Negotiating Interconnection
Negotiating Interconnection
NOTE: Please see Legal Notices regarding the legal names and dba of each AT&T ILEC
Overview
The Interconnection Agreement defines the relationship and responsibilities of both the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and Southwestern Bell Telephone (SWBT) for the exchanging of telecommunications traffic between certified telecommunications providers. This section will address the following areas:
- Traffic Types/ Ancillary Services and Associated Trunking
- Network Interconnection Methods
- Interconnection Configurations / Points of Interconnection (POI)
- Interconnection Agreements
- Interconnection Requirements
The negotiation process between CLECs and SWBT is the required method to establish interconnection agreements. Negotiations will be conducted in good faith with the intention of facilitating interoperable networks.
IInterconnection Traffic Types / Ancillary Service and Associated Trunking
Negotiations for the Interconnection Agreement will be facilitated if the CLEC has determined what types of traffic to provide and what types of traffic and ancillary services are needed from SWBT. The following section describes each option (and associated trunking) in more detail and will help the CLEC determine their traffic requirements:
- Local
- Transit
- IntraLATA (Local Access Transport Area) Interexchange
- InterLATA Interexchange
- Toll-Free (800, 888, 877)
- Mass Calling (Public Response Choke Network)
- Ancillary Services
- Directory Assistance
- Operator Services
- E911
Subject to the terms and conditions of the negotiated agreement, SWBT will Interconnect with the CLEC’s facilities and equipment for the transmission and routing of Local and IntraLATA interexchange toll traffic within a LATA.
Trunking requirements will vary based on the SWBT switch configuration in the exchange:
- When SWBT has a single combined local and access tandem in an exchange, Local Traffic may be combined with the IntraLATA Toll Traffic on the same trunk group.
- When SWBT has more than one combined local and access tandem in an exchange, the CLEC will provide a separate trunk group to each SWBT tandem.
- When there are separate SWBT access and local tandems in an exchange, a separate Local trunk group will be provided to the local tandem and a separate IntraLATA toll trunk group will be provided to the access tandem.
- When SWBT does not have a local tandem in an exchange, the CLEC must provide a trunk group to each end office in that exchange.
- Trunk groups in all of these scenarios will utilize Signaling System 7 (SS7) or multi-frequency (MF) protocol signaling.
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing Access Service Requests (ASRs) for this two-way trunk group.
Transiting Traffic allows a CLEC or SWBT to send traffic to a third party network through the other Party’s tandem. Transit Traffic refers to calls that do not originate with or terminate to the transit Party’s end user.
SWBT and the CLEC will negotiate interconnection of a Meet-point Billing arrangement to provide Switched Access Service Traffic to or from an Interexchange Carrier.
InterLATA traffic will be transported between the CLEC Central Office and the SWBT access tandem over a 'meet point' trunk group separate from local and intraLATA toll traffic. The access toll connecting trunk group will be established for the transmission and routing of Exchange Access traffic between the CLEC EUs and interexchange carriers via a SWBT access tandem.
- When SWBT has more than one access tandem within an exchange, the CLEC will utilize a single access toll connecting trunk group to one SWBT tandem within the exchange.
- If the exchange crosses over two states, the CLEC will need to interconnect with one access tandem in each state.
- Trunk groups in all of these scenarios will utilize SS7 or MF protocol signaling.
- SWBT will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this two-way trunk group.
SWBT will provide the interconnection necessary to provide toll-free services. This includes connecting to all network components necessary to perform toll-free queries and to route the call according to the query results.
The CLEC has multiple options concerning toll-free services:
Choice 1: SWBT provides database queries
- CLEC originating toll-free service queries will be routed over the Access Toll Connecting trunk group.
- SWBT will handle toll-free database queries from its central office switches.
- Traffic will include a combination of both IEC toll-free service and LEC toll-free service that will be identified and segregated, by carrier, by the database query handled through the SWBT tandem switch.
Choice 2: CLEC provides database queries
- The CLEC will determine the nature (IntraLATA/InterLATA) of the toll-free call based on the response from the database.
- If the query determines that the call is an intraLATA toll-free number, the CLEC will route the post-query intraLATA call (via converted ten-digit local number) to SWBT over the intraLATA/Local trunk group.
- If the query reveals the call is an interLATA toll-free number, the CLEC will route the post-query interLATA call (800/888/877 number) directly from its switch (for carriers interconnected with its network) or over the Access Toll Connecting trunk group (for carriers not directly connected to its network but are who connected to the SWBT access tandem).
