| Date: | 12/30/1966 |
|---|---|
| Issuer: | John A. Volpe |
Table of Contents
1. The purpose of this order is to establish the Massachusetts Emergency Communications Commission to provide for the appointment of the members thereof; to set forth the functions of said Commission; and to implement the performance of such functions.
2. Pursuant to authority conferred upon me by Acts of 1950, Chapter 639, as amended, Section 4, to take all necessary preparatory steps in advance of actual disaster as may be deemed necessary, and pursuant to all other enabling authority, I, John A. Volpe, Governor of the Commonwealth, do hereby establish within the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency the Massachusetts Emergency Communications Commission.
3. The members of the Commission shall be those persons hereafter appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Director of Civil Defense. Such persons so appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated by the Governor to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
4. The function of the Commission shall be to conduct a detailed survey and examination of the communications facilities and systems in Massachusetts and to provide plans which will integrate these resources into a capability providing flexibility and full use of all facilities as appropriate for any emergency purpose without interference with the primary function thereof. Such facilities and systems include: the national (civil defense) warning system; state and municipal warning systems; state and municipal police radio systems; municipal fire department systems; communications systems of the Department of Public Works; Metropolitan District Commission and the Department of Natural Resources of the Commonwealth; industrial communications facilities including those of the New England Telephone Company, the Western Union, and utilities companies; aeronautical, marine and commercial broadcasting systems; and amateur radio facilities. The Commission shall also develop emergency mission assignments and develop state- wide emergency mission assignments and state-wide emergency communications command and control procedures.
5. Without limiting the generality of Section 4 of this Order, the Commission shall plan particularly with respect to the following aspects of emergency communications:
a. Warning: The expansion of emergency warning capabilities to include each municipality and individual in the Commonwealth.
b. Emergency Broadcast System: The development of an operational plan for public information to support the State Industry Advisory Committee on the Emergency Broadcast System appointed by the Federal Communications Commission.
c. Communications Resources Plan: The development of operational capabilities to execute the Plan by integrating organization and functions of other elements of emergency communications operations.
d. Command and Control: The development of emergency operational capabilities and procedures within the Commonwealth.
6. In carrying out its functions, the Commission shall make maximum practicable use of the services, equipment, supplies and facilities of existing departments, offices and agencies of the Commonwealth and the political sub-divisions thereof and shall make maximum practicable use of the officers and personnel of all such departments, offices and agencies of the Commonwealth and of its political sub-divisions, and the officers and personnel of all such departments, offices and agencies are directed to cooperate with and extend such services to the Commission upon request.
7. The Director of Civil Defense for the Commonwealth is hereby authorized and directed to provide the Commission with such quarters, personnel, supplies and equipment, available to the Director, as may be necessary or appropriate and as may be made available, in the judgement of the Director, without interference with the existing functions of the Civil Defense Agency.
8. Any offer of the Federal Government or any agency or officer thereof, or any offer of any person, firm or corporation, to provide services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds, by way of gift, grant or loan, to or for the use of the Emergency Communications Commission, is hereby accepted and the Director of Civil Defense for the Commonwealth is authorized to receive such services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds, subject to the terms of the offer and the rules and regulations, if any, of the agency making the offer, and to make such services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds available to the Emergency Communications Commission.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and ninety-first.
JOHN A. VOLPE
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
KEVIN H. WHITE
Secretary of the Commonwealth