Obama Gives Himself Control of all Communication Systems in America

Obama Gives Himself
Control of all Communication Systems in America

News July 9, 2012
17 Comments
 

US President Barack Obama quietly signed his name to an
Executive Order on Friday, allowing the White House to control all private
communications in the country in the name of national security.

President Obama released his latest Executive
Order on Friday, July 6, a 2,205-word statement offered as the “Assignment
of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions.” And
although the president chose not to commemorate the signing with much fanfare, the powers he provides to himself and the federal government
under the latest order are among the most far-reaching yet of any of his
executive decisions.

“The Federal Government must have the ability to communicate at all
times and under all circumstances to carry out its most critical and time
sensitive missions,” the president begins the order. “Survivable,
resilient, enduring and effective communications, both domestic and international,
are essential to enable the executive branch to communicate within itself and
with: the legislative and judicial branches; State, local, territorial and
tribal governments; private sector entities; and the public, allies and other
nations.”

President Obama adds that it is necessary for the government to be able to
reach anyone in the country during situations it considers critical, writing, “Such
communications must be possible under all circumstances to ensure national
security, effectively manage emergencies and improve national resilience.” Later
the president explains that such could be done by establishing a “joint
industry-Government center that is capable of assisting in the initiation,
coordination, restoration and reconstitution of NS/EP [national security and
emergency preparedness] communications services or facilities under all
conditions of emerging threats, crisis or emergency.”

“The views of all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and
the public must inform the development of NS/EP communications policies,
programs and capabilities,” he adds.

On the government’s official website for the National Communications Systems,
the government explains that that“infrastructure includes wireline,
wireless, satellite, cable, and broadcasting, and provides the transport
networks that support the Internet and other key information systems,” suggesting
that the president has indeed effectively just allowed himself to control the
country’s Internet access.

In order to allow the White House to reach anyone within the US, the president
has put forth a plan to establish a high-level committee calling from agents
with the Department of Homeland Security, Pentagon, Federal Communications
Commission and other government divisions to ensure that his new executive
order can be implemented.

In explaining the order, the Electronic Privacy
Information Center (EPIC) writes that the president has authorized the DHS “the authority to seize
private facilities when necessary, effectively shutting down or limiting
civilian communications.”

In Section 5 of his order, President Obama
outlines the specific department and agency responsibilities that will see
through his demands. In a few paragraphs, President Obama explains that
Executive Committee that will oversee his order must be supplied with “the
technical support necessary to develop and maintain plans adequate to provide
for the security and protection of NS/EP communications,” and that that
same body will be in tasked with dispatching that communiqué “to the Federal
Government and State, local, territorial and trial governments,” by means
of“commercial, Government and privately owned
communications resources.”

Later,the
president announces that the Department of Homeland Security will be tasked
with drafting a plan during the next 60 days to explain how the DHS will
command the government’s Emergency Telecommunications Service, as well as other
telecom conduits. In order to be able to spread the White House’s message
across the country, President Obama also asks for the purchasing of equipment
and services that will enable such.