ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01048A001500110054-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 11, 2005
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: July 15, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (PLANS)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (INTELLIGENCE)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (RESEARCH)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (SUPPORT)
COMPTROLLER
INSPECTOR GENERAL
GENERAL COUNSEL
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
FOR NATIONAL ESTIMATES
EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM No.
ON OFFICZ)
LB K: drm
Distribution:
Addressees noted above
I - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - ER This memorandum contains information for the addressees. Ad-
dressees may give this memorandum additional circulation within
~I ? ExDir their components as required. All copies should be destroyed not
filed, upon completion of circulation. A master file will be kept in
the Executive Director's Office and will be available upon request.
Excluc~a i.,,.a w. , ilc
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(CLASSIFICATION)
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July 12, 1963,
MEMORANDUM FOR RECIPIENTS OF NATIONAL
.SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM NO. 252,
dated July 11, 1963
The President has directed that on an interim basis
his Special Assistant for Science and Technology
shall perform the functions assigned to the Special
Assistant for Telecommunication provided for in.
NSAM 252 concerning the establishment of a
National Communications System.
McGeorge Bundy
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NATIONAL SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM NO. 252
TO: The Vice President
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of De:ense
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Attorney General
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Director, U..,. ;_.fo;...,atior, Agency
The Administrator, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
The Chairman, Federal Communications
Commission
The Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency
The Administrator of General Services
The Director, Bureau of the Budget
The Director, Office of Emergency Planning
The Director, Office of Science and Technology
The Director of Telecommunications Management
Establishment of the National Communications System
Concept and Objectives
in furtherance of the general objectives stated in NSAM 201,
dated October 26, 1962, a National Communications System (NCS) shall
be established and developed by linking together, improving, and extend-
ing on an evolutionary basis the communications facilities and components
of the various Federal agencies. The organizational arrangements set
forth in NSAM 201 are superseded by those established in this memoran-
dum.
-..e objective of the NCS will be to provide necessary communica-
tions for the Federal Government under all conditions ranging from a
norma_ situation to national emergencies and international crises, in-
cluding nuclear attack. The system will be developed and operated to be
responsive to the variety of needs of the national command and user agencies
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and be capable of meeting priority requirements under emergency or
war conditions through use of reserve capacity and additional private
facilities. The NCS will also provide the necessary combinations of
hardness, mobility, and circuit redundancy to obtain survivability of
essential communications in all circumstances.
Initial emphasis in developing the NCS will be on meeting the
most critical needs for communications in national security programs,
particularly to overseas areas. As rapidly as is consistent with
meeting critical needs, other Government needs will be examined and
satisfied, as warranted, in the context of the NCS. The extent and
character of the system require careful consideration in light of the
priorities of need, the benefits to be obtained, and the costs involved.
Although no complete definition of the NCS can be made in advance
of design studies and evolution in practice, it is generally conceived that
tha NCS would be comprised primarily of the long haul, point-to-point,
trunk communications which can serve one or more agencies.
The President has directed the following organizational arrange-
ments relating to the establishment and effective operation of the NCS.
Executive Office Responsibilities
In carrying out his functions pursuant to Executive Orders 10705
and 10995 and under this memorandum, the Director of Telecommunica-
tions Management shall be responsible for policy direction of the develop-
ment and operation of a National Communications System. In this capacity,
he shall also serve as a Special Assistant to the President for Telecom-
niunico Lions and shall:
a. Advise with respect to communication requirements
to be supplied through the NCS; the responsibilities of the
agencies in implementing and utilizing the NCS; the guidance
to be given to the Secretary of Defense as Executive Agent for
the NCS with respect to the design and operation of the NCS;
and the adequacy of system designs developed by the Executive
Agent to provide, on a priority basis and under varying condi-
tions of emergency, communications to the users of the NCS.
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b. Identify those requirements unique to the needs
of the Presidency.
c. Formulate and issue to the Executive Agent guidance
as to the relative priorities of requirements.
d. Exercise review and surveillance of actions to insure
compliance with policy determinations and guidance.
e. Ensure that there is adequate planning to meet future
needs of the NCS.
f. Assist the President with respect to his coordinating
and other functions under the Communications Satellite Act
of 1962 as may be specified by Executive Order or otherwise.
