---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 580"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "580"
heading: "Border interoperability demonstration project"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/580"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Emergency Communications"
---

# §580. Border interoperability demonstration project

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** 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 (referred to in this section as the “Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3)”), and in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Commerce, shall establish an International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project (referred to in this section as the “demonstration project”).
  - (2) **Minimum number of communities—** The Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) shall select no fewer than 6 communities to participate in a demonstration project.
  - (3) **Location of communities—** No fewer than 3 of the communities selected under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) shall be located on the northern border of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) and no fewer than 3 of the communities selected under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) shall be located on the southern border of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (b) **Conditions—** The Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Commerce, shall ensure that the project is carried out as soon as adequate spectrum is available as a result of the 800 megahertz rebanding process in border areas, and shall ensure that the border projects do not impair or impede the rebanding process, but under no circumstances shall [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) be distributed under this section unless the Federal Communications Commission and the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Commerce agree that these conditions have been met.
- (c) **Program requirements—** Consistent with the responsibilities of the [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) Communications Division under [section 571 of this title](/usc/6/571.md), the Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) shall foster local, tribal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), and Federal interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications, as well as interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications with appropriate Canadian and Mexican authorities in the communities selected for the demonstration project. The Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) shall—
  - (1) identify solutions to facilitate interoperable communications across national borders expeditiously;
  - (2) help ensure that [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) can communicate with each other in the event of natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), and other man-made disasters;
  - (3) provide technical assistance to enable [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) to deal with threats and contingencies in a variety of environments;
  - (4) identify appropriate joint-use equipment to ensure communications access;
  - (5) identify solutions to facilitate communications between [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) in communities of differing population densities; and
  - (6) take other actions or provide equipment as the Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) deems appropriate to foster interoperable [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) communications.
- (d) **Distribution of funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) shall distribute [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under this section to each community participating in the demonstration project through the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), or [States](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), in which each community is located.
  - (2) **Other participants—** A [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall make the [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) available promptly to the local and [tribal governments](/usc/6/701.md?p=16) and [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) selected by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) to participate in the demonstration project.
  - (3) **Report—** Not later than 90 days after a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) receives [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under this subsection the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall report to the Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) on the status of the distribution of such [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) to local and [tribal governments](/usc/6/701.md?p=16).
- (e) **Maximum period of grants—** The Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) may not [fund](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) any participant under the demonstration project for more than 3 years.
- (f) **Transfer of information and knowledge—** The Assistant [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) shall establish mechanisms to ensure that the information and knowledge gained by participants in the demonstration project are transferred among the participants and to other interested parties, including other communities that submitted applications to the participant in the project.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section such sums as may be necessary.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XVIII, § 1810, as added Pub. L. 110–53, title III, § 302(a), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 300; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(D), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4180.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(D)(iii), substituted “Assistant Director” for “Director” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(D)(i), substituted “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications (referred to in this section as the ‘Assistant Director’)” for “Director of the Office of Emergency Communications (referred to in this section as the ‘Director’)”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(D)(ii), substituted “Emergency Communications Division” for “Office of 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.