# Presentation: 699989

## Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

***Wireless Priority Service (WPS)***

**OVERCOMING WIRELESS****CONGESTION IN EMERGENCIES**

## Outline

**The Issue – Congestion**
**What is WPS?**
**Why do you need WPS?**
**How do you use WPS?**
**How much does WPS cost?**
**Who is eligible for WPS?**
**How do you order WPS?**
**Satellite backup**
**Contact information**

## The FUNDAMENTAL Issue: Network Congestion

**AT&T **
**MCI**
**SPRINT**

**Local Exchange**
**Networks**

**Mobile**
** ****Switch**

**Wireless Priority Service *****addresses ******wireless ******congestion at***

**Government Emergency Telecommunications Service *****addresses ******wireline ******congestion***

**Local Exchange**
**Networks**

**Mobile**

**Switch**

***call origination***

***and                 call termination***

***Congestion,******at ***_***one***_*** of ***_***many***_*** points, can block a call !***

**Notes:**
The NCS has two NS/EP programs that contend with the PSN network congestion to assure NS/EP communications remain viable during NS/EP events.  The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service or GETS overcomes the congestion in the landline local exchange and interexchange carrier networks.  
The Wireless Priority Service augments the GETS landline capabilities by addressing the wireless congestion experienced on the radio channels.

## The GETS Calling Card

**GETS priority is invoked**
**“****call-by-call”**

**The GETS Calling Card**

**Calling cards are in widespread use and easily understood by the NS/EP User, simplifying GETS usage**

**GETS is a "**_**ubiquitous**_**" service in the Public Switched Telephone Network...if you can get a DIAL TONE, you can make a GETS call**

**Notes:**
GETS is an “off-the-shelf” capability, in some aspects.  The front of the GETS calling card carries the user’s name and organization, with the 12 digit personal identification number (PIN)

The back of the card, shown in the foreground to the bottom, provides instructions to make a GETS call, including the universal access number (1-701-NCS-GETS) and alternative calling methods using a Carrier Access Code or a special toll free number.

Using the industry standard approach for calling cards keeps costs down and provides an easily understood approach for the users.

## What is WPS?

**An enhancement to basic wireless service that allows your National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) calls to queue for  priority service in order to complete the call**
**Together with GETS, WPS dramatically improves “end-to-end” call completion during emergencies**

## Why Do You Need WPS?

**Disasters, terrorist attacks, and major accidents trigger tremendous telephone traffic in the landline and wireless networks**
**NS/EP personnel at all levels of government compete with the public for these congested landline and wireless resources**
**GETS provides the means to get your landline call through**
**WPS provides the means to get your wireless call through **

## Available nationwide in most, if not all, service areas for these carriers:
AT&T
Cellular South
SouthernLINC
Sprint/Nextel
Sprint PCS
T-Mobile
Verizon Wireless
See “Carriers” on the WPS website (http://wps.ncs.gov) for specific coverage

**AT&T**
**Cellular South**
**SouthernLINC**
**Sprint/Nextel**
**Sprint PCS**
**T-Mobile**
**Verizon Wireless**
**See “Carriers” on the WPS website (**_**[http://wps.ncs.gov](http://wps.ncs.gov/)**_**) for specific coverage**

**WPS Carriers and Coverage**

**Notes:**
T-Mobile is the only WPS provider today, but three more major carriers are coming on this year.
Rollout in a carrier’s network typically takes 6-9 months after initial availability.
Most of the FOC capability should be available in these carriers this year.

## How Do You Use WPS?

**When you need to make an official call, and you encounter congestion, simply retry your call but prefix your dialed number with *272**
**e.g. *272 703-555-1234**
**Everything else is automatic – your call will queue for up to 30 seconds and “grab” the next available path**
**If landline networks are also congested, utilize *272 plus the GETS access number to get priority in both wireless and landline networks**

## How Much Does WPS Cost?

**WPS feature subscription rate:**
**$10 maximum one-time activation fee**
**$4.50 maximum monthly service fee**
**$.75 per minute maximum for WPS calls (*272)**
**WPS minutes are not charged against your****basic service**
**These charges represent the maximum amounts charged by the cellular carrier and may be lower; contact your carrier for current rates**** **
**WPS charges are in addition to your commercial plan charges**

## Guidance on User Eligibility

**Persons in NS/EP leadership positions and key staff**
**Applicable at all levels: Federal, State, and Local**

| User Category | Examples |
| --- | --- |
| Executive Leadership/Policy Makers | President, Governors, Lt Governors, City/County leaders, Cabinet officers, key senior staff |
| Disaster Response / Military Command & Control | Continuity of government and national security leadership; Emergency Operations Center (EOC) coordinators/directors |
| Public Health, Safety, Law Enforcement | Senior command levels of law enforcement, fire and public safety functions |
| Public Services / Utilities and Public Welfare | Corps Of Engineers leadership; Water/sewage/ telecomm/transportation leadership |
| Disaster Recovery | Medical resources; sheltering; infrastructure damage assessment; Disaster Field Office (DFO)  |

**Notes:**
Who is eligible for WPS service?  The FCC R&O describes levels of priority for access to service and examples of leadership individuals or activities which fall under these priorities.

## Typical WPS User Functions

**Managing the initial response to an emergency at the local, state, regional and federal levels**
**Leadership of departments and agencies including key support staff **
**Insuring reconstruction of the basic infrastructure **
**Essential Continuity of Government (COG) and national security functions**
**Operations critical to life, property, and maintenance of law and ****order immediately after an event**
**Managing public works, utility infrastructure damage assessment, restoration efforts and transportation to accomplish emergency response activities**
**Managing medical resources**
**Managing a variety of recovery operations after the initial response**
**Establishing and sustaining shelters**
**Obtaining detailed damage assessments**

## How Do You Order WPS?

**Your organization Point of Contact (POC) applies for WPS for all users within organization**
**WPS website:  wps.ncs.gov**
**Telephone:  866-NCS-CALL, Select Option 2 for WPS**
**Upon WPS approval, POC forwards carrier account activation information to NCS**
**NCS orders WPS feature added to user’s basic service**
**If user does not already have carrier service, user acquires basic commercial service**

## Satellite Backup

**Satellite phones provide additional backup when cellular service is not available for any reason**
**Good example:  extended power outages can make office private branch exchanges (PBXs) inoperable, and outages that last for more than several hours can exhaust backup power supplies at cell towers**
**Carriers include Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat, etc.**
**Can be utilized as handheld mobile sets, in vehicles with mobile or fixed installations, and in structures with fixed antenna units**

## WPS Contact Information