Establishing a strategic framework for protecting the Nation's critical communications infrastructure is crucial to ensuring national security. The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) provides the overarching framework for integrating protective programs and activities that are underway in the various critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) sectors. The NIPP includes 18 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) that detail the application of the overall risk management framework for each specific sector. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Communications System (NCS) serves as the Sector- Specific Agency for the Communications Sector. Private sector owners and operators have enjoyed a close working relationship with NCS since its inception in 1963.

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) provides the unifying structure for the integration of critical infrastructures and key resources (CI/KR) protection efforts into a single National program. The NIPP provides an overall framework for integrating programs and activities that are under way in the various sectors, as well as new and developing CI/KR protection efforts. The NIPP includes 17 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) that detail the application of the overall risk management framework to each specific sector. The Communications SSP describes a collaborative effort among the private sector, Federal Government, and State governments to protect the Nation's Communications Infrastructure. This collaboration will result in the assessment of risk to the communications architecture and its functions that will help prioritize protection initiatives and investments within the sector and aid the identification of critical assets against specific threats.

The Communications Sector, one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors, is vital to the United States. Its incapacitation or destruction could have a debilitating impact on the safety and security of our nation. The private sector owns and operates the majority of communications infrastructure, including broadcast, cable, satellite, wireless, and wireline systems and networks. DHS’s CISA is the lead federal agency responsible for supporting the security and resilience of the sector. GAO examined (1) the security threats CISA has identified to the sector, (2) how CISA supports the sector, and (3) the extent to which CISA has assessed its support and emergency preparedness for the sector. GAO is making three recommendations to CISA, including that CISA assess the effectiveness of its support to the Communications Sector, and revise its Communications Sector-Specific Plan.

The tenth of a new, well-received, and highly acclaimed series on critical infrastructure and homeland security, Communications Sector Protection and Homeland Security is an eye-opening account and an important reference source of a complex sector. Communications systems are the backbone for much of the critical infrastructure within the United States and many of the other infrastructure components are completely dependent on them to perform their missions. They serve part in parcel with other key national security and emergency preparedness resources. This book examines the importance that communication sector has for national security policy and issues of homeland security.