Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)

1. Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) OVERCOMING WIRELINECONGESTION IN EMERGENCIES

2. Mobile Switch The Fundamental Issue:Network Congestion Congestion,at one of many points, can block a call! AT&T MCI SPRINT Local Exchange Networks Local Exchange Networks Mobile Switch Mobile Switch Government Emergency Telecommunications Service addresses wireline congestion Wireless Priority Service addresses wireless congestion at call origination and call termination

3. US GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. If found, return to: NCS (N3), P.O. Box 4502, Arlington VA 22204-4502 WARNING: For Official Use Only by Authorized Personnel. 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” GETS USER GETS USER ORGANIZATION GETS is a "ubiquitous" service in the Public Switched Telephone Network…if you can get a DIAL TONE, you can make a GETS call

4. Government Emergency T elecommunications Service 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 Name: Organization: Interexchange Carriers Local Exchange Carrier GETS Priority Features and Enhanced Routing 123456789012 TONE -- Enter PIN “Please enter your destination number now” “You are using GETS -- AT&T” 703-607-6118 NETWORK DAMAGE / CONGESTION ENCOUNTERED Call Passed to IXC Enhanced Routing and Priority Treatment GETS Call Processed Call in IXC Queue IXC AT&T IXC AT&T • Plus!..GETS has • Exemption from control restrictions • Priority in the signaling network IXC MCI IXC MCI IXC Sprint IXC Sprint Call in AT Queue IXC OTHER IXC OTHER AT AIN AT Query AIN Platform Call Queues on IXC Trunk Group Call Queues on AT Trunk Group Call Queues on Direct Trunk Group EO EO “Other” IXC calls stopped at EO User Dials Call in EO Queue 1-710-NCS-GETS Routing Instructions For Alternate Carrier Routing (ACR) CALL CONNECTED!

5. 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 • Priority treatment in public networks • Queuing for available circuits during access and egress, including queuing for circuits to Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) during egress • GETS enhancements work for local and long distance calls

6. GETS Examples • During 9/11 event 10,000 GETS calls attempted into/out of/within New York City and Washington area with 95% completion rate • GETS not just for priority on Long Distance Calls • GETS extremely useful with local congestion or damage • Extensive use for calls between end offices within NYC during 9/11 when local trunks damaged but long distance trunks still operational • Bridge with comm links swept away in Oregon floods – GETS connected shorelines via long distance back door • Nisqually Earthquake – GETS calls within area exempt from network management controls • During Blackout 8/14-15 1231 GETS calls into/out of/within affected areas with 90% + success rate

7. Who is Authorized to Use GETS Organizations that support one or more of the following five National Security / Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) mission areas, qualify for NCS sponsorship to become a GETS 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 NCS member sponsorship

8. GETS Website:gets.ncs.gov Access the NCS GETS Homepage for information on GETS Use easy to follow process to sign up for GETS Download GETS documentation and training tools

9. GETS Costs • NCS pays for calls by Federal agencies up to an annual ceiling • NCS cannot pay for non-Federal calls • Non-Federal organizations establish an account through NCS to pay for calls • GETS calls cost 7.5¢-10¢ per minute, depending on carrier • Operator assisted and international calls are higher • Test calls to 703-818-3924 not billed • NCS reserves right to bill for all calls if fraud or abuse is detected

10. Familiarization and Testing • Encourage GETS cards be distributed to all personnel who have a need for emergency communication • Keep some in Stockpile for unanticipated needs (≈10%) • Encourage GETS card holders to use their card to become familiar with how to use it while in a non-stressed non-emergency situation • Use it from home, office, stores, hotels, etc., and on cellular networks – anywhere you might be in an emergency • PBX/Centrex/Payphones/Cellular may not recognize 710 area code – we need to get them fixed before an emergency occurs • Report problems to GETS User Assistance – 1-800-818-GETS or (703-818-GETS) • Use toll-free or CAC (1010xxx) numbers if 710-NCS-GETS fails • Incorporate GETS into your exercise scenarios

11. How Do You Order GETS? • If your organization already participates in GETS, your Point of Contact (POC) applies for GETS for all users within the organization • To sign up a new organization: • Go to gets.ncs.gov to sign up on-line, or • Call 866-NCS-CALL, then choose option 1 • Upon approval, GETS cards are mailed to the POC within a week

12. MAILING ADDRESS: NCS (N3) P.O. Box 4502 Arlington, VA 22204-4502 WEBSITES: http://gets.ncs.gov • TELEPHONE: • Information/Sign-Up • 1-866 NCS-CALL(Option 1 for GETS) Trouble Reporting (24x7) • 1-800-818-4387 E-MAIL: ncs@dhs.gov For More Information