Access to UNEs
Access to UNEs
Overview
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically requires Local Exchange Carriers to provide network elements on an unbundled basis to any telecommunications carrier. However, the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) must perform the physical work associated with combining UNEs to establish a telecommunication service. The following section will discuss the two CLEC options for gaining access to UNEs:
- Combining Southwestern Bell Telephone (SWBT) UNEs with other SWBT UNEs
- Interconnecting SWBT UNEs with the CLEC’s network
This subsection describes the methods under which SWBT agrees to provide CLECs (both those CLECs which own facilities and those who operate without owning facilities) with access on an unbundled basis to loops, switch ports, and dedicated transport and the conditions under which SWBT makes these methods available. These methods provide the CLEC access to multiple SWBT UNE’s which the CLEC may then combine. The methods listed below provide the CLEC with access to UNEs without compromising the security, integrity, and reliability of the Public Switch Network, while minimizing potential service disruptions. SWBT will provide one of the following five methods of nondiscriminatory access to loops, switch ports, and dedicated transport to allow a CLEC to combine SWBT UNEs into telecommunications services.
- Method 1:
- When a CLEC is physically collocated, SWBT will extend UNEs that the CLEC intends to combine to their dedicated Point of Termination (POT) frame located in either the collocation cage or in the collocation common area.
- Method 2:
- SWBT will extend UNEs that the CLEC intends to combine to a shared UNE frame located in a mechanically secured common space within the central office building other than in the switchroom of the SWBT central office or tandem office.
- Method 3:
- SWBT will extend UNEs that the CLEC intends to combine to a point outside the central office building or tandem office building, such as an outside plant (OSP) cabinet, provided it is a SWBT building.
- Loops - applicable cross connects to the point of access for the purpose of combining a SWBT loop with another SWBT UNE are as follows:
- 2 wire analog loop to point of access
- 4 wire analog loop to point of access
- 2 wire digital loop to point of access
- 4 wire digital loop to point of access
- Unbundled Dedicated Transport (UDT) - applicable cross connects to the point of access for the purpose of combining SWBT UDT with another SWBT UNE are as follows:
- DS-1 to point of access
- DS-3 to point of access
- OC3 to point of access
- OC12 to point of access
- OC48 to point of access
- Switch ports - applicable cross connects to the point of access for the purpose of combining SWBT switch ports with another SWBT UNE are as follows:
- Analog Line Port to point of access
- Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Basic Rate Interface (BRI) to point of access
- ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI) to point of access
- Analog Dedicated Inbound Dialing (DID) to point of access
- Methods 1 is only available to physically collocated CLECs.
- Methods 2 is available to both collocated and non-collocated CLECs.
- Methods 3 is subject to the availability of space and equipment.
- The CLEC will provide all tools and materials required to place and remove the cross connects necessary to combine and to disconnect UNEs.
- The CLEC will be responsible for the initial testing and the sectionalization of facilities containing CLEC-installed cross connections.
- The CLEC will refer trouble sectionalized in the SWBT UNE to SWBT.
Revised: 05-08-00
Three Access Methods
For the five access methods mentioned above, there are multiple cross connection options to each point of access.
Access to UNE's Restrictions:
Access to UNE's CLEC Requirements:
The rates, terms, and conditions for the provisioning of these methods need to be determined through negotiations with the individual CLEC and will become part of the CLEC's Interconnection Agreement with SWBT.
Rates for cross connects for the three methods of nondiscriminatory access to SWBT UNEs described above include all wiring and terminations to extend the SWBT UNEs to the point of access where the CLEC may combine them with other SWBT UNEs. Cross connects not listed will be individual case basis (ICB) priced.
For information about rates for the three methods, refer to Appendix Pricing of Generic Interconnection Agreement.
Network Component Services (NCS)
NCS is a discretionary offering where SWBT performs the combining of certain UNEs on behalf of the CLEC for the purpose of the CLEC providing an end to end telecommunications service to end users. The CLEC will still be required to order with specificity since SWBT will not provide any UNE 'packages' or 'combinations' up front. SWBT will combine, on a case by case basis, selected UNEs for the CLEC. NCS will be provided by SWBT at market based prices and is neither subject to true-up nor arbitration.
Access to UNEs - SWBT to CLEC
SWBT UNEs may be interconnected to the CLEC network. Physical collocation and virtual collocation are provisioned for the purpose of CLEC interconnection with the SWBT network.
- Loops - applicable cross connects for the purpose of connecting a SWBT UNE to a CLEC’s collocated facilities are as follows:
- 2 wire analog loop to collocation
- 4 wire analog loop to collocation
- 2 wire digital loop to collocation
- 4 wire digital loop to collocation
- Dedicated Transport - applicable cross connects for the purpose of connecting a SWBT UNE to a CLEC’s collocated facilities are as follows:
- DS-1 to collocation
- DS-3 to collocation
- OC3 to collocation
- OC12 to collocation
- OC48 to collocation
- Switch ports - applicable cross connects for the purpose of connecting a SWBT UNE to a CLEC’s collocated facilities are as follows:
- Analog Line Port to collocation
- ISDN BRI to collocation
- ISDN PRI to collocation
- Analog DID to collocation
Physical and Virtual Collocation
There are multiple cross connect options that SWBT offers to CLECs who are either physically or virtually collocated to provide telecommunications services:
For more information about physical and virtual collocation, refer to Collocation.
