GETS WPS POC Checklist

The purpose of this checklist is to provide stepwise instructions for establishing and managing Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) and Wireless Priority Service (WPS) programs for state, local, and tribal government, and industry organizations.

GETS and WPS are requested through a secure on-line system. Before service can be requested, participating organizations need to establish an on-line account(User ID’s and passwords) for their GETS/WPS Point of Contact (POC) and Alternate Point of Contact (Alternate POC). These two individuals are the organization’s program administrators. This checklist covers the following topics:

  • Step 1: Register on-line accounts for POC and Alternate POC
  • Step 2: Identify individuals who need GETS cards and/or WPS subscribed cell phones, and the locations/functions needing a supply of GETS cards
  • Step 3: Submit initial request for GETS cards and WPS subscribed cell phones
  • Step 4: Notification, distribution, and training
  • Step 5: Ongoing Program Management
  • Additional measures for assuring end to end communications

Contact Information

GETS Website:

WPS Website:

ServiceCenter: 1-866-627-2255/1-703-760-2255/

User Assistance: 1-800-818-4387/1-703-818-4387

Regional Outreach Coordinator:Ralph Parker

Office: 415-893-0401

Cell: 415-246-8608

The Five Steps


Step 1: Register on-line accounts for the POC and Alternate POC

Decide if your organization will administer GETS and WPS through a single POC and Alternate POC or with multiple POCs and Alternates (POC and APOC). For example, a smaller city may want to administer GETS and WPS through a single POC/APOC while a larger city may want to establish a POC/APOC for each department. Some organizations start with a single POC/APOC, establishing additional POCs and Alternates as the need arises.

If you are not sure if your organization has a POC or who your POC is, go to the GETS website ( and click on First Time Requestor in the blue menu area on the left side of the screen. Click on the link Does my organization already have a Point of Contact? Next,complete and submit theAssistance Locating a Point of Contactform.The ServiceCenter will contact you within five business days.

If you need to change an existing POC or APOC, go to the GETS website and click on First Time Requestor in the menu on the left side of the screen. Click on the link Replacing an existing POC for your organization? Next,complete and submit theChanging aPoint of Contactform. Indicate in the “Name of Previous POC” box whether you are replacing the current POC or current APOC. To change both the POC and APOC you will need to complete this step two times – once for the POC and once for the APOC. If you have any difficulty please call the ServiceCenter.

Each POC/APOC pair will need to register with the NCS to obtain a User ID and Password to access the on-line system used for requesting GETS and WPS. The following information is needed to registeron-line accounts: organization name, POC/APOC names and titles, mailing address, email address,at least two phone numbers, and citizenship status (citizenship is not a requirement).

To register your organization’s POC and APOC go to in the left-side menu select First Time Requestor.Under the “First Time Registration” heading click on All other organizations. The Registration Terms and Conditions screen will appear. Review the Terms and Conditions, proceeding to the “Next Step” heading at the bottom. The Registration process takes about 15 minutes to complete.

  • You will be asked if the POC is the person who is authorized to obligate funds for GETS usage charges (see note at bottom of Page 4).For most organizations the POC is also the billing contact.
  • If yes, select the yes box, type in your email address, and then click the Submitbutton. The Organization Information/Billing Information screen will appear. Type in the required information for your organization and the POC. When finished click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
  • If no, select thenobox, type in your email address, and then click on Submit. The Billing Informationscreen will appear. Type in the required information for your organization and the billing contact. When finished click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page. The Organization Information/Point of Contact Information screen will appear. Complete the required fields and when finished click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
  • The POC Request screen will appear. Complete the POC Request(required fields are denoted with a red dot – field comments and help are on the left side of the screen) and click on submit at the bottom of the screen. If any required information is missing screen will return to the request form, otherwise the Transaction Accepted screen will appear.Click on Print Transaction to print the request if desired, and then click on Next Transaction. The Alternate POC Request form will appear on the screen
  • Complete the Alternate POC Request and click on Submit at the bottom of the screen. If any required information is missing the screen will return to the request form, otherwise the Transaction Accepted screen will appear. Click on Print Transaction to print the request if desired, and then click onLogoff.You have now completed Step 1. If you need to submit the Alternate POC Request at a later date, click on Submit Alternate POC at a later date box at the top of the form and then Submit

After completing thesesteps, the POC and APOC will receive confirmation emails from the PriorityTelecommunicationsServiceCenter (). If you have not already spoken with the ServiceCenter, a ServiceCenterrepresentative will contact you. Within approximately 10 days each will receive another email with their User ID and Password for accessing the on-line system, and their personal GETS cards by mail.

