Everything you wanted to Know about … Jim Devlin, OCC Chuck Madine, FRB Wayne Pacine, FRB G E T S … But didn’t know who to ask.

Agenda  Objectives  Introduce to new users  Answer questions asked by current users  Level-Setting / Overview  Definitions – GETS, WPS, TSP  FBIIC Policies / Processes  Q&A - GETS / WPS  GETS/ WPS Performance During Hurricanes  TSP Sponsorship 2

National Communications System (NCS) National Security / Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Priority Telecommunications  Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) - provides emergency access and priority processing in the local and long distance segments of the public switched wireline network. Used in an emergency or crisis situation during which the probability of completing a call over normal or other alternate telecommunication means has significantly decreased.  Wireless Priority Service (WPS) –sometimes called GETS for cell phones - provides priority cellular network access.  Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)- provides service vendors with a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate for prioritizing service requests by identifying those services critical to NS/EP. 3

GETS priority is invoked “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 The GETS Calling Card Disaster Response Team #1 US CITY EOC

Cellular Calls: The FUNDAMENTAL Issue: C o n g e s t i on AT&T MCI SPRINT Local Exchange Networks Mobile Switch Wireless Priority Service addresses wireless congestion at Government Emergency Telecommunications Service addresses wireline congestion Local Exchange Networks Mobile Switch Mobile Switch call origination and call termination Congestion, at one of many points, can block a call ! 5

FBIIC Sponsorship of Priority Telecommunications Access for Private Sector Entities through the National Communications System Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) and Wireless Priority Service (WPS)  July FBIIC developed specific sponsorship policies to ensure that financial institutions could take advantage of these NCS programs  NS / EP Mission - maintain the economic posture during any national or regional emergency.  Significant role in one or more financial markets or essential services or systems.  Sponsorship – through primary federal financial regulator.  Feb FBIIC members will review with goal of issuing cards to anyone that might benefit from them. 6

Q&A - Sponsorship  If my regulator has declined sponsorship for these programs, is there any recourse or appeal process? Can I reapply?  When the FBIIC policy was issued, there was a heavy NCS focus on “National Security” mission. This may have resulted in some Financial Institutions not applying; or some regulators turning down requests.  With the increased focus on “Emergency Preparedness” - if you think you need the services, contact your regulator again.  If you believe you are declined inappropriately, talk with your FSSCC representative. 7

Q&A - Sponsorship  Is there a process for a financial institution that does not qualify otherwise qualify for GETS/WPS to get temporary GETS/WPS service for a short period prior to a hurricane?  No. There are broad categories that serve as guidelines for determining who may qualify as a potential GETS user. Typical GETS users are responsible for the command and control functions critical to management of and response to national security and emergency situations, particularly during the first 24 to 72 hours following an event. Talk with your primary federal regulator.  But there is some flexibility - During emergencies, NCS and FEMA work closely with financial regulators to diminish any negative impacts on the financial sector – including distributing special GETS cards where needed. 8

Q&A – Mechanics  After a firm has received its first set of cards, is the process then managed solely through the Internet? That is, if I have 50 and want to add another 50 for my national operations, should I contact the regulator for guidance or should I handle it electronically?  After your POC (point of contact) is established, the POC will work directly / electronically with GETS Administration / Operations.  After initial approval by the regulator, will I only contact the regulator again if I have run into trouble with the NCS?  Yes. Your regulator is available to help with problems  Do the regulators have data regarding how many cards have been issued, and to whom, within the financial sector? The regulators are the ones we would turn to for any help we need, so they may need to have the same information as the NCS.  Yes. The regulators have access to the reports generated by NCS. 9

FI POC Established Key Role For Future Transactions NCS GETS Support GETS Life Cycle Review / Approval – Primary Financial Regulator Only if needed to resolve problems with NCS 10

Q&A – Stockpile Cards  There is a stockpile option in GETS. Is the 10% guideline adhered to strictly? Or can I have a good number of them on hand so I can respond to disasters wherever they occur?  Stockpile cards are intended as "interim" cards for issue to new GETS users in your organization, not as "extra" cards for emergencies. Accordingly, the level of stockpile cards is proportional to the number of GETS cards active in your organization and the 10% guideline is generally observed. If an extraordinary circumstance develops, the POC should discuss it with GETS.  Are stockpile cards active?  Stockpile cards are active. After issuing a stockpile card to a new user, the POC should request a permanent card with the same number for that user. 11

