1.1 Access Service Request (ASR)
An industry standard form, which contains data elements and usage rules used by the Parties to add, establish, change or disconnect services or trunks for the purposes of Interconnection.
1.2 Act
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 104-104 of the 104th United States Congress effective February 8, 1996.
1.3 Affiliate
A person, corporation or other legal entity that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls a Party, or is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with a Party.
1.4 Answer Supervision
An off-hook supervisory signal.
1.5 Applicable Law
All laws, statutes, common law, regulations, ordinances, codes, rules, guidelines, orders, permits, and approvals of any Governmental Authority, which apply or relate to the subject matter of this Agreement.
1.6 As-Is Transfer (AIT)
The transfer of all telecommunications services and features available for resale, that are currently being provided for a specific account, without the requirements of a specific enumeration of the services and features on the Local Service Request (LSR) with all such services being provided "as is."
1.7 Automatic Location Identification/Data Management System (ALI/DMS)
The emergency services (E-911/911) database containing customer location information (including name, address, telephone number, and sometimes, special information from the local service provider) used to process subscriber access records into Automatic Location Identification (ALI) records.
1.8 Automated Message Accounting (AMA)
The structure inherent in switch technology that initially records telecommunication message information. AMA format is contained in the Automated Message Accounting document, published by Telcordia Technologies as GR-1100-CORE, which defines the industry standard for message recording.
1.9 Automatic Number Identification (ANI)
The number transmitted through the network identifying the calling party.
1.10 Basic Local Exchange Service
Voice grade access to the network that provides the ability to place and receive calls; touch-tone service, access to operator services; access to directory assistance; access to emergency services (E911); access to telephone relay service (TRS); access to interexchange carriers of the customer's choice; standard white pages directory listing; and toll blocking for low-income consumers participating in Lifeline (subject to technical feasibility).
1.11 Bill-and-Keep Arrangement
A compensation arrangement whereby the Parties do not render bills to each other for the termination of Local Traffic specified in this Agreement and whereby the Parties terminate local exchange traffic originating from end-users served by the networks of the other Party without explicit charging among or between said carriers for such traffic exchange.
1.12 Bona Fide Request (BFR)
Process intended to be used when requesting customized service orders for certain services, features, capabilities or functionality defined and agreed upon by the Parties as services to be ordered as BFRs.
1.13 Business Day
Monday through Friday, except for holidays on which the non-priority U.S. mail is not delivered.
1.14 Centralized Message Distribution System (CMDS)
The billing record and clearing house transport system that the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) and other incumbent LECs use to efficiently exchange out collectibles and in collectibles as well as Carrier Access Billing System (CABS) records.
1.15 Central Office (CO)
A telephone company building where customer lines are joined to a switch or switches for connecting customers to each other, for Local and non- Local Traffic.
1.16 Central Office Switch
A switch used to provide telecommunications services including (1) End Office Switches which are Class 5 switches from which end-user Exchange Services are directly connected and offered, and (2) Tandem Office Switches which are Class 4 switches used to connect and switch trunk circuits between and among central office switches. Central office switches may be employed as combination end office/tandem office switches (combination Class 5/Class 4).
1.17 CenturyTel Service Guide
The CenturyTel Service Guide, which contains CenturyTel's operating procedures for ordering, provisioning, trouble reporting and repair for resold services. Except as specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement, service ordering, provisioning, billing and maintenance shall be governed by the CenturyTel Service Guide, which may be amended from time to time by CenturyTel as needed.
1.18 Certificate of Operating Authority
**CLEC must represent and warrant to CenturyTel that it is a certified provider of local exchange service in the State and authorized within the CenturyTel local service area. **CLEC will provide a copy of its Certificate of Operating Authority or other evidence of its status to CenturyTel upon request. **CLEC will notify CenturyTel if its certificate has been revoked.
1.19 CLASS
CLASS is an acronym for Custom Local Area Signaling Services. It is based on the availability of common channel signaling. CLASS consists of number-translation services such as call-forwarding and caller identification, available within a local exchange. CLASS is a service mark of Bellcore, now Telcordia.
1.20 CLLI Codes
Common Language Location Identifier Codes.
1.21 Collocation
An arrangement whereby a CLEC may place certain permitted equipment at CenturyTel's central offices for the purposes of interconnecting with CenturyTel facilities or accessing Unbundled Network Elements.
1.22 Commission
The State Public Service or Public Utilities Commission, as applicable.
