CenturyTel Network Interface Device (NID) - A device or connection point that connects the network to the inside wire of a customer's premises and which provides a test point for the end user. Inside wire is considered customer provided equipment (CPE) and is the responsibility of the customer. The network and the NID is the responsibility of the Telco.
These procedures shall apply to simple inside wiring. Simple inside wiring refers to wiring installations of up to four lines in residential or business customer's premises.
- As a general matter, and except where the NID is available and purchased as a UNE, each Carrier will completely bypass use of the other Carrier's NID (except as needed to access the inside wiring at the premises and as otherwise set forth below) and to implement electrical bonding procedures that avoid use of the other Carrier's grounding facilities.
- Each Carrier will access the inside wiring in the other Carrier's NID when it wins a customer from the other Carrier by opening the other Carrier's NID, disconnecting the inside wire, removing the inside wire from the other Carrier's NID, and attaching the inside wire directly or indirectly (e.g., through a splice or dry box) to its own NID. After removing, i.e., capturing, the inside wire from the other Carrier's NID, the Carrier shall close and secure the other Carrier's NID. When the other Carrier's NID does not have a separate access cover for the customer's inside wiring connection, a Carrier may open the single chamber for access to the inside wire, and otherwise follow the procedures of this paragraph.
- The Carrier shall install its own NID and avoid use of the other Carrier's grounding facility.
- A Carrier's NID may connect to the inside wire of several units where
a single sheath encasing multiple pairs of wire serve different customers,
such as locations involving public housing, duplexes, and small commercial
applications. Upon encountering simple inside wiring that serves multiple
customers, or where inside wiring associated with a customer to be moved
cannot be identified, the requesting Party will contact the other Carrier's
designated contact to request and schedule a joint meeting so that the
other Carrier's technician can free the inside wire from the NID in
order that the requesting Party may access the inside wire. The joint
meeting will be scheduled to take place within 8 working hours of a
proper request. The joint meeting may take place on the day of the request
or the following business day. Where a single inside wire sheath serves
multiple customers or in the case of complex inside wiring, the requesting
Party shall either install an NID for joint use similar to a Marconi
BUPX or use post wiring techniques by installing house wire between
the requesting Party's NID and at the RJ45x or M-Block of the customer's
demarcation point.
A "proper request" means a telephone call placed to the other Carrier's repair center and confirmed by that Carrier's repair center. To contact CenturyTel's repair center, call 1-800-824-2877. Provide the address for the location at which technical services are being requested, and reference the account number for the Carrier. CenturyTel will provide the Carrier with a ticket number for tracking purposes. - Each Carrier will leave, at a minimum, 6 inches of jacketed inside wire within each Initial Installation. An "Initial Installation" describes a location receiving service from one of the Carriers for the first time where the other Carrier is not presently serving, as in new construction.
- A Carrier will not place its NID directly over the inside wire, e.g., will not cover the exit point of the inside wire from the building with its NID. Where an inside wire is greater than 6 inches from the building exit point, a Carrier will place its NID, in an Initial Installation, so as to provide the other Party with the ability to place its NID and obtain comparable access to the inside wire. If the jacketed inside wire extends 6 inches or less from the building exit point, a Carrier may make an Initial Installation by placing the NID directly over the inside wire.
- Neither Carrier will install an NID or a dry or splice box within 3 inches of the other Carrier's NID, in any direction.
- A Carrier will not splice its wire to inside wire inside the other Carrier's NID, except where there is less than 6 inches of jacketed inside wire extending from the building's exit point. The 6 inches of jacketed inside wire must be accessible without removing or loosening the other Carrier's NID. If the Carrier requires more than 6 inches of jacketed inside wire extending from the building's exit point, the Carrier must install a weather-proof terminal to extend the inside wire to its own NID.
- When permitted to splice to inside wire inside the other Carrier's NID under the previous paragraph, the Carrier will not attach either the inside wire or its own wire to any lugs or sleds within the other Carrier's NID after disconnecting the inside wire from the other Carrier's facilities. Rather, each Carrier will use scotch-locks (ur2) to splice its own wire to the inside wire within the other Carrier's NID, will not cut off any excess inside wire for the purpose of splicing, and will leave splices taped neatly in the bottom of the other Carrier's NIDs.
- Carriers will be responsible for closing the other Carrier's NID after they are finished capturing and/or splicing the inside wire.
- Splice/dry boxes installed by either Carrier are considered a common point to both Carriers and can be accessed and used as a splice point by either Carrier regardless of which Carrier installed the splice/dry box.
When accessing the other Carrier's NID and performing the other work described herein, a Carrier's work shall be of good quality and shall be conducted in a workmanlike manner that is usual and customary in the industry.
If an installation is not consistent with these procedures, CenturyTel may correct and charge the Party in violation of the NID Procedures the sum of $100 per Improper Installation, plus the cost of the truck roll and labor necessary to correct the Improper Installation. An Improper Installation includes, without limitation, instances in which a Party's NID is loosened or left unopened or unsecured by the other Party, but shall not include actions of persons or entities other than a Party, its agents, contractors, or subcontractors, except as explicitly provided for in this paragraph. The sums demanded shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a demand for payment. The demand for payment shall be sent by email to the Party's electronic address and shall be accompanied by an electronic photograph of the Improper Installation. In the event such sums as demanded are not paid within 30 days of a demand, interest shall accrue at the highest rate of interest permitted by law until paid.