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C Spire Wireless Waives Activation, Monthly Fees For Priority Service That Aids Critical Communications For Emergency Responders

2012-04-25
Mississippi after Tropical Storm Isaac

Provider move encourages police, fire and other designated emergency response agencies to use Wireless Priority Service for essential mobile communications during time of crisis or natural disaster

Ridgeland, Miss. (April 25, 2012) – C Spire Wireless today announced that it will waive the one-time activation charge and monthly service fee for Wireless Priority Service (WPS), which gives eligible emergency response agencies and personnel a higher priority connection to the nation’s only personalized network during a crisis or natural disaster.

WPS gives emergency service personnel, including federal, state and local government officials, police, fire and other designated public health and safety first responders, a higher-priority connection to C Spire’s network during natural disasters, terrorist attacks and major accidents by dialing *272 before the destination phone number on pre-authorized mobile phones.

While priority calls do not preempt calls in progress, WPS allows authorized users to gain priority access to the next available wireless channel on the C Spire network, thereby increasing the probability of call completion during emergencies and times of crisis, said Terrell Knight, director of business and government sales for C Spire Wireless.

“In an emergency situation, essential communications are critical for public safety and emergency responders need to get through as fast as possible,” Knight said, noting that hurricanes, widespread flooding and tornadoes have caused billions of dollars in damage, injuries and deaths in recent years in the Southeast.

With the severe weather season already underway and the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season just around the corner, the potential rises dramatically for catastrophic weather-caused events causing congestion for wireless emergency communications, Knight said. “We want to support emergency responders by making this important resource available and affordable for cities, counties, states and federal agencies responsible for protecting the public during times of crisis or natural disaster,” he added.

WPS requires a one-time activation fee of up to $10 per line and each call has a per minute charge of up to 75 cents a minute, but C Spire is waiving both the activation fee and the monthly service fee of up to $4.50 for all designated and approved emergency responders, Knight said.

Once WPS is activated, registered users simply dial *272 before dialing the 10-digit phone number and the call will be automatically placed in high-priority status for the next available wireless channel.

WPS was developed for wireless communications in 2001 by the Federal Communications Commission and is a companion service to the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) for priority landline communications. Both programs are managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and are part of the National Communications System created by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile crisis.

For more information about WPS, users also may contact their C Spire Wireless account executive and Assist for Business Support Center at 1.855.277.4732.

About C Spire Wireless

C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.