Sec.  213.1   Background and purpose.

   (a) The National Security Council and the Federal Communications Commission
   have  agreed  upon a precedence system for the expeditious handling of
   messages and calls transmitted over Government and public correspondence
   facilities in all types of situations from peacetime to massive nuclear
   attack. Effectuation of that system requires that the Director issue a
   circular and that the Commission concurrently issue an order prescribing the
   standards, procedures, policies, and regulations that together, constitute
   this single integrated precedence system.

   (b) In conformity with that agreement the National Security Council is
   issuing this circular the purpose of which is to prescribe, on behalf of the
   President,  that  part  of  those standards, procedures, policies, and
   regulations which are within the cognizance of the NSC. No significance
   should be attached to the fact that slightly different terms are used in
   their circular from those used in the companion order of the FCC. Those
   differences result from differences in terms in the basic legal authorities
   of the director and the Commission rather than from an intent to denote a
   distinction in purpose or effect.