CISA CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

CISA | CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION PRIORITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (PTS) Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 1

TLP: WHITE Problem: Personnel May Not Be Able to Communicate at a Critical Moment § Emergency responders and government officials rely on a mix of capabilities to communicate during an emergency: § § § Land mobile radio Cellular Landline Private network Satellite Commercial networks can become congested due to high call volumes (overload) or outage Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 2

PTS Services: GETS and WPS TLP: WHITE GETS WPS Government Emergency Telecommunications Service Wireless Priority Service Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 3

ECD Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 4

GETS: Enhances Voice Call Completion When Commercial Networks are Overloaded/Impaired TLP: WHITE § GETS provides end-to-end priority over landline commercial networks § GETS calls receive some priority features in WPS-capable cellular networks § Greater than 95% call completion rates § Over 375, 000 GETS subscribers Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 5

How GETS Works TLP: WHITE Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 6

Information on Back of Card TLP: WHITE Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 7

GETS Provides Priority Across Networks to the Destination Landline Phone TLP: WHITE Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 8

GETS Provides Priority Across Networks to the Destination Cellular Phone TLP: WHITE GETS Calls Receive Priority Across WPS-Capable Cellular Networks and on the Terminating Radio Connection Where Congestion Can Occur Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 9

TLP: WHITE GETS Best Practices § Distribute GETS Cards § Make GETS practice/test calls periodically and include GETS in training exercises § Make sure your facility PBX allows the 710 area code § Use Sprint or Verizon toll-free alternate access to dial toll-free destination numbers § Make sure users have 800 destination number translations § Program GETS number in cell phones § Download and use the GETS/WPS Dialer App § ALWAYS carry your GETS Card with you! Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 10

ECD Wireless Priority Service (WPS) Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 11

TLP: WHITE WPS: Enhances Call Completion When Cellular Networks are Overloaded/Impaired § WPS is an add-on feature to existing cellular service § WPS provides priority on the radio connection between the user’s cellular device and the cell tower, and provides priority processing in the core wireless networks § Available on all nationwide and some regional cellular carriers § Provides greater than 90% call completion rates § There are over 235, 000 WPS users Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 12

How WPS Works TLP: WHITE Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 13

WPS Best Practices TLP: WHITE § Ensure WPS has been activated on your cell phone by placing a WPS (*272) call § Make WPS practice/test calls regularly § Incorporate the use of WPS in training exercises § Preprogram *272 for key numbers in your contact list § Practice using WPS + GETS together § Test WPS availability after any changes you make to your cell phone service § Report problems you have when trying to make a WPS call during testing and training exercises § Download and use the GETS/WPS Dialer App Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 14

TLP: WHITE GETS / WPS Dialer Apps § Android (OS version 2. 2 and later) § i. Phone (i. OS version 11 and later) § Black. Berry (OS version 5. 0 to 7. x) § Available at: https: //gets-wps. csgov. com/apps Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 15

For more information: cisa. gov Questions? Email: colleen. wright@associates. hq. dhs. gov Phone: 202 -499 -9800 Colleen Wright March 1, 2021 16