PRIORITY ACCESS TO CIVILIAN TELECOM UNAVAILABLE IN

UNCLAS ROME 001252 SIPDIS STATE FOR GODWIN IN IRM/BPC/CST/EA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ACOA AMGT ANET SUBJECT: PRIORITY ACCESS TO CIVILIAN TELECOM UNAVAILABLE IN ITALY REF: STATE 92121 ¶1. (U) After consulting with a wide array of Italian ministries and private companies, Post has learned that priority access to civilian communications systems (reftel) is not available as an off-the-shelf product within Italy. The Italian Civil Protection Agency, which is analogous to FEMA, said that it lacks priority access to telecom infrastructure. Instead it relies on Telecom Italia and/or the military during crises. The Ministry of Communications also said it was unaware of any off-the-shelf priority system similar to TSP, GETS or WP in the US. Major Italian telecom providers Telecom Italia, Vodaphone, and Telespazio told Post that they do not have the kind of circuits we are seeking. However, the companies said priority access probably could be created if the USG were to submit a formal proposal with technical specifications and a cost estimate. Absent a formal offer to a telecom operator - most likely Telecom Italia - priority access to civilian communications networks will remain unavailable to the USG, or any other entity. SPOGLI