Federal Sponsor Responsibilities

All non-Federal TSP requests receive sponsorship from a Federal agency. The sponsoring Federal agency ensures the telecommunications service supports an NS/EP function and merits TSP. A Federal sponsor does not incur financial liability for the sponsored service. The service user is responsible for having funds allocated to pay any service costs related to the TSP processing. Each Federal agency must develop internal procedures to accommodate its sponsorship responsibilities under both normal and emergency circumstances. The process works best when Federal sponsors keep their processing time for TSP requests to five working days or less. The sponsor's key responsibilities are to:

• Review and decide whether to approve foreign, State, and local government and private industry (including telecommunications service vendors) requests for priority assignments
• Determine if the priority level requested is appropriate. Although the TSP Program Office makes the final decision regarding the priority level, the sponsor provides specific knowledge that may affect the decision
• Authorize and forward TSP requests to the TSP Program Office
• Cooperate with the TSP Program Office during the revalidation process
• Comply with regulations and procedures issued by the TSP Program Office.

Federal Sponsorship Process

The general sponsorship process for TSP requests is as follows (the steps below supercede those listed in the Section 4.1 of the Service User Manual For The Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) System; NCS Manual 3-1-1; May 5, 2000):

1. The service user contacts the TSP Program Office with a request for TSP (or completes online registration)
2. The TSP Program Office contacts the appropriate Federal Government agency to coordinate sponsorship for the service user organization
3. If the sponsor denies the organization, the TSP Program Office advises the service user
4. If the sponsor approves the organization, the TSP Program Office works directly with the organization to process its TSP requests
5. A sponsor or user may appeal any priority assignment or other priority action regarding sponsored services within 30 days of notification. The priority action appeal process is discussed in detail in Chapter 6 of the Service User Manual For The Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) System; NCS Manual 3-1-1; May 5, 2000.

Sponsors also must cooperate with the TSP Program Office during reconciliations and revalidations of any service they sponsor; comply with any regulations and procedures issued by the TSP Program Office; and forward all changes in TSP service information to the TSP Program Office in a timely manner.

Designation of Federal Sponsors

Any Federal agency may receive a request to function as a sponsor for TSP assignment requests from non-Federal Government service users. Federal agencies should refer to EO 12656, "Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities," dated November 18, 1988, as a guide for identifying which requests they may consider sponsoring. EO 12656 is available from the TSP Program Office upon request. However, certain Federal agencies are responsible for sponsoring specific non-Federal requests:

• State and Local Governments. The NCS serves as the sponsor for State and local governments requesting TSP assignments for services supporting NS/EP functions.
• Foreign Governments. The Department of State serves as the sponsor for foreign governments requesting TSP assignments for services within U.S. jurisdiction supporting NS/EP functions. The Department of Defense serves as the sponsor for foreign militaries.
• Private Industry. Private or quasi-government entities may determine that they have telecommunications services supporting NS/EP functions and want TSP assignments for those services. Private industry service users should contact the TSP Program Office for assistance in identifying the most appropriate Federal agency for sponsorship. The sponsor is either an agency with whom the requestor has a contractual relationship or an agency familiar with the NS/EP function for which the TSP assignment is requested. Note that the NCS will serve as the Federal sponsor for telecommunications service vendors with services supporting NS/EP functions.

Federal agencies must designate the official(s) within their agencies who is (are) authorized to sponsor requests for TSP assignments from non-Federal Government service users. They must identify the sponsoring official(s) in writing to the TSP Program Office prior to, or concurrent with, sponsoring a TSP request. Federal agencies must provide the following information about their sponsors: name, title, rank or grade, mailing address, e-mail address, and commercial phone number of the sponsoring official(s). The agency must submit this sponsorship information on the agency's letterhead. The agency should report sponsoring official(s), and any changes thereto, to the TSP Program Office as soon as it has identified these individuals.

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