Lt Col Joanne Sechrest

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Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
(GETS)/ Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

• Lt Col Joanne Sechrest
• Mgr, Priority Telecommunications Branch
• DHS/IAIP/NCS
• joanne.sechrest_at_dhs.gov
• 703.607.4960
• http//www.ncs.gov

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Outline

• Criteria
• GETS Overview
• WPS Overview
• Other Wireless Tools
• Cost
• How to Order
• Contact Information

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GETS/WPS Eligibility
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/WPS user

• 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

Non-Federal users require sponsorship
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Problem Wireline Network
Congestion
Congestion,at many points, can block a call !
ATT MCI SPRINT
Local Exchange Networks
Local Exchange Networks
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
addresses wireline congestion
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Solution Government Emergency
Telecommunications Service (GETS)
GETS minimizes the possibility of the loss of
wireline telecommunications services for NS/EP
personnel during events such as
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The GETS Calling Card
Calling cards are in widespread use and easily
understood by the NS/EP User, simplifying GETS
usage
GETS priority is invoked call-by-call
Michael Chertoff
Department of Homeland Security
GETS is a "ubiquitous" service in the Public
Switched Telephone Networkif you can get a DIAL
TONE, you can make a GETS call
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Why The PublicSwitched Network (PSN)?

• 95 of government telecommunications needs met by
  PSN
• gt 300B Infrastructure gt 150M Access Lines gt
  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

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Operational Concept
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GETS Priority Features
Central Office
PSTN
Central Office
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GETS Proven for Long Distance and Local Calls

• 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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Familiarization and Testing

• Encourage GETS cards distribution
• Keep 10 in stockpile for unanticipated needs
• Encourage GETS card holders 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

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Toll-free Numbers

• Toll-free numbers CANNOT be used as destination
  numbers in GETS
• Obtain regular telephone numbers for toll-free
  numbers before an emergency occurs

800 866 877 888
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• Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

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Problem Network Congestion

• Congestion,at many points, can block a call !

ATT MCI SPRINT
Local Exchange Networks
Local Exchange Networks
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Solution Wireless Priority Service
Add-on feature to your existing cell service
Wireline Networks
Mobile Switch
Mobile Switch
Dial 272 and the destination number Call
queues for next available radio channel
For cell and landline congestion Dial 272 and
GETS access number, enter PIN, and dial
destination number
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Nationwide Initial Operating Capability
Dial 272 dest. send
If dest. is long distance
272 Dest
Mobile Switch
Mobile Switch
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WPS IOC Limitations

• IOC provided one major capability priority to
  cell tower (only)
• Cell tower access is the major cause of blockage
  for localized hot spot congestion
• Tanker truck overturned on expressway
• During wide area event, IOC capability got the
  radio channel but did not overcome congestion in
  the rest of the mobile network.
• Large area chemical spill or blackout.
• FOC corrects these limitations

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Nationwide Full Operating Capability
Dial 272 dest. send
Congestion No radio channel
If dest. is long distance
Call gets to congested switch
272 Dest
Or
If dest. is mobile in another MSC
If dest. is local mobile
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How Do You Use WPS?

• When you need to make an official call, and you
  encounter congestion, 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, grabbing the next
  channel
• If landline networks are also congested, utilize
  272 plus the GETS access number to get priority
  in both wireless and landline networks

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Nationwide WPS Program

• Cingular IOC complete
• FOC 80 complete
• Nextel IOC complete
• T-Mobile IOC complete
• FOC 80 complete

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WPS Modeled Performance
100
90
80
70
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Current Baseline
Probability of Call
Completion
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NS/EP After WPS Implementation
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0
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Increasing Load Level (x Engineered Load)
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General Caveats

• WPS is a digital service it will not work on an
  analog network
• WPS will work when roaming on a network partner
  carrier only if that network also has WPS
  capability
• WPS will queue in a destination cellular network
  only if that network has WPS capability
• WPS will not send location data to a 9-1-1 call

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Secure Communications

• Sectera phone allows secure communications on GSM
  networks
• Sectera is a modified Motorola P-280
• Phone has a voice number, data number, and fax
  number
• Users acquire phone through National Security
  Agency contract
• Service is arranged through your carrier
  representative

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Satellite Backup

• Satellite phones provide additional backup when
  cellular or landline service is not available
• Not just for rural environments
• Example power outages make office exchanges
  inoperable and outages that last several hours
  can exhaust backup power 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

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GETS/WPS Costs

• GETS
• No charge for the GETS calling card
• Pay only for usage at 10 cents or less per minute
  (operator assisted/international calls higher
  cost)
• Test calls to 703-818-3924 not billed
• WPS
• WPS is ordered on a per-phone basis from your
  existing service provider (GSM only through 2005)
• 4.50/month, 10 one-time set-up, and 75 cents
  per minute usage cost when WPS is invoked

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Who Should Have GETS/WPS?

• Key Individuals
• Leadership (headquarters, regional, field)
• Key staff positions
• Critical Skills Specialists
• Emergency Functions
• Operation Centers
• Command Post and Command Vehicles

Key decision makers should have WPS
All NS/EP personnel should have GETS
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GETS/WPS - Connecticut
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GETS/WPS -Maine
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GETS/WPS -Massachusetts
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GETS/WPS New Hampshire
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GETS/WPS Rhode Island
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GETS/WPS Vermont
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Ordering GETS/WPS
Step 2 Identify individuals and functions to
have GETS/WPS
Step 3 POC registers on-line

• Step 1 Get a POC
• - Find out if your organization has a GETS/WPS
  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 4 Order GETS/WPS thru on-line system
Step 5 WPS feature updated or GETS mailed to POC
in 3-5 days
Step 6 Update Emergency Plans and Drills to
include GETS/WPS
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One Stop Shop Contact Information
WEBSITE http//gets.ncs.gov http//wps.ncs.gov
MAILING ADDRESS OMNCS P. O. Box 4502 Arlington,
VA 22204-4502

• TELEPHONE
• Information/Sign-Up
• (M-F 0700-1800 EST)
• 1-866 NCS-CALL
• Trouble Reporting
• (24x7)
• 1-800-818-GETS

E-MAIL gets_at_ncs.gov wps_at_ncs.gov
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