SBC and TSP

1. SBC and TSP Don Boland Director SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness FCC Presentation February 17, 2005

2. TSP History • Established on November 17, 1988 by the FCC • To help reduce chaos after a disaster, when service providers are overwhelmed with repair requests • Provides a means to make the decision on what lines should be restored first SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

3. TSP IS: • FCC established a user program to ensure that telecommunication lines most necessary to promote the nation’s security and emergency preparedness functions are given priority installation and restoration • A regulatory, administrative and operational system identifying NSEP telecommunication service • A legal requirement: the service provider MUST restore ALL TSP designated lines before any other SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

4. TSP IS NOT: • A redundant network • A guarantee that facilities will never go out of service • An equipment feature sold by the service providers SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

5. SBC is often the first to be asked how to subscribe to TSP Program • An applicant notifies the FCC to request federal agency sponsorship (i.e. banking industry – Federal Reserve Board) • Once qualified, the subscriber notifies the service provider (SBC) and request TSP service • The service provider (SBC) issues the service order to establish a TSP code and have it provisioned in the operating system SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

6. SBC Customer’s Perception of TSP • “My service is a high priority and will be restored first anyway” • All of my lines need to be TSP designated • The TSP application process takes too long SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

7. SBC explains TSP to the Customer • It is a legal requirement to restore TSP before any other service • Only lines that will provide essential coverage during an immediate crisis should be TSP • The customer must decide their critical service requirements • The application process takes about 30 days • The Federal Government is the only one that determines if a customer is qualified for TSP • Over-rides all special restoration contract terms SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

8. TSP Components The TSP program contains two primary and distinctive components: • Restoration: A restoration priority is applied to new or existing telecommunications services to ensure restoration before a non - TSP program user. Must be requested and assigned beforea service outage occurs • Provisioning: A provisioning priority is obtained to facilitate the priority installation of new telecommunications services in a shorter than normal interval, when necessary. SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

9. Specific Process to Request a TSP Code? • A customer (user) must submit a request to the Office of Priority Telecommunications (OPT) to obtain a TSP code. • OPT contact information is as follows: • Website: http://tsp.ncs.gov • Telephone Numbers: (703) 607-4933, (703) 607-4932 • The customer submits their order to the vendor (SBC) with the assigned TSP code for restoration and/or provisioning. • Customer must provide a separate TSP code for each circuit • The vendor (SBC) restores and/or provisions the order accordingly, based on the priority. SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

10. SBC Process • TSP services assigned restoration priorities of 1,2,or 3 require dispatch service of personnel outside normal business hours • Restoration TSP service assigned a 4 or 5 priority dispatch of personnel outside normal business hours is required only when the next business day is more than 24 hours from reported outage • Cable cut - SBC tester automatically accesses system for TSP circuits before the customer reports trouble • TSP circuits identified • Immediately coordinate TSP circuit restoration SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

11. SBC’s TSP Administration Requirements • 24 Hour Point of Contact • To receive emergency provisioning request • To report TSP Service outages • Reconciliation • Annually assure the accuracy of TSP records • Compare telephone companies TSP service information with FCC TSP database • Resolve any discrepancies • Cooperation • Prime service providers required to convey the TSP authorization code to any subcontractors and/or interconnection carrier • Subcontractors are required to accept and honor TSP assignments SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness

12. SBC’s thoughts for possible TSP improvements • Ensure reconciliation activity between company and Office of Priority Telecommunications (OPT) occurs once a year per R&O • A web based TSP database for easier reconciliation or upgrade of OPT database for ease of reconciliation is needed • Increased State and Federal agencies outreach to local levels to explain national security or emergency preparedness mission • Strengthen cooperation among communications companies by continuing working group meetings with the Office of Priority Telecommunications • Enhance Lines of communications between the OPT and the TSP requester/customer. (i.e. at times customers obtain TSP codes but do not complete the order with the vendor. Customer needs to delete TSP codes from OPT database.) • Define what TSP is and is not. i.e. Telecommunications Service • Priority (TSP) means TSP services will be restored before Non- TSP services. TSP is not MTTR (Mean Time to Repair), that is contract or service agreement specific. TSP is not Diversity. SBC National Security Emergency Preparedness