ICD Functions

1
Wireless Priority Service (WPS)
Lt Col Joanne Sechrest Mgr, Wireless Priority
Service DHS/IAIP, National Communications
System joanne.sechrest_at_dhs.gov 703.607.4960 http
//www.ncs.gov
2
Outline

• Overview
• Operational Concept
• Criteria
• Cost
• How to Order
• Special Purpose Communications
• Contact Information

2
3
Wireless Priority Service (WPS) Attack on
America, Sep 11, 2001

• During peak, wireless traffic increased
  by 50 to 100 percent nationwide
• One wireless carriers traffic ballooned by
  400 percent in Washington and 1,000 percent in
  a NY area switching center
• Urgent requirement for wireless
  priority access

3
4
White House Direction

• A Single Program Multiple Phases

• Immediate ActionNCS will move forward on
  implementing an immediate solution (target
  within 60 days) using channel reservation
  capability from one vendor for the Washington, DC
  area based on lessons learned in DC, NCS will
  make a recommendation on whether to expand the
  immediate solution to other metro areas.
• Longer-Term
• In parallel, the NCS will proceed with
  deploying a priority access queuing system for
  wireless nationwide (target within one year).

National Security Council Oct 2001
National Security Council Memorandum, October 9,
2001, SUBJECT Minutes from October 5, 2001
Meeting on Select NS/EP Telecommunications
Projects
4
5
WPS Network Congestion

• Congestion,at many points, can block a call !

ATT MCI SPRINT
Local Exchange Networks
Local Exchange Networks
5
6
WPS Program Phases
Mobile Switch
Originating Caller
6
7
Nationwide Initial Operating Capability
ALL YOU DO When you need to make an NS/EP call
and you encounter congestion, retry your number
prefixed with 272. (Including 710-NCS-GETS)
Wireline Networks
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
GETS Q
No Priority Features
Mobile Switch
Mobile Switch
272
Dial 272 destination no. send
The Rest is Automatic Your call will queue for
the next available traffic channel
7
8
WPS IOC Limitations

• IOC provided one major capability priority to
  cell tower (only)
• Cell tower access is the major cause of blockage
  for localized hot spot congestion
• Tanker truck overturned on expressway.
• During wide area event, IOC capability got the
  radio channel but did not overcome congestion in
  the rest of the mobile network.
• Large area chemical spill. Large area blackout.
• FOC corrects these limitations

8
9
Nationwide Full Operating Capability
Dial 272 dest. send
Congestion No radio channel
If dest. is long distance
Call gets to congested switch
272 Dest
Or
If dest. is mobile in another MSC
If dest. is local mobile
9
10
WPS Performance
10
11
Nationwide WPS Program

• GSM (Global Service for Mobility) only at this
  time
• T-Mobile
• IOC Nationwide Now
• FOC in DC/NYC and most east coast markets
  completed Mar 04
• 14 markets and over half of their mobile switches
• FOC in balance of network began in late July
• Cingular
• Available in 10 markets now, 17 additional
  markets by end of Sep 04
• Nextel
• Available in 16 markets now, additional markets
  over next 4 months
• ATT Wireless
• Roll-out began July 2004, additional markets over
  next 4 months
• Network rollouts typically take 4-6 months
• See Carriers portion of WPS website for
  specific market information

GSM FOC complete by Dec 2005!
CDMA Carriers (Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS)
estimated to be added in 2006
11
12
How Do You Use WPS?

• When you need to make an official call, and you
  encounter congestion, simply retry your call but
  prefix your dialed number with 272
• e.g. 272 703 555-1234
• Everything else is automatic your call will
  queue for up to 30 seconds and grab the next
  available path
• If landline networks are also congested, utilize
  272 plus the GETS access number to get priority
  in both wireless and landline networks

12
13
General Caveats

• WPS is a digital service it will not work on an
  analog network
• WPS will work when roaming on a network partner
  carrier only if that network also has WPS
  capability
• WPS will queue in a destination cellular network
  only if that network has WPS capability

13
14
Who is Eligible to Use WPS?

• More narrow than GETS eligibility
• Persons in NS/EP leadership positions, key staff,
  and key locations
• Applicable at all levels Federal, State,
  Regional, Municipal, Industry

14
15
WPS Cost

• WPS feature subscription rates
• Not more than 10 one-time activation fee
• Not more than 4.50 monthly service fee
• Not more than 0.75 per minute for WPS calls
  (272)
• WPS is available on numerous Government
  contracts.
• See specific contract information on the
  Carriers portion of the WPS website
  (wps.ncs.gov)

15
16
How Do You Order WPS?

• Your organization Point of Contact (POC) applies
  for WPS for all users within organization.
• Upon approval for WPS, if user does not already
  haveservice with a WPS provider, the user
  acquires basic commercial service.
• POC forwards phone account activation information
  to NCS
• NCS orders WPS feature added to users basic
  service.
• If you are located in a ATT Wireless, Cingular,
  Nextel or T-Mobile service area which does not
  yet have WPS capability, you may now apply for
  pre-approval of the WPS feature. It will be
  added to your service when WPS become available
  in your area.
• Pre-approval applications for Sprint PCS and
  Verizon Wireless will not be accepted until 2006.

16
17
Secure Communications

• Sectera phone allows secure communications on GSM
  networks
• Sectera is a modified Motorola P-280
• Secure module makes unit about ¼ inch thicker
• Phone has a voice number, data number, and fax
  number
• Users acquire phone through National Security
  Agency contract
• Service is arranged through your carrier
  representative

17
18
Satellite Backup

• Satellite phones provide additional backup when
  cellular or landline service is not available for
  any reason
• Not just for rural environments
• Good example power outages make office private
  branch exchanges (PBXs) inoperable, and outages
  that last for more than several hours can exhaust
  backup power supplies at cell towers
• Carriers include Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat,
  etc.
• Can be utilized as handheld mobile sets, in
  vehicles with mobile or fixed installations, and
  in structures with fixed antenna units

18
19
WPS Contact Information
WEBSITES http//wps.ncs.gov
MAILING ADDRESS OMNCS P. O. Box 4502 Arlington,
VA 22204-4502
E-MAIL wps_at_ncs.gov

• TELEPHONE
• Information/Sign-Up
• 1-866 NCS-CALL (627-2255) or 703 676-2255
• (Option 2 for WPS)
• Trouble Reporting (24x7)
• 1-800-818-4387
• Or 703-818-4387

19
20
(No Transcript)