Users can access five levels of precedence:

If a user does not specify a precedence level, the system treats dialed calls as Routine level precedence calls.

The administrator assigns a maximum precedence level to each telephone user. The more important or higher in rank of the user, the higher the precedence level. Users cannot originate calls at precedence levels that are higher than the maximum administered level. Non-MLPP calls are treated as Routine level precedence calls.

For example, General Davis has a maximum precedence level of Flash assigned to his telephone. Without intervention, everyday calls are treated at the Routine level. One day, a crisis occurs at a military installation, and the general must make an emergency call to his field commanders over the Defense Switched Network (DSN). General Davis can use the Precedence Calling feature to raise the level of his call to Priority, Immediate, or Flash. When he places this call, the communication server gives the call priority handling, and the call is sent over the DSN access line.