National SecurityEmergency Preparedness

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National Communications System
National Security/Emergency Preparedness
Priority Telecommunications Services

• Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
  (GETS)
• Wireless Priority Service (WPS)
• Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)

Lee Johnson Outreach Coordinator NCS Priority
Services lee.johnson_at_associates.dhs.gov
303.741.4782 www.ncs.gov
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National Communications System

• The NCS works with the telecommunications
  industry to develop and deploy National Security
  and Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications
  Services
• Priority telecommunications services are
  available to qualifying federal, state, local,
  and tribal government, and industry organizations

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Problem During an Emergency,
Mass Calling Causes Network Congestion
Public Network

• Congestion at many points!

Demonstration
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Recent GETS/WPS Experience
Hurricane Katrina (29 August 2005)

• Damaged and Inoperative (Louisiana, Mississippi,
  and Alabama)
• More than 3 million customer phone lines
• More than 1,000 cell sites
• 38 9-1-1 centers
• 33 central offices
• During the period 29 Aug 9 Sep, there were
  32,829 GETS calls into or out of the Gulf Coast
  region.
• The New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas originated
  33 of all calls and were the final destination
  for 26
• There were 3204 attempted WPS calls

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Hurricane Rita and the Texas Coast Evacuation
Network Congestion!

• Heavy public calling out of area to families,
  friends, hotels
• Once the evacuation was underway, motorists made
  extraordinarily heavy use of Cell Phones
• TELCO networks invoked Automatic Network
  Management Controls limiting inbound traffic
• Calls into 7 Area Codes begin to get Fast Busy
  3 days before Hurricane Rita impacted the coast

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Solutions The GETS Calling Card and Wireless
Priority Service
GETS is an emergency calling card service that
can be used from virtually any telephone to
provide priority for emergency calls
WPS is an add-on feature subscribed on a per
cellphone basis works with existing cell phones
in WPS equipped networks
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GETS Overview

• Dial GETS Access Number from any phone
  (1-710-627-4387)

2. Network routes call to a GETS Carrier. As you
are prompted, enter your PIN then Destination
Number
3. Network routes your call to the Destination
Number
..
Public Network
Use GETS whenever you hear a fast busy signal,
All circuits busy announcement, or otherwise
cannot complete your call
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Making a GETS Call
GETS Access Number

• Dial GETS Access Number
• Listen for tone, then enter your PIN (do not
  enter after last digit)
• Listen for voice prompt Please enter
  your destination number now.
• Enter the destination number (omit the 1
  before the area code)
• You will hear an announcement You are using
  GETS, ATT/MCI/Sprint
• Network will route your call to the destination
  telephone number

Toll Free number for each GETS carrier (backup)
Toll Free User Assistance number (24x7)
12 Digit Personal Identification Number (PIN)
User Name and Organization
Periods of silence are normal particularly if
call is queued during heavy congestion. Calls
may take 30 to 90 seconds to complete
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WPS Overview
1. WPS is an add-on feature subscribed on a
per-cell phone basis works with existing cell
phones in WPS equipped networks
2. To make a WPS call, enter Ý272 followed by
the Destination Number then press SEND
Ý272 703 818 4387
WPS addresses congestion in the wireless segment
of the network most importantly the local radio
access channel
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Making a WPS Call
Periods of continuous ringing and/or silence may
occur particularly if call is queued at several
points during heavy congestion. Calls may take
30 to 90 seconds to complete
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Recent GETS/WPS Experience
Hurricane Katrina (29 August 2005)

• Damaged and Inoperative (Louisiana, Mississippi,
  and Alabama)
• More than 3 million customer phone lines
• More than 1,000 cell sites
• 38 9-1-1 centers
• 33 central offices
• During the period 29 Aug 9 Sep, there were
  32,829 GETS calls into or out of the Gulf Coast
  region. 95 routed successfully.
• The New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas originated
  33 of all calls and were the final destination
  for 26
• There were 3204 attempted WPS calls -- 2970 (93)
  were assigned a radio channel

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Hurricane Rita and the Texas Coast Evacuation
Network Congestion!

