EX 10.6
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT UNDER SECTIONS 251 AND 252 OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 1999
BY AND BETWEEN
NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
D/B/A
XXXX ATLANTIC - MASSACHUSETTS
AND
FOCAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT UNDER SECTIONS 251 AND 252 OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
This Interconnection Agreement (this "Agreement"), under Sections 251 and
252 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Act"), is effective as of the
15th day of February, 1999 (the "Effective Date"), by and between New England
Telephone and Telegraph Company, d/b/a Xxxx Atlantic - Massachusetts ("BA"), a
Massachusetts corporation with offices at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, and Focal Communications Corporation of Massachusetts,
("Focal") a Delaware corporation with offices at 000 X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (each a 'Party" and, collectively, the "Parties").
WHEREAS, Focal has requested that BA make available to Focal
Interconnection service and unbundled Network Elements upon the same terms and
conditions as provided in the Interconnection Agreement (and amendments thereto)
between Norfolk County Internet, Inc. and BA, dated as of October 2, 1998, for
Massachusetts, approved by the Department under Section 252 of the Act the
(together with all appendices thereto,"Separate Agreement") and attached as
Appendix 1 hereto; and
WHEREAS, BA has undertaken to make such terms and conditions available to
Focal hereby only because of and, to the extent required by, Section 252(i) of
the Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual provisions contained herein
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, Focal and BA hereby agree as follows:
1.0 INCORPORATION OF APPENDICES BY REFERENCE
1.1 Except as expressly stated herein, the terms and conditions of the
Separate Agreement (as set forth in Appendix 1 hereto), as it is in effect on
the date hereof after giving effect to operation of law, and of the other
Appendices hereto, are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein and
form an integral part of this Agreement.
1.2 References in Appendix 1 hereto to Norfolk County Internet, Inc. or to
NCI shall for purposes of this Agreement be deemed to refer to Focal.
1.3 References in Appendix 1 hereto to the "Effective Date", the date of
effectiveness thereof and like provisions shall for purposes of this Agreement
be deemed to refer to the date first written above. Unless terminated earlier in
accordance with the terms of Appendix 1 hereto, this Agreement shall continue in
effect until the Separate Agreement expires or is otherwise terminated.
1.4 All references in Appendix 1 hereto to "800/888" shall be deleted in
their entirety and replaced with the following: "800/888/877".
1.5 All usage data to be provided pursuant to Sections 6.3.8 and 6.3.9 of
Appendix 1 to Appendix 1 hereto shall be sent to the following address on behalf
of Focal:
Focal Communications Corporation of Massachusetts
Attn: Director Regulatory Affairs
000 X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx/Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
1.6 All notices, affidavits, exemption-certificates or other
communications to Focal related to tax matters shall be sent to the following
address:
Focal Communications Corporation of Massachusetts
Attn: Director Regulatory Affairs
000 X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
1.7 All notices, affidavits, exemption-certificates or other
communications to BA related to tax matters shall be sent to the following
address:
Tax Administration
Xxxx Atlantic Corporation
1095 Avenue of the Americas
Xxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
1.8 Notices to Focal under Section 29. 10 of Appendix I to Appendix I
hereto shall be sent to the following address:
Focal Communications Corporation of Massachusetts
Attn: Director Regulatory Affairs
000 X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
1.9 Notices to BA under Section 29.10 of Appendix I to Appendix I hereto
shall be sent to the following address:
President - Telecom Industry Services
Xxxx Atlantic Corporation
1095 Avenue of the Americas
0
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxx Atlantic Network Services, Inc.
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Associate General Counsel
0000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx,0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxx Atlantic Massachusetts
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
General Counsel
185 Franklin Street
Room 1403
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
1.10 Schedule 4.0 set forth at Appendix 2 hereto shall replace and
supersede in its entirety Schedule 4.0 of Appendix 1 hereto.
2.0 CLARIFICATIONS
2.1 The entry into, filing and performance by BA of this Agreement does
not in any way constitute a waiver by BA of any of the rights and remedies it
may have to seek review of any of the provisions of the Separate Agreement, or
to petition the Department, other administrative body or court for
reconsideration or reversal of any determination made by any of them, or to seek
review in any way of any portion of this Agreement in connection with Focal's
election under Section 252(i) of the Act. Similarly, the entry into, filing and
performance by Focal of this Agreement does not in any way constitute a waiver
by Focal of its right to seek review by the Department or any other regulatory
or administrative body or court of BA's rejection of Focal's 12/29/98 request
pursuant to 252(i) to opt in to the agreement between BA and XCOM
2.2 The Parties acknowledge that Focal's election to opt in to the NCI
agreement occurred subsequent to the DTE's 10\26\98 Order in Docket No. 97-116,
which determined that Internet traffic is Local Traffic for purposes of
Reciprocal Compensation and therefore required
3
BA to pay Massachusetts CLECs reciprocal compensation for termination of local
traffic to ISPs. BA shall comply with that order with respect to Focal until the
FCC, the DTE, or a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to this
agreement determines otherwise.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of this 15th day of February, 1999.
FOCAL COMMUNICATIONS XXXX ATLANTIC-MASSACHUSETTS, INC.
CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS
By:/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------- -----------------------
Printed: XXXX X XXXXXXXX Printed: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------- -------------------
Title: C.O.O. Title: Vice-President- Interconnection
------------------ --------------------------------
Services Policy & Planning
--------------------------------
4
APPENDIX 1
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT UNDER SECTIONS 251 AND 252 OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 2, 1998
BY AND XXXXXXX
XXXX XXXXXXXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXX
XXXXXXX XXXXXX INTERNET, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1.0 DEFINITIONS 2
2.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION 12
3.0 SCOPE 12
4.0 INTERCONNECTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(c)(2) 13
4.1 Scope 13
4.2 Physical Architecture 14
4.3 Technical Specifications 15
4.4 Interconnection in Additional LATAs 15
5.0 TRANSMISSION AND ROUTING OF TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SERVICE
TRAFFIC PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(c)(2) 16
5.1 Scope of Traffic 16
5.2 Switching System Hierarchy 16
5.3 Trunk Group Architecture and Traffic Routing 17
5.4 Signaling 18
5.5 Grades of Service 18
5.6 Measurement and Billing 18
5.7 Reciprocal Compensation Arrangements -- Section 251(b)(5) 19
6.0 TRANSMISSION AND ROUTING OF EXCHANGE ACCESS TRAFFIC
PURSUANT TO 251(c)(2) 21
6.1 Scope of Traffic 21
6.2 Trunk Group Architecture and Traffic Routing 21
6.3 Meet-Point Billing Arrangements 21
7.0 TRANSPORT AND TERMINATION OF OTHER TYPES OF TRAFFIC
7.1 Information Services Traffic
7.2 Tandem Transit Service
7.3 911/E911 Arrangements
8.0 NUMBER RESOURCES, RATE CENTERS,AND RATING POINTS 26
9.0 NETWORK MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT; OUTAGES 27
9.1 Cooperation 27
9.2 Responsibility for Following Standards 27
9.3 Interference or Impairment 27
i
9.4 Repeated or Willful Noncompliance 27
9.5 Outage Repair Standard 28
9.6 Notice of Changes - Section 251(c)(5) 28
9.7 Fraud 28
10.0 JOINT NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION AND GROOMING PROCESS,
INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, TESTING & REPAIR 29
10.1 Joint Network Configuration and Grooming Process 29
10.2 Installation, Maintenance, Testing and Repair 29
10.3 Network Reliability Council 29
10.4 Forecasting Requirements for Trunk Provisioning 30
10.5 Demand Management Forecasts 31
11.0 UNBUNDLED ACCESS -- SECTION 251(c)(3) 32
11.1 Available Network Elements 32
11.2 Unbundled Local Loop ("LJLL") Types 32
11.3 Unbundled Switching Elements 34
11.4 Unbundled Inter Office Facilities 34
11.5 Operations Support Systems 34
11.6 Limitations on Unbundled Access 34
11.7 Availability of Other Network Elements on an Unbundled Basis 35
11.8 Provisioning of Unbundled Local Loops 35
11.9 Maintenance of Unbundled Network Elements 37
11.10 Other Terms and Conditions Including Rates and Charges 37
12.0 RESALE -- SECTION 251(c)(4) and 251(b)(2) 38
12.1 Availability of Wholesale Rates for Resale 38
12.2 Availability of Retail Rates for Resale 38
12.3 Additional Terms Governing Resale and Use of BA Services 38
13.0 COLLOCATION -- SECTION 251(c)(6) 40
13.6 Dedicated Transit Service 40
14.0 NUMBER PORTABILITY -- SECTION 251(b)(2) 42
14.1 Scope 42
14.2 Procedures for Providing INP Through Remote Call Forwarding 42
14.3 Procedures for Providing INP Through Route Indexing 44
14.4 Procedures for Providing INP Through Full NXX Code Migration 44
14.5 Other Interim Number Portability Options 44
14.6 Receipt of Terminating Compensation on Traffic to INP'ed Numbers 44
14.7 Recovery of 1NP Costs Pursuant to FCC Order and Rulemaking 45
15.0 DIALING PARITY -- SECTION 251(b)(3) 46
ii
16.0 ACCESS TO RIGHTS-OF-WAY -- SECTION 251(b)(4) 46
17.0 DATABASES AND SIGNALING 46
18.0 COORDINATED SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS 47
18.1 Intercept and Referral Announcements 47
18.2 Coordinated Repair Calls 47
18.3 Customer Authorization 47
19.0 DIRECTORY SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS 49
19.1 Directory Listings and Directory Distributions 49
19.2 Directory Assistance and Operator Services 50
19.3 Directory Assistance Call Completion 51
19.4 Directory Assistance Credits 52
19.5 Direct Access to Directory Assistance 52
19.6 Inward Operator Services 52
19.7 Operator Services 53
19.8 0+ Mechanized Operator Calls (Calling Card, Collect,
Xxxx to Third Number) 54
19.9 0- Operator Handled Calls (Calling Card, Collect,
Xxxx to Third Number) 54
19.10 Operator Emergency Bulletin Service 55
19.11 Operator Passthrough Service 55
20.0 COORDINATION WITH TARIFF TERMS 56
21.0 INSURANCE 57
22.0 TERM AND TERMINATION 58
23.0 DISCLAIMER OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 58
24.0 CANCELLATION CHARGES 59
25.0 INDEMNIFICATION 59
26.0 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. 60
27.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES 61
27.1 Performance Standards 61
27.2 Performance Reporting 61
28.0 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; REGULATORY APPROVAL 62
iii
29.0 MISCELLANEOUS 63
29.1 Authorization 63
29.2 Independent Contractor 63
29.3 Force Majeure 63
29.4 Confidentiality 64
29.5 Choice of Law 65
29.6 Taxes 65
29.7 Assignment 65
29.8 Billing and Payment; Disputed Amounts 65
29.9 Dispute Resolution 67
29.10 Notices 67
29.11 Section 252(i) Obligations 68
29.12 Joint Work Product 68
29.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries; Disclaimer of Agency 68
29.14 No License 69
29.15 Technology Upgrades 70
29.16 Survival 70
29.17 Entire Agreement 70
29.18 Counterparts 70
29.19 Modification, Amendment, Supplement, or Waiver 70
29.20 Successors and Assigns 70
29.21 Publicity and Use of Trademarks or Service Marks 70
29.22 Restructured/New Rates 70
29.23 Integrity of XXXX ATLANTIC Network 71
iv
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
Schedules
Schedule 1.0 Certain Terms As Defined in the Act, As of the Effective Date
Schedule 4.0 Network Interconnection Schedule
Schedule 7.1.4 Billing Arrangements for Variable-Rated Information Services
Calls
Exhibits
Exhibit A Xxxx Atlantic - Massachusetts and NCI Pricing Schedule
Exhibit B Network Element Bona Fide Request
Exhibit C Directory Assistance and IntraLATA Operator Services
Agreement for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
v
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT UNDER SECTIONS 251 AND 252 OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
This Interconnection Agreement under Sections 251 and 252 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("Agreement"), is effective as of the 2nd day of
October, 1998 (the "Effective Date"), by and between New England Telephone and
Telegraph Company d/b/a Bell AtlanticMassachusetts ("BA" or "Xxxx Atlantic'), a
New York corporation with offices at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX, 00000, and
Norfolk County Internet, Inc. ("NCI"), a Massachusetts corporation, with offices
at Xxxx 00X, Xxxxx Xxxxx, 00-00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000.
