165. Presidential Directive/NSC–531
TO
- The Vice President
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
ALSO
- The Attorney General
- The Secretary of Commerce
- The Secretary of Transportation
- The Secretary of Energy
- The Director, Office of Management & Budget
- The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The Director of Central Intelligence
- The Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs & Policy
- The Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
- The Administrator, General Services Administration
- The Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency
SUBJECT
- National Security Telecommunications Policy
I have reviewed the report of the National Communications System on the need for a national security telecommunications policy.2 It is essential to the security of the United States to have telecommunications facilities adequate to satisfy the needs of the nation during and after any national emergency. This is required in order to gather intelligence, conduct diplomacy, command and control military forces, provide continuity of essential functions of government, and to reconstitute the political, economic, and social structure of the nation. Moreover, a survivable communications system is a necessary component of our deterrent posture for defense. In support of national security policy, the nation’s telecommunications must provide for:
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- Connectivity between the National Command Authority and strategic and other appropriate forces to support flexible execution of retaliatory strikes during and after an enemy nuclear attack.
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- Responsive support for operational control of the armed forces, even during a protracted nuclear conflict.
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- Support of military mobilization in all circumstances.
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- Support for the vital functions of worldwide intelligence collection and diplomatic affairs.
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- Continuity of government during and after a nuclear war or natural disaster.
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- Recovery of the nation during and after a nuclear war or natural disaster.
In order to achieve adequate capabilities for these objectives, the following principles are established as national security telecommunications policy:
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- National security and continuity of government telecommunications requirements have priority in restoration of services and facilities in national emergencies.
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- To the maximum extent feasible, interstate common carrier networks, including specialized common carriers and domestic satellite carriers, should be interconnected and capable of interoperation in emergencies at breakout points outside of likely target areas.
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- The National Communications System will make available information necessary to allow interstate common carriers to locate backbone facilities, where possible, outside of likely target areas.
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- Functionally similar government telecommunications networks shall be capable of interchange of traffic in emergencies.
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- The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the National Communications System, shall plan for emergency use of industry private line communications that have significant capabilities (e.g., pipeline, railroad, and airline).
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- There must be a capability to manage the restoration and reconstitution of the national telecommunications system following an emergency.
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- The National Communications System will consult with the Federal Communications Commission on implementing these principles and will place substantial reliance upon the private sector for advice and assistance in achieving national security and preparedness goals.
The National Communications System will amend and revise these principles as security needs dictate and submit them to the Special Coordination Committee for approval, as required by E.O. 12046.
Nothing in this directive amends or contravenes Presidential Directive/NSC–24.3
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 1, PD/NSC 33–63 [1]. Unclassified.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 149.↩
- See Document 40.↩