Satellite Task Force Report: Fact Sheet

Citation
National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, Satellite Task Force Report: Fact Sheet (Feb. 2004) (full-text).

Overview
In January 2003, the Director, National Security Space Architect, requested that the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) consider embarking on a study of infrastructure protection measures for commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) systems. The NSTAC established the Satellite Task Force (STF) to review and assess policies, practices, and procedures for the application of infrastructure protection measures to commercial SATCOM networks used for national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications. This report is the result of those activities.

Based on its STF analysis and review of related policy issues, the NSTAC recommended that the President—


 * Direct the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, and Director, Office of Science Technology Policy, to develop a national policy with respect to the provisioning and management of commercial SATCOM services integral to NS/EP communications, recognizing the vital and unique capabilities commercial satellites provide for global military operations, diplomatic missions, and homeland security contingency support.


 * Fund the Department of Homeland Security to implement a commercial SATCOM NS/EP improvement program within the NCS to procure and manage the non-Department of Defense satellite facilities and services necessary to increase the robustness of Government communications.


 * Appoint several members to represent service providers and associations from all sectors of the commercial satellite industry to the NSTAC to increase satellite industry involvement in NS/EP.

To guide rapid implementation of these recommendations with specific steps to secure the commercial SATCOM infrastructure for NS/EP, the task force provided the framework of an action plan for Federal departments and agencies. To improve NS/EP policy, the task force suggested the establishment of a steering committee to examine how commercial SATCOM can best be used in operational support role to the National Response Plan, study satellite technology export controls and their impact on the economic stability of the domestic satellite industry, and reevaluate domestic and foreign policies on the use of commercial SATCOM in support of NS/EP missions.

To increase the robustness of Government communications through better use of commercial SATCOM, the task force suggests the following actions: (1) maintain awareness of commercial SATCOM usage within the Federal Government enabling decision makers to rapidly prioritize commercial satellite services required to support NS/EP needs; (2) extend the purview of the Telecommunications Service Priority to all fixed satellite service operators and extend the Wireless Priority Service model to mobile satellite operators; and (3) develop, in coordination with the commercial satellite industry, a strong and proactive information assurance policy to further reduce the vulnerability of command and control links.