WHEREAS, the Parties want to interconnect their networks at mutually agreed
upon points of interconnection to provide Telephone Exchange Services, Switched
Exchange Access Services, and other Telecommunications Services (all as defined
below) to their respective customers;
WHEREAS, the Parties are entering into this Agreement to set forth the
respective obligations of the Parties and the terms and conditions under which
the Parties will interconnect their networks and provide other services as
required by the Act (as defined below) and additional services as set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS, Sections 251, 252, and 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
have specific requirements for interconnection, unbundling, and service resale,
commonly referred to as the "Checklist", and the Parties intend that this
Agreement meet those Checklist requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual provisions contained herein
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, NCI and BA hereby agree as follows:
This Agreement sets forth the terms, conditions and pricing under which BA
and NCI (individually, a "Party" and collectively, the "Parties") will offer and
provide to each other network Interconnection, access to Network Elements,
ancillary services, and wholesale Telecommunications Services available for
resale within each LATA in which they both operate within the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. As such, this Agreement is an integrated package that reflects a
balancing of interests critical to the Parties. It will be submitted to the
Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy, and the Parties will
specifically request that the DTE refrain from taking any action to change,
suspend or otherwise delay implementation of the Agreement.
1.0 DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified below in this Section 1.0. For convenience of reference only, the
definitions of certain terms that are As
1
Defined in the Act (as defined below) are set forth on Schedule 1.0. Schedule
1.0 sets forth the definitions of such terms as of the date specified on such
Schedule and neither Schedule 1.0 nor any revision, amendment or supplement
thereof intended to reflect any revised or subsequent interpretation of any term
that is set forth in the Act is intended to be a part of or to affect the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
1.1 "Act" means the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.(S)151 et seq.) as
------
amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and as from time to time
interpreted in the duly authorized rules and regulations of the FCC or a
Commission within its state of jurisdiction.
1.2 "ADSU or "Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line" is a digital loop
transmission technology which permits the transmission of up to 6 Mbps
downstream (from the CO to the end-user customer) and up to 640 kbps digital
signal upstream (from the end-user customer to the CO).
1.3 "Affiliate" is As Defined in the Act.
1.4 "Agreement" means this Interconnection Agreement under Sections 251 and
252 of the Act and all the Exhibits, Schedules, addenda, and attachments
referenced herein and/or appended hereto
1.5 "Agreement for Switched Access Meet Point Billing" means the Agreement
for Switched Access Meet Point Billing between the Parties.
1.6 "Ancillary Traffic" means all traffic that is destined for ancillary
services, or that may have special billing requirements, including but not
limited to the following: BLV/BLVI, Directory Assistance, 911/E911, Operator
Services (IntraLATA call completion), IntraLATA third party, collect and calling
card, 800/888 database query, LIDB, and information services requiring special
billing arrangements between the Parties.
1.7 "Applicable Laws" or "Applicable Law" means all laws, regulations, and
orders applicable to each Party's performance of its obligations hereunder.
1.8 "As Defined in the Act" means as specifically defined by the Act and
as from time to time interpreted in the duly authorized rules and regulations of
the FCC or the Commission.
1.9 "As Described in the Act" means as described in or required by the Act
and as from time to time interpreted in the duly authorized rules and
regulations of the FCC or the Commission.
1.10"Automatic Number Identification" or "ANI" means a Feature Group D
signaling parameter which refers to the number transmitted through a network
identifying the billing number of the calling party.
2
1.11 "Bona Fide Request" or "BFR" means the process described on Exhibit B
that prescribes the terms and conditions relating to a Party's request that the
other Party provide a BFR Item (as defined in Exhibit B) not otherwise provided
by the terms of this Agreement.
1.12 "Busy Line Verification" or "BLV" means an operator request for a
status check on the line of a called party. The request is made by one Party's
operator to an operator of the other Party. The verification of the status check
is provided to the requesting operator.
1.13 "Busy Line Verification Interrupt" or "BLVI" means a service that may
be requested and provided when Busy Line Verification has determined that a line
is busy due to an ongoing call. BLVI is an operator interruption of that ongoing
call to inform the called party that a calling party is seeking to complete his
or her call to the called party.
1.14 "Calling Party Number" or "CPN" is a Common Channel Signaling ("CCS")
parameter which refers to the number transmitted through a network identifying
the calling Party.
1.15 "Central Office Switch" means a switch used to provide
Telecommunications Services, including, but not limited to:
(a) "End Office Switch" or "End Office" is a switching entity that is
used to terminate Customer station Loops for the purpose of Interconnection
to each other and to trunks;and
(b) "Tandem Office Switch" or "Tandem Office" or "Tandem" is a
switching entity that has billing and recording capabilities and is used to
connect and switch trunk circuits between and among End Office Switches and
between and among End Office Switches and carriers' aggregation points,
points of termination, or points of presence, and to provide Switched
Exchange Access Services.
A Central Office Switch may also be employed as a combination End
Office/Tandem Office Switch.
1.16 "CLASS Features" means certain CCS-based features available to
Customers including, but not limited to: Automatic Call Back; Call Trace; Caller
Identification; Call Return and future CCS-based offerings.
1.17 "Collocation" means an arrangement whereby one Party's (the
"Collocating Party") facilities are terminated in its equipment necessary for
Interconnection or for access to Network Elements offered by the second Party on
an unbundled basis that has been installed and maintained at the premises of a
second Party (the "Housing Party"). For purposes of Collocation, the "premises"
of a Housing Party is limited to a Housing Party Wire Center, other mutually
agreedupon locations of the Housing Party, or any location for which Collocation
has been
3
ordered by the FCC or Commission. Collocation may be "physical" or "virtual". In
"Physical Collocation", the Collocating Party installs and maintains its own
equipment in the Housing Party's premises. In "Virtual Collocation", the Housing
Party owns, installs, and maintains equipment dedicated to use by the
Collocating Party in the Housing Party's premises. BA currently provides
Collocation under terms, rates, and conditions as described in tariffs on file
or soon to be filed with the FCC or the Commission.
1.18 "Commission" or "DTE" means the Massachusetts Department of
Telecommunications and Energy.
1.19 "Common Channel Signaling" or "CCS" means the signaling system,
developed for use between switching systems with stored-program control, in
which all of the signaling information for one or more groups of trunks is
transmitted over a dedicated high-speed data link rather than on a per-trunk
basis and, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the CCS used by the Parties
shall be SS7.
1.20 "Competitive Local Exchange Carrier" or "CLEC" means any Local
Exchange Carrier other than BA, operating as such in BA's service territory in
Massachusetts. NCI is or will shortly become a CLEC.
1.21 "Cross Connection" means a jumper cable or similar connection provided
pursuant to Collocation at the Digital Signal Cross Connect, Main Distribution
Frame or other suitable frame or panel between (i) the Collocating Party's
equipment and (ii) the equipment or facilities of the Housing Party.
1.22 "Customer" means a third-Party residence or business that subscribes
to Telecommunications Services provided by either of the Parties.
1.23 "Customer Proprietary Network Information" or "CPNI" is As Defined in
the Act.
1.24 "Dialing Parity" is As Defined in the Act. As used in this Agreement,
Dialing Parity refers to both Local Dialing Parity and Toll Dialing Parity.
"Local Dialing Parity" means the ability of Telephone Exchange Service Customers
of one LEC to select a provider and make local calls without dialing extra
digits. "Toll Dialing Parity" means the ability of Telephone Exchange Service
Customers of a LEC to place toll calls (inter or IntraLATA) which are routed to
a toll carrier (IntraLATA or InterLATA) of their selection without dialing
access codes or additional digits and with no unreasonable dialing delay.
1.25 "Digital Signal Level" means one of several transmission rates in the
time-division multiplex hierarchy.
1.26 "Digital Signal Level 0" or "DSO" means the 64 Kbps zero-level signal
in the time-division multiplex hierarchy.
4
1.27 "Digital Signal Level 1" or "DS1" means the 1.544 Mbps first-level
signal in the timedivision multiplex hierarchy. In the time-division
multiplexing hierarchy of the telephone network, DS1 is the initial level of
multiplexing.
1.28 "Digital Signal Level 3" or "DS3" means the 44.736 Mbps third-level in
the timedivision multiplex hierarchy. In the time-division multiplexing
hierarchy of the telephone network, DS3 is defined as the third level of
multiplexing.
1.29 "Exchange Access" is As Defined in the Act.
1.30 "Exchange Message Interface" or "EMI" means the standard used for
exchange of telecommunications message information among Telecommunications
Carriers for billable, nonbillable, sample, settlement and study data. EMI
format is contained in document SR-320 published by Alliance for
Telecommunications Industry Solutions ("ATIS"), which defines industry standards
for Exchange Message Interface.
1.31 "FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission.
1.32 "FCC Regulations" means Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
1.33 "Fiber Meet" means an Interconnection architecture method whereby the
Parties physically Interconnect their networks via an optical fiber interface
(as opposed to an electrical interface) at a mutually agreed upon location.
1.34 HDSL is a digital loop transmission technology which permits the
transmission of up to 768 kbps simultaneously in both directions on a single
non-loaded, twisted copper pair or up to 1544 kbps simultaneously in both
directions on two non-loaded, twisted copper pairs.
1.35 "Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier" or "ILEC" is As Defined in the Act.
For purposes of this Agreement, BA is an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier.
1.36 "Independent Telephone Company" or "ITC" means any entity other than
BA which, with respect to its operations within Massachusetts, is an Incumbent
Local Exchange Carrier.
1.37 "Information Services" is As Defined in the Act.
1.38 "Information Service Traffic" means Local Traffic or IntraLATA Toll
Traffic which originates on a Telephone Exchange Service line and which is
addressed to an information service provided over a Party's switched voice
information services platform (i.e., 976, 550, 540, 970,940).
---- 5
1.39 "Inside Wire" or "Inside Wiring" means all wire, cable, terminals,
hardware, and other equipment or materials on the Customer's side of the Rate
Demarcation Point.
1.40 "Integrated Digital Loop Carrier" or "IDLC" means a subscriber loop
carrier system which integrates within the switch at a DS I level that is
twenty-four (24) loop transmission paths combined into a 1.544 Mbps digital
signal.
1.41 "Integrated Services Digital Network" or "ISDN" means a switched
network service that provides end-to-end digital connectivity for the
simultaneous transmission of voice and data. Basic Rate Interface-ISDN (BRI-
ISDN) provides for a digital transmission of two 64 Kbps bearer channels and one
16 Kbps data and signaling channel (2B+D). Primary Rate Interface-ISDN ("PRI-
ISDN") provides for digital transmission of twenty three (23) 64 kbps bearer
channels and one (1) 64 kpbs data and signaling channel (23 B+D).
1.42 "Interconnection" is As Described in the Act and refers to the
connection of separate pieces of equipment or transmission facilities within,
between, or among networks for the purpose of transmission and routing of
Telephone Exchange Service traffic and Exchange Access traffic.
1.43 "Interexchange Carrier" or "IXC" means a carrier that provides,
directly or indirectly, InterLATA or IntraLATA Telephone Toll Services.
1.44 "Interim Telecommunications Number Portability" or "INP" is As
Described in the Act.
1.45 "InterLATA Service" is As Defined in the Act.
1.46 "IntraLATA Toll Traffic" means those intraLATA calls that are not
defined as Local Traffic in this Agreement.
1.47 "Line Side" means an End Office Switch connection that provides
transmission, switching and optional features suitable for Customer connection
to the public switched network, including loop start supervision, ground start
supervision, and signaling for basic rate ISDN service.
1.48 "Local Access and Transport Area" or "LATA" is As Defined in the Act.
1.49 "Local Exchange Carrier" or "LEC" is As Defined in the Act. The
Parties to this Agreement are or will shortly become Local Exchange Carriers.
1.50 "Local Traffic", means traffic that is originated by a Customer of one
Party on that Party's network and terminates to a Customer of the other Party on
that other Party's network, within a given local calling area, or expanded area
service ("EAS") area, as defined in
6
BA's effective Customer tariffs, or, if the Commission has defined local calling
areas applicable to all LECs, then as so defined by the Commission.
1.51 "Main Distribution Frame" or "MDF" means the ultimate point at which
outside plant facilities terminate within a Wire Center, for interconnection to
other telecommunications facilities within the Wire Center.
1.52 "Meet-Point Billing" or "MPB" means the process whereby each Party
bills the appropriate tariffed rate for its portion of a jointly provided
Switched Exchange Access Service as agreed to in the Agreement for Switched
Access Meet Point Billing.
1.53 "Network Element" is As Defined in the Act.