In performing these functions, the Special Assistant to the
President for Telecommunications will work closely with the Special
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; he will con-
sult with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology and the
Director of the Bureau of the Budget, as appropriate; will establish
arrangements for inter-agency consultation to ensure that the NCS
will meet the essential needs of all Government agencies; and will be
responsible for carrying on the work of the Subcommittee on Communi-
cations of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council
which is hereby abolished. In addition to staff regularly assigned, he
is authorized to arrange for the assignment of communications and other
specialists from any agency by detail or temporary assignment.
The Bureau of the Budget, in consultation with the Special Assistant
to the President for Telecommunications, the Executive Agent and the
Administrator of General Services, will prescribe general guidelines and
procedures for reviewing the financing of the NCS within the budgetary
process and for preparation of budget estimates by the participating agencies.
Executive Agent Responsibilities
To obtain the benefits of unified technical planning and operations,
a single Executive Agent for the NCS is necessary. The President has
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designated the Secretary of Defense to serve in this capacity. He shall:
a. Design, for the approval of the President, the NCS,
taking into consideration the communication needs and resources
of all Federal agencies.
b. Develop plans for fulfilling approved requirements and
priority determinations, and recommend assignments of imple-
mentation responsibilities to user agencies.
c.. Assist the user agencies and the General Services
Administrator with respect to the Federal Telecommunications
System to accomplish their respective undertakings in the
development and operation of the system.
d. Allocate, reallocate, and arrange for restoration of
communications facilities to authorized users based on approved
requirements and priorities.
e. Develop operational plans and provide operational
guidance with respect to all elements of the NCS, including
(1) the prescription of standards and practices as to operation,
maintenance, and installation; (2) the maintenance of necessary
records to ensure effective utilization of the NCS; (3) the request
of assignment of radio frequencies for the NCS; (4) the moni-
toring of frequency utilization; and (5) the exercise and test of
system effectiveness.
f. Within general policy guidance, carry on long range
01
planning to ensure the NCS meets future Government needs,
especially in the national security area, and conduct and co-
ordinate research and development in support of the NCS to
ensure that the NCS reflects advancements in the art of con-imuni-
cations.
ti'i ithin the framework of the NCS, the Executive Agent will provide
for the requirements for survivable communications of the President and
civilian agencies. A statement of such requirements is set forth in the
report of the Task Group on Survivable Communications Requirements
of the President and Top Civil Leaders, dated August 20, 1962 which is
approved for planning purposes.
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The Secretary of Defense may delegate these functions within
the Department of Defense subject at all times to his direction, authority,
and control. In carrying out his responsibilities for design, develop-
ment and operation of the NCS, the Secretary will make appropriate
arrangements for participation of staff of other agencies.
Responsibilities of the Administrator of General Services
The Federal Telecommunications System, established with the
approval of the President under authority of the Federal Property and
Adrra:dstrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, to provide corrmuni-
cations services to certain agencies in the Fifty States, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, shall be a part of the NCS and
shall be implemented and developed in accordance with approved plans
and policies developed pursuant to this memorandum. The Executive Agent
and the Administrator of General Services shall be responsible for estab-
lishing arrangements to avoid duplication in requests for cost, traffic, and
other information needed from agencies served by the ITS.
Nothing contained herein shall affect the responsibilities of the
Administrator of General Services under the Federal Property and Admin-
istrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, with respect to the repre-
sentation of agencies in negotiations with carriers and in proceedings
before Federal and state regulatory bodies; prescription of policies and
methods of procurement; and the procurement either directly or by dele-
gation of authority to other agencies of public utility communications
services.
Responsibilities of Other Agencies
All agencies are directed by the President to cooperate with and
assist the Special Assistant to the President for Telecommunications,
the Executive Agent, and the Administrator of General Services in the
performance of the functions set forth above.
McGeorge Bundy
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