MEMORANDUM of AGREEMENT Between the National Science
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL MEDIA CENTER REGARDING RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC PROGRAM TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................III ARTICLE I BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................1 A. PURPOSE ...................................................................................................................................1 B. ROLE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION .......................................................................1 C. CHARTER FOR SUPPORT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.................................................................1 D. ROLE OF THE NAVAL MEDIA CENTER.......................................................................................2 E. TRANSITION OF DOD EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR ANTARCTIC SUPPORT .......................................2 F. AFRTS SATELLITE BROADCAST CONVERSION TO DIGITAL SERVICE........................................3 ARTICLE II AUTHORITY..........................................................................................................4 ARTICLE III ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................5 A. NAVAL MEDIA CENTER ............................................................................................................5 1. Administration.......................................................................................................................5 2. Operation ..............................................................................................................................6 3. Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................6 4. Maintenance..........................................................................................................................6 B. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS ............................................7 1. Administration.......................................................................................................................7 2. Operation ..............................................................................................................................8 3. Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................8 4. Maintenance..........................................................................................................................9 ARTICLE IV FINANCIAL MATTERS....................................................................................10 ARTICLE V AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION ...................................................................10 ARTICLE VI ENACTMENT AND TERMINATION.............................................................11 ARTICLE VII APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE.....................................................................12 APPENDIX A - APPROVED OUTLET STATION SITES...................................................13 APPENDIX B - APPROVED OUTLET STATION EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAMMING .......................................................................................................................14 ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Morale, welfare, and Command Information functions for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), which include Navy Media Center (NMC) Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), were transferred on 1 October 1997 to commercial contractor operations with management oversight and funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NMC will continue to support the NSF mission requirement for the USAP for radio and television via this separate memorandum of agreement. This separate agreement defines the geographic locations, scope, terms, conditions, and responsibilities of NMC and NSF for continued NSF access to AFRTS services. The NSF implements national antarctic policy by acting as the Executive Agent for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), which is the sole means for the conduct of basic scientific research in Antarctica and the surrounding ocean regions. National policy provides NSF with the authority to utilize Department of Defense (DOD) resources for the support of antarctic operations and logistics. A Memorandum of Agreement between DOD and NSF defines the scope of support provided to the USAP. The Department of the Navy has been chartered by DOD to serve as the Executive Agent for DOD support to the USAP. This support is managed via the Commander, Naval Support Force Antarctica (CNSFA). The CNSFA has established separate agreements with the Naval Media Center (NMC) for the provision of Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) to forward deployed DOD personnel in New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Access to AFRTS services has been extended to non-DOD participants of the USAP. The Naval Media Center has been designated by the DOD American Forces Information Service (AFIS) as the AFRTS geographic area manager for New Zealand and Antarctica. DOD will restructure its support for the USAP during the period of 1 October 1997 through 1 April 1999. The role of Executive Agent will transfer from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Air Force, and many operations/logistics functions provided by the Navy will become commercialized, transferred to civilian Navy commands, or transferred to the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard. iii BACKGROUND Purpose This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of the Navy, Naval Media Center (NMC), and the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP), provides for the definition of radio and television services to be provided by the Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, American Forces Information Service's (AFIS) Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) and NMC in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). This MOA responds to the transition in the role and functions of Department of Defense support to the National Science Foundation for the USAP that will occur over the period 1 October 1997 to 1 April 1999. The MOA defines the scope and means for the continuation of services provided under the existing DOD support framework prior to the transition period. Role of the National Science Foundation The NSF, via national Antarctic policy, is designated as the executive Federal manager for the USAP. The USAP is the sole national means for the conduct of basic scientific research in Antarctica and surrounding regions. The NSF/OPP implements the science programs and provides for the operations of facilities and logistics infrastructure necessary for the conduct of the USAP. As authorized by national Antarctic policy, NSF/OPP uses the assistance of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation for operational logistics support. Charter for Support, Department of Defense The NSF and DOD have established a memorandum of agreement for the provision of operational logistics in support of the conduct of the USAP. This agreement designates the Secretary of the Navy as the Executive Agent for the DOD for USAP support functions. The Commander, Naval Support Force, Antarctica (CNSFA) is the designated operational commander for all DOD support forces in Antarctica. CNSFA serves as the immediate superior in command for the Naval Antarctic Support Unit (NASU), Christchurch, New Zealand. NASU provides operational logistics support to the USAP for the geographic area of New Zealand. New Zealand serves as a main logistical pathway to the primary operating theater for the USAP in Antarctica. Aviation support to the USAP is provided by the Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6). 1 Operational logistics have been defined to include morale, welfare, and recreation services for U.S. servicemen, DOD civil employees, and non-DOD participants of the USAP, per the memorandum of agreement. Role of the Naval Media Center The NMC provides all media services for the Department of Navy (DON). The Broadcasting Department of Naval Media Center (NBS) exists as a functioning sub-unit of the NMC that is responsible for radio and television services. NMC provides print, journalism, radio, and television services to both shore and afloat components of DON activities. The NMC has been designated by AFIS as the manager for the geographic area of responsibility for AFRTS that includes Antarctica and New Zealand. The CNSFA has established a memorandum of agreement with NMC for the provision of radio and television services for the support of DOD personnel deployed to Antarctica and New Zealand in support of the USAP. Access privileges to NMC services in the USAP has included all non-DOD personnel who are official participants of the USAP. Transition of DOD Executive Agent for Antarctic Support DOD and NSF have negotiated a plan to transition the Executive Agent for DOD antarctic support from the DON to the Department of the Air Force (AF). The National Guard Bureau (Air National Guard) assumes the role of operational mission commander provided by CNSFA. The defining memorandum of agreement for DOD support to the USAP has undergone modifications to reflect these changes, effective after 1 April 1998. A component of the change in DOD