Priority Services

The Federal government has three Priority Services to support National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) activities: Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Wireless Priority Service (WPS). They should be an important aspect of any emergency communications strategy, especially for those who rely on communications to respond to events and incidents on a daily basis and want to minimize their connectivity downtime. Federal sponsorship is necessary to enroll in these NS/EP programs.

• Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)

  TSP is an FCC program that directs telecommunications service providers (e.g., wireline and wireless phone companies) to give preferential treatment to users enrolled in the program when they need to add new lines or have their lines restored following a disruption of service, regardless of the cause. Enrollment in TSP ensures that wireline circuits are restored on a priority basis. See TSP FAQs here.

• Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)

  GETS is a National Communications System (NCS) program that prioritizes calls over wireline networks when congested. Users receive an access card (GETS card), which has both the universal GETS access number and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). See GETS FAQs here.

• Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

  WPS is a National Communications System (NCS) program that authorizes cellular communications service providers to prioritize calls over wireless networks when congested. See WPS FAQs here.