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GETS features include: <br />• Access to only authorized users via a Personal Identification Number (PIN) <br />• Priority over normal calls <br />• Capability of using all surviving routes in a damaged network <br />• Access from any location in the United States and abroad <br />Approximately 85 percent of the local telephone lines across the nation are GETS <br />capable. GETS service is available from the three largest nationwide long distance <br />carriers: AT &T, Sprint, and Verizon. <br />GETS enhancements to the local and long distance networks include priority treatment <br />features and enhanced routing, which are described in more detail in the next sections. <br />GETS makes maximum use of available communications resources within the networks <br />when outages or congestion occur. GETS also takes advantage of the evolving <br />technological capabilities of the public phone network. Many local and long distance <br />carriers are converting parts of their networks to Voice over Internet Protocol technology, <br />which involves new hardware and software. The Department of Homeland Security <br />Office of Emergency Communications has been working closely with the <br />telecommunications carriers and industry standards bodies to ensure that GETS <br />enhancements function in this new environment. <br />GETS Calls to and from Landline Phones <br />When a caller dials a GETS access number from a landline phone, the local carrier <br />recognizes it as a priority call and processes it using special GETS handling instructions. <br />These instructions include information on multiple ways to route the call to a GETS long <br />distance carrier. When the call reaches a GETS long distance carrier, that carrier <br />authenticates the call by prompting the caller to enter a 12 -digit PIN and the intended <br />destination number. The long distance carrier routes valid calls to the terminating local <br />exchange carrier or wireless carrier using priority features deployed within the long <br />distance network. Finally, the local exchange or wireless carrier receiving the call <br />completes the call to the destination number. GETS calls terminating in GETS - enhanced <br />landline networks also receive priority treatment in the terminating network. <br />GETS Calls from and to Wireless Phones <br />Wireless phones can be used to place and receive GETS calls. Callers using the Wireless <br />Priority Service (WPS) to place GETS calls receive priority in both the wireless and <br />landline networks. From a WPS- enabled phone, users should dial *272 + 710- 627 -4387 <br />+ SEND to place these calls. Callers making GETS calls from non -WPS enabled <br />2 <br />