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<br /> <br /> HSGP Appendix | February 2021 Page A-46 <br />Resilient Communications Guidance <br />Nothing better demonstrates a modern nation than its ability to effectively communicate. The risk <br />imposed by the reliance on communication systems by government and the private sector can be reduced <br />by understanding dependencies, analyzing effects, and taking action. Entities planning to use HSGP <br />funding for communications investments are encouraged to work with state emergency management <br />agencies, SWICs, SIGBs, and appropriate stakeholders at the regional, state, local, territorial, and tribal <br />levels to: <br />• Establish robust, resilient, reliable and interoperable communications capabilities. Account for <br />the mission impact of communication system disruptions in your planning; <br />• Ensure mission-related communications (voice, video, data and network security requirements) <br />are adequately planned for and understood. It is important to maintain current documentation of <br />your communication systems architecture and perform regular audits. Your ability to continue <br />operations is dependent on the availability of and access to communications systems with <br />sufficient resiliency, redundancy, and accessibility to perform essential functions and provide <br />critical services during a disruption; <br />• Ensure critical communication systems connectivity among key government leadership, internal <br />elements, other supporting organizations, and the public under all conditions. As such, <br />organizations should ensure current copies of vital records, including electronic files and <br />software, are backed-up and maintained off-site; <br />• Ensure all communications systems/networks are traced from end to end to identify all Single <br />Points of Failure (SPF). In doing so, grantees should work with communication service providers <br />to add redundancy at key critical infrastructure facilities as needed; <br />• Ensure key communication systems resiliency through: <br />o Ensuring availability of backup systems <br />o Ensuring diversity of network element components and routing <br />o Ensuring geographic separation of primary and alternate transmission media <br />o Ensuring availability of back-up power sources <br />o Ensuring availability and access to systems that are not dependent on commercial <br />infrastructure <br />o Maintain spares for designated critical communication systems <br />o Work with commercial suppliers to remediate communication Single Points of Failure <br />• All communications system owners are encouraged to address the following issues: <br />o Integrate communications needs into continuity planning efforts by incorporating <br />mitigation options to ensure uninterrupted communications support <br />o Establish a cybersecurity plan that includes continuity of a communications component <br />such as Radio Frequency (RF)-based communications that do not rely on public <br />infrastructure <br />o Maintain communications capabilities to ensure their readiness when needed <br />o Frequently train and exercise personnel required to operate communications capabilities <br />o Test and exercise communications capabilities <br />o Consider Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) protective measures for communications systems <br />where practical. <br /> <br />DHS/FEMA Communications Support Services <br />CISA and FEMA offer a variety of technical assistance and other support services to assist state and local <br />entities in their efforts to comply with the above requirements, including the SAFECOM Guidance, with <br />the goal of ensuring interoperable and resilient emergency communications. A summary of DHS/FEMA <br />support services is provided below. Grant recipients are encouraged to refer to the respective websites for <br />additional information.