Government Emergency Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)Telecommunications Service (GETS)

OVERCOMING WIRELINECONGESTION IN EMERGENCIES

The Fundamental Issue:Network Congestion

Congestion,at one of many points, can block a call!

AT&T MCI

SPRINT

Local ExchangeNetworks

Mobile Switch

Wireless Priority Service addresses wireless congestion at

Government Emergency Telecommunications Service

addresses wireline congestion

Local ExchangeNetworks

MobileSwitchMobileSwitch

call origination and call termination

The GETS Calling Card

GETS USER

GETS USER

ORGANIZATION

GETS priority is invokedGETS priority is invoked““call-by-call”call-by-call”

Calling cards are in widespread use and easily understood by the NS/EP User, simplifying GETS usage

GETS is a "ubiquitous" service in the Public Switched Telephone Network…if you can get a DIAL TONE, you can make a GETS call

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.

User Dials 1-710-NCS-GETS

AT

IXC AT&T

IXC MCI

IXC Sprint

IXC OTHER

EO

ATAIN

IXC AT&T

IXC MCI

IXC Sprint

IXC OTHER

Query AINPlatform

Routing Instructions For Alternate Carrier Routing (ACR)

“Other” IXC calls stopped at EO

Call Passed to IXC

TONE -- Enter PIN 123456789012“Please enter your destination number now”703-607-6100“You are using GETS -- AT&T”

GETS Call Processed

NETWORK DAMAGE / CONGESTION ENCOUNTEREDEnhanced Routing and Priority Treatment

Call in IXC Queue

Call in AT Queue

CALL CONNECTED!

EO Call Queues on Direct Trunk GroupCall Queues on AT Trunk GroupCall Queues on IXC Trunk Group

Call inEO Queue

Plus!..GETS hasPlus!..GETS hasExemption from Exemption from control restrictionscontrol restrictionsPriority in the Priority in the signaling networksignaling network

Government EmergencyTelecommunications Service

Name:

Organization:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

Local Exchange Carrier

Interexchange Carriers

GETS Priority Features and Enhanced Routing

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

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

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 sponsorshipNon-Federal users require NCS member sponsorship

Who is Authorized to Use GETS

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

GETS Website:gets.ncs.gov

GETS Website:gets.ncs.gov

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

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

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

For More Information

E-MAIL:

ncs@dhs.gov

WEBSITES:

http://gets.ncs.gov

MAILING ADDRESS:

NCS (N3)

P.O. Box 4502

Arlington, VA 22204-4502

TELEPHONE:

Information/Sign-Up

• 1-866 NCS-CALL(Option 1 for GETS)

Trouble Reporting (24x7)

• 1-800-818-4387