• Heavy public calling out of area to families,
  friends, hotels
• Once the evacuation was underway, motorists made
  extraordinarily heavy use of Cell Phones
• TELCO networks invoked Automatic Network
  Management Controls limiting inbound traffic
• Calls into 7 Area Codes begin to get Fast Busy
  3 days before Hurricane Rita impacted the coast
• GETS and WPS Ý272 calls went through immediately
  from NCS North Texas location every time

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Using GETS and WPS during an Emergency
272 DN
272 DN
272
May need to dial 9 or other code for outside
line
See back of GETS card for GETS and WPS
Instructions
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Who Should have GETS/WPS
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Budgeting for Priority Services

• GETS
• No charge for GETS cards
• For organizations outside the Federal government,
  billing information is required to establish an
  account for GETS calls (_at_10 cents/min). You will
  not normally be billed for
• Calls to confirm receipt of individual GETS cards
• Test calls to the familiarization line
  (703-818-3924)
• Legitimate GETS usage in response to emergencies
• WPS
• Ordered on a per-phone basis through the NCS
• Now available Cingular/ATT, Nextel, T-Mobile,
  SouthernLINC
• Planned Verizon in 2006, Sprint in 2007
• Per phone charge not to exceed 4.50/month and a
  10 one-time set-up, plus no more than 75 cents
  per minute when WPS is invoked
• Billed by the carrier on the cellphone
  invoice/bill

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Order GETS and WPS on-line
Note Federal POCs are already established for
some organizations
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Problem During an Emergency, Critical Services
May Experience Outages

• Emergency Operations Center
• 911 PSAP
• IT Center
• Critical Facilities

Telecommunications Service Providers

• Damaged facilities and service problems can
  affect communications!

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Solution Telecommunications Service Priority
(TSP)

• FCC mandated program - applies to all
  telecommunications service providers
• Restoration Priority ensures restoration before
  non-TSP users
• Provisioning Priority facilitates priority
  installation of new telecommunications services
  in a shorter than normal interval
• Implementing TSP
• Download TSP Service User Manual and the TSP
  Service Request Form (Form 315)
• Establish an on-line TSP account by going to
  www.tsp.ncs.gov
• Determine candidate services
• Request a TSP Code for each service via on-line
  TSP account
• Upon approval, the NCS assigns a TSP code for
  each service
• TSP is then ordered through your Service Provider

TSP must be set-up in advance before an
emergency or disaster occurs
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Is Your Agency Fully Prepared?

• Are GETS/WPS/TSP part of your agencys Emergency
  Planning, Preparation, and Drills?
• Where can GETS/WPS/TSP augment existing emergency
  communications capabilities?
• Which individuals, locations, and functions are
  candidates for GETS, WPS, and TSP?

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Emergency Preparedness Challenge
Its tough to make predictions, especially about
the future.
- Yogi Berra
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Resources

• For more information
• www.ncs.gov
• www.gets.ncs.gov
• www.wps.ncs.gov
• www.tsp.ncs.gov
• For Assistance setting up on-line Accounts and
  ordering
• Priority Telecommunications Service Center
  1-866-627-2255
• 8am to 6pm Eastern Time
• follow voice prompts for each service
• Regional Outreach Coordinator Midwest/Mountain
• Lee Johnson
• 303.741.4782/303.503.4163 (Cell)
• lee.johnson_at_associates.dhs.gov

National Communications System
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How GETS Works
Calling Party
Called Party
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How WPS Works
WPS adds Radio Channel Queuing between the mobile
phone and base station and High Probability of
Completion (HPC) features to Cellular Networks
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Order GETS and WPS on-line

• Identify a Point of Contact (POC) and Alternate
  to manage GETS/WPS for your organization
• Have POC/Alternate POC go to www.gets.ncs.gov
  Select first time requestor on left-side menu
  then state, local, and tribal government
• Follow step by step instructions to establish
  Point of Contact Account for POC and Alternate.
  They will receive User IDs, Passwords, and
  personal GETS cards within 10 days
• POC and Alternate should review GETS/WPS
  information on Websites, familiarize themselves
  with on-line ordering system, and make GETS test
  calls
• Determine which individuals, locations, and
  functions need GETS and WPS (use GETS/WPS User
  Data Sheet available from Outreach Coordinators)
• POC/Alternate orders users GETS and WPS on-line
• GETS cards with instructions are mailed to POCs
  address
• WPS subscription activation is confirmed by email
  to POC

Note Federal POCs are already established for
some organizations
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Managing GETS and WPS

• Establish an appropriate number of POC accounts
  for your organization
• Some cities/counties have 1 POC, others have
  separate POCs for Police, Fire, EOC, etc.
• You can add/consolidate POC accounts and change
  POCs as needs dictate
• Issue GETS cards with NCS provided User and
  Pocket Guides
• Individuals emphasize need to carry card at all
  times
• Location/Functions place card in accessible
  location with instructions
• After WPS activation contact each user to confirm
  that WPS is working by having them make a test
  call
• Be sure each user regularly makes GETS/WPS test
  calls
• Use the on-line system to review GETS usage,
  perform administrative tasks, and to place orders
  or cancel GETS and WPS
• Be sure to include GETS and WPS in your emergency
  procedures and exercises