---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To address concerns about how the…"
description: "\"“To address concerns about how the cellular networks were overloaded during the 9/11 attacks, the government quietly launched the Wireless Priority Ser..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/garrett-m-graff-7343_cell-phone_to-address-concerns-about-how-the-cellul_2226440.jpg"
---

#  To address concerns about how the cellular networks were…

![“To address concerns about how the cellular networks were overloaded during the 9/11 attacks, the government quietly launched the Wireless Priority Service in December 2002—a system, similar to the landline-based GETS, that guaranteed critical officials and key private sector industries priority…” quote by Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/garrett-m-graff-7343_cell-phone_to-address-concerns-about-how-the-cellul_2226440.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/garrett-m-graff-7343_cell-phone_to-address-concerns-about-how-the-cellul_2226440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/garrett-m-graff-7343_cell-phone_to-address-concerns-about-how-the-cellul_2226440.jpg)

> ““To address concerns about how the cellular networks were overloaded during the 9/11 attacks, the government quietly launched the Wireless Priority Service in December 2002—a system, similar to the landline-based GETS, that guaranteed critical officials and key private sector industries priority access to cell towers in an emergency. Each user on the system could access the priority calling by dialing \*272 from their WPS-enabled cell phone—a privilege for which the government charged agencies and industries $4.50 per device per month—and each user had a unique personal ID code that helped to specify priority levels within the calling””

[Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The government created a special phone system to give emergency officials and key industries priority access to cellular networks during crises.

**In simple terms:** A priority phone system lets critical users jump the line in emergencies.

Key Takeaway

Use dedicated priority channels for essential communications.

Themes

emergency management telecommunications government policy

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

policy informative

When to use this quote

- disaster response
- critical infrastructure
- government agencies
- private sector partners

Key Concepts

priority access network resilience public safety

Questions to Reflect On

- How can priority access be balanced with fairness?
- What alternatives exist for emergency communications?

A Different Perspective

Limited to those who pay and have the equipment; not all emergencies need such a system.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Access Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access-priority-4991404/) [Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Priority Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priority-access-4991403/) [Priority Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priority-calling-4991405/) [Priority Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priority-service-4991402/) [Unique Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-person/) [Wireless Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wireless-priority-4991401/)

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