Mass Calling (Public Response Choke Network)
The Mass Calling System (Public Response Choke Network) is a required system designed to protect the network in the event of a mass calling event (i.e. a radio station contest). This system limits the number of outgoing calls at the originating end office based on the information below:
- A segregated trunk group shall be required from the CLEC's switch to the access tandem in each serving area.
- This trunk group shall be one-way outgoing only, preferably using MF signaling. It is recommended that this group be sized as follows:
- < 15001 15001 15001 15001 access lines=AC2 trunks </FONT />
- (min)15000 to 25000 = AC3 trunks
- 25001 to 50000 = AC4 trunks
- 50001 to 75000 = AC5 trunks
- > 75000 = AC6 trunks(max)
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
If the CLEC serves a customer, i.e. radio station, at any point after Local Number Portability (LNP) implementation, an additional quantity of trunks should be terminated at the Public Response Choke Network Serving office to receive the final choked quantity of calls. This can be done by translating the specific non-dialable pseudo code number for that radio station at the CLEC's switch. These translations allow for incoming calls only, which can be recorded in simultaneous quantities, generally from 2-5 at a time. The number of simultaneous calls is designated by the radio station for mass calling events.
For information about ordering requirements for Mass Calling:
Refer to Establishing Interconnection
Ancillary Services - Directory Assistance
Additional interconnection or special trunking will be necessary to provide Directory Assistance (DA) services.
The CLEC has multiple options concerning the provision of DA services:
Directory Assistance (DA)
- The CLEC may contract for DA services only.
- A segregated trunk group for these services will be established to a SWBT Total Order Processing System (TOPS) tandem.
- This trunk group is set up as one-way outgoing only and utilizes MF and Operator Services Signaling (OSS).
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
Directory Assistance Call Completion (DACC)
- The CLEC contracting for DA services may also contract for DACC.
- A segregated one-way trunk group will be established to a SWBT TOPS tandem for the combined DA and DACC traffic.
- This trunk group will be set up as one-way outgoing only and utilizes MF and OSS.
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
Additional interconnection or special trunking will be necessary to provide OS.
The CLEC has multiple options concerning OS. If the CLEC chooses SWBT as the provider of OS, the following additional services will also be available:
Inward Operator Assistance
- When SWBT is contracted as the OS Provider for a CLEC, SWBT will be able to perform Inward Operator Assistance for the lines being served.
- A two-way trunk group will be established.
- MF and OSS signaling will be required on the trunk group.
- SWBT will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this two way trunk group.
Busy Line Verification and Intercept (BLVI)
- When SWBT is contracted as the OS Provider for a CLEC, SWBT will be able to perform BLVI for the lines being served.
- A segregated one-way trunk group will be established from the OS Tandem to the CLEC switch.
- MF and OSS signaling will be required on the trunk group.
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
Operator Assistance (0+, 0-)
- When SWBT is contracted as the OS Provider for a CLEC, SWBT will be able to perform Operator Assistance for the lines being served.
- A one-way trunk group will be established from the CLEC switch to the SWBT TOPS tandem.
- MF and OSS signaling will be required on the trunk group.
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
If the CLEC chooses SWBT to provide OS and/or DA, the CLEC agrees to accurately complete the OS Questionnaire prior to submitting ASRs for OS and DA trunks:
The E911 emergency communication system permits an individual dialing E911 to be connected to a designated Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the reporting of emergency situations. Each telephone service provider should supply End User (EU) telephone numbers, names, and service addresses to E911 systems, while retaining ownership of the information.
Access to the E911 service is available to any service provider with EU telephone service within the geographic areas covered by the existing Master Street Address Guide (MSAG). Access to E911 service will be provided through a network of SWBT E911 tandem switching offices which route E911 traffic to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
- A segregated trunk group will be required to each appropriate E911 tandem within the exchange in which the CLEC offers the exchange services.
- A one-way trunk group is outgoing only and will utilize MF Centralized Automatic Message Accounting (CAMA) signaling.
- The CLEC will have administrative control for the purpose of issuing ASRs for this one-way trunk group.
Network Interconnection Methods describes the physical architecture for Interconnection of the Parties’ facilities and equipment for the transmission and routing of Telephone Exchange Service traffic and Exchange Access traffic. Network Interconnection Architecture designates Network Interconnection Methods (NIMs) to be used by the parties. These include, but are not limited to:
- MidSpan Fiber Interconnection (MSFI)
- Virtual Collocation Interconnection
- Physical Collocation Interconnection
- Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) Based Interconnection (SBI)
- Facilities Leasing
The interconnection methods utilized will be defined in the Interconnection Agreement that is negotiated between the CLEC and SWBT.
