Lt Col Joanne Sechrest

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Government Emergency Telecommunications
Service (GETS)

• Lt Col Joanne Sechrest
• Mgr, One-Stop Shop Services
• DHS/IAIP, National Communications System
• joanne.sechrest_at_dhs.gov
• 703.607.4960
• http//www.ncs.gov

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Outline

• Overview
• Operational Concept
• Criteria
• Cost
• Testing
• How to Order
• Contact Information

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GETS Network Congestion

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

ATT MCI SPRINT
Local Exchange Networks
Local Exchange Networks
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
addresses wireline congestion
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GETS Overview
GETS minimizes the possibility of the loss of
wireline telecommunications services for NS/EP
personnel during events such as
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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 Networkif you can get a DIAL
TONE, you can make a GETS call
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Why The PublicSwitched Network (PSN)?

• 95 of government telecommunications needs met by
  PSN
• gt 300B Infrastructure gt 150M Access Lines gt
  25K Switches
• GETS enhancements are deployed in the 3 major
  Interexchange Carriers and in the major Local
  Exchange Carriers across the US.
• GETS local enhancements are available from over
  85 of the access lines connecting to the public
  switched network
• PSN Is Ubiquitous, Robust, And Flexible

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Operational Concept
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Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) Routing
IXC ATT
IXC ATT
If Direct Path Blocked, EO Sends Call To Access
Tandem
IXC MCI
IXC MCI
IXC Sprint
IXC Sprint
IXC OTHER
IXC OTHER
AT
AT
AIN
End Office Sends Call to Users Presubscribed
Carrier Via Direct Route, If Available
EO
USER DIALS 1-703-818-4387
All Circuits Are Busy, Please Hang-up And Call
Later
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GETS Priority Features and Enhanced Routing

• Plus!..GETS has
• Priority in the
• signaling network
• Exemption from
• control restrictions

IXC ATT
IXC ATT
Interexchange Carriers
IXC MCI
IXC MCI
IXC Sprint
IXC Sprint
IXC OTHER
IXC OTHER
AT
AT
EO
EO
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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
• Queuing for available circuits during access and
  egress
• GETS power works for LOCAL and Long Distance

When you have dial tone, GETS will typically get
you through!
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GETS Examples

• 9/11
• 10,000 GETS calls attempted into/out of/within
  NYC and DC area with 95 completion rate
• Used for calls between end offices when local
  trunks damaged but long distance trunks still
  operational
• Nisqually Earthquake GETS calls within area
  exempt from network management controls
• Aug 03 NE Blackout 1,231 GETS calls into/out
  of/within affected areas with 90 success rate

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Who is Eligible to use GETS?
Organizations that support one or more of the
following five National Security / Emergency
Preparedness (NS/EP) mission areas, qualify for
OMNCS 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
typically done by the Office of Manager NCS
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GETS Costs

• NCS pays for all Federal calls up to annual
  ceiling--departments billed for excess
• GETS calls generally cost 10 cents or less per
  minute
• Operator assisted and International higher
• NCS cannot pay for Non-Federal calls
• Non-Federal Organizations establish an account
  with DITCO at Scott AFB
• Not normally billed for calls to confirm receipt
  of individual GETS cards, familiarization and
  short duration test calls
• Reserve the right to bill for all calls,
  especially if there has been fraud, waste, or
  abuse using your GETS card(s)

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Familiarization and Testing

• Encourage GETS cards distribution
• Keep 10 in stockpile for unanticipated needs
• Encourage GETS card holders test their cards
• Incorporate GETS in exercise scenarios
• Use it from home, office, hotels, etc. and on
  cell networks and payphones places you might be
  in an emergency
• Report problems to 1-800-818-GETS
• Utilize GETS 800/888 access numbers as fall back

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Toll-free Numbers

• Toll-free numbers CANNOT be used as destination
  numbers in GETS
• Toll-free number databases can fail during major
  emergencies
• Obtain regular telephone numbers for toll-free
  numbers before an emergency occurs

800 866 877 888

• GETS 800/888 Access numbers do not receive GETS
  priority treatment
• until the call reaches ATT/MCI/Sprint

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How Do You Order GETS?

• Your organization Point of Contact (POC) applies
  for GETS for all users within your organization
• Easy on-line registration
• Upon approval, GETS cards and instructions mailed
  to POC within 3-5 days
• No established POC? or dont know your POC
  contact the NCS

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NCS Contact Information
WEBSITE http//gets.ncs.gov
MAILING ADDRESS OMNCS P. O. Box 4502 Arlington,
VA 22204-4502

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

E-MAIL gets_at_ncs.gov
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