Priority internet access via networks during emergency situations

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a clearinghouse AAA server receives, from a network AAA server of a network, a request for a priority UE to access an external data network via the network, accesses a Declared Emergency Location Registry (DELR) database to determine whether a current emergency situation has been declared for the network, determines whether the priority UE is permitted (e.g., authenticated and authorized) to access the external data network via the network, and determines whether the priority UE should receive priority or non-priority access to the external data network via the network. Depending on the situation, the network may be the UE's home network or a visited network having a roaming agreement with the home network. In this way, priority UEs can receive priority access to external data networks via networks during declared emergency situations.