National security/emergency preparedness (NS/EP) broadband services applications and survivability, reliability and interoperability issues

The national security and the economy of the United States are highly dependent on the availability, reliability, and survivability of the national information infrastructure (NII). This is a significant aspect of the emerging information transfer needs of society in the decade of the 90s and beyond. Information systems must also be responsive, under all circumstances, to the national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communication needs of the President, Federal departments and agencies, and other entities. The critical role of information transfer in the United States demands a technical and management architecture that leads to the protection of the national telecommunications infrastructure against all risks to the maximum extent possible.<>