Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a charge for TSP?
Yes, your vendor will/may have a tariff charge
for TSP. The Federal Government does not charge for TSP. For TSP
restoral, typically there is a one-time setup fee and a monthly
service charge to have the service available to you. However, these
fees are separate from any charges related to actually installing
or repairing your circuits following an emergency. Similarly, when
using TSP to provision a new circuit, there is no cost from the
Federal Government. However, the service provider’s charges
still apply, and depending on the circumstances may be higher than
normal. In any case, contact your service provider to learn more
about charges.
What are telecommunication services?
Telecommunication services are defined as the
transmission, emission, or reception of intelligence of any nature,
by wire, cable, satellite, fiber optics, laser, radio, visual, or
other electronic, electric, electromagnetic, or acoustically coupled
means, or any combination thereof.
What are National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunication services?
NS/EP telecommunication services are services
used to maintain a state of readiness or to respond to and manage
any event or crisis that causes or could cause injury or harm to
the population or damage to or loss of property or that degrades
or threatens the NS/EP posture of the United States.
How do I request TSP?
Use the TSP Request for Service Users form (SF
315) to request TSP provisioning (or combined provisioning and
restoration). Where possible, Register/Log In to request restoration,
otherwise use the SF 315 for restoration requests, to report changes
to an existing TSP service, and to delete/revoke a restoration and/or
provisioning priority.
Note: before using the TSP provisioning process to install new services, users should first contact their telecommunications vendors to inquire whether the need for an expedited provisioning can be met through a service level agreement.
What is the difference between TSP Restoral and TSP Provisioning?
TSP restoral is like an insurance policy for
your existing circuits (both voice and data), while TSP provisioning
is for new circuits. For TSP restoral, after determining which circuits
are critical to your organization, you request TSP Authorization Codes for each
one. Upon receipt of these codes, you give them to your service
provider so that they have everything in place should an emergency
require the restoral of your circuits. TSP provisioning is for when
you need a new circuit installed sooner than your service provider
would be able to meet using normal business procedures. When this
happens, contact the TSP Program Office to make your request. Note
that TSP provisioning is not intended to compensate for inadequate
planning.
What should I do with my TSP Authorization Code after I receive it?
When you receive your TSP Authorization Code, give it to your
service provider to enter into their records. Like an insurance
policy, all TSP Authorization Codes must be in your provider’s network before
an emergency happens.
Can I request TSP restoration services after a disaster has occurred?
Users should be aware that TSP restoration priorities
must be requested and assigned before a service outage occurs.
How long does it take for a provisioning request to be fulfilled by the telecommunications vendor?
TSP users should have realistic expectations
regarding when a request for provisioned services can be filled.
Users should be aware that the “provisioning due date”
data field which they complete on the TSP Request for Service Users
form (SF 315) is not necessarily
the date on which service will be guaranteed. The service vendor
is required to make its best effort to provide Essential and Emergency
TSP services by the requested due date. A number of factors, including
volume of provisioning and restoration requests and work site accessibility,
may cause unexpected provisioning delays.
Note: When requesting an emergency provisioning, the user point-of-contact should be ready to accept installation of the service immediately after making the request. The point-of-contact must also be ready to accept the service on weekends or after business hours. Generally, vendor technicians will not return to sites that refuse them access because no user point of contact is available to ensure the vendor personnel can enter the facility and begin work.
Who or what is an Invocation Official?
An Invocation Official is a designated individual
with the authority and responsibility to approve the cost and criticality
of a provisioning request for telecommunications service, certifying
that the NS/EP service is so vital that it must be expeditiously
provisioned. Invocation officials include the head or director of
a Federal agency, commander of a unified or specified military command,
chief of a military service, commander of a major military command
and State Governors responding to a State or local disaster and
emergencies for which no Federal funding is expected to be requested.
Invocation authority may be delegated to appropriate individuals
within their agencies/commands/senior State officials in writing
to the TSP Program Office.
How long are TSP Authorization Codes valid?
TSP Authorization Codes are valid for three years. The FCC
requires that all users revalidate their requirement for TSP every
three years before expiration of the user's TSP Authorization Code(s).
What happens if I change phone companies?
If a TSP service user changes their telephone service
provider, the user must revoke the TSP Authorization codes with the
TSP Program Office and request new codes to pass on to the new phone
company. The new vendor must submit a TSP Confirmation for Service
Vendors form (SF 318) to the
TSP Program Office, indicating the circuit ID numbers for the user's
TSP assignments. Also, the previous vendor must submit a TSP Confirmation
for Service Vendors form (SF318)
indicating they are no longer the service provider.
What should I do if my service with
a TSP Restoration Priority goes out of service?
In some instances, your vendor may automatically
detect the problem and will restore the service as soon as possible.
However, you should also report your service problem to your service
provider following your customary trouble reporting procedures. When
you report the trouble, be sure to verify with your provider that
the service is identified with TSP in the provider’s records.
If the provider’s records do not reflect TSP, you may contact
the TSP Program Office to verify your TSP assignment and ask for the
contact information for the service provider’s TSP escalation
point of contact (POC). In the unlikely event that the vendor POC
cannot help you, you may contact the TSP Program Office for assistance.
What is the TSP Confirmation Process?
The TSP Confirmation process is the mechanism
the TSP Program Office uses to ensure that the priority level it
assigns a given circuit and the priority level the prime service
vendor assigns that circuit are the same. The FCC’s TSP Program
rules require vendors to submit reports to the TSP Program Office
confirming the completion of all TSP service orders for which they
are the prime service vendor. They must do this within 45 calendar
days of completing a TSP service order.
Who do I call if I need assistance?
For assistance, please dial 866-NCS-CALL (627-2255)
(DC metro area, please use 703-760-2255).
Guidance for specific types of organizations (all documents are in Micorsoft Word format):
First Responders
First Responders FAQs
First Responders Enrollment Guide
Health Care
Health Care FAQs
Health Care Enrollment Guide
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)
PSAP FAQs
PSAP Enrollment Guide
Public Utility Commissions (PUC)
PUC FAQs
PUC Enrollment Guide
(You will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view .pdf files)
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