1.23 Common Channel Signaling (CCS)
A high-speed specialized packet-switched communications network that is separate (out-of-band) from the public packet-switched and message networks. CCS carries addressed signaling messages for individual trunk circuits and/or database-related services between Signaling Points in the CCS network using SS7 signaling protocol.
1.24 Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)
Any company or person authorized to provide local exchange services in competition with an ILEC.
1.25 Compliance
Environmental and safety laws and regulations based upon a Federal regulatory framework, with certain responsibilities delegated to the States. An environmental/safety compliance program may include review of applicable laws/regulations, development of written procedures, training of employees and auditing.
1.26 Conversation Time
The time that both Parties' equipment is used for a completed call, measured from the receipt of Answer Supervision to the receipt of Disconnect Supervision.
1.27 Copper Loop
A Copper Loop is a stand-alone local loop comprised entirely of wire or cable. A copper loop includes attached electronics using time division multiplexing technology, but does not include packet, cell or frame switching capabilities.
1.28 CTOC or CenturyTel
The CenturyTel Operating Company in the State that is a Party to this Agreement.
1.29 Currently Available
Existing as part of CenturyTel's network at the time of the requested order or service and does not include any service, feature, function or capability that CenturyTel either does not provide to itself or to its own end users, or does not have the capability to provide.
1.30 Customer
The Party receiving service from the other. CenturyTel or **CLEC, depending on the context and which Party is receiving the service from the other Party.
1.31 Customer Service Record Search
Applied to LSR when CLEC requests a customer service record search prior to account conversion from CenturyTel or from another CLEC. Search typically is for basic account information, listing/directory information, service and equipment listing, and billing information. Applied on a per requested loop basis.
1.32 Dark Fiber
Dark Fiber is an unused optical transmission facility, without attached signal regeneration, multiplexing, aggregation or other electronics.
1.33 Dedicated Transport
An Unbundled Network Element that is purchased for the purpose of transporting Telecommunications Services between designated Central Offices. Dedicated Transport may only extend between two Central Offices.
1.34 Disconnect Supervision
An on-hook supervisory signal end at the completion of a call.
1.35 DS-1
A service carried at digital signal rate of 1.544 Mbps.
1.36 DS-3
A service carried at digital signal rate of 44.736 Mbps.
1.37 Electronic File Transfer
A system or process that utilizes an electronic format and protocol to send/receive data files.
1.38 E-911 Service
A method of routing 911 calls to a PSAP that uses a customer location database to determine the location to which a call should be routed. service includes the forwarding of the caller's Automatic Number Identification (ANI) to the PSAP where the ANI is used to retrieve and display the Automatic Location Identification (ALI) on a terminal screen at the answering attendant's position. It usually includes selective routing.
1.39 Exchange Message Record (EMR)
An industry standard record used to exchange telecommunications message information among CLECs for billable, non-billable, sample, settlement and study data. EMR format is defined in BR-010-200-010 CRIS Exchange Message Record, published by Telcordia Technologies.
1.40 Exchange Service
All basic access line services, or any other services offered to end users which provide end users with a telephonic connection to, and a unique telephone number address on, the Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN), and which enable such end users to place or receive calls to all other stations on the PSTN.
1.41 Facility
All buildings, equipment, structures and other items located on a single site or contiguous or adjacent sites owned or operated by the same persons or person as used in Article III, Section 45.
1.42 FCC
The Federal Communications Commission.
1.43 Generator
Under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), the person whose act produces a hazardous waste (40 CFR 261) or whose act first causes a hazardous waste to become subject to regulation. The generator is legally responsible for the proper management and disposal of hazardous wastes in accordance with regulations (see reference in Article III, Section 45).
1.44 Hazardous Chemical
As defined in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) hazard contamination standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), any chemical which is a health hazard or physical hazard.
1.45 Hazardous Waste
As described in the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), a solid waste(s), which may cause, or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or illness or pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed of or otherwise managed because of its quantity, concentration or physical or chemical characteristics.
1.46 HDSL Electronics
High bit-rate digital subscriber line. A technology used to provide services of up to 1.536 Mbps of synchronous capacity over a four-wire loop of two copper pairs. HDSL is a common means by which ILECs provision DS1 services and unbundled network elements.
1.47 Home Run Loop
A facility connecting an end-user premises to the nearest CenturyTel Central Office that consists of a single, uninterrupted length of either copper or fiber cable. By definition, home run loops exclude hybrid fibercopper loops or other loop facilities that are connected in a remote terminal located between the central office and the end-user premises.
