06-8398. National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

National Communications System, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of Partially Closed Advisory Committee Meeting.

SUMMARY:

The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will be meeting by teleconference: the meeting will be partially closed.

DATES:

Thursday, October 12, 2006, from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will take place by teleconference. For access to the conference bridge and meeting materials, contact Mr. William Fuller at [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail] by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2006. If you desire to submit comments, they must be submitted by October 5, 2006. Comments must be identified by NCS-2006-0007 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail]. Include docket number in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Office of the Manager, National Communications System (N5), Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, 20529.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the words “Department of Homeland Security” and NCS-2006-0007, the docket number for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received by the NSTAC, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Kiesha Gebreyes, Chief, Industry Operations Branch at [phone], e-mail: [e-mail] or write the Deputy Manager, National Communications System, Department of Homeland Security, CS&T/NCS/N5.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NSTAC advises the President on issues and problems related to implementing national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications policy. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Pub. L. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.).

At the upcoming meeting, between 2 p.m. and 2:20 p.m., the members will receive comments from government stakeholders and receive an update from the NSTAC's Emergency Communications and Interoperability Task Force (ECITF). This portion of the meeting will be open to the public.

Between 2:20 p.m. and 3 p.m., the committee will discuss and vote on the Global Infrastructure Resiliency (GIR) Report and discuss NSTAC's Influenza Pandemic Study. This portion of the meeting will be closed to the public.

Persons with disabilities who require special assistance should indicate this when arranging access to the teleconference and are encouraged to identify anticipated special needs as early as possible.

Basis for Closure: The GIR discussion will likely involve sensitive infrastructure information concerning system threats and explicit physical/cyber vulnerabilities related to current communications capabilities. The discussion on NSTAC's Influenza Pandemic Study will likely involve sensitive information concerning prioritization of critical infrastructure capabilities, and the use of vaccines and medications. Public disclosure of such information would heighten awareness of potential vulnerabilities and increase the likelihood of exploitation by terrorists or other motivated adversaries. Pursuant to Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.), the Department has determined that this discussion will concern matters which, if disclosed, would be likely to frustrate significantly the implementation of a proposed agency action. Accordingly, the relevant portion of this meeting will be closed to the public pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B).

Dated: September 13, 2006.

Peter M. Fonash,

Deputy Manager National Communications System.