The POC and APOC should make GETS familiarization calls from work and home phones and review the GETS Users Guide included with their GETS cards.Be sure to make GETS calls using all FOUR GETS access numbers (710-627-4387 and the three toll free numbers).

Once the POC and Alternate POC have their user ID’s and Passwords they should log onto the on-line GETS and WPS Information Delivery System (GWIDS) to familiarize themselves with the system. If they have any questions about the system they should call the ServiceCenter.

Please Note: The NCS DOES NOT bill the GETS per minute usage charges described on the GETS website. Instead, the POC and APOC receive a monthly email reminder to log in to the on-line system to verify the GETS Call Detail Record (CDR)whenever there is GETS usage by their organization. The CDR is clearly marked “This is NOT a Bill”.POCs can use the CDR to confirm users have made test calls. Billing contact information is collected during the registration process should there be a need to invoice GETS usage charges. If the current practice changes your organization would be notified in advance.

Step 2: Identify individuals who needGETS cards and/or WPS subscribed cell phones, and locations/functions needing a supply of GETS cards

The following information is required to request GETS cards:

  • For individuals: first and last name, title, email address, two phone numbers, zip code, and citizenship status (citizenship is not a requirement). Personalizing each GETS card with the user’s first and last name is the best practice. When necessary GETS cards can be issued by position or job title. To do so leave first name blank and place the position descriptionor title in the last name field
  • For locations: location or function description (leave first name blank, use last name field only);plus an applicable title, email address, two phone numbers, and county and zip code

Email addresses and phones numbers allow the NCS to contact users during an emergency if the POC or Alternate cannot be reached. County and zip code information helps the NCS keep track of the number of GETS cards and WPS subscribed cell phones within a geographical area

The following information is needed to request WPS:

  • When requesting WPS for a new user, in addition to above: wireless carrier name, cellular telephone number, and cellular account number (from the carrier’s bill)
  • When requesting WPS for an existing GETS user: first eight digits of the user’s GETS PIN, wireless carrier name, cellular telephone number, and cellular account number (from the carrier’s bill)

POCs can contact their Regional Outreach Coordinator to obtain the following documents:

  • GETS/WPS User Information Form: POCs are encouraged to use this Excel worksheet to record the information they will need when requesting GETS and WPS. POCs can modify this form if they need toretainother information that is not required for service requests
  • GETS/WPS Bulk Request Form: use this time-saving Excel worksheet when requesting GETS and/or WPS for 11 or more users– see Step 3.

Identify an initial group of users who need priority calling capability 24x7. Use the GETS/WPS User Info Form(or your own form) for recording the informationneeded to request GETS cards and WPS.

  • It is up to each organization to determine the number of GETS cards and WPS subscribed cell phones they need as there is no maximum set by the NCS – the only requirement is that each user/location fits GETS/WPS qualification guidelines
  • Individuals who would need to communicate during an emergency should carry a personal GETS card and have a WPS subscribed cell phones. All WPS users should have GETS cards

Identify locations within the organization where GETS cards should be kept on site for use during an emergency. This includes Executive and Administrative Offices, EOCs, PSAPs, Police and Fire Stations, IT Centers, other essential facilities identified in your emergency plans

Step 3: Submit initial request for GETS cards and WPS subscribed cell phones

Once the POC or Alternate has collected the required information for the individuals and locations needing GETS and/or WPS, they can request GETS and WPS in two ways:

  • By logging into the on-line system and completing a service request for each user or location
  • If the request is for 11 or more users, you can use the Excel Bulk Request Form available from the ServiceCenter or your Regional Outreach Coordinator

When requesting GETS and/or WPS on-line:

