Nationwide Wireless Priority Service
Encyclopedia
The Nationwide Wireless Priority Service (WPS) is a system in the United States
that allows high-priority emergency telephone calls to avoid congestion on wireless telephone
networks. This complements the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
(GETS), which allows such calls to avoid congestion on landline networks. The service is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission
and administered by the National Communications System
in the Department of Homeland Security.
During a local or national emergency, wireless telephone networks are likely to become congested with calls. Even absent emergencies, some towers and networks receive more calls than they can handle. WPS allows high-priority calls to bypass that congestion and receive priority by dialing ++DST_NUMBER+ (the 'star' key
followed by 272 followed by the destination number
followed by the dial key). The system is authorized only for use by National Security
and Emergency Preparedness personnel, classified into five categories:
Unlike the GETS system, which provides landline priority telephone calls, participation in the WPS system is optional for telephone companies. As such, support is only available on selected networks and usually requires additional fees for activation, availability, and use.
Before using the system, each user must receive authorization from the National Communications System and subscribe to the service with a participating provider. Once authorized, a user simply needs to prepend calls the vertical service code
of "*272" to receive priority consideration on the wireless network.
Although the system is said to ensure a high probability of call completion, it is not without serious limitations. The WPS will not preempt calls in progress, so the user will have to wait for bandwidth to open. It is also not yet supported by all carriers. In order for a call to work, telephone infrastructure must be powered and functioning. Finally, a call that receives priority using WPS does not automatically get priority on landline networks. Therefore, congestion on the Public Switched Telephone Network
may prevent the call from completion unless the user makes additional steps to access the GETS service for landline calls as well. Because of these and other limitations, the WPS explicitly does not guarantee call completion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that allows high-priority emergency telephone calls to avoid congestion on wireless telephone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
networks. This complements the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service is a White House-directed emergency phone service provided by a division of the Department of Homeland Security...
(GETS), which allows such calls to avoid congestion on landline networks. The service is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
and administered by the National Communications System
National Communications System
The National Communications System is an office within the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with enabling national security and emergency preparedness communications using the national telecommunications system.-Background and history:The genesis of the NCS began in 1962...
in the Department of Homeland Security.
During a local or national emergency, wireless telephone networks are likely to become congested with calls. Even absent emergencies, some towers and networks receive more calls than they can handle. WPS allows high-priority calls to bypass that congestion and receive priority by dialing ++DST_NUMBER+ (the 'star' key
Vertical service code
A vertical service code or VSC is a special code dialed prior to a telephone number that engages some type of special telephone service...
followed by 272 followed by the destination number
North American Numbering Plan
The North American Numbering Plan is an integrated telephone numbering plan administered by Neustar which encompasses 24 countries and territories, including the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, and 16 nations of the Caribbean...
followed by the dial key). The system is authorized only for use by National Security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and Emergency Preparedness personnel, classified into five categories:
- Executive leadership and policy makers (e.g. the President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and members of CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
) - Disaster response/military command and control
- Public Health, safety, and law enforcement command
- Public services/utilities and public welfare
- Disaster recovery
Unlike the GETS system, which provides landline priority telephone calls, participation in the WPS system is optional for telephone companies. As such, support is only available on selected networks and usually requires additional fees for activation, availability, and use.
Before using the system, each user must receive authorization from the National Communications System and subscribe to the service with a participating provider. Once authorized, a user simply needs to prepend calls the vertical service code
Vertical service code
A vertical service code or VSC is a special code dialed prior to a telephone number that engages some type of special telephone service...
of "*272" to receive priority consideration on the wireless network.
Although the system is said to ensure a high probability of call completion, it is not without serious limitations. The WPS will not preempt calls in progress, so the user will have to wait for bandwidth to open. It is also not yet supported by all carriers. In order for a call to work, telephone infrastructure must be powered and functioning. Finally, a call that receives priority using WPS does not automatically get priority on landline networks. Therefore, congestion on the Public Switched Telephone Network
Public switched telephone network
The public switched telephone network is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks. It consists of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, microwave transmission links, cellular networks, communications satellites, and undersea telephone cables, all inter-connected by...
may prevent the call from completion unless the user makes additional steps to access the GETS service for landline calls as well. Because of these and other limitations, the WPS explicitly does not guarantee call completion.
See also
- Government Emergency Telecommunications ServiceGovernment Emergency Telecommunications ServiceThe Government Emergency Telecommunications Service is a White House-directed emergency phone service provided by a division of the Department of Homeland Security...
- ACCOLCACCOLCACCOLC was a procedure in the United Kingdom for restricting mobile telephone usage in the event of emergencies...
- a similar system in the UK