---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 577"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "577"
heading: "Urban and other high risk area communications capabilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/577"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Emergency Communications"
---

# §577. Urban and other high risk area communications capabilities

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), in consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Defense, and with appropriate [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal government](/usc/6/701.md?p=16) officials, shall provide technical guidance, training, and other assistance, as appropriate, to support the rapid establishment of consistent, secure, and effective interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications capabilities in the event of an [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) in urban and other areas determined by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) to be at consistently high levels of risk from natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), and other man-made disasters.
- (b) **Minimum capabilities—** The interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications capabilities established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall ensure the ability of all levels of government, [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6), the private sector, and other organizations with [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) response capabilities—
  - (1) to communicate with each other in the event of an [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6);
  - (2) to have appropriate and timely access to the Information Sharing Environment described in [section 485 of this title](/usc/6/485.md); and
  - (3) to be consistent with any applicable [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or Urban Area [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) strategy or plan.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1807, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 671(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1441.)