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Wireless Priority Access Service Deployed to New York, Washington

Arlington, VA., May 28, 2002 - The National Communications System (NCS) has deployed an immediate Wireless Priority Access (WPS) program in the New York City and Washington metropolitan areas.

Six weeks after awarding a sub-contract to VoiceStream Wireless Corporation, a wireless priority system is now tested and in place in both areas to assist national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) needs for key government decision makers, emergency responders, and private sector critical infrastructure personnel.

The deployment of the WPS immediate solution is the latest achievement by the NCS and its industry partners. The next step is its continuing pursuit of an initial nationwide solution to wireless NS/EP communications by the end of 2002, with a fully operational wireless priority service solution by December 2003. Brenton C. Greene, Deputy Manager of the NCS, said the nationwide solution will “…enable us to balance national security and emergency preparedness needs while minimizing impact on consumer access to the same wireless infrastructures.”

As of today, nearly 2,000 VoiceStream cellular telephones, able to access specialized mobile switch software for priority wireless communications, have been issued or are about to be issued to designated NS/EP responders in both cities. These phones will be utilized only in the event of a national emergency, and will allow emergency responders to have a greater chance of being able to complete emergency calls by placing calls in a queue for the next available channel. The immediate solution in both locations also provides an enhanced Globalstar satellite service – similar to the service provided during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

The authorized NS/EP users are governed by Federal Communications Commission Rules and Requirements whereby WPS priority assignments are assigned to key personnel and individuals in NS/EP leadership positions. WPS is not intended for use by all emergency service personnel. The percentage of NS/EP WPS users on a wireless network compared to the wireless network’s customers base is expected to be less than 1 in 1,000 or less than .1 percent (1/10 of one percent).

The National Communications System, consisting of 22 federal member departments and agencies, is responsible for ensuring the availability of a viable National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunications infrastructure.

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