1.54 "Network Interface Device" or "NID" means the BA-provided interface
terminating BA's telecommunications network on the property where the Customer's
service is located at a point determined by BA.
1.55 "North American Numbering Plan" or "NANP" means the numbering plan
used in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and certain Caribbean
Islands. The NANP format is a 10-digit number that consists of a 3-digit NPA
code (commonly referred to as the area code), followed by a 3-digit NXX code and
4-digit line number.
1.56 "Numbering Plan Area", or "NPA" is also sometimes referred to as an
area code. there are two general categories of NPAs. "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 which may be provided across multiple geographic NPA
areas; 800, 900, 700, 500 and 888 are examples of Non-Geographic NPAs.
1.57 "Number Portability" or "NP" is As Defined in the Act.
1.58 "NXV, "NXX Code", or "End Office Code" means the three-digit switch
entity indicator (i.e. the first three digits of a seven digit telephone
number).
1.59 "Party" means either BA or NCI and "Parties" means BA and NCI.
1.60 "Permanent Number Portability" or "PNP" means the use of a database or
other technical solution that comports with regulations issued by the FCC to
provide Number Portability for all customers and service providers.
1.61 "Port Element" or "Port" means a termination on a Central Office
Switch that permits Customers to send or receive Telecommunications over the
public switched network, but
7
does not include switch features or switching functionality.
1.62 "POT Bay" or "Point of Termination Bay" means the intermediate
distributing frame system which serves as the point of demarcation for
collocated Interconnection.
1.63 "Rate Center" or "Rate Center Area" or "Exchange Area" means the
geographic area that has been identified by a given LEC as being associated with
a particular NPA-NXX code which has been assigned to the LEC for its provision
of Telephone Exchange Services. The Rate Center Area is the exclusive geographic
area which the LEC has identified as the area within which it will provide
Telephone Exchange Services bearing the particular NPA-NXX designation
associated with the specific Rate Center Area. A "Rate Center Point" is the
finite geographic point identified by a specific V&H coordinate (as defined in
Bellcore Special Report SR-TSV-002275), located within the Rate Center Area and
used by that LEC to measure distance for the purpose of billing Customers for
distance sensitive Telephone Exchange Services and Toll Traffic. Rate Centers
will be identical for each Party until such time as NCI is permitted by an
appropriate regulatory body to create its own Rate Centers within an area.
1.64 "Rate Demarcation Point" means the point where network access
recurring charges and BA responsibility stop and beyond which Customer
responsibility begins, determined in accordance with FCC rules and BA standard
operating practices.
1.65 "Rating Point" or "Routing Point" means a specific geographic point
identified by a specific V&H coordinate. The Rating Point is used to route
inbound traffic to specified NPANXXs and to calculate mileage measurements for
the distance-sensitive transport charges of switched access services. Pursuant
to Xxxx Communications Research, Inc. ("Bellcore") Practice BR 000-000-000 (the
"Bellcore Practice"), the Rating Point may be an End Office location. or a "LEC
Consortium Point of Interconnection." Pursuant to that same Bellcore Practice,
each "LEC Consortium Point of Interconnection" shall be designated by a common
language location identifier ("CLLI") code with (x)KD in positions 9, 10, 11,
where (x) may be any alphanumeric A-Z or 0-9. The Rating Point must be located
within the LATA in which the corresponding NPA/NXX is located. However, the
Rating Point associated with each NPA-NXX need not be the same as the
corresponding Rate Center Point, nor must it be located within the corresponding
Rate Center Area, nor must there be a unique and separate Rating Point
corresponding to each unique and separate Rate Center.
1.66 "Reciprocal Compensation" is As Described in the Act, and refers to
the payment arrangements that recover costs incurred for the transport and
termination of Reciprocal Compensation Traffic originating on one Party's
network and terminating on the other Party's network.
1.67 "Reciprocal Compensation Call" or "Reciprocal Compensation Traffic"
means a Telephone Exchange Service Call completed between the Parties, which
qualifies for Reciprocal
8
Compensation pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and prevailing Commission
or FCC rules that may exist.
1.68 "Route Indexing" means the provision of Interim Number Portability
through the use of direct trunks provisioned between end offices of BA and NCI
over which inbound traffic to a ported number will be routed.
1.69 "Service Control Point" or "SCP" means a node in the Common Channel
Signaling network to which informational requests for service handling, such as
routing, are directed and processed. The SCP is a real time database system
that, based on a query from a service switching point and via a Signaling
Transfer Point, performs subscriber or application-specific service logic, and
then sends instructions back to the SSP on how to continue call processing.
1.70 "Signaling Transfer Point" or "STP" means a specialized switch that
provides SS7 network access and performs SS7 message routing and screening.
1.71 "Single Xxxx/Multiple Tariff" shall mean that one xxxx is rendered to
the IXC from all LECs who are jointly providing access service. A single xxxx
consists of all rate elements applicable to access services billed on one
statement of charges under one billing account number using each Party's
appropriate access tariffs. The xxxx could be rendered by or on behalf of,
either of the Parties.
1.72 "Strapping" means the act of installing a permanent connection between
a point of termination bay and a collocated interconnector's physical
Collocation node.
1.73 "Switched Access Detail Usage Data" means a category 1101XX record as
defined in the EMI Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions document
SR-320.
1.74 "Switched Access Summary Usage Data" means a category 1150XX record as
defined in the EMI Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions document
SR-320.
1.75 "Switched Exchange Access Service" means the offering of transmission
or switching services to Telecommunications Carriers for the purpose of the
origination or termination of Telephone Toll Service. Switched Exchange Access
Services include but may not be limited to: Feature Group A, Feature Group B,
Feature Group D, 700 access, 800 access, 888 access, and 900 access.
1.76 "Switching Element" is the unbundled Network Element that provides a
CLEC the ability to use switching functionality in a BA End Office switch,
including all vertical services that are available on that switch, to provide
Telephone Exchange Service to its end user customer(s).
9
1.77 "Synchronous Optical Network" or "SONET" means an optical interface
standard that allows inter-networking of transmission products from multiple
vendors. The base transmission rate is 51.84 Mbps (OC-1/STS-1) and higher rates
are direct multiples of the base rate.
1.78 "Tariff" means any applicable federal or state tariff of a Party, or
standard agreement or other document that sets forth the generally available
terms and conditions, each as may be amended by the Party from time to time,
under which a Party offers a particular service, facility, or arrangement. A
Tariff shall not include BA's "Statement of Generally Available Terms and
Conditions for Interconnection, Unbundled Network Elements, Ancillary Services
and Resale of Telecommunications Services" which has been approved or is pending
approval by the Commission pursuant to Section 252(f) of the Communications Act
of 1934, 47 U.S.C. (S) 252(f).
1.79 "Technically Feasible Point" is As Described in the Act.
1.80 "Telecommunications" is As Defined in the Act.
1.81 "Telecommunications Act" means the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and
any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.82 "Telecommunications Carrier" is As Defined in the Act.
1.83 "Telecommunications Service" is As Defined in the Act.
1.84 "Telephone Exchange Service" sometimes also referred to as "Exchange
Service," is As Defined in the Act. Telephone Exchange Service generally
provides the Customer with a telephonic connection to, and a unique telephone
number address on, the public switched telecommunications network, and enables
such Customer to place or receive calls to all other stations on the public
switched telecommunications network.
1.85 "Telephone Exchange Service Call" or "Telephone Exchange Service
Traffic" means a call completed between two Telephone Exchange Service Customers
of the Parties located in the same LATA, originated on one Party's network and
terminated on the other Party's network where such call was not carried by a
third Party as either a presubscribed call (1+) or a casual dialed (10XXX) or
(101XXX) call. Telephone Exchange Service Traffic is transported over Traffic
Exchange Trunks.
1.86 "Telephone Toll Service" (or "Toll Traffic"), is As Defined in the
Act.
1.87 "Transit Traffic" means any traffic that originates from or terminates
at NCI's network, "transits" BA's network substantially unchanged, and
terminates to or originates from a
10
NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
third carrier's network, as the case may be. "Transit Service" provides NCI with
the ability to use its connection to a BA Tandem for the delivery of calls which
originate or terminate with NCI and terminate or originate from a carrier other
than BA, such as another CLEC, a LEC other than BA, or a wireless carrier. In
these cases, neither the originating nor terminating Customer is a Customer of
BA. This service is provided through BA's Tandems and applies only where the
terminating End Office of the third carrier subtends the BA Tandem. "Transit
Traffic" and "Transit Service" do not include or apply to traffic that is
subject to an effective Meet-Point Billing arrangement.
1.88 "Trunk Side" means a Central Office Switch connection that is capable
of, and has been programmed to treat the circuit as, connecting to another
switching entity (e.g. another carrier's network). Trunk Side connections offer
---
those transmission and signaling features appropriate for the connection of
switching entities.
1.89 "Unbundled Local Loop" or "ULL" or "Loop" means a transmission path
that extends from the Main Distribution Frame, DSX panel or functionally
comparable piece of equipment in the Customer's serving End Office to the Rate
Demarcation Point (or network interface device (NID) if installed) in or at a
Customer's premises. The actual loop transmission facilities used to provide an
ULL may utilize any of several technologies.
1.90 "Undefined Terms" means the Parties acknowledge that terms may appear
in this Agreement which are not defined and agree that any such terms shall be
construed in accordance with their customary usage in the telecommunications
industry as of the effective date of this Agreement, except that any undefined
term herein shall be interpreted in accordance with the definition or its use in
the FCC Interconnection Order and the FCC Further Interconnection Order.
1.91 "Voice Grade" means either an analog signal of 300 to 3000 Hz or a
digital signal of 56/64 kilobits per second. When referring to digital voice
grade service (a 56/64 kbps channel), the terms "DS-0" or "sub-DS-1" may also be
used.
1.92 "Wire Center" means a building or portion thereof in which a Party has
the exclusive right of occupancy and which serves as Routing Point for Switched
Exchange Access Service.
2.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION
2.1 All references to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed to
be references to Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement
unless the context shall otherwise require. The headings used in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part
of or to affect the meaning of this Agreement. Unless the context shall
otherwise require, any reference to any agreement, other instrument (including
BA or other third Party offerings, guides or practices), statute, regulation,
rule or tariff is to such agreement, instrument, statute, regulation, or rule or
tariff as amended and
11
NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
supplemented from time to time (and, in the case of a statute, regulation, rule
or tariff, to any successor provision).
2.2 Subject to the terms set forth in Section 20 regarding rates and
charges, each Party hereby incorporates by reference those provisions of its
tariffs that govern the provision of any of the services or facilities provided
hereunder. If any provision of this Agreement and an applicable tariff cannot be
reasonably construed or interpreted to avoid conflict, the provision contained
in this Agreement shall prevail, provided that in all cases the more specific
shall prevail over the more general. If any provision contained in this main
body of the Agreement and any Schedule or Exhibit hereto cannot be reasonably
construed or interpreted to avoid conflict, the provision contained in this main
body of the Agreement shall prevail. The fact that a condition, right,
obligation, or other term appears in this Agreement but not in any such tariff
shall not be interpreted as, or be deemed grounds for finding, a conflict for
purposes of this Section 2.
3.0 SCOPE
3.1 This Agreement sets forth the terms, conditions and pricing under
which BA and NCI will offer and provide to each other within each LATA in which
they operate within Massachusetts: i) interconnection and access to unbundled
Network Elements and ancillary services for their respective use in providing
Telephone Exchange Service; ii) resale of local Telecommunications Services; and
iii) services related to i) and ii). As such, this Agreement is an integrated
package that reflects a balancing of interests critical to the Parties. It will
be submitted to the DTE, and the Parties will refrain from requesting any action
to change, suspend or otherwise delay implementation of the Agreement.
3.2 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party
shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to enable NCI to provide fully
operational service predominantly over its own Telephone Exchange Service
facilities to business and residential Customers in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The parties agree that the performance of the terms of this
Agreement will satisfy BA's obligation to provide Interconnection under Section
251 of the Act, and the requirements of the Competitive Checklist, under Section
271 of the Act.
4.0 INTERCONNECTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(c)(2)
4.1 INTERCONNECTION ACTIVATION
NCI represents that it is, or intends to become, a provider of Telephone
Exchange Service to residential and business subscribers offered exclusively
over its own Telephone Exchange Service facilities or predominantly over its own
Telephone Exchange Service facilities in combination with the use of unbundled
Network Elements purchased from another entity and the resale of the
Telecommunications Services of other carriers.