Mid-Span Fiber Interconnection (MSFI) between SWBT and the CLEC can occur at any mutually agreeable, economically and technically feasible point between the CLEC premise and a SWBT tandem or end office. This interconnection will be on a point-to-point SONET system over a single mode fiber optic cable.
There are two basic mid-span interconnection designs:
Design 1
- The CLEC fiber cable and the SWBT fiber cable will be connected at an economically and technically feasible point between the CLEC location and the last entrance manhole at the SWBT tandem or end office switch with which the CLEC wishes to interconnect.
Design 2
- The CLEC will provide fiber cable to the last entrance manhole at the SWBT tandem or end office switch with which the CLEC wishes to interconnect. The CLEC will provide a sufficient length of fiber cable for SWBT to pull the fiber cable to the cable vault for termination on the SWBT fiber distribution frame (FDF). In this case, the Point Of Interconnection will be at the manhole location.
In both designs, the CLEC location includes the Fiber Optic Terminals (FOTs), multiplexing and fiber required to take the optical signal handoff from SWBT for interconnection trunking.
The CLEC and SWBT will mutually agree upon the following items:
- Precise terms of each mid-span interconnection facility
- Capacity of the FOT(s) to be utilized
- Optical frequency and wavelength necessary to implement the interconnection
- Methods for capacity planning and management for these facilities, terms and conditions for provisioning facilities, and the necessary processes to implement facilities
- Virtual Collocation is tariffed at the FCC level for all states and at the PUC level for some states.
- The CLEC designates and provides the collocation equipment.
- Some states may provide the CLEC with the option to select a SWBT approved third party vendor to install the equipment under SWBT's supervision; although SWBT owns the equipment designated by the CLEC and dedicated to the CLEC’s use, under this arrangement:
- The CLEC may provide the equipment and sell it to SWBT for a nominal fee, or
SWBT can purchase the equipment from the vendor/manufacturer.
- SWBT installs, maintains, and repairs the designated collocation equipment for the CLEC’s dedicated use.
- The CLEC remotely monitors the equipment and is not permitted access to the central office.
- If the equipment is not 'standard' for use in SWBT’s central offices, the CLEC pays to train the SWBT employees..
For a description of Virtual Collocation Interconnection contained in Virtual Collocation tariffs:
Refer to SWBT's Tariff F.C.C. No. 73
- Physical Collocation is tariffed in Texas and ICB pricing in the other four states.
- Standard - individual cages dedicated for the use of a single CLEC of between 100 sq. ft. and 400 sq. ft. enclosed in a larger cage that isolates the Telco equipment.
- CLEC has access to its equipment 7 x 24.
- The terms and conditions for physical collocation are contained in interconnection agreements.
- CLEC's are permitted to sublease space to each other at prorated rates of what SWBT charges the original CLEC.
- Common Cage (CLECs do not enclose their equipment in individual cages) is available upon request.
SWBT will provide Physical Collocation Interconnection on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions at the time CLEC requests such interconnection.
- A family of fiber-optic transmission rates from 51.84 Mbps to 13.22 Gbps created to provide flexibility to transport digital signals with different capacities.
- The optical interface standard of SONET allows for interconnection of transmission products from multiple vendors (i.e., mid-span meets).
- Other advantages are:
- Opportunities for back to back multiplexing
- Digital cross connect panels
- Easy evolution to broadband transport
- Compatibility with evolving operations standards
- Extension of OAM&P (Operations, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning) capabilities to end users.
Revised: 08-07-00
Facilities Leasing
Leased Facilities are the piece of the network architecture that stretches between a CLEC POP (Point Of Presence) to a AT&T location, typically a Tandem or End Office. If a CLEC is not able to provide entrance facilities from their switch to a AT&T End Office or Tandem, then the CLEC may choose to lease these facilities from AT&T. If facilities are not currently available than the CLEC has the option of submitting a Bona Fide Request to get the facilities built at the cost of Wholesale Construction plus nonrecurring and monthly recurring charges. Leased Facilities are offered at the present time at a DS1 or DS3 level only. Leased Facilities will only be used for local Interconnection.
