INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES REGARDING DEFENSE SWITCH NETWORK

SEC. 353. INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES REGARDING DEFENSE SWITCH NETWORK (a) Establishment of Policy and Procedures.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish clear and uniform policy and procedures, applicable to the military departments and Defense Agencies, regarding the installation and connection of telecom switches to the Defense Switch Network. (b) Elements of Policy and Procedures.—The policy and procedures shall address at a minimum the following: (1) Clear interoperability and compatibility requirements for procuring, certifying, installing, and connecting telecom switches to the Defense Switch Network. (2) Current, complete, and enforceable testing, validation, and certification procedures needed to ensure the interoperability and compatibility requirements are satisfied. (c) Exceptions.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may specify certain circumstances in which— (A) the requirements for testing, validation, and certification of telecom switches may be waived; or (B) interim authority for the installation and connection of telecom switches to the Defense Switch Network may be granted. (2) Only the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence may approve a waiver or grant of interim authority under paragraph (1). The authority to approve such a waiver or grant of interim authority may not be delegated. (3) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence shall consult with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Stan before approving a waiver or grant of interim authority under paragraph (1). (d) Inventory of Defense Switch Network.—The Secretary of Defense shall prepare and maintain an inventory of all telecom switches that, as of the date on which the Secretary issues the policy and procedures— (1) are installed or connected to the Defense Switch Network; but116 STAT. 2519 (2) have not been tested, validated, and certified by the Defense Information Systems Agency (Joint Interoperability Test Center). (e) Interoperability Risks.—On an ongoing basis, the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) identify and assess the interoperability risks that are associated with the installation or connection of uncertified switches to the Defense Switch Network and the maintenance of such switches on the Defense Switch Network; and (2) develop and implement a plan to eliminate or mitigate such risks as identified. (f) Telecom Switch Defined.—In this section, the term “telecom switch” means hardware or software designed to send and receive voice, data, or video signals across a network that provides customer voice, data, or video equipment access to the Defense Switch Network or public switched telecommunications networks.