Preparedness [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) (ECPC) Charter”.
- (c) **Functions—** The [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) serve as the focal point for interagency efforts and as a clearinghouse with respect to all relevant intergovernmental information to support and promote (including specifically by working to avoid duplication, hindrances, and counteractive efforts among the participating Federal [departments](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) and [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1))—
    - (A) the ability of [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; and
    - (B) interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications;
  - (2) prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a strategic assessment regarding the coordination efforts of Federal [departments](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) and [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) to advance—
    - (A) the ability of [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; and
    - (B) interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications;
  - (3) consider, in preparing the strategic assessment under [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the goals stated in the National [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications Plan under [section 572 of this title](/usc/6/572.md); and
  - (4) perform such other [functions](/usc/6/101.md?p=9) as are provided in the [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications Preparedness [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) (ECPC) Charter described in subsection (b)(1).[^1]

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Subsection (b) of this section does not contain a paragraph (1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1806, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1440.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Another section 1806 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renumbered section 1906 and is classified to section 596 of this title.