Leased facilities may be comprised of a combination of the following, for purposes of interconnection:
- Dedicated Transport - Entrance Facility
- Digital Service Level 1 (DS1) - 1.544 Mbps standard with transmission of 24 voice conversations encoded at 64 Kbps (aka T-1)
- Digital Service Level 3 (DS3) - an equivalent of 28 T-1 channels operating at 44.736 Mbps (aka T-3)
- Facilities leasing may be charged an installation fee and a monthly recurring leasing charge.
- Another component of the leased arrangement is Interoffice Transport which will be mileage sensitive to traffic carried from the Serving Wire Center for delivery to the Tandem or End Office.
- Rates are different for every state
In order to lease SWBT facilities, the CLEC must have Leased Facilities as a method of Interconnection in their contract. The CLEC should contact their Account Manager if they want to amend their contract to include Leased Facilities as an Interconnection Method. The CLEC must provide a written leased facility request that will specify information such as Common Language Location Identification (CLLI) codes, equipment requirements, and multiplexing requirements. Requests for leasing of facilities for the purposes of interconnection and any future augmentations are subject to facility availability at the time of the request.
Other Methods
A Bona Fide Request (BFR) is a process which the CLEC can utilize to request services or network interconnection methods which do not currently exist in the CLEC's contract.
To view the BFR process:
Refer to : Bona Fide Request Process
Interconnection Configurations / Points of Interconnection (POI)
Based on the chosen method of interconnection, a POI between the SWBT and the CLEC network is established to create a physical meet-point in the transport facility between the two providers. This POI will always be at a digital level electrical interface.
The Parties will agree upon a Point Of Interconnection (POI). The POI functions as a demarcation point for each Party and must be established between the Parties for the exchange of Local, IntraLata Toll, and Meet Point traffic. Each Party is responsible for the appropriate sizing, method of Interconnection, operation, and maintenance of transport facility and trunking on its side of the POI. At least one POI must be established within the geographic area where Pacific operates as an independent LEC. The parties agree that there will be a single Point of Interconnection between any two switching enities. The POI may be established using one of the following options:
- POI at Collocation
- POI at SWBT building
- POI at CLEC building
This physical meet point is the result of negotiations between SWBT and the CLEC. A POI can be established anywhere between the CLEC access tandem or end office and the SWBT access tandem or end office. Possible locations for the meet point are:
- A collocation arrangement where the transport facilities of the CLEC substitute for SWBT transport facilities.
- A point somewhere between the CLEC network and the SWBT network, residing in a SWBT building.
- A point somewhere between the CLEC network and the SWBT network, residing in a CLEC building.
Each carrier is responsible for the designing, provisioning, ownership and maintenance of all equipment and facilities on its side of the POI. This includes all FOT, multiplexing and fiber required for optical signal hand-offs for interconnect trunking.
To physically interconnect the POI with the SWBT network:
Refer to Establishing Interconnection
Important: The POIs for SWBT must be individually and mutually negotiated.
The CLEC and SWBT may mutually determine to provision a fiber termination panel via the following collocation options:
- Housed in an outside, above ground, cabinet placed at the physical POI
- A manhole outside of the SWBT central office; in this situation, the CLEC will provide sufficient fiber optic cable to pull the cable into the SWBT cable vault for termination on the FDF. The POI will be at the manhole and SWBT will assume maintenance responsibility for the fiber cabling from the manhole to the FDF.
Ownership and cost of provisioning the termination panel will be negotiated between the two parties.
The CLEC may determine to access an existing SWBT termination panel, in this case:
- The POI is designated outside of the SWBT building.
- The CLEC will not incur termination charges and SWBT will be responsible for connecting the cable to the SWBT facility.
The CLEC may determine to access an existing CLEC termination panel, in this case:
- The POI will be designated outside of the CLEC building even though the SWBT fiber may be physically terminated on a fiber termination panel inside a CLEC building.
- SWBT will not incur fiber termination charges and the CLEC will be responsible for connecting the cable to the CLEC facility.
Establishing Interconnection Agreements
The negotiation process between the CLEC and SWBT is the required method to establish interconnection agreements. Negotiations will be conducted in good faith with the intention of facilitating interoperable networks.
Initiating Negotiations
To initiate negotiations for local interconnection, a CLEC must submit a written request to the address shown below. While it is acceptable to initiate a request by sending a fax, please send the original request as well. The request for negotiations must identify the state(s) for which the CLEC would like to negotiate an Interconnection Agreement.
