NSTAC


For over 25 years, the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) has brought up to 30 industry chief executives together from major telecommunications companies, network service providers, information technology, finance, and aerospace companies. These industry leaders are focused on providing industry-based advice and expertise to the President on issues and problems related to implementing national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications policy. The NSTAC’s goal is to provide collaborative advice and expertise and develop recommendations that assure vital telecommunications links through any event or crisis, and to help the U.S. Government maintain a reliable, secure, and resilient national communications posture.

The five key themes of major focus continue to be:

  • Strengthening national security
  • Enhancing cybersecurity
  • Maintaining the global communications infrastructure
  • Assuring communications for disaster response
  • Addressing critical infrastructure interdependencies and dependencies

Beyond the industry collaboration alone, the NSTAC serves as a prominent model for trusted public/private partnerships, resulting in mutually beneficial information sharing mechanisms and the implementation of several programs to reinforce that partnership. One of the NSTAC’s first efforts recommended the creation of the National Coordinating Center as an operational arm of the NSTAC, and later, as the Information Sharing and Analysis Center for the communications sector, where information relevant to the protection and operation of the communications infrastructure is shared between industry and Government. Subsequently, the NSTAC also helped to establish the industry and Government Network Security Information Exchanges, allowing representatives from the public and private sectors to share sensitive information on threats to operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning systems supporting the telecommunications infrastructure. The NSTAC recognized that information sharing is a key component to the industry and Government relationship, tying together all facets of the NSTAC agenda to provide resilient national telecommunications services.

Since its inception, the NSTAC has addressed a wide range of policy and technical issues regarding communications, information systems, information assurance, critical infrastructure protection, and other NS/EP communications concerns. In recent years, the Government, with the support of the NSTAC, addressed new NS/EP challenges caused by several primary factors: the convergence of traditional and broadband networks; the changing global threat environment; and the continuing global expansion of both provider and user communities. In the face of this ever-increasing complexity of the domestic and global network environment, the NSTAC’s work, more so than ever, is of vital national importance, and the committee remains vigilant in aggressively addressing our Nation’s highest priority NS/EP communications needs.

Recent NSTAC collaborative efforts include:

  • Information Sharing: The NSTAC recommended the improvement of timely sponsorship and issuance of private sector clearances. This improvement will enable public and private personnel to share classified NS/EP information.
  • Cybersecurity: The NSTAC is examining the legal and regulatory impediments and the operational capabilities necessary to effectively respond to cyber threats.
  • Globalizations of the Communications Infrastructure: To address the implication that globalization has on NS/EP communications, the NSTAC conducted an analysis of the global information infrastructures and associated NS/EP opportunities and challenges; assessed the security implications of foreign ownership of telecommunications networks; and examined infrastructure threats and issues concerning core network physical security.
  • Emergency Communications Interoperability: The NSTAC provided advice regarding the integration of a complete suite of communications technologies, including wireline, terrestrial wireless, broadcast, and satellite communications into the Federal Government’s emergency communications capabilities. In addition, the committee examined concerns regarding the risk to Internet Protocols/IP-based NS/EP communications traffic and recommended continued funding for the development and implementation of IP-based priority telecommunications services such as the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service and the Wireless Priority Service.
  • Credentialing and Access: Following Katrina, the NSTAC recommended changes to the Stafford Act for non-monetary Federal assistance. The change would recognize private industry workers as essential service providers and enable them access, credentialing, fuel and security to a disaster area.
  • Telecommunications and Electric Power Interdependencies: The interdependencies between the telecommunications and electric power sectors are critical to continuous telecommunications service. To address this issue, the NSTAC completed a study of the interdependencies between telecommunications and electric power, focusing on the potential impact on telecommunications network services in the event of a sustained power grid outage.