# Presentation: 777023

## Bill Gleichsner
Manager, Training and Exercises
 DHS/ IAIP/ NCS

william.gleichsner@dhs.gov
703.607.4993
http://www.ncs.gov

- Manager, Training and Exercises
-  DHS/ IAIP/ NCS
- william.gleichsner@dhs.gov
- 703.607.4993
- http://www.ncs.gov

**Government Emergency Telecommunications Service**
**(GETS)**

## Overview
Operational Concept
Cost
Testing
Criteria
How to Order
Contact Information

- Operational Concept
- Cost
- Testing
- Criteria
- How to Order
- Contact Information

**Outline**

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## Problem:  Wireline Network Congestion

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

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

**Local Exchange**
**Networks**

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

**Local Exchange**
**Networks**

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## Solution:  Government Emergency Telecommunications System (GETS)

**Solution:  Government Emergency Telecommunications System (GETS)**

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## The GETS Calling Card

**Tom Ridge**

**   **

**Department of Homeland Security**

**The GETS Calling Card**

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

***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***

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## Why The PublicSwitched Network (PSN)?

- 95% of government telecommunications needs met by PSN
- > $300B Infrastructure; > 150M Access Lines; > 25K Switches
- GETS enhancements are deployed in the 3 major Interexchange Carriers and in the major Local Exchange Carriers across the US.
- GETS local enhancements are available from over 85% of the access lines connecting to the public switched network
- PSN Is _Ubiquitous, Robust, And Flexible_

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## Operational Concept

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## Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) Routing

- AT

- IXC AT&T

- IXC MCI

- IXC Sprint

- IXC OTHER

**USER DIALS**
**1-703-818-4387**

- EO

- AT

**AIN**

- IXC AT&T

- IXC Sprint

- IXC OTHER

- End Office Sends Call to User’s *Presubscribed Carrier* Via Direct Route, If Available

- If Direct Path Blocked, EO Sends Call To Access Tandem

- “*All Circuits Are Busy, Please Hang-up And Call Later*”

- IXC MCI

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## GETS Priority Features and Enhanced Routing

**GETS Priority Features and Enhanced Routing**

**AT**

- AT&T

- MCI

- Sprint

**AT**

**EO**

***Interexchange Carriers***

_***Plus!..GETS has***_
***Priority in the ***
***    ******signaling network***
***Exemption from ***
***    ******control restrictions***

**EO**

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## Power of GETS

- Utilizes robustness of the public switched network
- 6 ways to get to long distance networks rather than 2
- Priority over public calls in signaling network
- Exemption from Network Management Controls
- Enhanced routing alternatives in public networks
- Queuing for available circuits during access and egress
- GETS power works for LOCAL and Long Distance

**When you have dial tone, you can make a GETS call!**

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**Nisqually Earthquake Feb 01:**  GETS calls within area exempt from network management controls
**Sep 11, 01:** 10,000 GETS calls into/out of/within New York City and Washington area with 95% completion rate
**NE Blackout Aug 03:**  1,231 GETS calls into/out of/within affected areas with 90% + success rate
**Hurricane Ivan Sep 04:** Helped Eglin AFB order mission critical parts, recall personnel, and coordinate with the White House

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## GETS Costs

- NCS pays for all Federal calls up to annual ceiling--departments billed for excess
- GETS calls generally cost 15 cents per minute
-  Operator assisted and International higher
- NCS cannot pay for Non-Federal calls
-  Non-Federal Organizations establish an “account” with DITCO at Scott AFB
- Test calls to (703) 818-3924 not billed
- Reserve the right to bill for all calls, especially if there has been fraud, waste, or abuse

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## Familiarization and Testing

- Encourage GETS cards distribution
- Keep 10% in stockpile for unanticipated needs
- Encourage GETS card holders to test their cards
- Incorporate GETS in exercise scenarios
- Use it from home, office, hotels, etc. and on cell networks and payphones – places you might be in an emergency
- Report problems to 1-800-818-GETS
- Utilize GETS 800/888 access numbers as fall back

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## Toll-free Numbers

- Toll-free numbers CANNOT be used as destination numbers in GETS
- Toll-free number databases can fail during major emergencies
- Obtain regular telephone numbers for toll-free numbers before an emergency occurs

**800**
**866**
**877**
**888**

- GETS 800/888 Access numbers do not receive GETS priority treatment until** **the** **call reaches AT&T/MCI/Sprint

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## Who is Eligible to use GETS?

- Organizations that support one or more of the following five National Security / Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) mission areas, qualify for OMNCS sponsorship to become a GETS user:

***Non-Federal users require***
***NCS member sponsorship – typically done by the Office of Manager NCS***

**Who is Eligible to use GETS?**

- National Security Leadership
- National Security Posture and US Population Attack Warning
- Public Health, Safety, and Maintenance of Law and Order
- Public Welfare and Maintenance of National Economic Posture
- Disaster Recovery

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## Who Should Have GETS?

- Key Individuals
- Leadership (headquarters, regional, local, and in-the-field)
- Liaison and coordination personnel
- Specialists with critical skills
- Essential employees
- Emergency Functions:
- EOC, Regional, and Local Operations Centers
- Local Stations, Remote Sites, and Other Essential Facilities
- Command Vehicles, Incident Command Centers, and Emergency Shelters

**GETS Cards should be provided to individuals and functions responsible for emergency response**

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## GETS Cards - Puerto Rico

| Organization | GETS |
| --- | --- |
| Federal Government | 116 |
| Industry- Financial | 1 |
| Industry – Telecom | 0 |
| Industry – Utilities | 0 |
| Industry – Health | 1 |
| Local Government | 0 |
| State Government | 0 |
| Other NS/EP | 7 |

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## GETS Cards – Virgin Islands

| Organization | GETS |
| --- | --- |
| Federal Government | 19 |
| Industry- Financial | 0 |
| Industry – Telecom | 0 |
| Industry – Utilities | 0 |
| Industry – Health | 0 |
| Local Government | 0 |
| State Government | 0 |
| Other NS/EP | 2 |

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## Ordering GETS

**Ordering GETS**

**Step 1 - GET a POC:**
- - Find out if your organization has a GETS “Point of Contact” – work with your POC to add services
- - If no POC, assign a Program Lead with the _authority_ and _time_ to implement

**Step 2:** Identify individuals and functions to have GETS/WPS

**Step 4:** Order GETS/WPS thru on-line system

**Step 3: **Establish on-line account

**Step 6: **Update Emergency Plans and Drills to include GETS/WPS

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**Step 5:** Distribute Internally

## One Stop Shop Contact Information 

_**TELEPHONE:**_
**Information/Sign-Up**
** ****1-866 NCS-CALL (627-2255) or 703 676-2255  (Option 1 for GETS)**
**Trouble Reporting (24x7) **
** ****1-800-818-GETS (4387) or 703 818-4387**

_**E-MAIL:**_
**gets@ncs.gov**

_**WEBSITE:**_
**http://gets.ncs.gov**

_**MAILING ADDRESS**_**:**
**OMNCS**
**P. O. Box 4502**
**Arlington, VA  22204-4502**

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