The function that specifically assists in therestorationof communication services for key sectors is theTelecommunications Service Priority (TSP)program. Managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), TSP is a federal program that mandates telecommunications service providers prioritize the repair and installation of critical data and voice circuits for enrolled organizations. This "insurance policy" for infrastructure ensures that essential entities—such as hospitals, 911 dispatch centers, and fire departments—have their lines fixed before the general public or non-enrolled commercial entities during a disaster.

WhileGovernment Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)(Option B) is a related and vital tool, it serves a different purpose: it provides priority access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for voice calls when the network is congested. GETS ensures a call goes through, but it cannot restore a physical line that has been cut or a circuit that has failed; that is the role of TSP.Wide Area Digital Networks (WADN)(Option C) generally refer to the technical architecture or equipment categories used for broad connectivity but do not constitute a priority restoration program.

Under theEmergency Support Function #2 (ESF #2 - Communications)annex of the National Response Framework (NRF), the TSP program is highlighted as a primary mechanism for infrastructure resilience. Organizations enrolled in TSP are assigned a priority level (1 through 5) based on their role in national security and emergency preparedness. In the wake of a catastrophic event, such as a hurricane or a cyber-attack that cripples local infrastructure, telecommunications vendors are legally obligated to restore TSP-coded circuits first, even if doing so breaches other commercial Service Level Agreements (SLAs). For a Certified Emergency and Disaster Professional (CEDP), understanding TSP is essential for ensuring that a community's "nerve center" can regain operational status as quickly as possible during the recovery phase.