National Communications System Dan Currie Eastern Regional Outreach Coordinator GETS/WPS Program...

National Communications System

Dan Currie

Eastern Regional Outreach Coordinator

GETS/WPS Program

Phone: 215-343-8767

[email protected]

[email protected]

Assuring CommunicationsDuring

An Emergency

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003 2


NCS (1963)

Critical Infrastructure Protection

PDD-63CIP

(1998)

National Plans

For CIP(2000/2001)

PCCIP(1996)

Telecom ISAC(2000)

1993- Present

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

FRPComm Annex

(1992)

1981-1993

Divestiture NSTAC Established

EO 12382 EO 12472EO 12656

CIP Board(2001)

National Response

Framework (NRF)

(Present)

NCS consists of 24 Federal member departments and

agencies and is responsible for ensuring the availability of a viable national security and

emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications infrastructure.

NCS consists of 24 Federal member departments and

agencies and is responsible for ensuring the availability of a viable national security and

emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications infrastructure.



• 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, industry, and non-governmental organizational personnel in performing their NS/EP missions.

• Priority telecommunications services are designed to augment existing emergency communications capabilities.


Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)

Priority access to the public wireline network

GETS is supported by all major service providers

Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

Priority access to the public wireless network

WPS is available through AT&T, Edge Wireless, SouthernLINC, Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon

NCS Priority ServicesNCS Priority Services

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)

Establishes priority for restoration/provisioning of NS/EP circuits

Supported by an FCC regulatory mandate


The Problem

“I’m sorry, all circuits are busy now.

Please hang up and try your call again

later.”


The Problem

What do you do that requires a voice call?

What do you do if you can’t make a normal call?

What do you do if you can’t make an emergency call?

What are your options?

What can you afford?

What Do You Do?

What do you do?

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Problem: During an Emergency, Mass Calling

Causes Network Congestion

Congestion at many points!

Local Switch

PublicNetwork

Mobile Switch

Home

PBXOffice

Fax

Satellite

......

Cell

PBX

....


After a major disaster, mass calling by the public often triggers congestion in landline and cellular networks, forcing emergency responders and other key personnel to compete with the public for the same overloaded communications resources!

Network Congestion


Rita: Calls into 7 Area Codes in southern Texas experienced network congestion the 3 days before Hurricane Rita impacted the coast

Katrina: 33 phone company central offices damaged, over 1,000 cell sites out of service, and more than 3 million phones inoperable

GETS-WPS Network CongestionKatrina – Rita 2005


“Cell-phone congestion blocked some calls near the collapsed bridge site Wednesday evening, causing Minneapolis police to ask people to get off their phones. Police needed to use the cell-phone networks themselves to mobilize doctors, the Red Cross and other emergency workers who don't have police radios.”

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - August 3, 2007

GETS-WPS Network CongestionMinneapolis - Aug 3, 2007


Government EmergencyTelecommunications Service (GETS)

0123 4567 8910ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

CA - OFC OF GOVERNOR

0123 4567 8910Janet Napolitano

DHS - - Secretary

• GETS is a no cost calling card that provides priority for outbound calls to all regular telephone numbers

• GETS uses the full capacity of the public network, it is not a separate system with limited capacity

• GETS Cards are typically provided to

– People: individuals needing priority capability 24x7x365

– Places: locations needing priority capability

Caveats:•GETS will not work without dial tone•May experience soundless delays while queuing•GETS provides priority calling but might not mitigate cellular congestion•GETS cannot be used for toll free numbers


MAKING A GETS CALL

GETS Access Number

Toll Free number for each GETS carrier (backup)

12 Digit Personal Identification Number (PIN)

1. Dial GETS Access Number

2. Listen for tone, then enter your PIN (do not enter # after last digit)

3. Listen for voice prompt: “Please enter your destination number now.”

4. Enter the destination number (omit the 1 before the area code)

5. You will hear an announcement “You are using GETS,

AT&T/Verizon/Sprint”

6. Network will route your call to the destination telephone number

User Name and Organization

Periods of silence are normal – particularly if call is queued during heavy congestion. Calls may take 30 to 60 seconds to complete

WPS Dialing Instructions

Toll Free User Assistance number (24x7)

0123 4567 8910ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

CA - OFC OF GOVERNOR

0123 4567 8910Janet Napolitano

DHS - - Secretary


MobileSwitch

PSTN

Home

PBX

Office

Fax

Satellite

......

Cell

PBX

....

How GETS Works

Trunk Queuing Exemption from Network

Management Controls

Calls to the GETS Access Numbers are identified by local wireline or mobile switch for HPC Treatment

GETS enhancements are deployed in the 3 major Interexchange Carriers (IXC) and in the major Local Exchange Carriers (LEC) across the US

GETS local enhancements are available from over 85% of the access lines connecting to the PSTN

Calls complete via LEC landline or mobile switch

NS/EP Call Marking Signaling Priority

High Probability of Completion (HPC) Features

Alternate Carrier Routing

Local Switch


WPS provides priority for emergency calls made from cell phones including PDAs

The WPS feature is requested on a per-phone basis through the NCS for Alltel, AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless), Cellular South, Edge Wireless, SouthernLINC, Sprint Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

WPS typically costs $60 to $70 per phone per year (a maximum of $4.50/month, $10 one-time, 75 cents per minute)

*272 + Destination

number

Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

Caveats:•WPS will not work without a signal•May need GET/WPS together to complete the call•Users may experience waits up to 28 seconds•WPS may not work when roaming•9-1-1 loses geo locator


Making a WPS Call

1. Confirm radio signal

2. Enter *272 + destination telephone number and push SEND key (example: *272 703 818 4387 - SEND )

WPS provides priority access to the local radio connection where cell congestion can often block calls

....

