ANNEX 3-PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING DOMESTIC (COMMON CARRIER) TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE DURING, OR FOR USE DURING, A NATIONAL EMERGENCY The principle which has been followed in establishing a procedure for the utilization of the Nation's domestic telephone and telegraph services is that the common carrier (Bell System, Independents, Western Union) is the only entity physically capable of satisfying demands for nationwide service. Consequently, demands for domestic telecommunication service should always be made initially to the common carrier that normally provides the service.

Based upon this principle, the Government, in cooperation with industry, has complete programs for the priority use of the Nation's telephone and telegraph systems and for the priority resumption of intercity private line service when interrupted. These programs have been promulgated, are in voluntary use throughout the Nation today, and their application will be mandatory in a situation under which the country is attacked.

SECTION 1. Telephone calls and telegraph messages. .01 The Precedence Systems for Public Correspondence telephone calls, TWX and telegraph messages essential to the national defense and security have been made available on a national basis in order that vital information may be transmitted throughout the country without delay during periods of extreme stress.

.02 The degree of priority to be accorded such public correspondence is furnished to the supplier of service in accordance with the user's interpretation of the degree of urgency. The user will be responsible in any post emergency review for the priorities which he has invoked.

.03 The Precedence System for Public Correspondence Message Telephone and TWX Services Essential to the National Defense and Security is set forth in Attachment A.

.04 The Precedence System for Public Correspondence Telegraph Messages Essential to the National Defense and Security is set for in Attachment B.

SEC. 2. Resumption of Private Line Services. .01 The Priority System for the Resumption of Intercity Private Line Service provides for a procedure in which certification of a private line within a priority category is made by the user to the common carrier furnishing the service. Certifications, to be effective, must be made in advance and should be maintained in a currently corrected status. These certifications will form the basis upon which a determination may be made to govern the degree of priority under which service is to be restored.

.02 The Priority System for the Resumption of Intercity Private Line Service is set forth in Attachment C.

SEC. 3. New or additional telephone or private line service. .01 Requests for new or additional telecommunication service, including private line, TWX and telephone service should be submitted direct to the common carrier which normally furnishes the service.

.02 Demands which impinge upon the carrier's ability to furnish essential service, because they would place a strain upon existing manpower, available equipment and other resources needed and consumed in the course of furnishing essential service, will be referred to the emergency communications agency for decision with a certified outline of necessity which will describe the applicant's proposed use of the service requested.

.03 A Priority System for New or Additional Telephone or Private Line Service is under consideration.

ATTACHMENT A-PRECEDENCE SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE MESSAGE TELEPHONE AND T.W.X. SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY

The Federal Communications Commission has prepared the following as its recommended plan for a system of communication precedences for public correspondence message telephone and T.W.X. services to be provided by all domestic and international telephone common carriers.

I. Gradations of precedence to be provided, and precedence indicators therefor:

A. Group Order of Precedence and Types of Telephone and T.W.X. Calls To Which Applicable

Group: 1.

Precedence indicator: "Priority 1 Emergency."

The precedence indicator "Priority 1 Emergency" shall be used only for calls which directly concern the matters described herein:

(1) Immediate dangers due to the presence of the enemy.

(2) Intelligence reports on matters leading to enemy attack requiring immediate action.

(3) Urgent calls to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies. (4) Proclamations of Civil Defense Emergency.

Calls in this group shall be given precedence over all other calls.

Group: 2.

Precedence indicator: "Priority 2 Emergency."

The precedence indicator "Priority 2 Emergency" shall be used only for calls which require immediate completion for the national defense and security, the successful conduct of war, or to safeguard life and property, other than those set forth in Group 1 above, and such indicator may be used for calls concerning the matters listed herein:

(1) Initial reports of damage due to enemy action.

(2) Civil defense activities immediately subsequent to and resulting from enemy attack.

(3) Calls that require immediate completion to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies.

(4) Natural disaster of extreme seriousness and widespread damage. Calls in this group shall be given precedence over all other calls except those in Group 1.

Group Order of Precedence and Types of Telephone and T.W.X. Calls To Which Applicable

Group: 3.

Precedence indicator: "Priority 3 Emergency."

The precedence indicator "Priority 3 Emergency" shall be used only for calls which require prompt completion for national defense and security, the successful conduct of war or to safeguard life or property, which do not merit Group 1 or Group 2 precedence, and such indicator may be used for calls concerning the matters listed herein:

(1) Civil defense or the public health and safety.

(2) Important governmental functions.

(3) Supply and movement of food.

(4) Maintenance of essential public services.

(5) Production or procurement of essential materials and supplies.

(6) Calls that require rapid completion to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies.