Q&A – Emergency Card Supply  A Financial Institution obtained the following information from customer service at GETS: There is a way to order "generic" (stockpile) GETS cards which can be distributed at the time of a disaster. It sounds like you can only have 10% of your existing card base as stockpile; however the GETS rep indicated that you could give the card number to multiple people during an event. I don't know whether or not one access number can be used in an overlapping format and will need to verify.  It's not necessary to order stockpile cards for emergency purposes. As an accommodation, GETS allows the POC to issue the same number to multiple individuals - this may be from an existing permanent card or a stockpile card. Time permitting, the POC should advise GETS of the action. When issuing the number to multiple individuals, the POC should keep a log with the recipient’s information. After the emergency, the POC should request a permanent / stockpile card to replace the one used for the emergency and de-activate that card. That is also an appropriate time for the POC to determine if additional permanent cards are needed. 12

Q&A – Dialing WPS Calls  Do you dial a "1" after the *272 before making a WPS call?  Should work either way – may depend on your phone. 13

Q&A – Using GETS / WPS  Can you use GETS and WPS in tandem? If so, how?  WPS users are authorized and encouraged to use GETS to better their probability of completing their NS/EP call during periods of wireless and wireline network congestion  * NCS-GETS ( )  Enter your PIN  Dial your destination number (e.g )  without the “1” prefix 14

Q&A – First Responders  Do first responders get GETS? Emergency management officials at the city and state levels?  If so, is there an established route for them to take in obtaining them? Or would there be any benefit to having ChicagoFIRST attempt to assist in this regard?  City and State governmental organizations should work directly with GETS at  Gets.ncs.gov 15

 40,768 GETS calls originated or terminated in the affected areas during the NS/EP Events (25 total days over a three month period)  Katrina 32,829, Rita 7,164, and Wilma 775  The areas affected by the hurricanes would normally have generated approximately 600 calls during the same time period  21,525 GETS calls originated and terminated in areas outside the affected area during the NS/EP Events for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma  Katrina 12,000, Rita 6,979, and Wilma 2,546  The areas not affected by the hurricanes generated several hundred GETS calls more then normal for the same time period  94% of calls in the affected area were successfully routed*  Katrina 95%, Rita 91%, and Wilma 94%  * GETS features (queuing, alternate carrier routing) enabled the calls, in most cases, to be routed from the originating location through the IXC network to the destination or to the point where damaged infrastructure was encountered  Most routing failures were caused by damaged end offices, cell sites, or unavailable trunks Gulf Coast Hurricanes: GETS Performance 16

 4,936 WPS calls were attempted during the NS/EP Events (25 total days over a three month period)  Katrina 3,204, Rita 1,027, and Wilma 705 calls  The areas affected by the hurricanes would normally have generated approximately 100 calls during the same time period  4,702 (95%) were assigned a radio channel  1,704 calls were “answered” at the destination; do not know how many calls went to “busy” or “ring no answer” treatment  Traditionally “busy” and “ring no answer” calls represent 30% of all successfully routed GETS calls  Code Red Performance Reports not yet available for wireless carriers  M ost routing failures (estimated to be 37%) were caused by damaged infrastructure, not congestion  WPS features (queuing) enabled the calls, in most cases, to successfully queue for a radio channel and be routed through the IXC network to the destination or the point where damaged infrastructure was encountered Gulf Coast Hurricanes: WPS Performance 17

FBIIC Sponsorship of Priority Telecommunications Access for Private Sector Entities through the National Communications System Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program  NS / EP Mission - maintain the economic posture during any national or regional emergency.  Policy builds upon and extends the TSP sponsorship policies established by the FRB to explicitly encompass a broader group of eligible telecommunications circuits.  Sponsorship – primary regulators contact appropriate financial organizations; or organizations may request sponsorship through primary regulator. 18

To Learn More … NCS Homepage - GETS Homepage - WPS Homepage - TSP Homepage