1.48 Hybrid Loop
A hybrid loop is a local loop composed of both fiber optic cable, usually in the feeder plant, and copper wire or cable, usually in the distribution plant.
1.49 Imminent Danger
As described in the Occupational Safety and Health Act and expanded for environmental matters, any conditions or practices at a facility which are such that a danger exists which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious harm or significant damage to the environment or natural resources.
1.50 Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC)
Any local exchange carrier that was as of February 8, 1996, deemed to be a member of the Exchange Carrier Association as set forth in 47 C.F.R. 69.601(b) of the FCC's regulations.
1.51 Indirect Network Connection
The interconnection of the Parties' networks for exchange of Local Traffic via a common or shared access tandem switch.
1.52 Information Access Traffic
Information Access Traffic, for the purpose of this Agreement, is traffic (excluding CMRS traffic) that is transmitted to or returned from the Internet at any point during the duration of the transmission between the Parties. Information Access Traffic is not Local Traffic unless the traffic is between an end-user and an ISP physically located in the same CenturyTel Local Calling Area. The term Information Access Traffic does not include transmission of voice telecommunications traffic regardless of whether it is delivered to an ISP and regardless of whether it is carried at any point on facilities via Internet protocol.
1.53 Information Service Provider or "ISP"
A provider of Information Service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(20). Information Service Provider includes, but is not limited to, Internet Service Providers.
1.54 Initial Service Order
A charge applied to each LSR of Unbundled Loops with the exception of Subsequent Service Order changes to existing CLEC accounts.
1.55 Inside Wire UNE
For purposes of the Inside Wire UNE, inside wire is wiring within the customer premises, owned by CenturyTel, that extends to the point of demarcation of the LEC's outside plant. The point of demarcation is defined by the FCC.
1.56 Interconnection Facility
See "Internetwork Facilities".
1.57 Interconnection Point (IP)
The physical point on the network where the two parties interconnect. The IP is the demarcation point between ownership of the transmission facility.
1.58 Interexchange Carrier (IXC)
A telecommunications service provider authorized by the FCC to provide interstate long distance communications services between LATAs and is authorized by the State to provide inter- and/or intraLATA long distance communications services within the State.
1.59 Internetwork Facilities
The physical connection of separate pieces of equipment, transmission facilities, etc., within, between and among networks, for the transmission and routing of exchange service and exchange access.
1.60 ISDN User Part (ISUP)
A part of the SS7 protocol that defines call setup messages and call takedown messages.
1.61 Line Side
Refers to an end office switch connection that has been programmed to treat the circuit as a local line connected to an ordinary telephone station set. Line side connections offer only those transmission and signaling features appropriate for a connection between an end office and an ordinary telephone set.
1.62 Local Access and Transport Area (LATA)
A geographic area for the provision and administration of communications service; i.e., intraLATA or interLATA.
1.63 Local Calling Area
Local Calling Area includes the local exchange area, and any mandatory Extended Area Service (EAS) exchanges, as defined in CenturyTel local exchange tariffs.
1.64 Local Exchange Carrier (LEC)
Any company certified by the Commission to provide local exchange telecommunications service. This includes the Parties to this Agreement.
1.65 Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG)
The Telcordia Technologies reference customarily used to identify NPA-NXX routing and homing information, as well as network element and equipment designation.
1.66 Local Number Portability (LNP)
The ability of users of telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier to another.
1.67 Local Provider
A carrier authorized to provide local telecommunications service in the State.
1.68 Local Service Request (LSR)
The industry standard form, which contains data elements and usage rules, used by the Parties to establish, add, change or disconnect resold services and unbundled elements for the purposes of competitive local services.
1.69 Local Traffic
Local Traffic is traffic (excluding CMRS traffic) that is originated and terminated within the CenturyTel Local Calling Area, or mandatory Extended Area Service (EAS) area, as defined in CenturyTel's local exchange tariffs. Local Traffic does not include optional local calling (i.e., optional rate packages that permit the end-user to choose a Local Calling Area beyond the basic exchange serving area for an additional fee), referred to hereafter as "optional EAS". Local Traffic includes Information Access Traffic to the extent that the end user and the ISP are physically located in the same CenturyTel Local Calling Area.
1.70 Loop Facility Charge
A charge applied to LSRs when fieldwork is required for establishment of unbundled loop service. Applied on a per LSR basis.
