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Service Guides: Cellular /Personal Communications Service (CPCS)
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1. Technical Description

Cellular/ Personal Communications Service (CPCS) Technical Summary

CPCS provides Agency users with wireless services for their mobile terminals such as cellular phones, wireless-enabled notebook computers, and other personal devices. This service can be used for applications such as voice, data, Short Messaging Services (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Internet Services. The CPCS contractor provides the wireless network.

The CPCS contractor's wireless network interoperates with:

  • The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the world wide dialing plan.
  • Satellite-based services.
  • The Internet.
  • The contractor's IP-network providing Network and Premises-Based IP-VPN services.

The services and bandwidth provided depends on the characteristics of the mobile terminals and the technology used in the contractor's wireless network and service platforms, ranging from 2nd generation (2G) to 2.5G/3G wireless and beyond. The 2.5G/3G networks (and beyond) support IP packet-mode transmission.

The figure below shows a span of wireless technologies, including Personal Area Network (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN). CPCS operates primarily at the right side of the chart.



Span of Wireless Technologies


2. Technical Detail

Applications

Short Messaging Services (SMS), a feature of CPCS, provides the capability to send and receive text messages. The text can comprise of any alphanumeric characters; each short message may be up to 160 characters in length. Additionally, SMS supports interconnection with different message sources and public destinations including Email, paging, and instant messaging (IM).

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), a feature of CPCS, provides the capability to send and receive multimedia, such as pictures, streaming video, sound, and graphics.

Technical Capabilities

CPCS supports technical capabilities that are available in commercial offerings. These capabilities include:

  • The capability to originate and receive voice calls from mobile phones, fixed wireline networks, and satellite-based networks.
  • Roaming between compatible wireless networks.
  • Packet-mode data transfer that supports a data rate in the range of 128 Kbps to 384 Kbps and above while indoors or traveling at up to 65 miles per hour. This category of service provides "always on" connections.
  • Contractor compliance with Wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) Rules including Phases I and II as stipulated by the Federal Communications Commission. (Refer to http://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/).
  • Wireless Priority Service (WPS) that allows authorized National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) personnel to gain access to the next available wireless radio channel in order to initiate calls during an emergency when channels are congested. WPS is invoked by dialing *272 prior to the destination number on wireless terminals that have subscribed to WPS.
  • Wireless modem cards for mobile terminals if required by an Agency. The cards provided will support the mobile terminals needed by the Agency, and will include but not be limited to Type II PCMCIA and those required for personal devices.
  • If required by an Agency, the CPCS contractor will provide and support commercially available mobile terminals with the characteristics and features needed.
  • If required by an Agency, the CPCS contractor will provide commercially available mobile terminals that support device access control and data protection, including but not limited to:
    • Integrated authentication.
    • Authorization.
    • Virus scanning.
    • Encryption capabilities (resident on terminal device).

These and other service capabilities are detailed in Section C.2.14.1.1.4 Technical Capabilities of the Networx contracts.

Features

CPCS also offer features that complement the basic service. These features are described in Section C.2.14.1.2.1 Features of the Networx contracts.

  • Caller ID.
  • Caller ID Blocking.
  • Call Forwarding. Busy or No Answer Condition.
  • Call Forwarding. Unconditional.
  • Call Waiting.
  • In-building Repeaters.
  • Information Services.
  • International Wireless Voice Service Roaming.
  • International Wireless Data Service Roaming.
  • Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)*.
  • Short Messaging Services (SMS). Basic Functionality.
  • SMS - Interworking with Instant Messaging (IM).
  • Three-way Calling.
  • Voice-Activated Dialing (Network-hosted)*.
  • Voice Mail.
  • Walkie-talkie functionality*.

* These optional features may not be provided by all Networx contractors.

CPCS is similar to the FTS2001 cellular service. Each Networx contractor may provide variations or alternatives to the offering and pricing for CPCS. The specific details can be found within each contractor's Networx contract and pricing notes for CPCS.

For more information on the general CPCS specifications and requirements, please refer to Section C.2.14.1 of the Networx contract for technical specifications and Section B.2.14.1 for pricing.

3. Price Description

CPCS Price Basics

CPCS provides Agency users with wireless services for their mobile terminals including cellular phones, laptops, and PDAs. CPCS supports applications such as voice, data, Short Messaging Services (SMS), and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS).

CPCS is ordered by selecting the type of plan: voice or data (or voice/data combination such as voice with tethering). The Home service area (national plan coverage) includes the contractor's CONUS coverage and may include additional country/jurisdiction IDs. Home service area is determined by the user's primary business address and/or zip code. Roaming charges apply to originating or receiving calls outside the Home service area. International roaming charges apply. Night/weekend and in-network mobile-to-mobile calling are included in the plans. An additional charge per six-second usage may apply for calls that terminate to a non-domestic wireless handset or terminal.

CPCS is similar to FTS2001 Cellular Communications. For Wireless Access Priority service, a subscription is required. There is a one time charge and a monthly recurring charge for subscription; there are additional usage charges per minute. These charges are not part of this contract; additional details are available at http:/wps.ncs.gov/.

Price components required for CPCS are:

  • Basic service (MRC per voice or data plan).
  • Overage for voice plans (usage per minute) automatically billed for usage exceeding the maximum allowed per month.
  • Features ordered as needed by the Agency:
    • Basic Features:
      • Caller ID**.
      • Caller ID Blocking**.
      • Call Waiting**.
      • In-building Repeaters***.
      • Information Services.
      • Three-way Calling**.
      • Voice Mail.
    • Call Forwarding/Roaming Features:
      • Call Forwarding. Busy or No Answer Condition.
      • Call Forwarding. Unconditional.
      • Voice Service Roaming.
      • Calls to Outside Home Area.
    • Data Roaming Features:
      • International Wireless Data Service Roaming.
    • SMS/MMS Features:
      • Short Messaging Service (SMS).
      • Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).
  • Service Enabling Devices (SEDs) may be required to implement CPCS. Wireless devices and accessories such as cell phones and batteries are considered SEDs. [Please note that SEDs under Networx replace the FTS2001 User-to-Network Interfaces and Access Adaptation Functions (UNIs/AAFs). SEDs may differ between Networx providers. The pricing structure for SEDs provides for either a one-time payment or monthly term payments for purchase, plus a NRC for installation, and a MRC for maintenance.]

** These features are Not Separately Priced and are included in the basic service. These features do not have CLINs and are not in the unit pricer.

*** Some or all price components are priced on an Individual Case Basis (ICB). CLINs with ICB prices are not available in the unit pricer.

Example 1: Voice Plan up to 1,000 minutes



  • Basic Service MRC: Choose CLIN 630008 (MRC per 1,000 minutes).
  • Overage: Choose CLIN 630032 (Overage per minute) will be automatically billed for usage exceeding the maximum allowed per month.
  • Non-Domestic Mobile Termination Add-On: CLIN 14051 will be automatically billed for calls that terminate to a Non-Domestic wireless handset or terminal.
  • SEDs may be required to implement CPCS.

Example 2: Data Plan up to and including 384 kbps for a Laptop



  • Basic Service MRC: Choose CLIN 630051 (MRC for unlimited usage up to and including 384 kbps for a Laptop/Other Internet device).
  • SEDs may be required to implement CPCS.

This document primarily addresses the CPCS service at contract award. Each Networx contractor may provide variations or alternatives to the offering and pricing for CPCS. The specific details can be found within each contractor's Networx contract and pricing notes for CPCS.

For more information on the general CPCS specifications and requirements, please refer to Section C.2.14.1 of the Networx contract for technical specifications and Section B.2.14.1 for pricing.