12
4.2 SCOPE OF TRAFFIC
The types of traffic to be exchanged under this Agreement shall be Local
Traffic, IntraLATA Toll (and InterLATA Toll, as applicable) Traffic, Tandem
Transit Traffic, Meet Point Billing Traffic, and Ancillary Traffic. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Interconnection of the Parties
facilities and equipment for the transmission and routing of Local Traffic and
Toll Traffic pursuant to this Section 4.0 shall be established on or before the
corresponding "Interconnection Activation Date" shown for each such LATA within
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Schedule 3.0 and in accordance with the
terms and conditions set forth in section 10. Schedule 4.0 may be revised and
supplemented from time to time upon the mutual agreement of the Parties to
reflect additional or changed Interconnection Points in Massachusetts by
attaching one or more supplementary addenda to such Schedule.
4.3 TRUNK TYPES AND INTERCONNECTION POINTS
4.3.1 Section 4 describes the architecture for Interconnection of the
Parties' facilities and equipment over which the Parties shall configure the
following separate and distinct trunk groups:
Traffic Exchange Trunks for the transmission and routing of terminating
Local Traffic, Tandem Transit Traffic, translated LEC IntraLATA 800/888
traffic, IntraLATA Toll Traffic, and, where agreed to between the Parties
and as set forth in subsection 4.2.8 below, InterLATA Toll Traffic between
their respective Telephone Exchange Service customers pursuant to Section
251(c)(2) of the Act, in accordance with Section 5 below;
Access Toll Connecting Trunks for the transmission and routing of Exchange
Access traffic, including translated InterLATA 800/888 traffic, between NCI
Telephone Exchange Service customers and purchasers of Switched Exchange
Access Service via a BA Tandem, pursuant to Section 251(c)(2) of the Act,
in accordance with Section 6 below;
Information Services Trunks for the transmission and routing of terminating
Information Services Traffic in accordance with Section 7 below;
LSV/VCI Trunks for the transmission and routing of terminating LSV/VCI
traffic, in accordance with Section 7 below;
911/E911 Trunks for the transmission and routing of terminating 911/E911
traffic, in accordance with Section 7 below;
Directory Assistance Trunks for the transmission and routing of terminating
directory assistance traffic, in accordance with subsection 19.4 below;
13
Operator services (IntraLATA call completion) Trunks for the transmission
and routing of terminating IntraLATA call completion traffic, in accordance
with subsection 19.4 below; and
Others trunks as may be requested and agreed to by the Parties.
4.3.2 As and to the extent required by Section 251 of the Act, the
parties shall provide interconnection of their networks at any technically
feasible point. The Point of Interconnection ("POI") for the transport and
termination of traffic shall be:
i) at a BA end office or BA tandem for traffic terminating to BA
customers;
ii) at a CLEC Central Office for traffic terminating to CLEC
customers;
iii) to a Mid-Span Fiber Meet arrangement as provided in Section 4.3;
iv) or any other points as mutually agreed to by the parties.
4.3.3 The Parties shall establish interconnection points
(collectively, the "Interconnection Points" or "IPs") at the available
locations designated in Schedule 4.0. The mutually agreed-upon IPs on the NCI
network from which NCI will provide transport and termination of traffic shall
be designated as the NCI Interconnection Point(s) ("NCI-IP(s)"); the mutually
agreed-upon IPs on the BA network from which BA will provide transport and
termination of traffic shall be designated as the BA Interconnection Points
("BA-IPs") and shall be either the BA terminating End Office serving the BA
Customer or the BA Tandem subtended by the terminating End Office.
4.3.4 In the event either Party fails to make available a
geographically relevant End Office or functional equivalent as an IP on its
network, the other Party may, at any time, request that the first Party
establish such additional technically feasible IP(s). Such requests shall be
made as a part of the Joint Process established pursuant to subsection 10.1.
For purposes of this subsection 4.3.4, a "geographically relevant" IP shall mean
an IP that is located within the BA local calling area of equivalent BA end user
customers, but no greater than twenty five (25) miles from the BA Rate Center
Point of the BA NXX serving the equivalent relevant end user customers, or, with
the mutual agreement of the Parties, an existing and currently utilized IP
within the LATA but outside the foregoing BA local calling area and/or twenty
five (25) mile radius. "Equivalent" customers shall mean customers served by
either Party at the same physical location.
14
4.3.5 In recognition of the large number and variety of BA-IPs
available for use by NCI, NCI's ability to select from among those points to
minimize the amount of transport it needs to provide or purchase, and the fewer
number of NCI-IPs available to BA to select from for similar purposes, NCI shall
charge BA no more than a non-distance sensitive Entrance Facility charge as
provided in Exhibit A for the transport of traffic from a BA-IP to a NCI-IP in
any given LATA.
4.3.6 The Parties shall configure separate trunk groups (as described
in subsection 4.3.1 above) for traffic from NCI to BA, and for traffic from BA
to NCI, respectively; however, either party may at its discretion request that
the trunk groups shall be equipped as two-way trunks for testing purposes.
4.3.7 Each Party shall make available Interconnection Points and
facilities for routing of traffic from those Interconnection Points as
designated in Schedule 4.0. Any additional traffic that is not covered in
Schedule 4.0 shall be subject to separate negotiations between the Parties,
except that (i) either Party may deliver traffic of any type or character to the
other Party for termination as long as the delivering Party pays the receiving
Party's then current Switched Exchange Access rates for such traffic, and (ii)
upon a bona fide request from either Party, the Parties will exercise all
reasonable efforts to conclude an agreement covering the exchange of such
traffic.
4.4 PHYSICAL ARCHITECTURES
4.4.1 NCI shall have the sole right and discretion to specify any of the
following methods for interconnection at any of the BA-lPs:
(a) a Physical or Virtual Collocation node NCI established at the BA-IP;
and/or
(b) a Physical or Virtual Collocation node established separately at the
BA-IP by a third party with whom NCI has contracted for such purposes;
and/or
(c) an Entrance Facility and transport (where applicable) leased from BA
(and any necessary multiplexing), to the BA-IP.
4.4.2 NCI shall provide its own facilities or purchase necessary transport
for the delivery of traffic to any Collocation arrangement it establishes at a
BA-IP pursuant to Section 13.
4.4.3 NCI may order from BA any of the Interconnection methods specified
above in accordance with the order intervals and other terms and conditions,
including, without limitation, rates and charges, set forth in this Agreement,
in any applicable Tariff(s), or as may be subsequently agreed to between the
Parties.
15
4.4.4 BA shall have the sole right and discretion to specify any one of the
following methods for Interconnection at any of the NCI-IPs:
(a) upon reasonable notice to NCI, a Physical or Virtual Collocation node
BA establishes at the NCI-IP;
(b) a Physical or Virtual Collocation node established separately at the
NCI-IP by a third party with whom BA has contracted for such purposes;
and/or
(c) an Entrance Facility leased from NCI (and any necessary multiplexing),
to the NCI-IP.
4.4.5 BA shall provide its own facilities or purchase necessary transport
for the delivery of traffic to any Collocation node it establishes at an NCI-IP
pursuant to Section 13.
4.4.6 BA may order from NCI any of the Interconnection methods specified
above in accordance with the order intervals and other terms and conditions,
including, without limitation, rates and charges, set forth in this Agreement,
in any applicable Tariff(s), or as may be subsequently agreed to between the
Parties.
4.4.7 Under any of the architectures described in this subsection 4.4, and
subject to mutual agreement between the Parties, either Party may utilize the
Traffic Exchange Trunks for the termination of InterLATA Toll Traffic in
accordance with the terms contained in Section 5 below and pursuant to the other
Party's Switched Exchange Access Service tariffs. The other Party's Switched
Exchange Access Service rates shall apply to such facilities.
4.4.8 The publication "Bellcore Technical Publication GR-342-CORE; High
Capacity Digital Special Access Service, Transmission Parameter Limits and
Interface Combination" describes the specification and interfaces generally
utilized by BA and is referenced herein to assist the Parties in meeting their
respective Interconnection responsibilities.
4.5 ALTERNATIVE INTERCONNECTION ARRANGEMENTS
4.5.1 In addition to the foregoing methods of Interconnection, and subject
to mutual agreement of the Parties, the Parties may agree to establish a Mid-
Span Fiber Meet arrangement in accordance with the terms of this subsection 4.5,
including a SONET backbone with an electrical interface at the DS-3 level.
Nothing herein shall preclude the parties from agreeing to interconnect at a
higher speed. In the event the Parties agree to adopt a Mid-Span Fiber Meet
arrangement that utilizes both wireless and wireline facilities, each Party
agrees to bear all expenses associated with the purchase of equipment,
materials, or services necessary to facilitate and maintain such arrangement on
its side of the fiber hand-off to the other Party.
4.5.2 The establishment of any Mid-Span Fiber Meet arrangement is expressly
16
conditioned upon the Parties' reaching prior written agreement on routing,
appropriate sizing and forecasting, equipment, ordering, provisioning,
maintenance, repair, testing, augment, and compensation procedures and
arrangements, reasonable distance limitations, and on any other arrangements
necessary to implement the Mid-Span Fiber Meet arrangement. Any Mid-Span Fiber
Meet arrangement requested at a third-party premises is expressly conditioned on
the Parties' having sufficient capacity at the requested location to meet such
request, on unrestricted 24-hour access for both Parties to the requested
location, on other appropriate protections as reasonably deemed necessary by
either Party, and on an appropriate commitment that such access and other
arrangements will not be changed or altered.
4.5.3 Mid-Span Fiber Meet arrangements shall be used only for the
termination of Local Traffic and IntraLATA Toll Traffic unless and until such
time as the Parties have agreed to permit its utilization for other traffic
types and unless and until the Parties have agreed in writing on appropriate
compensation arrangements relating to the exchange of other types of traffic
over such Mid-Span Fiber Meet, and only where facilities are available.
4.6 INTERCONNECTION IN ADDITIONAL LATAS
4.6.1 If NCI determines to offer Telephone Exchange Services in any LATA in
Massachusetts not listed in Schedule 4.0 in which BA also offers Telephone
Exchange Services, NCI shall provide written notice to BA of the need to
establish Interconnection in such LATA pursuant to this Agreement.
4.6.2 The notice provided in subsection 4.6.1 shall include (i) the initial
Rating Point NCI has designated in the new LATA; (ii) NCI's intended
Interconnection Activation Date; and (iii) a forecast of NCI's trunking
requirements conforming to subsection 10.4.
4.6.3 Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, the Parties shall
designate the Wire Center(s) NCI has identified as its initial Rating Point(s)
in the LATA as the NCI-IP(s) in that LATA and shall designate a mutually agreed
upon Tandem Office or End Offices within the LATA nearest to the NCI-IP (as
measured in airline miles utilizing the V and H coordinates Method) as the BA-
IP(s) in that LATA, provided that, for the purpose of charging for the transport
of traffic from a BA-IP to the NCI-IP, the NCI-IP shall be no further than a
non-distance sensitive Entrance Facility away from the BA-IP.
4.6.4 The Parties shall agree upon an addendum to Schedule 4.0 to reflect
the schedule applicable to each new LATA requested by NCI; provided, however,
that unless agreed by the Parties, the Interconnection Activation Date in a new
LATA shall not be earlier than sixty (60) days after receipt by BA of all
complete and accurate trunk orders and routing information. Within ten (10)
business days of BA's receipt of the NCI's notice provided for in 4.6.1, BA and
NCI shall confirm the BA-IP, the NCI-IP and the Interconnection Activation Date
for the new LATA by attaching an addendum to Schedule 4.0.
17
5.0 TRANSMISSION AND ROUTING OF TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SERVICE TRAFFIC PURSUANT TO
SECTION 251(c)(2)
5.1 SCOPE OF TRAFFIC
Section 5 prescribes parameters for trunk groups (the "Traffic Exchange
Trunks") to be effected over the Interconnections specified in Section 4 for the
transmission and routing of Local Traffic, Tandem Transit Traffic, POTS-
translated LEC IntraLATA 800/888 traffic, InterLATA Toll Traffic (to the extent
applicable), and IntraLATA Toll Traffic between the Parties' respective
Telephone Exchange Service Customers.
5.2 TRUNK GROUP CONNECTIONS AND ORDERING
5.2.1 Traffic Exchange Trunk group connections will be made at a DS-1
level unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties. Higher speed connections shall
be made, when and where available, in accordance with the Joint Implementation
and Grooming Process prescribed in Section 10, or as may be agreed to by the
Parties.