1.71 Main Distribution Frame (MDF)
The distribution frame used to interconnect cable pairs and line trunk equipment terminating on a switching system.
1.72 Meet Point Billing (MPB)
Refers to an arrangement whereby two LECs jointly provide the transport element of a switched access service to one of the LEC's end office switches, with each LEC receiving an appropriate share of the transport element revenues as defined by the effective access tariffs.
1.73 Mid Span Fiber Meet
An Interconnection architecture whereby two carriers' fiber transmission facilities meet at a mutually agreed upon IP.
1.74 Multiple Exchange Carrier Access Billing (MECAB)
Refers to the document prepared by the Billing Committee of the Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF), which functions under the auspices of the Carrier Liaison Committee (CLC) of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS). The MECAB document, published by Telcordia Technologies as Special Report SR-BDS-000983, contains the recommended guidelines for the billing of an access service provided by two or more LECs, or by one LEC in two or more states within a single LATA.
1.75 Multiple Exchange Carriers Ordering and Design Guidelines for Access Services - Industry Support Interface (MECOD)
A document developed by the Ordering/Provisioning Committee under the auspices of the Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF), which functions under the auspices of the Carrier Liaison Committee (CLC) of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS). The MECOD document, published by Telcordia Technologies as Special Report SR-STS-002643, establishes methods for processing orders for access service that is to be provided by two or more LECs.
1.76 Network Interface Device (NID)
The NID is a cross-connect device used to connect loop facilities to Customer-owned inside wiring or the CenturyTel-owned Inside Wire UNE.
1.77 911 Service
A universal telephone number that gives the public direct access to the PSAP. Basic 911 service collects 911 calls from one or more local exchange switches that serve a geographic area. The calls are then sent to the correct authority designated to receive such calls.
1.78 North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
The system of telephone numbering employed in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean countries that employ NPA 809.
1.79 Numbering Plan Area (NPA)
Also sometimes referred to as an area code, is the three-digit indicator, which is defined by the "A", "B", and "C" digits of each 10-digit telephone number within the NANP. Each NPA contains 800 possible NXX Codes. There are two general categories of NPA, "Geographic NPAs" and "Non-Geographic NPAs". A Geographic NPA is associated with a defined geographic area, and all telephone numbers bearing such NPA are associated with services provided within that geographic area. A Non-Geographic NPA, also known as a "Service Access Code" or "SAC Code" is typically associated with a specialized telecommunications service that may be provided across multiple geographic NPA areas. 800, 900, 700, and 888 are examples of Non-Geographic NPAs.
1.80 NXX, NXX Code, Central Office Code or CO Code
The three-digit switch entity indicator that is defined by the "D", "E", and "F" digits of a 10-digit telephone number within the NANP. Each NXX Code contains 10,000 station numbers.
1.81 Owner or Operator
As used in OSHA regulations, owner is the legal entity, including a lessee, which exercises control over management and record keeping functions relating to a building or facility. As used in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Operator means the person responsible for the overall (or part of the) operations of a facility.
1.82 Party/Parties
CenturyTel and/or **CLEC.
1.83 Pole Attachment
A Party's use of space on telephone poles belonging to the other Party for attachment of cables and related materials to provide services in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.84 Provider
The Party providing service to the other. CenturyTel or **CLEC depending on the context and which Party is providing the service to the other Party.
1.85 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
An answering location for 911 calls originating in a given area. A PSAP may be designated as Primary or Secondary, which refers to the order in which calls are directed for answering. Primary PSAPs respond first; Secondary PSAPs receive calls on a transfer basis only, and generally serve as a centralized answering location for a particular type of emergency call. PSAPs are staffed by employees of Emergency Response Agencies (ERAs) such as police, fire or emergency medical agencies or by employees of a common bureau serving a group of such entities.
1.86 Qualifying Service
A Qualifying Service is a telecommunications service that competes with a telecommunications service that has been traditionally the exclusive or primary domain of incumbent local exchange carriers, including, but not limited to, local exchange service (such as "Plain Old Telephone Service"), and access service (such as DSL services and high-capacity circuits).
1.87 Rate Center
The specific geographic point and corresponding geographic area that is associated with one or more particular NPA-NXX Codes that have been assigned to a LEC for its provision of Exchange Services. The geographic point is identified by a specific Vertical and Horizontal (V&H) coordinate that is used to calculate distance-sensitive end user traffic to/from the particular NPA-NXXs associated with the specific Rate Center.
