DHS fails to justify funding for emergency network, stalling program

The Homeland Security Department lost much of its funding for a communications network for national security and emergency response workers after it failed to detail why it needed the system, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office on Monday. DHS' National Communications System is developing the National Security/Emergency Preparedness Next-Generation Network that will allow workers to continue to communicate when traditional telecommunication networks become congested or damaged. But Congress has provided far less than DHS has requested for the system because the department has not justified why it needs the system and the technology, according to an August GAO report, which the agency released this week. "NCS is working to provide priority voice and data communications [for national security and emergency response] as part of the evolving telecommunications networks, but it has not finalized an acquisition approach based on available technologies, costs, or plans to mitigate technological and other challenges to deliver such capabilities," said William Jenkins, director of homeland security and justice issues at GAO and author of the report. Investment in the next-generation network would prioritize voice communications and data communications, including e-mail, streaming video, text messaging and Internet access, among other things.