5.2.2 Each Party will identify its Carrier Identification Code, a
three or four digit numeric obtained from Bellcore, to the other Party when
ordering a trunk group.
5.2.3 In the event the traffic volumes between any two Central Office
Switches at any time exceeds the CCS busy hour equivalent of one DS-1, the
Parties may, at their option, establish new one-way direct trunk groups to the
applicable End Office(s) consistent with the grade of service and quality
parameters set forth in the Joint Plan.
5.2.4 It is expected that both Parties will make all good faith
efforts to monitor their trunk groups and to augment those groups using
generally accepted trunk engineering standards so as to not exceed blocking
objectives. The Parties agree to use modular trunk engineering techniques where
practical.
5.3 ADDITIONAL SWITCHING SYSTEM HIERARCHY AND TRUNKING REQUIREMENTS
For purposes of routing NCI traffic to BA, the subtending arrangements
between BA Tandem Switches and BA End Office Switches shall be the same as the
Tandem/End Office subtending arrangements BA maintains for the routing of its
own or other carriers' traffic. For purposes of routing BA traffic to NCI, the
subtending arrangements between NCI Tandem Switches (or functional equivalent)
and NCI End Office Switches (or functional equivalent) shall be the same as the
Tandem/End Office subtending arrangements (or functional equivalent) which NCI
maintains for the routing of its own or other carriers' traffic.
18
5.4 SIGNALING
Each Party will provide the other Party with access to its databases and
associated signaling necessary for the routing and completion of the other
Party's traffic in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 17 below.
5.5 GRADES OF SERVICE
The Parties shall initially engineer and shall jointly monitor and enhance
all trunk groups consistent with the Joint Implementation and Grooming Process
as set forth in Section 10.
5.6 MEASUREMENT AND BILLING
5.6.1 For billing purposes, each Party shall pass Calling Party Number
("CPN") information on each call carried over the Traffic Exchange Trunks at
such time as the originating switch is equipped for SS7 or each party shall pass
other equivalent verifiable data to the extent that the parties deploy two-way
shared trunking and that it is determined to be infeasible to pass CPN over such
trunks. At such time as either Party has the ability, as the Party receiving the
traffic, to use such CPN information to classify on an automated basis traffic
delivered by the other Party as either Local Traffic or Toll Traffic, such
receiving Party shall xxxx the originating Party the Local Traffic termination
rates, Intrastate Exchange Access rates, or Interstate Exchange Access rates
applicable to each minute of Traffic for which CPN is passed, as provided in
Exhibit A and applicable Tariffs.
5.6.2 If, under the circumstances set forth in subsection 5.6.1, the
originating Party does not pass CPN on up to ten percent (10%) of calls, the
receiving Party shall xxxx the originating Party the Local Traffic termination
rates, Intrastate Exchange Access rates, Intrastate/Interstate Tandem Transit
Traffic rates, or Interstate Exchange Access rates applicable to each minute of
traffic, as provided in Exhibit A and applicable Tariffs, for which CPN is
passed. For the remaining up to ten percent (10%) of calls without CPN
information, the receiving Party shall xxxx the originating Party for such
traffic as Local Traffic termination rates, Intrastate Exchange Access rates,
Intrastate/Interstate Tandem Transit Traffic rates, or Interstate Exchange
Access rates applicable to each minute of traffic, as provided in Exhibit A and
applicable Tariffs, in direct proportion to the minutes of use of calls passed
with CPN information.
5.6.3 If the originating Party does not pass CPN on more than ten
percent (10%) of calls, or if the receiving Party lacks the ability to use CPN
information to classify on an automated basis traffic delivered by the other
Party as either Local Traffic or Toll Traffic, and the originating Party chooses
to combine Local and Toll Traffic on the same trunk group, it will supply an
auditable Percent Local Use ("PLU") report quarterly, based on the previous
three months' traffic, and applicable to the following three months. If the
originating Party also chooses to combine Interstate and Intrastate Toll Traffic
on the same trunk group, it will supply
19
an auditable Percent Interstate Use ("PIU") report quarterly, based on the
previous three months' terminating traffic, and applicable to the following
three months. In lieu of the foregoing PLU and/or PIU reports, the Parties may
agree to provide and accept reasonable surrogate measures for an agreed-upon
interim period.
5.6.4 Measurement of billing minutes for purposes of determining
terminating compensation shall be in conversation seconds.
5.7 RECIPROCAL COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS - SECTION 251(B)(5)
Reciprocal Compensation arrangements address the transport and termination
of Local Traffic. BA's delivery of Traffic to NCI that originated with a third
carrier is addressed in subsection 7.3. Where NCI delivers Traffic (other than
Local Traffic) to BA, except as may be set forth herein or subsequently agreed
to by the Parties, NCI shall pay BA the same amount that such carrier would have
paid BA for termination of that Traffic at the location the Traffic is delivered
to BA by NCI. Compensation for the transport and termination of traffic not
specifically addressed in this subsection and shall be as provided elsewhere in
this Agreement, or if not so provided, as required by the Tariffs of the Party
transporting and/or terminating the traffic.
5.7.1 Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit either
Party's ability to designate the areas within which that Party's Customers may
make calls which that Party rates as "local" in its Customer Tariffs.
5.7.2 The Parties shall compensate each other for the transport and
termination of Local Traffic in an equal and symmetrical manner at the rates
provided in the Detailed Schedule of Itemized Charges (Exhibit A hereto), as may
be amended from time to time in accordance with Exhibit A and subsection 20.1.2
below or, if not set forth therein, in the applicable Tariff(s) of the
terminating Party, as the case may be. These rates are to be applied at the NCI-
IP for traffic delivered by BA, and at the BA-IP for traffic delivered by NCI.
No additional charges, including port or transport charges, shall apply for the
termination of Local Traffic delivered to the BA-IP or the NCI-IP, except as set
forth in Exhibit A. When Local Traffic is terminated over the same trunks as
Toll Traffic, any port or transport or other applicable access charges related
to the delivery of Toll Traffic from the IP to an end user shall be prorated to
be applied only to the Toll Traffic.
5.7.2.1 Each Party will pay to the other Party a blended
reciprocal compensation rate as specified in Exhibit A for Reciprocal
Compensation Traffic delivered to the other Party's IP in each LATA.
5.7.3 The Reciprocal Compensation arrangements set forth in this
Agreement are not applicable to Switched Exchange Access Service. All Switched
Exchange Access Service and all Toll Traffic shall continue to be governed by
the terms and conditions of the applicable federal and state Tariffs. Similarly,
the reciprocal compensation arrangements contained in this
20
subsection 5.7 shall not apply to traffic handed off from one Party to the other
Party for delivery to an Internet Service Provider ("ISP") for carriage over the
Internet except where and to the extent that the FCC, the DTE, or a court of
competent jurisdiction orders otherwise; provided, however, that BA shall
compensate NCI on the same basis as other Massachusetts CLECs pursuant to its
commitment in DTE 97-116, for as long as such compensation is paid to
Massachusetts CLECs generally. BA may designate one or more NCI NXX(s) for End
Office rate treatment and may chose to route Reciprocal Compensation Traffic to
such NXX(s) over dedicated trunk(s). NCI shall provide BA a choice of delivering
such traffic to either (i) the single IP serving that NXX or (ii) an IP
established by NCI within the Rate Center Area of the designated NXX(s) for
delivery of such traffic by BA. Any such trunk may carry traffic for more than
one such designated NXX(s). For any Reciprocal Compensation Traffic routed over
such dedicated trunks, BA may elect to pay NCI at the effective End Office
Termination rate.
5.7.4 Compensation for transport and termination of all Traffic which
has been subject to performance of INP by one Party for the other Party pursuant
to Section 14 shall be as specified in subsection 14.5.
5.7.5 The designation of Traffic as Local or non-Local for purposes of
compensation shall be based on the actual originating and terminating points of
the complete end-to-end call, regardless of the entities involved in carrying
any segment of the call.
5.7.6 Each Party reserves the right to measure and audit all Traffic,
up to a maximum of two audits per calendar year, to ensure that proper rates are
being applied appropriately, provided, however, that either Party shall have the
right to conduct additional audit(s) if the preceding audit disclosed material
errors or discrepancies. Each Party agrees to provide the necessary Traffic data
or permit the other Party's recording equipment to be installed for sampling
purposes in conjunction with any such audit.
21
6.0 TRANSMISSION AND ROUTING OF EXCHANGE ACCESS TRAFFIC PURSUANT TO 251(c)(2)
6.1 SCOPE OF TRAFFIC
Section 6 prescribes parameters for certain trunks to be established over
the Interconnections specified in Section 4 for the transmission and routing of
traffic between NCI Telephone Exchange Service Customers and Interexchange
Carriers ("Access Toll Connecting Trunks"), in any case where NCI elects to have
its End Office Switch subtend a BA Tandem. This includes casually-dialed
(1010XXX and 101XXXX) traffic.
6.2 TRUNK GROUP ARCHITECTURE AND TRAFFIC ROUTING
6.2.1 NCI shall establish Access Toll Connecting Trunks by which it
will provide tandem-transported Switched Exchange Access Services to
Interexchange Carriers to enable such Interexchange Carriers to originate and
terminate traffic to and from NCI's Customers.
6.2.2 Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be used solely for the
transmission and routing of Exchange Access to allow NCI's Customers to connect
to or be connected to the interexchange trunks of any Interexchange Carrier
which is connected to a BA Tandem.
6.2.3 The Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be two-way trunks
connecting an End Office Switch NCI utilizes to provide Telephone Exchange
Service and Switched Exchange Access in a given LATA to a Tandem BA utilizes to
provide Exchange Access in such LATA.
6.2.4 The Parties shall jointly determine which BA Tandem(s) will be
sub-tended by each NCI End Office Switch. NCI's End Office switch shall sub-tend
the BA Tandem that would have served the same rate center on BA's network.
6.3 MEET-POINT BILLING ARRANGEMENTS
6.3.1 NCI and BA will establish Meet-Point Billing arrangements in
order to provide a common transport option to Switched Access Services Customers
via a Tandem Switch in accordance with the Meet-Point Billing guidelines
contained in the OBF's MECAB and MECOD documents, except as modified herein, and
in BA's applicable Switched Access Service tariffs. The arrangements described
in this Section 6 are intended to be used to provide Switched Exchange Access
Service that originates and/or terminates on a Telephone Exchange Service that
is provided by either Party, where the transport component of the Switched
Exchange Access Service is routed through a Tandem Switch that is provided by
BA.
6.3.2 In each LATA, the Parties shall establish MPB arrangements
between the applicable Rating Point/BA Serving Wire Center combinations.
22
6.3.3 Interconnection for the MPB arrangement shall occur at the BA-IP
in the LATA, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties.
6.3.4 NCI and BA will use reasonable efforts, individually and
collectively, to maintain provisions in their respective state access tariffs,
and/or provisions within the National Exchange Carrier Association ("NECA")
tariff No. 4, or any successor Tariff sufficient to reflect the MPB arrangements
established pursuant to this Agreement.
6.3.5 Each Party shall implement the "Multiple Xxxx/Single Tariff" or
"Multiple Xxxx/Multiple Tariff" option, as appropriate, in order to xxxx an IXC
for the portion of the jointly provided telecommunications service provided by
that Party or each party may use the New York State Access Pool on their behalf
to implement "Single Xxxx/Multiple Tariff or Single Xxxx/Single Tariff option,
as appropriate, in order to xxxx an IXC for the portion of the jointly provided
telecommunications service provided by each Party. In general, there are four
alternative Meet-Point Billing arrangements possible, which are:
1) Single xxxx, single tariff in which a single xxxx is presented to
the Interexchange Carrier and each Local Exchange Carrier involved
applies rats for its portion of the services from the same tariff.
2) Multiple xxxx, single tariff in which each involved Local
Exchange Carrier presents separate bills to the Interexchange Carrier
and each carrier involved applies rates for its portion of the service
from the same tariff.
3) Multiple xxxx, multiple tariff in which each involved Local
Exchange Carrier presents separate bills to the Interexchange Carrier,
and each carrier involved applies rates for its portion of the service
from its own unique tariff, and
4) Single xxxx/multiple tariff shall mean that one xxxx is rendered
to an Interexchange Carrier from all LECs who are jointly providing
Switched Exchange Access Service. A single xxxx consists of all rate
elements applicable to access services billed on one statement of
charges under one xxxx account number using each LECs appropriate
access tariffs. The xxxx could be rendered by, or on behalf of, any of
the Local Exchange Carriers involved in the provision of service.