Calls in this group shall be given precedence over all other calls, except those in Groups 1 and 2.

B. Calls of the types listed in each group hereinabove shall have no precedence over other calls within the same group. Where necessary to obtain a circuit for the immediate completion of a telephone call having Priority 1 Emergency precedence, any telephone conversation in progress other than one having priority shall be interrupted. Upon specific request of the calling party, a conversation in progress at the called telephone station shall be interrupted to complete calls having Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3 Emergency precedence.

II. Persons authorized to use the precedence system. The precedence system shall be available for use by the President of the United States, the Vice President, Cabinet Officers, members of the United States Congress, Federal, State and Municipal Governmental Departments and Agencies, essential war industries, and services such as communications, transportation, power, public utilities, press associations, news media, health and sanitation services, the American Red Cross Organization, and such other individuals and organizations as may be designated.

The effectiveness of the system will depend upon whole-hearted cooperation on the part of persons authorized to employ it. Users should familiarize themselves with the purposes to be served by the use of each precedence group and the types of calls which may be assigned the respective precedences. It must always be remembered that the entire system will operate successfully only if the use of the precedence indicators is limited strictly to the intended purposes. Each authorized user, therefore, should consider whether each call requires any special precedence and exercise care not to request a higher precedence than the circumstances require.

ATTACHMENT B-PRECEDENCE SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE TELEGRAPH MESSAGES ESSENTIAL TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Pursuant to a request from the Director, Office of Defense Mobilization, the Federal Communications Commission has prepared the following as its recommended plan for a system of communication precedences for public correspondence telegraph messages to be provided by all domestic and international wireline telegraph, cable and radiotelegraph common carriers.

I. Classes of service for which transmission precedence shall be provided: (1) Full rate domestic messages.

(2) Full rate international, including outbound, inbound and transiting mes

sages.

(3) Full rate messages between shore and ship.

II. Gradations of precedence to be provided, and precedence indicators therefor:

A. Group Order of Precedence and Types of Messages To Which Applicable Group: 1.

Precedence indicator: "Emergency."

The precedence indicator "Emergency" shall be used only for messages which directly concern the matters listed herein :

(1) Immediate dangers due to the presence of the enemy, including Civil and Military Air Defense Warning.

(2) Intelligence reports on matters leading to enemy attack requiring immediate action.

(3) Urgent messages to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies.

(4) Proclamations of Civil Defense Emergency.

Messages in this group shall be transmitted ahead of all other messages. Group: 2.

Precedence indicator: "Immediate."

The precedence indicator "Immediate" shall be used only for messages which require immediate completion for national defense and security, the successful conduct of war, or to safeguard life or property, other than those set forth in Group 1 above, and such indicator may be used for messages concerning the matters listed herein:

(1) Initial reports of damage due to enemy action.

(2) Civil defense activities immediately subsequent to and resulting from enemy attack.

(3) Messages that require immediate completion to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies.

(4) Natural disaster of extreme seriousness and widespread damage. Messages in this group shall be transmitted ahead of all other massages, except those in Group 1.

Group Order of Precedence and Types of Messages To Which Applicable Group: 3.

Precedence indicator: "Rapid."

The precedence indicator "Rapid" shall be used only for messages which require prompt completion for national defense and security, the successful conduct of war or to safeguard life or property, which do not merit Group 1 or Group 2 precedence, and such indicator may be used for messages concerning the matters listed herein:

(1) Civil defense or the public health and safety.

(2) Important governmental functions.

(3) Supply and movement of food.

(4) Maintenance of essential public services.

(5) Production or procurement of essential materials and supplies.

(6) Messages that require rapid transmission to or from the United States Armed Forces and their Allies.

Messages in this group shall be transmitted ahead of all other messages, except those in Groups 1 and 2.

B. Messages in Groups 1 and 2 interrupt all messages of lower priority in transmission, that is, messages in Group 1 interrupt messages in Group 2 and lower groups: messages in Group 2 interrupt messages in Group 3 and lower

groups, but messages in Group 3 and lower groups do not interrupt other messages in transmission. Messages of the types listed in each group shall have no precedence over other messages in the same group, but messages within the same group shall be transmitted in time order.

C. The precedence indicators "Emergency," "Immediate," and "Rapid" shall be written in full by the authorized sender as the first word in the address on messages at the time of filing. Such indicators shall be transmitted without abbreviation.