Landline Networks

Cellular Networks

Cellular Network Switch


Landline Network Switch

......

Radio connection

WPS Call

Radio connection

Just dial *272+ destination number for end to end priority (no need to input a PIN)

Called Party does NOT need to have GETS or WPS

WPS provides priority access to the local radio connection where cell congestion can often block calls

....

Landline Networks

Cellular Networks




........

Landline Networks

Cellular Networks




............

Radio connection

WPS Call

Radio connection

Just dial *272+ destination number for end to end priority (no need to input a PIN)

Called Party does NOT need to have GETS or WPS


WPS adds Radio Channel Queuing between the mobile phone and base station and High Probability of Completion (HPC) features to Cellular Networks

Originating Radio Channel Queuing

Provides priority access to radio channels when placing a cellular call

Requires WPS subscription and entering 272 + Destination Number

Terminating Radio Channel Queuing Provides priority access to radio channels on inward

NS/EP calls (WPS or GETS) Requires WPS Full Operational Capability in the

terminating Mobile Switch Called Mobile Phone DOES NOT have to be

subscribed to WPS

WPS Equipped Mobile Switches Treats WPS calls same as GETS calls, giving

them NS/EP marking Provides same HPC features as GETS without

having to dial GETS access number and PIN Long distance WPS calls are routed through HPC

capable networks of the GETS carriers or Cellular carriers

Local calls route directly to local carriers

..........

....

Other Cellular Service Providers

Calling Party

Called Party

WPS Mobile Switch

How WPS Works

Radio Channel Queuing HPC


Who Should Have GETS/WPS? Senior Leadership Media Relations

Emergency Management and staff Police/Fire Chiefs and staff Police/Fire Field Command Department Heads and staff

Team leaders Subject matter experts/trained

specialists Others Individuals with an Emergency

Preparedness and Response role.

Key Locations and Functions should have GETS cards for use during emergencies

EOC Work StationsBack-up EOC

PSAPsComputer/IT CenterPolice/Fire Dispatch

SheltersCommand Vehicles

Individuals who need to communicate anytime/anyplace should have personal GETS Cards

and WPS Subscribed Cell Phones


GETS/WPS Performance• 9/11 Terrorist Attack: Over 10,000 GETS calls were attempted in NYC and DC areas with 95% completion rate

•Aug 03 NE Power Outage: 1,231 GETS calls were made in affected areas with 90%+ success rate

•Hurricane Season 2005: Over 40,000 GETS Calls were attempted with 94% successfully routedOver 5,000 WPS Calls were attempted. 95% gained access to the radio channel and 63% were completed


GETS/WPS Performance

GETS Calls 94.4% Routed Successfully

WPS Calls 100% Assigned Radio

Channel

GETS Calls 96% Routed Successfully


Channel

Washington Storms (DEC 2006)

Virginia Tech (APR 2007)

GETS Calls 100% Routed Successfully


Channel

Florida Storms (FEB 2006)


Critical Communications Services May Experience Outages


Cable Hut – Lower Manhattan Sep 01


Established on 17 November 1988 by FCC Report and

Order FCC 88-341

The FCC designated the Executive Office of the President

(EOP) as administrator of the TSP Program, who in turn,

delegated its responsibilities to the Manager, NCS

TSP is a mandatory requirement for all FCC-regulated

telecommunications companies

Tariffs are approved by state utility regulators



The TSP program contains two primary and distinctive components:

ProvisioningA provisioning priority

isobtained to facilitate thepriority installation of

newtelecommunicatio

nservices in a shorter thannormal interval

.

ProvisioningA provisioning priority

isobtained to facilitate thepriority installation of

newtelecommunication

sservices in a shorter thannormal interval

.

Cannot be used to compensate for inadequate

planning

RestorationA restoration priority

isapplied to new or existingtelecommunicationservices to ensurerestoration before a non-TSP System user.

RestorationA restoration priority

isapplied to new or existingtelecommunicationsservices to ensurerestoration before a non-TSP program user.

Must be requested and assigned before a service

outage occurs



TSP is ordered from your service provider at rates set by the service provider and state public utility commission

Restoration averages: $100 initial; $3 monthly recurring charge

Provisioning will have TSP tariff in addition to the provider’s service charge


Caveat:

TSP offers no guaranteed duration for repair or installation, guarantees action occurs before non-TSP requests


Ordering TSP

Step 1: Establish on-line account

Step 2: Identify specific services for TSP

Step 3: Submit TSP service requests thru on-line system

Step 4: Obtain TSP code for each approved service

Step 5: Provide TSP code to your service provider

Step 6: Update records and procedures to reflect implementation

RestorationProvisioningStep 1: Contract service provider to establish date

Step 2: Call NCS to receive TSP code

Step 3: Provide TSP code to service provider


How do you ensure reliable and responsive communications? • Network congestion is very likely to occur during a major

emergency or disaster, making it difficult to complete emergency calls

• GETS and WPS significantly increase probability of call completion

• GETS and WPS are easy to request and administer using the on-line system

• No cost for GETS cards, WPS is less than 5% of the typical annual cell phone cost (approximately $70 first year, $60 second year)

• What’s YOUR next step?

“The only thing tougher than planning for a disaster is explaining why you didn't!"

Closing


ResourcesFor more information:

www.ncs.govwww.gets.ncs.govwww.wps.ncs.govwww.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

Dan Currie Eastern Regional Outreach CoordinatorGETS/WPS ProgramPhone: [email protected] [email protected]


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