6.3.6 The rate elements to be billed by each Party are as set forth in
Schedule 6.3. The actual rate values for each Party's affected access service
rate element shall be the rates contained in that Party's own effective federal
and state access tariffs, or other document that contains the terms under which
that Party's access services are offered. The MPB billing percentages for each
Rating Point/BA Serving Wire Center combination shall be calculated in
accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 6.3.17 below.
6.3.7 Each Party shall provide the other Party with the billing name,
billing address, and Carrier Identification Code ("CIC") of the IXC, and
identification of the IXC's Local Serving Wire Center in order to comply with
the MPB notification process as outlined in the MECAB document via facsimile or
such other media as the Parties may agree to.
23
6.3.8 BA shall provide NCI with the Switched Access Detail Usage Data
(category 1101XX records) on magnetic tape or via such other media as the
Parties may agree to, no later than ten (10) business days after the date the
usage occurred.
6.3.9 NCI shall provide BA with the Switched Access Summary Usage
Data (category 1150XX records) on magnetic tape or via such other media as the
Parties may agree, no later than ten (10) business days after the date of its
rendering of the xxxx to the relevant IXC, which xxxx shall be rendered no less
frequently than monthly.
6.3.10 All usage data to be provided pursuant to subsections 6.3.8 and
6.3.9 above shall be sent to the following addresses:
To NCI: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, President
Norfolk County Internet, Inc.
Xxxx 00X Xxxxx Xxxxx
00-00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
To BA: New York State Access Pool
X/X XXX
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxx
Either Party may change its address for receiving usage data by notifying the
other Party in writing pursuant to subsection 29.10.
6.3.11 Each Party shall coordinate and exchange the billing account
reference ("BAR") and billing account cross reference ("BACR") numbers or
Operating Company Number ("OCN"), as appropriate, for the MPB Service. Each
Party shall notify the other if the level of billing or other BAR/BACR elements
change, resulting in a new BAR/BACR number, or if the OCN changes.
6.3.12 Errors may be discovered by NCI, the IXC or BA. Each Party
agrees to provide the other Party with notification of any errors it discovers
within two (2) business days of the date of such discovery. In the event of a
loss of data, both Parties shall cooperate to reconstruct the lost data and, if
such reconstruction is not possible, shall accept a reasonable estimate of the
lost data based upon prior usage data.
6.3.13 Either Party may request a review or audit of the various
components of access recording up to a maximum of two (2) audits per calendar
year. All costs associated with each review and audit shall be borne by the
requesting Party. Such review or audit shall be
24
conducted subject to confidentiality protection and during regular business
hours. A Party may conduct additional audits, at its expense, upon the other
Party's consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
6.3.14 Nothing contained in this subsection 6.3 shall create any
liability for damages, losses, claims, costs, injuries, expenses or other
liabilities whatsoever on the part of either Party (other than as may be set
forth in MECAB or in any applicable Tariff).
6.3.15 The Parties shall not charge one another for the services
rendered or information provided pursuant to this subsection 6.3.
6.3.16 MPB will apply for all traffic bearing the 500, 900, 800/888
(to the extent provided by an IXC) or any other non-geographic NPA which may be
likewise designated for such traffic in the future.
6.3.17 In the event NCI determines to offer Telephone Exchange
Services in another LATA in which BA operates a Tandem Switch, BA shall permit
and enable NCI to subtend the BA Tandem Switch(es) designated for the BA End
Offices in the area where the NCI Rating Point(s) associated with the NPA-NXX(s)
to/from which the Switched Exchange Access Services are homed. The MPB billing
percentages for each new Routing Point/BA Serving Wire Center combination shall
be calculated according to the following formula:
a / (a + b) = NCI Billing Percentage
and
b / (a + b) = BA Billing Percentage
where:
-----
a = the airline mileage between the Routing Point and the actual
point of interconnection for the MPB arrangement; and
b = the airline mileage between the BA Serving Wire Center and
the actual point of interconnection for the MPB arrangement.
NCI shall inform BA of the LATA in which it intends to offer Telephone
Exchange Services and its calculation of the billing percentages which should
apply for such arrangement, as part of the notice required by subsection 4.4.1
above. Within ten (10) business days of NCI's delivery of notice to BA, BA and
NCI shall confirm the new Routing Point/BA Serving Wire Center combination and
billing percentages.
6.3.18 Within thirty (30) days of a request by NCI, BA agrees to
notify all switched access users with a Carrier Identification Code in a LATA in
which the Parties have newly established Interconnection arrangements pursuant
to this Agreement that BA and NCI have entered in a Meet Point Billing
arrangement.
6.4 800/888 TRAFFIC
25
The following terms shall apply when either Party delivers 800/888 calls to
the other Party for completion.
6.4.1 When NCI delivers translated 800/888 calls to BA for completion
(a) to an IXC, NCI shall:
(i) Provide a MPB record in an industry standard format to BA; and
(ii) Xxxx the IXC the appropriate NCI query charge associated with
the call.
(b) as an IntraLATA call to BA or another LEC in the LATA, NCI shall:
(i) Provide a copy record in an industry standard format to BA or
the terminating LEC;
(ii) The orginating party shall xxxx the terminating party for the
delivery of the 800/888 traffic at the rates set forth in Exhibit A.
The terminating Party shall not xxxx the originating party the 800/888
rates set forth in Exhibit A under this agreement.
6.4.2 When BA delivers translated 800/888 calls originated by BA's or
another LEC's Customers to NCI for completion
(a) to NCI in its capacity as an IXC, BA shall:
(i) Xxxx NCI the appropriate BA query charge associated with the
call; and
(ii) Xxxx NCI the appropriate FGD Exchange Access charges associated
with the call.
(b) as an IntraLATA call to NCI in its capacity as a LEC,
(i) The orginating party shall xxxx the terminating
party for the delivery of the 800/888 traffic at the rates
set forth in Exhibit A. The terminating party shall not
xxxx the originating party the 800/888 rates set forth in
Exhibit A under this agreement.
(ii) The originating party shall provide a copy record
in an industry standard format to NCI.
7.0 TRANSPORT AND TERMINATION OF OTHER TYPES OF TRAFFIC
7.1 INFORMATION SERVICES TRAFFIC
The following provisions shall apply only to NCI-originated Information
Services Traffic directed to an information services platform connected to BA's
network. At such time as NCI connects Information Services platforms to its
network, the Parties shall agree upon a comparable arrangement for BA-originated
Information Services Traffic. The Information Services Traffic subject to the
following provisions is switched voice traffic, delivered to service providers
who offer recorded announcement information or open discussion information
programs to the general public; it is not Internet traffic.
7.1.1 NCI shall have the option to route Information Services Traffic
that originates on its own network to the appropriate information services
platform(s) connected to
26
BA's network. In the event NCI exercises such option, NCI will establish a
dedicated trunk group to the BA information services serving switch. This trunk
group will be utilized to allow NCI to route information service traffic
originated on its network to BA.
Where NCI serves a Customer through the purchase of a BA unbundled Port
Element, information service traffic from that Customer may be routed over BA
information service trunks on a shared basis.
7.1.2 Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict either Party from
offering, or obviate either Party's obligations, if any, under Applicable Laws,
to offer to its Telephone Exchange Service Customers the ability to block the
completion of Information Service Traffic.
7.1.3 For calls to variable rated information services (e.g., NXX 550,
976, 940 as applicable), the Parties shall agree to implement either of two
separate billing arrangements, as set forth in Schedule 7.1.3. Under either
arrangement, NCI shall xxxx and collect information services provider charges
from its Customers. BA shall charge NCI, and the parties shall exchange call
detail information and handle adjustments, according to the terms set forth in
the agreed upon billing arrangement, at customer usage detail rates specified in
Exhibit A. Applicable information shall be provided in as timely a fashion as
practical in order to facilitate record review and reflect actual prices set by
the individual information services providers. The same billing arrangements
shall apply whether NCI services its Customer from switching facilities outside
the BA network, or from BA Local Switching Elements, and agreement to mutually
support one or the other billing arrangement shall precede interconnection of
the NCI network to the appropriate information services platform(s) connected to
BA's network. BA may require reasonable demonstration, as defined in the
applicable billing arrangement, that the agreed upon arrangement has been
implemented by NCI prior to establishing such interconnection.
7.1.4 Where BA agrees to accept adjustments from NCI for calls
originated by NCI Customers to information services platform(s) connected to
BA's network, NCI shall follow the same policy in allowing adjustments to its
Customers as BA follows with its own Customers. NCI shall provide to BA
sufficient information regarding uncollectibles and Customer adjustments to
allow BA to pass through the adjustments to the information services provider,
and BA shall pass through such adjustments. However, if the information services
provider disputes such adjustments and refuses to accept such adjustments, NCI
shall reimburse BA for all such disputed adjustments. Final resolution regarding
all disputed adjustments shall be solely between NCI and the information
services provider.
7.1.5 The Information Services Traffic addressed herein does not
include 555 traffic or similar traffic with AIN service interfaces, which
traffic shall be subject to separate arrangements between the Parties.
27
7.2 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
7.3 TANDEM TRANSIT SERVICE ("TRANSIT SERVICE")
7.3.1 "Transit Service" means the delivery of certain traffic between
NCI and another Local Exchange Carrier by BA over the Telephone Exchange Service
Trunks, where both carriers' End Offices subtend a BA tandem. The following
traffic types will be delivered: (i) Local Traffic or IntraLATA Toll originated
from NCI to such LEC and (ii) Local or IntraLATA Toll Traffic originated from
such LEC and terminated to NCI where BA carries such traffic pursuant to the
Commission's primary toll carrier plan or other similar plan.
7.3.2 Subject to Section 7.3.4, the Parties shall compensate each
other for Transit Service as follows:
(a) NCI shall pay BA for Local Traffic that NCI originates over the
Transit Service at the rate specified in Pricing Schedule plus
any additional charges or costs such terminating LEC imposes or
levies on BA for the delivery or termination of such traffic,
including any switched access charges; and
(b) BA shall pay NCI for Local or IntraLATA Toll Traffic terminated
to NCI from such LEC at the appropriate reciprocal compensation
rates described in Section 5.7, or (where BA delivers such
traffic pursuant to the Commission's primary toll carrier plan or
other similar plan) at NCI's applicable switched access rates,
whichever is appropriate.
7.3.3 BA expects that all networks involved in Tandem Transit Traffic
will deliver each call to each involved network with CCS and the appropriate
Transactional Capabilities Application Part ("TCAP") message to facilitate full
interoperability of those CLASS Features supported by BA and billing functions.
In all cases, each Party shall follow the Exchange Message Interface ("EMI")
standard and exchange records between the Parties and with the and the
terminating carrier to facilitate the billing process to the originating
network.
7.3.4 Each Party shall exercise all reasonable efforts to enter into a
reciprocal local traffic exchange arrangement (either via written agreement or
mutual tariffs) with any wireless carrier, ITC, NCI or other LEC to which it
sends, or from which it receives, local traffic that transits the other Party's
facilities over Traffic Exchange Trunks. Each Party will, upon request, provide
the other Party with all reasonable cooperation and assistance in obtaining such
arrangements. If either Party fails to enter into such an arrangement as quickly
as commercially reasonable following the Effective Date and to provide written
notification of such Agreement, including the relevant rates therein, to the
other Party, but continues to utilize the other Party's Transit Service for the
exchange of local traffic with such wireless carrier, ITC, NCI, or other LEC,
then the Party utilizing the Transit Service shall, in addition to paying the
rate set forth in
28
Exhibit A for said Transit Service, pay the other Party any charges or costs
such terminating third party carrier imposes or levies on the other Party for
the delivery or termination of such Traffic, including any switched access
charges, plus all reasonable expenses incurred by the other Party in delivering
----
or terminating such Traffic and/or resulting from the utilizing Party's failure
to secure said reciprocal local traffic exchange arrangement. In addition,
neither Party shall take any actions to prevent the other Party from entering
into a direct and reciprocal local traffic exchange arrangement (either via
\written agreement or mutual tariffs) with any wireless carrier, ITC, NCI, or
other LEC to which it sends, or from which it receives, local traffic that does
not utilize the Transit Service of the first Party. The Parties agree to work
cooperatively in appropriate industry fora to promote the adoption of reasonable
industry guidelines relating to Tandem Transit Traffic.
7.3.5 Tandem Transit Traffic shall be routed over the Traffic
Exchange Trunks described in Section 5 above.
