Regardless of the task, smartphones have become essential to effective operations. When disaster strikes or a major incident unfolds, cellular services can be disrupted due to service demands or equipment limitations. These are the situations where it’s vital that first responders and other key infrastructure components can access mobile networks for their mission-critical and mission-essential communications. In the aftermath of the Uvalde tragedy, hundreds of peace officers from dozens of Texas agencies rolled into the small town. Their purpose was simply to allow the community to grieve and focus on rebuilding their lives. The sudden influx of first responders came with some unique communication challenges and lessons were learned regarding Wireless Priority Service.
Wireless Priority Service (WPS) ensures cellular calls get priority, regardless of the carrier used by the caller or recipient. WPS is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. It’s available to a wide range of public/private organizations including safety, health, utilities, communications, transportation, as well as industries relevant to the nation’s critical infrastructure. Many people mistakenly believe their wireless carrier’s prioritization system will work the same way. This is not the case and calls made across carriers will not receive priority unless the caller’s line is enrolled in WPS.
Attend this free and informative webinar to learn why WPS is essential, whether your organization qualifies, and how to enroll. You’ll hear from a wireless professional with decades of emergency response experience who was on-scene to support public safety communications in the days following the Uvalde tragedy. You’ll also learn about a new program set up in collaboration with CISA that provides prioritization of data sent via mobile devices.
Sr. Program Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Program Manager for Wireless Priority Service, T-Mobile
Stuart Campbell oversees the Wireless Priority Service (WPS) program relationship with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is tasked with managing and reducing risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure. He works closely with public safety agencies across the country to ensure they are properly enrolled in the WPS program, thus assuring priority access to the T-Mobile network as well as cross-carrier priority. Stuart is a member of CISA’s Service Provider Council. He has a Master of Arts in Organization Leadership from Eastern University and is a US Navy veteran.
Emergency Response Team Industry Segment Advisor, T-Mobile
Nicole Hudnet has more than 25 years supporting Public Safety in the cellular industry. She is a founding member of the Emergency Response Team following 9/11 and remained on the team through the mergers of Nextel, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Nicole is a 2020 Graduate of the Big City Emergency Managers “Emerging Leaders.” FEMA ICS and ESF2 Certifications. She provided critical communications in support of public safety response efforts during high profile incidents such as the Salt Lake City Olympics, the Alaskan Airlines plane crash in 2000, the response and recovery efforts following 9/11, natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Managing Partner, Public Safety Insight
Dale Stockton is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement, having worked in all areas of police operations and investigations and retiring as a police captain from Carlsbad, California. Dale is a graduate of the 201st FBI National Academy and holds a master’s in criminology degree from University of California, Irvine. He has presented technology workshops for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Institute of Justice. Dale founded Below 100, a nonprofit training program focused on reducing line-of-duty police deaths. He currently serves as the managing partner of Public Safety Insight, a consulting firm, and chairman of the Spirit of Blue Foundation's board of directors.
