GTA network receives GETS certification

TAMUNING, Guam—The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service, a White House-directed emergency phone service, is now active and available on Guam.

GTA’s network was recently GETS-certified when it enhanced routing capabilities that allow GETS call traffic to receive priority treatment over normal telephone calls.

GTA presented Guam Gov. Felix Camacho Thursday his personal GETS card as part of the company’s public announcement about the availability of this emergency phone service on island.

“Guam, like the rest of the U.S. mainland, Alaska and Hawaii, is now GETS compliant. This means that as Guam’s local exchange carrier, GTA, is able to provide the necessary network for GETS subscribers, such as federal and local government agencies who qualify for the service, to receive emergency access and priority processing so that they can perform their National Security and Emergency Preparedness missions when there’s a national emergency or crisis,” said GTA’s president and CEO, Bob Taylor, at the Governor’s chamber.

Taylor said that in the aftermath of 9/11, the GETS concept had taken on an even greater significance because of the increasing reliance on telecommunications. With Guam being vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons or earthquakes, it is all the more critical to have a network that allows emergency calls to be connected and completed during the most severe conditions of high-traffic congestion and disruption, according to Taylor.

GETS is provided by National Communications System in the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Division of the federal Department of Homeland Security.

According to the GETS information website, there are five broad categories that serve as guidelines to determine who may qualify as potential GETS users. Users may be in federal, state, local or tribal government, industry or non-profit organizations who perform what are called National Security/Emergency Preparedness functions.

The five categories include people who work in national security leadership; national security posture and U.S. population attack warning; public health, safety and maintenance of law and order; public welfare and maintenance of national economic posture; and disaster recovery.

In Guam’s case, the main point of contact for local agencies wishing to apply for GETS cards is the Guam Office of Homeland Security Advisor, Frank Blas Jr.

For more information, interested subscribers can log onto http://gets.ncs.gov/. For more information about GTA, contact (671) 644-4GTA.