7.4 911/E911 ARRANGEMENTS
7.4.1 NCI may, at its option, interconnect to the BA 911/E911
selective routers or 911 Tandem Offices, as appropriate, that serve the areas in
which NCI provides Telephone Exchange Services, for the provision of 911/E911
services and for access to all subtending Public Safety Answering Points
("PSAP"). In such situations, BA will provide NCI with the appropriate CLLI
codes and specifications of the Tandem Office serving area. In areas where E911
is not available, NCI and BA will negotiate arrangements to connect NCI to the
911 service.
7.4.2 Path and route diverse interconnections for 911/E911 shall be
made at the NCI-IP, the BA-IP, or other points as necessary and mutually agreed,
and as required by law or regulation.
7.4.3 Within thirty (30) days of its receipt of a request from NCI
and to the extent authorized by the relevant federal, state, and local
authorities, BA will provide NCI with the following at no charge:
(a) a file on diskette or other mutually agreed upon medium
containing the Master Street Address Guide ("MSAG") for each county within the
LATA(s) specified in this Agreement, which MSAG shall be updated no more
frequently than monthly and a complete copy of which shall be made available on
an annual basis;
(b) a list of the address, CLLI code, and an associated NXX of each
911/E911 selective router or 911 Tandem office(s) in the area in which NCI
plans to offer Telephone Exchange Service;
(c) a list of the address, contact name and phone number of each
PSAP in the BA serving area in which NCI plans to offer Telephone Exchange
Service;
(d) a list of BA personnel who currently have 911 responsibility;
(e) any special 911 trunking requirements for each 911/E911
selective router
29
or 911 Tandem;
(f) an electronic interface, when available, through which NCI
shall input and provide a daily update of 911 /E911 database information
related to appropriate NCI Customers. All customer related 911 data exchanged
electronically shall conform to the National Emergency Number Association
standards;
(g) return of any NCI E911 data entry files containing errors, so
that NCI may ensure the accuracy of the Customer records; and
(h) a Design Layout Record ("DLR") of a 911 (CAMA) trunk, if
applicable.
7.4.4 In cases where a Customer of one Party elects to discontinue
its service and become the Customer of the other Party ("Party B") but desires
to retain its original telephone number pursuant to an INP arrangement, Party B
will outpulse the telephone number to which the call has been forwarded (i.e.
---
the Customer's ANI) to the 911 Tandem Office. Party B will also provide the 911
database with both the forwarded number and the directory number, as well as the
appropriate address information of the Customer.
7.4.5 BA and NCI will use their best efforts to facilitate the
prompt, robust, reliable and efficient interconnection of NCI systems to the 911
/E911 platforms.
7.4.6 BA and NCI will work cooperatively to arrange meetings with
PSAPs to answer any technical questions the PSAPs, or county or municipal
coordinators may have regarding the 911/E911 arrangements.
7.4.7 The Parties acknowledge that the provision of INP, until LNP
with full 911 compatibility is available, creates a special need to have the
Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") screen reflect two numbers: the "old"
number and the "new" number assigned by NCI. The Parties acknowledge further the
objective of including the five character NENA Telephone Company Identification
("TCI") of the company that provides service to the calling line as part of the
ALI display.
7.4.8 NCI will compensate BA for connections to its 911/E911 pursuant
to Exhibit A. NCI will comply with all applicable rules and regulations,
(INCLUDING 911 taxes and surcharges) pertaining to the provision of 911/E911
services in Massachusetts.
7.4.9 NCI will document/verify that they can enter data into the 911
database under the NENA Standards for LNP. This includes but is not limited to
using their NENA ID to lock and unlock records and the posting of their NENA ID
to the ALI record.
8.0 NUMBER RESOURCES, RATE CENTERS AND RATING POINTS
8.1 Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or otherwise
adversely affect in any manner either Party's right to employ or to request and
be assigned any Central Office (NXX) Codes pursuant to the Central Office Code
Assignment Guidelines, as may be
30
amended from time to time, or to establish, by Tariff or otherwise, Rate Centers
and Rating Points corresponding to such NXX codes. Until such time as number
administration is provided by a third party, BA shall provide NCI access to
telephone numbers by assigning NXX codes to NCI in accordance with such
Assignment Guidelines.
8.2 It shall be the responsibility of each Party to program and update its
own switches and network systems in accordance with the Local Exchange Routing
Guide ("LERG") in order to recognize and route traffic to the other Party's
assigned NXX codes at all times. Neither Party shall impose any fees or charges
whatsoever on the other Party for such activities, except as expressly set forth
in this Agreement.
8.3 Unless mandated otherwise by a Commission order, the Rate Center Areas
will be the same for each Party. During the term of this Agreement, NCI shall
adopt the Rate Center Areas and Rate Center Points that the Commission has
approved for BA, in all areas where BA and NCI service areas overlap, and NCI
shall assign whole NPA-NXX codes to each Rate Center unless the LEC industry
adopts alternative methods of utilizing NXXs in the manner adopted by the NANP.
8.4 NCI will also designate a Rating Point for each assigned NXX code. NCI
shall designate one location for each Rate Center Area as the Rating Point for
the NPA-NXXs associated with that Area, and such Rating Point shall be within
the same LATA as the Rate Center Area but not necessarily within the Rate Center
Area itself.
8.5 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in
this Agreement is intended to, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
to, in any way constrain NCI's choices regarding the size of the local calling
area(s) that NCI may establish for its Customers, which local calling areas may
be larger than, smaller than, or identical to, BA's local calling areas.
9.0 NETWORK MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT; OUTAGES
9.1 COOPERATION
The Parties will work cooperatively to install and maintain a reliable
network. NCI and BA will exchange appropriate information (e.g., maintenance
----
contact numbers, escalation procedures, network information, information
required to comply with law enforcement and other security agencies of the
Government) to achieve this desired reliability. In addition, the Parties will
work cooperatively to apply sound network management principles to alleviate or
to prevent congestion.
9.2 RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOLLOWING STANDARDS
Each Party recognizes a responsibility to follow the standards that may be
agreed to
31
between the Parties and to employ characteristics and methods of operation that
will not interfere with or impair the service or any facilities of the other or
any third parties connected with or involved directly in the network of the
other.
9.3 INTERFERENCE OR IMPAIRMENT
If Xxxx Atlantic reasonably determines that the characteristics and methods
of operation used by NCI will or is likely to interfere with or impair its
provision of services, BA shall have the right to discontinue service subject,
however, to the following:
9.3.1 BA shall have given NCI at least ten (10) days' prior written
notice of the interference or impairment or potential interference or impairment
and the need to correct the condition within said time period.
9.3.2 BA shall have concurrently provided a copy of the notice
provided to NCI under (9.3.1) above to the appropriate federal and/or state
regulatory bodies.
9.3.3 Notice in accord with subsections 9.3.1 and 9.3.2 above shall
not be required in emergencies and BA may immediately discontinue service if
reasonably necessary to meet its obligations. In such case, however, BA shall
use all reasonable means to notify NCI and the appropriate federal and/or state
regulatory bodies.
9.3.4 Upon correction of the interference or impairment, BA will
promptly renew service to NCI. During such period of discontinuance, there will
be no compensation or credit allowance by BA to NCI for interruptions.
9.4 REPEATED OR WILLFUL NONCOMPLIANCE
The Interconnection, unbundled Network Elements, and services provided
hereunder may be discontinued by either Party upon thirty (30) days written
notice to the other for repeated or willful violation of and/or a refusal to
comply with this Agreement in any material respect. The Party discontinuing will
notify the appropriate federal and/or state regulatory bodies concurrently with
the notice to the other Party of the prospective discontinuance.
9.5 OUTAGE REPAIR STANDARD
In the event of an outage or trouble in any arrangement, facility, or
service being provided by a Party hereunder, the providing Party will follow
procedures for isolating and clearing the outage or trouble that are no less
favorable than those that apply to comparable arrangements, facilities, or
services being provided by the providing Party to any other carrier whose
network is connected to that of the providing Party. NCI and BA may agree to
modify those procedures from time to time based on their experience with
comparable Interconnection arrangements with other carriers.
32
9.6 NOTICE OF CHANGES - SECTION 251(C)(5)
If a Party makes a change in the information necessary for the transmission
and routing of services using that Party's network, or any other change in its
network which it believes will materially affect the inter-operability of its
network with the other Party's network, the Party making the change shall
provide at least ninety (90) days advance written notice of such change to the
other Party. In addition, the Parties will comply with the Network Disclosure
rules adopted by the FCC in CC Docket No. 86-79 as may be amended from time to
time.
9.7 FRAUD
The Parties shall work cooperatively to minimize fraud associated with
third-number billed calls, calling card calls, and any other services related to
this Agreement.
10.0 JOINT NETWORK CONFIGURATION AND GROOMING PROCESS; AND INSTALLATION,
MAINTENANCE, TESTING AND REPAIR.
10.1 JOINT NETWORK CONFIGURATION AND GROOMING PROCESS
Upon request of either Party, the Parties shall jointly develop an
implementation and grooming process (the "Joint Grooming Process" or "Joint
Process") which may define and detail, inter alia,
----- ----
(a) agreement on Physical Architecture consistent with the guidelines
defined in Section 4.0;
(b) standards to ensure that Interconnection trunk groups experience a
grade of service, availability and quality which is comparable to that
achieved on interoffice trunks within BA's network and in accord with
all appropriate relevant industry-accepted quality, reliability and
availability standards;
(c) the respective duties and responsibilities of the Parties with respect
to the administration and maintenance of the trunk groups, including
but not limited to standards and procedures for notification and
discoveries of trunk disconnects;
(d) disaster recovery provision escalations;
(e) additional technically feasible IP(s) in a LATA as provided in Section
4.0 above; and
(f) such other matters as the Parties may agree, including e.g., End
----
Office to End Office high usage trunks as good engineering practices
may dictate.
33
The initial mutual Interconnection is not dependent upon completion of the Joint
Grooming Process.
10.2 INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, TESTING AND REPAIR
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, Interconnection shall be
provided at parity. For purposes of this Agreement, a Party's obligation to
provide parity shall be in accordance with Applicable Laws. If either Party is
unable to fulfill its obligations under this subsection 10.2, it shall notify
the other Party of its inability to do so and will negotiate alternative
intervals in good faith. The Parties agree that the standards to be used by each
Party for isolating and clearing any disconnections and/or other outages or
troubles shall be at parity.
10.3 NETWORK RELIABILITY COUNCIL
The Parties will carefully review the Network Reliability Council's
recommendations and, as part of the Joint Grooming Plan, implement such
recommendations where technically and economically feasible.
10.4 FORECASTING REQUIREMENTS FOR TRUNK PROVISIONING
Within ninety (90) days of executing this Agreement, each Party shall
provide the other Party a one (1) year traffic forecast. This initial forecast
will provide the amount of traffic to be delivered to BA over each of the
Traffic Exchange Trunk groups over the next four (4) quarters. The forecast
shall be updated and provided to BA on an as-needed but no less frequently than
quarterly. All forecasts shall include Access Carrier Terminal Location (ACTL),
traffic type (local/toll, operator services, 911, etc.), code (identifies trunk
group), A location/Z location (CLLI codes for NCI-IPs and BA-IPs, interface type
(e.g., DS1), and trunks in service each year (cumulative).
----
10.4.1 Trunk Provisioning Pursuant to Forecasts. Because BA's trunking
requirements will be dependent on the Customer segments and service segments
within Customer segments to whom NCI decides to market its services, BA will be
dependent on NCI to provide accurate trunk forecasts for both inbound (from BA)
and outbound (from NCI) traffic. BA will, as an initial matter and upon request,
provide the same number of trunks to terminate local traffic to NCI as NCI
provides to terminate local traffic to BA, unless NCI expressly identifies
particular situations that are expected to produce traffic that is substantially
skewed in either the inbound or outbound direction, in which case BA will
provide the number of trunks NCI suggests; provided, however, that in all cases
BA's provision of the forecasted number of trunks to NCI is conditioned on the
following: that such forecast is based on reasonable engineering criteria, there
are no capacity constraints, and NCI's previous forecasts have proven to be
reliable and accurate.