Please note that Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SWBT), Pacific Bell (PB), and Nevada Bell (NB) are separate companies and, while negotiations may be requested in a single letter, the request must identify the companies and states separately.
The written request to initiate negotiations should briefly describe the type of services (i.e. Interconnection) a CLEC is interested in obtaining from the applicable telephone company. This information will allow SWBT to assign managers from the appropriate Account Teams to the negotiations team.
Please address your request for negotiations with Southwestern Bell to:
Executive Director - Local Provider Account Team
Four Bell Plaza, Room 840
311 S. Akard Street
Dallas, Texas 75202
Fax: (214) 464-1486
SWBT has determined that an awareness of the following guidelines early in the negotiation process helps to build a firm foundation for negotiating and implementing an agreement that meets the needs and expectations of the CLEC. In addition, some items (indicated by '*') will be facilitated by technical subcommittee meetings which include subject matter experts from both SWBT and the CLEC.
Negotiation items for discussion include:
- Overview of the CLEC plans including: the LATAs, area code(s), and cities in which the CLEC intends to operate, the desired dates for interconnection, and the types of optional services the CLEC might want SWBT to provide
- Options for Agreement format include using the SWBT generic contract, adopting the contract of another CLEC, or using a CLEC proposed format
- Roles of SWBT implementation subcommittees
- Roles of SWBT involved workgroups
- Escalation procedures
- Local Service Center (LSC) overview of ordering and billing *
- Overview of Operations Support Systems (OSS) * available for pre-ordering, ordering, provisioning, repair/maintenance and billing
- Billing options *
- Customized routing
- Operator services *
- White Pages *
Required items external to negotiations include:
- State Commission certification
- CLEC approved tariffs
- CLEC filing of Meet Point percentages in FCC Tariff 4 (National Exchange Carrier Association requirements)
- State-specific Company Code, also known as Operating Company Number (OCN), assigned by the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) to comply with requirements of FCC Tariff 4
Negotiation steps include:
- The CLEC and SWBT reach agreement on methods of Interconnection
- The CLEC and SWBT exchange necessary network information and forecasts
- SWBT receives the service request authorization from the CLEC
- The CLEC provides an Account Profile, which is used to provide essential information to necessary SWBT workgroups
- The CLEC provides necessary E911* information and obtains 911 agency approval
- CLEC provides information, as necessary, to implement optional services (e.g., Operator Services*, SS7*, LIDB*)
Under Sections 251 and 252 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a CLEC may adopt another Local provider's existing, approved Interconnection Agreement with SWBT for the specific state in which the CLEC requests to provide local service.
- An existing agreement can only be adopted in its entirety; provisions from multiple agreements are not available for combination under an MFN arrangement.
- To the extent provisions in the existing agreement are on appeal, those parties adopting provisions by MFN must also take the provisions subject to appeal.
- For agreements with wireless providers under Section 251 and 252, SWBT also adheres to MFN only for an entire agreement.
Agreements must be approved by the appropriate state regulatory commission to become effective. Individual state regulatory commissions may have other requirements that must be met prior to interconnection.
Each agreement between a CLEC and SWBT is executed for a specific term. At some point prior to the expiration of the term, the agreement specifies that notice is to be given by one party to the other party to initiate negotiations for a successor agreement, should the parties desire to do so. The timing of the notice to be given varies within SWBT's agreements, but in all cases is found in the paragraph which describes the term of the agreement. The original agreement will continue in effect through the term of the agreement while the parties seek to negotiate a successor to the original agreement.
A form must be completed to amend an existing interconnection arrangement.
In addition to the negotiation process between the CLEC and SWBT, there are other requirements that must be met before the interconnection arrangements can be finalized.
Once the CLEC has determined the types of traffic, methods of interconnection, and points of interconnection that comprise the network, the CLEC will provide all information necessary to establish the interconnection (e.g., CLLI Codes, Routing Information) via the Network Summary Form.
SWBT believes that cooperative planning and forecasting are essential to ensure sufficient network capacity to meet both CLEC and EU needs for products in reasonable timeframes. Without cooperative planning and forecasting, SWBT cannot be assured that the products listed in this section can be made available within a reasonable time.
Forecasts should be electronically transmitted to SWBT. Each forecast will be treated with extreme confidentiality.
It is requested that the CLEC provide SWBT a toll-free means of communication for service requests and repair coordination. In addition, a fax number should be provided to SWBT so that it may return documents to the CLEC.
