NSDD 186 Installation and Operation of the Direct Communications Link (DCL)/"Hotline" between Washington and Moscow

SECRET SECRET the DCL. If negotiations are undertaken, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs will appoint a delegation and issue negotiating instructions. (U) Overall operational supervision of the DCL and the continuing review of its technical parameters and operational procedures are the responsibility of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. A senior DCL Operational Oversight Committee is hereby established for this purpose, chaired by the NSC Senior Director for Crisis Management and composed of the NSC Director, National Security Telecommunications, the Director of the White House Situation Room, the Deputy Director, White House Military Office, Commander, White House Communications Agency, and the Deputy Director for Operations, Military Command System (J-3) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This Committee will periodically review and update procedures for authentication and release of DCL messages, standardize operating procedures at all DCL operating locations, and establish procedures for handling incoming messages to the President. (U) Funding and implementation responsibility for approved upgrades to the DCL resides with the Secretary of Defense in his capacity as Executive Agent, National Communications System. A Standing Subcommittee On Upgrades is established to oversee this effort. The Subcommittee membership and chair shall be determined by the Executive Agent. The Subcommittee's function is to convene as necessary to set technical parameters and establish overall milestone schedules for upgrade enhancements consistent with U.S./USSR negotiated positions and national security policy, to assign engineering and procurement responsibility and to review milestone achievements. The Secretary of Defense is responsible for annual recurring costs of the installed DCL system. (U) National Security Action Memorandum No. 255, July 30, 1963 and National Security Decision Memorandum 295, May 14, 1975, are hereby superseded and cancelled. (U) Ranasa Reagon SECRET SECRET COPY / DE 19 COPIES CHRON FILE