III. Persons authorized to use the precedence system. The precedence system shall be available for use by the President of the United States, the Vice President, Cabinet Officers, members of the United States Congress, Federal, State and Municipal Governmental Departments and Agencies, essential war industries, and services such as communications, transportation, power, public utilities, press associations, news media, health and sanitation services, the American Red Cross Organization, and such other individuals and organizations as may be designated. The effectiveness of the system will depend upon a whole-hearted cooperation on the part of the persons authorized to employ it. Users should familiarize themselves with the purposes to be served by the use of each precedence group and the types of messages which may be assigned the respective precedences. It must always be remembered that the entire system will operate successfully only if the use of the precedence indicators is limited strictly to the intended purposes. Each authorized user, therefor, should consider whether each message requires any special precedence and exercise care not to request a higher precedence than the circumstances require.

ATTACHMENT C

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF DEFENSE MOBILIZATION

Washington 25, D.C.

Priority System for the Resumption of Intercity Private Line Service

JULY 1, 1956.

1. The precedence system set forth in this document provides for safeguards to assist in the prompt resumption of private line service essential to the national defense and security of the country when such services may have been interrupted.

2. As used herein, the term "private line service" means intercity service provided by U.S. common carriers engaged in domestic and/or international wire, radio and cable communications for the intercity communications purposes of customers, over integrated communications pathways, including facilities, local channels which are integral components of intercity private line services and station equipments, between specified locations for a continuous period or for regularly recurring periods at stated hours. The term "resumption" means the recommencement of private line services by patching, rerouting, substitution of component parts, or otherwise as determined by the common carrier involved.

3. When interrupted, private line service shall be resumed by the common carriers in the following order of priority, insofar as practicable:

Priority I

The Priority I classification shall be afforded only to those private line services which are used to transmit and/or receive communications which are vital to the Nation under the following categories:

a. Immediate dangers due to the presence of the enemy, including civil and military air defense warning.

b. Intelligence reports on matter leading to enemy, attack requiring immediate action.

c. "Flash," "Emergency" and "Operational Immediate" communications to or from the United States Armed Forces.

d. Urgent communications of or in support of the U.S. Armed Forces and their Allies, and/or with U.S. diplomatic missions abroad.

e. Proclamation of Civil Defense Emergency.

Private line service within this classification shall receive precedence of resumption over all other private line service, applying the principles described in paragraph 4.

Priority II

The Priority II classification shall be afforded only to those private line services which are used to transmit and/or receive communications which are vital to the nation under the following categories:

a. Initial reports of damage due to enemy action.

b. Civil defense activities immediately subsequent to and resulting from enemy action.

c. "Priority" communications to or from the United States Armed Forces. d. High precedence U.S. Government communication with foreign Governments and U.S. Diplomatic missions abroad.

e. Natural disaster or extreme seriousness.

Private line service within this classification shall receive precedence of resumption over all other private line service except those listed under Priority I, applying the principles described in paragraph 4.

Priority III

The Priority III classification shall be afforded only to those private line services which are used to transmit and/or receive communications which are vital to the nation under the following categories:

a. Civil defense or the public health and safety.

b. Important governmental functions.

c. Maintenance of essential public services.

d. Communications concerning production, procurement and distribution of food, essential materials and supplies which require rapid completion of transmission.

e. Communications to or from United States Armed Forces which require rapid completion of transmission.

f. Official U.S. Government communications with foreign Governments and U.S. diplomatic missions abroad which require rapid completion of transmission. Private line service within this classification shall receive procedence of resumption over all other private line service except those listed under Priorities I and II, applying the principles described in paragraph 4.

4. The order of listing of lettered items under each priority classification does not indicate or imply differences in priority treatment within a given classification. When necessary, in order to resume a service having a given priority classification, services having lower priority classifications will be interrupted in the reverse order of priority starting with non-priority services. It is recognized that, as a practical matter, in providing for the resumption of a priority service or services operating within a multiple circuit type of facility (such as a carrier band, cable or multiplex system), lower priority of non-priority services on parallel channels within the band or system may enjoy resumption as well. Reactivation of such lower priority or non-priority services resulting therefrom shall not, however, interfere with the expeditious resumption of priority service. It is further recognized that operational circuits are needed by common carriers during the process of circuit reactivation and for maintenance purposes. Such circuits have precedence in resumption over all other circuits and are exempt from interruption for the purpose of resuming priority service.

5. The priorities outlined herein are available for the private line services of Federal, state and municipal governmental agencies, essential industries and services and such other private line customers as can meet the criteria set forth in paragraph 3 above.

6. Foreign governments desiring to obtain priority of resumption for their private line services which terminate in the United States should submit requests therefor to the U. S. Department of State.

7. It will be the responsibility of private line customers to determine which, if any, of their private line services are sufficiently critical to qualify for priority under the terms of Priority Classifications I, II or III set forth in paragraph 3, and to certify to the common carriers the priority classifications to be accorded