1.88 Reverse Collocation.
Arrangements in which the ILEC collocates its equipment at a CLEC's premises, or in a common location outside of its own central office, for purposes of interconnection.
1.89 Right-of-way (ROW)
The right to use the land or other property of another Party to place poles, conduits, cables, other structures and equipment, or to provide passage to access such structures and equipment. A ROW may run under, on, or above public or private property (including air space above public or private property) and may include the right to use discrete space in buildings, building complexes, or other locations.
1.90 Routing Point
Denotes a location that a LEC has designated on its network as the homing (routing) point for traffic that terminates to Exchange Services provided by the LEC that bear a certain NPA-NXX designation. The Routing Point is used to calculate airline mileage for the distance-sensitive transport element charges of Switched Access Services. Pursuant to Telcordia Technologies Practice BR795-100-100, the Routing Point may be an end office location, or a "LEC Consortium Point of Interconnection." The Routing Point must be in the same LATA as the associated NPA-NXX.
1.91 Service Switching Point or Signal Switching Point (SSP)
A Signaling Point that can launch queries to databases and receive/interpret responses used to provide specific customer services.
1.92 Signaling Point (SP)
A node in the CCS network that originates and/or receives signaling messages, or transfers signaling messages from one signaling link to another, or both.
1.93 Signaling System 7 (SS7)
The signaling protocol, Version 7, of the CCS network, based upon American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
1.94 Stand-Alone Fiber Loop
A facility connecting an end-user premises to the nearest LEC Central Office that consists of a single, uninterrupted length of optical fiber cable. Also known as a home run fiber loop.
1.95 State
The State in which Services are to be provided under the Agreement.
1.96 Subsidiary
A corporation or other legal entity that is majority owned by a Party.
1.97 Subsequent Service Order
Applied to LSRs requesting a service change to an existing unbundled account (no CLEC transfer). For disconnect-only LSRs, no NRC will be applied.
1.98 Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)
Synchronous electrical (STS) or optical channel (OC) connections between LECs.
1.99 Switched Access Service
The offering of facilities for the purpose of the origination or termination of traffic to or from Exchange Service customers in a given area pursuant to a switched access tariff. Switched Access Services include, but are not limited to: Feature Group A, Feature Group B, Feature Group C, Feature Group D, 800 access and 900 access services.
1.100 Tandem or Tandem Switch
Tandem means to connect in series. A Tandem or Tandem Switch connects one trunk to another. It is an intermediate (Class 4) switch between an originating telephone call and the final destination of the call.
1.101 TDM Technology
Time Division Multiplexing. A method of multiplexing in which a common transmission path is shared by a number of channels on a cyclical basis by enabling each channel to use the path exclusively for a short time slot. This technology is used to provision traditional narrowband services (e.g., voice, fax, dial-up Internet access) and high-capacity services like DS1and DS3 circuits.
1.102 Telcordia Technologies
A wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). The organization conducts research and development projects for its owners, including development of new telecommunications services. Telcordia Technologies also provides certain centralized technical and management services for the regional holding companies and also provides generic requirements for the telecommunications industry for products, services and technologies.
1.103 Telecommunications Services
The offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used.
1.104 Third Party Contamination
Environmental pollution that is not generated by the LEC or **CLEC but results from off-site activities impacting a facility.
1.105 Transit Traffic
Transit Traffic is traffic originating on **CLEC's network that is switched and/or transported by CenturyTel and delivered to a third party's network.
1.107 Unbundled Network Element (UNE)
Generally a facility or equipment used in the provision of a Telecommunications Service. Specific references to UNEs contained throughout this Agreement shall be to the network elements that are to be unbundled pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement.
1.108 Undefined Terms
Undefined terms may appear in this Agreement. Parties acknowledge and agree that any such terms shall be construed in accordance with CenturyTel's tariffs, or, if not defined therein, under customary usage in the telecommunications industry as of the effective date of this Agreement.
1.109 Vertical Features (including CLASS Features)
Vertical services and switch functionalities provided by CenturyTel.
1.110 Virtual NXX Traffic (VNXX Traffic)
As used in this Agreement, Virtual NXX Traffic or VNXX Traffic is defined as calls in which a **CLEC's Customer is assigned a telephone number with an NXX Code (as set forth in the LERG) assigned to a Rate Center that is different from the Rate Center associated with the Customer's actual physical premise location.
1.111 Wire Center
A building or space within a building that serves as an aggregation point on a LEC's network, where transmission facilities and circuits are connected or switched.