An Overview of Cell Phone Wireless Priority Service

Wireless Priority Service is a method of improving connection capabilities for a limited number of authorized national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) cell phone users. In the event of congestion in the wireless network, an emergency call using WPS will wait in queue for the next available channel. WPS calls do not preempt calls in progress or deny the general public’s use of the radio spectrum.

Who is eligible to have WPS?
WPS is available to key NS/EP personnel with leadership responsibilities at the federal, state, and local levels of government, and in critical private industries (e.g., finance, telecommunications, energy, transportation, etc.). These users can range from senior members of the Presidential administration, to emergency managers and fire and police chiefs at the local level, to critical technicians in wireline and wireless carriers, banking, nuclear facilities, and other vital national infrastructures. For additional information, see Who Qualifies.

What companies are currently providing WPS?
WPS is currently being provided only on GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) and iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) carriers. The initial nationwide carrier is T-Mobile. GSM carriers AT&T Wireless and Cingular, and GSM/iDEN carrier Nextel offer WPS in selected markets today and will expand to all of their service areas where they are the network operators by Fall 2004. WPS is planned to be added in 2006 on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) carriers, such as Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless. Details are continually updated on the Carriers section.

What are the costs for WPS?
WPS features are an add-on cost to a basic cell phone subscription. Each carrier may set its WPS fees up to a cap set by the NCS. The one-time activation charge is capped at $10 per phone and a monthly service charge is capped at $4.50. Users invoke WPS by dialing *272, followed by the destination phone number. An airtime rate of up to 75 cents per minute is charged for the service. The *272 WPS call minutes are not deducted from the minute allowances of the user’s basic subscription. Contract information for other Carriers will be updated as available on the WPS website.

How are the agencies billed?
Agencies will receive their WPS billing as a feature charge on their cellular service invoices, and they can determine how they administer the service. Subscribers may create one account with one billing address for multiple phones, or they may create more than one account, each going to its own “bill to” point of contact (POC). Invoices will be sent as directed by the agency POC.

How much is the equipment and the basic service?
Cellular telephone services are on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule. Service and equipment packages are described on the following GSM carrier websites: Cingular Wireless, Nextel, and T-Mobile.

Will users be able to use WPS while roaming?
Yes, as long as roaming occurs on a network that supports WPS.

Will there be roaming charges? If so, will there be separate billing for roaming charges?
Whether or not there are roaming charges depends on the basic service plan purchased by each agency. Roaming charges, if any, are normally incorporated into the monthly service bill.

Is there an analog service fallback?
No. The Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology is digital only.

The display on my phone says "Emergency Service Only". What does this mean?
" Emergency Service Only" means that your phone has accessed another GSM carrier that does not have a roaming agreement with your carrier at your current location. This can happen when your regular carrier's signal is disturbed or weak and your handset "captures" a stronger signal from the other network. Another reason that you might see this message is if there is a temporary network fault which keeps your handset from properly registering with your home carrier when you power it on. Finally, if the display stays on for a long time, it may mean that your service has been suspended for some reason and you will need to contact your carrier's customer care organization. While the message is displayed, you cannot make regular or WPS calls, but you may make 911 calls or calls to customer care (611).

In what markets will WPS be available and when?
WPS is available nationwide in most T-Mobile service areas. Exceptions are those locations where T-Mobile provides basic services through partnerships with other wireless network providers, and those partners do not support WPS. AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Nextel currently offer WPS in selective markets. Additional coverage areas are planned during 2004 and 2005 and will be announced when they become operational. Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS are planning to offer WPS when modifications to their technology can be made, estimated for 2006. For the latest information on WPS carriers and markets, see Carriers on the WPS website. Applications for pre-approval of the WPS feature are being accepted for markets that do not have WPS. To pre-subscribe, see Request WPS. After the request is approved, it will be held for submission to the carrier as soon as they have WPS enabled on their network in the requested service area. At this time, we are not accepting pre-approval requests for Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless.

How do users apply for WPS?
If your organization already participates in WPS, contact your WPS POC. If you need assistance in identifying your POC, contact NCS by e-mail at wps@ncs.gov or by phone at 866-NCS-CALL (627-2255), choose Option 2; or in the metro Washington, DC area dial 703-676-CALL. If your organization does not have a WPS POC, NCS will assist in establishing one. Organization POCs will screen WPS applicants based on FCC criteria, and will then complete an online application. The NCS will review the application and inform the agency POC of the action on the application. The NCS will process the service request to the carrier to add the WPS feature. For more information on applying, see Request WPS.

What is the process for approved users to obtain service?
Once approved for WPS, organization POCs will procure equipment and establish basic service, if they have not already done so. If not previously provided, agency POCs will send the NCS the account and phone number information. The NCS will then issue an order to the carrier to add the WPS feature to the phone.

If secure cellular phones are available, how are they incorporated into the network?
The Sectera secure cellular phone is a GSM phone supported by GSM cellular networks. Information is available on the WPS homepage. WPS will not work on the secure CDMA phone until such time as Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless begin providing WPS service and that phone is used on their service.

Will there be a preemption feature in the WPS system based on the NS/EP level?
Since WPS uses the public network, preemption of existing phone calls will not occur. However, if a cell is congested and a queue of WPS users has formed, users will be served in WPS priority order. Even though a queue of WPS users has formed on the public network, radio channels will still be made available to the general public.

If I change carriers, does my WPS follow me?
Whether transferring your existing number or obtaining a new number, you must have your organizational WPS POC submit this change request online. The new carrier cannot accept a request from the user directly to add WPS to the user’s new account. If WPS is available in your service area from your service provider, request WPS from your new provider via the online change request form. Your new service with the new provider will then be provisioned with WPS.

Should I use 911 with WPS?
No, you will get no benefit by dialing 272 911, and will lose the location information which would have been provided by 911.

Why didn't my call go through when I dialed *272 plus my destination number?
Even though this is rare, it might happen for a variety of reasons. All users are encouraged to make WPS test calls from numerous locations in order to help troubleshoot the network. This includes testing WPS with the GETS card. If for some reason you encounter problems while using *272, call 800-818-GETS (4387) for assistance or to open a trouble ticket.

Who do I contact for more information?
Additional information may be obtained by contacting WPS Operations and Administration: Telephone - 866-NCS-CALL (627-2255), choose Option 2; or in the metro Washington, DC area dial 703-676-CALL. Web Site: http://wps.ncs.gov; E-mail: wps@ncs.gov. The WPS Program Office can be contacted at 703- 607-6118.

Source: Commonwealth of Virginia Information Technologies Agency