  • POC or Alternate will need their User ID, Password and the user information collected in Step 2
  • Go to select Established POC on the left-side menu, and log in to the GETS WPS Information Delivery System (GWIDS)
  • Select the gray Request button in the menu bar; then select GETS/GETS and WPS/WPS in the pull down menu; then select Fill in Request Form; the appropriate on-line request screen will appear
  • Complete the request form and click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.If any required information is missing screen will return to the request form. Otherwise, the Transaction Accepted screen will appear. Click on Print Transaction to print the request if desired. To make additional requests click onNext Transaction, then select the appropriate Request Option in the upper-left side of the screen, and complete the request(s). When finished with all of your requests click the gray Log Off button in the menu bar
  • You will receive emails confirming each request. The ServiceCenter will contact you if there are any questions regarding your request(s)

When using the Bulk Request Form:

  • Save the Bulk Request Form sent by the ServiceCenter or Regional Outreach Coordinator to use as a template for each bulk request
  • Copy the template and rename the file using your organization’s name and bulk request date
  • Open the renamed file, being sure to enable Macros. Carefully review the Instructions in the leftmost tab at the bottom the screen and the Sample Request Form in the second tab. Note that the required fields for GETS have an asterisk (*) in the Row 5 column heading and required fields for WPS have a pound sign (#)
  • Go to the Request Form tab. Be sure to type in the POC and Organization Name in Row 2. You can then enter requests beginning on Row 6. After entering all your requests go to Row 3 and click on the button Click here to check your data before submitting. Correct any errors, continuing to recheck until all errors are corrected. You are now ready to submit the Bulk Request Form
  • Submit by sending the form as an e-mail attachment to
  • You will receive an email confirming receipt of your request. The ServiceCenter will contact you if there are any questions concerning your request

Step 4: Notification, distribution, and training

GETS cards are sent to the POC within approximately 10 days. A packing list is included with the GETS cards instructing the POC confirm receipt of the GETS cards. Each GETS card is enclosed in an envelope containing a Memorandum for New GETS Users, instructions for acknowledging receipt of the GETS card, the GETS User Guide, and the WPS Fact Sheet.

Prior to distributing GETS cards to users and/or locations, the POC should:

  • Consider preparing an internal memo explaining why users are receiving GETS cards and when to use them. Example memos available from your Regional Outreach Coordinator
  • Consider providing users the document Using GETS and WPS During an Emergency, available from your Regional Outreach Coordinator. Use this as a training handout
  • If you are going to be conducting training, it is useful to have a good quality speakerphone to demonstrate GETS calls so users are familiar with the GETS tone that prompts the caller to enter their GETS PIN, and the announcement “please enter your destination number now”

Distribute envelope containing GETS card, your internal memo, and Using GETS and WPS During an Emergency to each user and those locations where GETS cards will be kept. When possible, demonstrate how to make GETS and WPS calls during meetings or training sessions. Instruct users to make GETS and WPS familiarization calls from work and home.

WPS feature activation is confirmed by email to the POC and Alternate, typically within 14 days of the request. There is no card associated with WPS. A Memorandum for New WPS Users and dialing instruction stickers are mailed to the POC.

Once the user’s WPS activation is confirmed by email from the ServiceCenterthe POC should:

  • Send the user an email or memo explaining that the WPS feature has been added to their cell phone. An example memo is available from your Regional Outreach Coordinator
  • Shortly thereafter, telephone or email the user to confirm they have made a WPS test call to verify WPS activation. If the WPS feature does not work on the user’s cell phone contact User Assistance at 1-800-818-4387 or 1-703-818-4387

Organizations often start their program by issuing GETS cards to key leaders. Consider using the WPS Fact Sheet enclosed with each GETS card to introduce WPS to leaders and decision makers in your organization. Follow up with an internal email or memoprovidinganopportunity to approve WPS for themselves and their staffs. An example memo is available from your Regional Outreach Coordinator.

Step 5: Ongoing Program Management

The POC and Alternate shouldcontinue to identify individuals needing GETS cards, locations where a supply of GETS cards should be kept on hand, and users who need WPS added to their cell phones. Additional service requests can be made using the on-line system or Bulk Request Form.

Use the on-line GETS WPS Information Delivery Service (GWIDS) to make changes to user information, reissue lost cards, cancel GETS cards or WPS, and keep track of users. The POC and Alternate should take time to view the different options and capabilities of the GWIDS system, and if they have any questions call the ServiceCenter.

The POC and APOC will receive a monthly email reminder to log in to the on-line system to verify the GETS Call Detail Record (CDR)whenever there is GETS usage by their organization. This is NOT a bill.POCs can use the CDR to confirm users have made test calls.