W/OSO15                                                                                                                                                    G   51

 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PRIORITY

        Table of Contents:                                                                                                                                    Page

             1.  Purpose............................................................................................................................................1

             2.  Description.......................................................................................................................................1

             3.  Organizational Responsibility.............................................................................................................2

     *                *                *                *               *

 
1.                 Purpose. This chapter establishes policy concerning the National Weather Service's (NWS) participation in the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) system of the National Communications System (NCS), and describes the internal and external administrative systems in place to order and track TSP assignment for telecommunications circuits.  The NCS is the Federal agency tasked with administering the TSP, at the direction of the Executive Office of the President.  NCS Directive 3-1, dated 23 July 1990, should be referred to for a more detailed explanation of the TSP system.

2.                 Description.  The TSP system is the regulatory, administrative, and operational system authorizing and providing for priority treatment (i.e., provisioning and restoration) of National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NSEP) telecommunication services.  As such, it establishes the framework for telecommunications service vendors to provision, restore, or otherwise act on a priority basis to ensure effective NSEP telecommunications services.  No other system which conflicts with the TSP system is authorized.

The TSP system provides priority installation and restoration of telecommunications services that are critical to the NSEP of the United States.  It encompasses all domestic telecommunications services and portions of international services that are provided by U.S. telecommunication vendors.  Priority treatment under the TSP is available to Federal agencies and, when needed, to formally sponsored contractors and other private organizations operating on behalf of a Federal agency.

The TSP system allows the assignment of priority levels in accordance with the state of emergency and the nature of the telecommunications circuits involved.  There are six priority levels.  The highest priority level is designated "E", for emergency service.  The remaining priority levels are assigned  for essential services ranging from level "1" (2nd highest) through "5" (lowest).  NWS telecommunications circuits qualify for priority level "3" treatment, in the category that covers Public Health, Safety, and Maintenance of Law and Order.

Specifically, the TSP system may be invoked to support the NWS communications circuits used for the following purposes:

                      a.  collecting raw data for use in the National Meteorological Center, national centers, and local forecast offices;

                      b.  transmitting necessary information between NWS offices; and

                      c.  providing users with NWS products.

The TSP is a tariffed service, with one-time initiation and monthly recurring charges applied for both the long-distance and all associated local channels that comprise the circuit.  The TSP charges for the long-distance portion of the service are consistent; however, the local channels differ depending on the state tariffs.  Specific details concerning initial and recurring charges for service may be obtained from the Federal Communications Commission Tariffs number 9 and 11.

3.                  Organizational Responsibility.  The Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch (OSO15) of the Systems Integration Division (OSO1) of the Office of Systems Operations (OSO) has responsibility for the overall management of the NWS telecommunications program, which includes any contracted services and equipment provided by system contractors and telecommunication carriers.  Specific responsibilities related to the TSP system include:

                      a.  ensuring that TSP system users within the NWS comply with their obligations for identifying, requesting, and periodically revalidating TSP requirements;

                      b.  functioning (on a discretionary basis) as the Federal sponsor for private sector service users (e.g., Government contractors and private interest groups); and

                      c.  cooperating with the Manager, NCS, during reconciliation, revalidation, and audits.

Each regional headquarters office is responsible for coordinating  requests for priority provisioning or restoration with the field sites, and forwarding requests for priority treatment under the TSP system to W/OSO15 for review and coordination with the Offices of Meteorology and Hydrology.  Once coordination is completed, and if approved by OSO, OSO15 will forward the request to the TSP Program Office.