The Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program provides national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) users priority authorization of telecommunications services that are vital to coordinating and responding to crises. Telecommunications 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. As a result of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and other natural or man-made disasters, telecommunications service vendors may become overwhelmed with requests for new telecommunications services and requirements to restore existing telecommunications services. The TSP Program provides service vendors with a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate for prioritizing service requests by identifying those services critical to NS/EP. A telecommunications service with a TSP assignment is assured of receiving full attention by the service vendor before a non-TSP service.

The procedures identified here are applicable to the Manager, NCS; NCS member organizations; and other Federal Executive entities participating in the TSP Program. All other telecommunications service users (e.g., State, local, foreign governments, or private industry) who request and obtain a TSP assignment agree to its application by their use of the TSP Program.