GETS FAQ
What
is GETS?
The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
(GETS) provides National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) personnel
a high probability of completion for their phone calls when normal calling
methods are unsuccessful. It is designed for periods of severe network
congestion or disruption, and works through a series of enhancements to
the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). GETS is in a constant state
of readiness. Users receive a GETS “calling card” to access
the service. This card provides access phone numbers, Personal Identification
Number (PIN), and simple dialing instructions.
Why
is GETS important to me?
Natural disasters, power outages, cable cuts, and
software problems can cripple the telephone services of an entire region.
Congestion alone (e.g., the Mother’s Day phenomenon) can prevent
access to circuits. During times of emergency, the NS/EP community needs
to know their calls will go through.
When
do I use GETS?
GETS is used in an emergency or crisis situation when
the PSTN is overloaded (congested) and the ability to complete a call
by normal means is significantly decreased.
How
does GETS work?
GETS is accessed through a universal number (1-710-NCS-GETS) using everyday
telephone equipment (e.g., standard desk set, fax, modem, STU III). A
series of prompts direct you to enter your 12-digit card number and destination
phone number. Once authenticated, your call receives priority treatment.
Where
can I use GETS?
GETS is primarily designed for calls within the United
States and its territories. You can request international calling privileges
for calls to or from international destinations. However, note that GETS
provides priority treatment only in the United States portion of the call.
Do
I need extra hardware or software?
No. You will only need a GETS card, which will have
both the universal access number and a Personal Identification Number
(PIN).
Will
GETS work on my cell phone?
You can place a GETS call from any cell phone. However,
it will not receive priority treatment until it reaches a landline network.
To receive priority treatment in wireless networks, you must register
for the Wireless Priority
Service (WPS),
What functions does GETS support?
- Presidential Communication
- Continuity of Operations (COOP)
- Disaster Response
- Agency essential emergency functions
- State Emergency Operations Centers
- Emergency Broadcast Interface
- International interface for diplomatic and defense
telecommunications
What features
and enhancements does GETS provide?
GETS provides a higher probability of call completion
even in damaged or congested networks by providing numerous enhancements
and key features.
- Toll-free access number with alternate numbers for direct carrier access
- Access control using Personal Identification Numbers (PINs)
- Failsafe access - if the access control system fails, GETS calls would automatically be allowed to complete
- Enhanced routing to one of the three interexchange (long distance) carriers
- Alternate carrier routing in the event one of the carriers is unavailable
- Priority treatment with trunk queuing, sub-grouping, and reservation
- Exemption from restrictive network management controls during congestion
- International calling (when requested and authorized in advance)
- Interoperability with other networks
- Number translation (for special users)
How much does GETS cost?
The only charge is for usage when making calls using a GETS card.
GETS calls are billed at a rate of 7¢ or 10¢ per minute (depending
on carrier and other factors) for calls within the United States and its
territories, Canada, and most of the Caribbean. International calls are
billed at commercial rates, though international calling privileges are
restricted to those cards so authorized by your organization's Point of
Contact (POC) or alternate.
Federal government organizations are exempt from billing until an annual threshold for GETS calls has been exceeded. However, the NCS reserves the right to bill federal users for GETS calls if there has been fraud, waste, or abuse using your GETS card.
For organizations outside the Federal government, a Program Designator Code (PDC) is required to establish a billing account for payment of GETS calls placed by members of your organization. GETS charges are payable to our contracting office, the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO). Details on paying these charges would be included with the bill you receive from them. NOTE: You will not normally be billed for calls to confirm receipt of individual GETS cards, familiarization calls, or short-duration test calls to the familiarization line (703-818-3924). However, we reserve the right to bill for all calls, especially if there has been fraud, waste, or abuse using your GETS card(s).
How effective is GETS in actual emergencies?
GETS is designed to provide 90% call completion rates when call volume
is eight times greater than normal capacity. In actual emergencies, GETS
has consistently met or exceeded this completion rate.
How do I become
a GETS user?
If you believe you are eligible, follow
the menu selection for "First Time GETS Requestor.” Select
your organization type from the menu.
Who do I contact
for further Information?
For questions about applying for GETS or managing your GETS account, please
contact GETS Administration toll free at 866-NCS-CALL (627-2255) (DC metro
area, use 703-760-2255) or gwids@saic.com.
For general questions about GETS, please contact GETS Operations at gets@ncs.gov.
Questions or comments concerning this site? Please
contact the webmaster.
Updated 21 December 2005