10.4.2 Monitoring and Adjusting Forecasts. BA will, for ninety (90) days,
monitor
34
traffic on each trunk group that it establishes at NCI's suggestion or request
pursuant to the procedures identified in subsection 10.4.1 above. At the end of
such ninety (90) day period, BA may disconnect trunks that, based on reasonable
engineering criteria and capacity constraints, are not warranted by the actual
traffic volume experienced. If, after such initial ninety (90) day period for a
trunk group, BA determines that any trunks in the trunk group in excess of four
(4) DS-1s are not warranted by actual traffic volumes (considering engineering
criteria for busy hour CCS and blocking percentages), then BA may hold NCI
financially responsible for the excess facilities. In subsequent periods, BA may
also monitor traffic for ninety (90) days on additional trunk groups that NCI
suggests or requests BA to establish. If., after any such (90) day period, BA
determines that any trunks in the trunk group are not warranted by actual
traffic volumes (considering engineering criteria for busy hour call seconds and
blocking percentages), then BA may hold NCI financially responsible for the
excess facilities. At any time during the relevant ninety (90) day period, NCI
may request that BA disconnect trunks to meet a revised forecast. In such
instances, BA may hold NCI financially responsible for the disconnected trunks
retroactive to the start of the ninety (90) day period through the date such
trunks are disconnected.
10.4.3 Reciprocal Responsibility. To the extent that BA requires NCI to
install trunks for delivery of traffic to BA, NCI may apply the same procedures
with respect to BA's trunking requirements.
10.5 DEMAND MANAGEMENT FORECASTS
10.5.1 NCI will furnish BA with good faith demand management forecasts to
enable BA to effectively plan its network infrastructure and work force levels
to accommodate anticipated NCI demand for BA services and products. Such
forecasts will describe NCI's expected needs for service volumes, and timeframes
for service deployment, by wire center. NCI agrees to provide such forecasts to
BA thirty (30) days following the Effective Date, with updates to follow every
six months thereafter. BA agrees that such forecasts shall be subject to the
confidentiality provisions defined in subsection 29.4 below, and that such
information will only be used by BA to provide Interconnection pursuant to this
Agreement.
11.0 UNBUNDLED ACCESS - SECTION 251(C)(3)
To the extent required of each Party by Section 251 of the Act, each Party
shall offer to the other Party nondiscriminatory access to Network Elements on
an unbundled basis at any technically feasible point. BA shall unbundle and
separately price and offer Network Elements such that NCI will be able to lease
and interconnect to whichever of the Network Elements NCI requires, and to allow
NCI to combine the BA-provided elements with any facilities and services that
NCI may itself provide, except that NCI shall not recombine Network Elements
purchased from BA for use as a substitute for the purchase at wholesale rates of
Telecommunications Services that BA provides unless otherwise mandated by the
FCC or the Commission or agreed to by BA with other carriers. Any combination by
NCI of unbundled Network Elements purchased from BA shall be through a
Collocation arrangement pursuant to Section 13.0.
35
11.1 AVAILABLE NETWORK ELEMENTS
At the request of NCI, BA shall provide NCI access to the following
unbundled Network Elements in accordance with the requirements of the FCC
Regulations:
11.1.1 Local Loops, as set forth in subsection 11.2;
11.1.2 The Network Interface Device;
11.1.3 Switching Capability, as set forth in subsection 11.3;
11.1.4 Interoffice Transmission Facilities, as set forth in
subsection 11.4;
11.1.5 Signaling Links and Call-Related Databases, as set forth in
subsection 5.4 and Section 17;
11.1.6 Operations Support Systems, as set forth in subsection 11.5;
11.1.7 Operator Services and Directory Assistance, as set forth in
Section 19; and
11.1.8 such other Network Elements in accordance with subsection
11.7 below.
11.2 UNBUNDLED LOCAL LOOP ("ULL") TYPES
Subject to subsection 11.7, BA shall allow NCI to access the following
Unbundled Local Loop ("ULL") types unbundled from local switching and local
transport in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this
subsection 11.2.
11.2.1 "2-Wire Analog Voice Grade ULL" or "Analog 2W" which support
analog transmission of 300-3000 Hz, repeat link start, link reverse battery, or
ground start seizure and disconnect in one direction (toward the End Office
Switch), and repeat ringing in the other direction (toward the Customer). Analog
2W include Loops sufficient for the provision of PBX trunks, pay telephone lines
and electronic key system lines.
11.2.2 "4-Wire Analog Voice Grade ULL" or "Analog 4W" which support
transmission of voice grade signals using separate transmit and receive paths
and terminate in a 4-wire electrical interface.
11.2.3 "2-Wire ISDN Digital Grade ULL" or "BRI ISDN" (Premium Link)
which support digital transmission of two 64 Kbps bearer channels and one 16
Kbps data channel. BRI ISDN is a 2B+D Basic Rate Interface-Integrated Services
Digital Network (BRI-ISDN) Loop
36
which will meet national ISDN standards and conform to ANSI T1.601-1992 & TlEl.4
90004R3.
11.2.4 2-Wire ADSL-Compatible ULL or ADSL 2W is a 2-wire, non-loaded,
twisted copper pair that meets revised resistance design or carrier serving area
design guidelines. The upstream and downstream ADSL power spectral density masks
and dc line power limits in BA TR 72575, Issue 2 must be met. ADSL-compatible
local loops are subject to availability.
11.2.5 2-Wire HDSL-Compatible ULL or HDSL 2W consists of a single
2-wire, non-loaded, twisted copper pair that meets the carrier serving area
design criteria. The HDSL power spectral density mask and dc line power limits
referenced in BA TR 72575, Issue 2 must be met. 2-Wire HDSL-compatible local
loops are subject to availability.
11.2.6 4-Wire HDSL-Compatible ULL or HDSL 4W consists of two 2-wire,
nonloaded, twisted copper pairs that meet the carrier serving area design
criteria. The HDSL power spectral density mask and dc line power limits
referenced in BA TR 72575, Issue 2 must be met. 4-Wire HDSL-compatible local
loops are subject to availability.
11.2.7 "4-Wire DS-1-compatible ULL" (Digital Grade Loop) provides a
channel which provides 1.544 Mbps digital transmission path between a Customer
premises and a NCI Collocation node at a BA central office, and is capable of
operating in a full duplex, time division (digital) multiplexing mode. A DS-1
Digital Grade Loop provides transmission capacity equivalent to 24 voice grade
channels with associated signaling, twenty-four 56 Kbps digital channels when in
band signaling is provided or twenty-four 64 Kbps channels with the selection of
the Clear Channel signaling option.
11.2.8 BA will make Analog 2-Wire ULLs, BRI ISDN ULLs, Analog 4-Wire
ULLs and 4-Wire DS-1-compatible ULLs available for purchase by NCI at any time
after the Effective Date.
11.2.9 BA will make HDSL 4-Wire, HDSL 2-Wire, and ADSL 2-Wire ULLs
available to NCI no later than the date on which it makes such ULLs commercially
available to any other Telecommunications Carrier in Massachusetts. The Parties
shall amend Exhibit A to add the appropriate rates and charges.
11.3 UNBUNDLED SWITCHING ELEMENTS
BA shall make available to NCI the local Switching Element and tandem
Switching Element unbundled from transport, local loop transmission, or other
services in accordance with all Applicable Laws and tariffs and at the rates and
charges specified in Exhibit A, as amended from time to time.
37
11.4 UNBUNDLED INTER OFFICE FACILITIES
BA shall provide NCI access to an interoffice transmission path of a
fixed capacity between designated central offices that is unbundled from
switching, unbundled multiplexers, and any other network elements in accordance
with Applicable Laws and tariffs and at the rates and charges specified in
Exhibit A, as amended from time to time.
11.5 OPERATIONS SUPPORT SYSTEMS
BA shall provide NCI with access via electronic interfaces to
databases required for pre-ordering, ordering, provisioning, maintenance and
repair, and billing as soon as practicable.
11.6 LIMITATIONS ON UNBUNDLED ACCESS
11.6.1 BA shall only be required to provide ULLs and Ports where
such Loops and Ports are available.
11.6.2 NCI shall access BA's unbundled Network Elements
specifically identified in this Agreement via Collocation in accordance with
Section 13 at the BA Wire Center where those elements exist, and each ULL or
Port shall, in the case of Collocation, be delivered to NCI's Collocation node
by means of a Cross Connection. or Strapping. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NCI
may access Signaling Links and Call-Related Databases, Operations Support
Systems, and Operator Services and Directory Assistance by means of tariffed
telecommunications services purchased from BA or a third carrier.
11.6.3 BA shall provide NCI access to its Unbundled Local Loops
at each of BA's Wire Centers for loops terminating in that Wire Center. In
addition, if NCI orders one or more ULL provisioned via Integrated Digital Link
Carrier or Remote Switching technology deployed as a ULL concentrator, BA shall,
where available, move the requested ULL(s) to a spare, existing physical ULL at
no additional charge to NCI. If, however, no spare physical ULL is available, BA
shall within three (3) business days of NCI's request notify NCI of the lack of
available facilities. NCI may then at its discretion make a Network Element Bona
Fide Request to BA to provide the unbundled Local Loop through the
demultiplexing of the integrated digitized ULL(s). NCI may also make a Network
Element Bona Fide Request for access to Unbundled Local Loops at the ULL
concentration site point. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, standard provisioning intervals shall not apply to ULL provided under
this subsection 11. 6.3.
11.6.4 If NCI orders a ULL type and the distance requested on
such ULL exceeds the transmission characteristics in applicable technical
references, as specified below, distance extensions may be required and
additional rates and charges shall apply as set forth in Exhibit A or applicable
Tariffs.
38
Loop Type Technical Reference/Limitation
Electronic Key Line 2.5 miles
ISDN Bellcore TA-NWT-000393
HDSL 2W T1E1 Technical Report Number 28
HDSL 4W T1E1 Technical Report Number 28
ADSL 2W ANSI T1.413 1995 Specification
11.7 AVAILABILITY OF OTHER NETWORK ELEMENTS ON AN UNBUNDLED BASIS
11.7.1 BA shall, upon request of NCI, and to the extent required by
Applicable Law, provide to NCI access to its Network Elements on an unbundled
basis for the provision of NCI's Telecommunications Service. Any request by NCI
for access to a BA Network Element that is not already available shall be
treated as a Network Element Bona Fide Request. NCI shall provide BA access to
its Network Elements as mutually agreed by the Parties or as required by
Applicable Laws.
11.7.2 A Network Element obtained by one Party from the other Party
under this subsection 11.7 may be used in combination with the facilities of the
requesting Party only to provide a Telecommunications Service, including
obtaining billing and collection, transmission, and routing of the
Telecommunications Service.
11.7.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection
11.7, a Party shall not be required to provide a proprietary Network Element to
the other Party under this subsection 11.7 except as required by the Commission
or FCC.
11.8 PROVISIONING OF UNBUNDLED LOCAL LOOPS
The following coordination procedures shall apply for conversions of "live"
Telephone Exchange Services to Unbundled Local Loops (also referred to as "hot
cuts"). These and other mutually agreed-upon procedures shall apply reciprocally
for the "live" cutover of Customers from BA to NCI and from NCI to BA.
11.8.1 NCI shall request ULLs from BA by delivering to BA a valid
electronic transmittal Service Order using the BA electronic ordering platform
or another mutually agreed upon system. Within two (2) business days of BA's
receipt of such valid Service Order, BA shall provide NCI the firm order
commitment ("FOC") date by which the Loop(s) covered by such Service Order will
be installed.
11.8.2 BA agrees to accept from NCI at the time the service request
is submitted for scheduled conversion of hot cut ULL orders, a desired date and
A.M. or P.M. designation (the "Scheduled Conversion Time") to the extent
available (as applicable, the "Conversion Window") for the hot cut.
39
11.8.3 BA shall test for NCI dial tone at the POT bay by testing
through the tie cable provisioned between the BA main distributing frame and the
NCI expanded Interconnection node forty-eight (48) hours prior to the Scheduled
Conversion Time.
11.8.4 Not less than one hour prior to the Scheduled Conversion
Time, either Party may contact the other Party and unilaterally designate a new
Scheduled Conversion Time (the "New Conversion Time"). If the New Conversion
Time is within the Conversion Window, no charges shall be assessed on or waived
by either Party. If, however, the New Conversion Time is outside of the
Conversion Window, the Party requesting such New Conversion Time shall be
subject to the following:
If BA requests the New Conversion Time, the applicable Line
Connection Charge shall be waived; and
If NCI requests the New Conversion Time, NCI shall be assessed a Line
Connection Charge in addition to the Line Connection Charge that will
be incurred for the New Conversion Time.
11.8.5 Except as otherwise agreed by the Parties for a specific
conversion such as large cutovers of ten (10) lines or more that have been
negotiated, the Parties agree that the time interval expected from disconnection
of BA's "live" Telephone Exchange Service to the connection of an unbundled
Network Element at the NCI Collocation node will be accomplished within a window
of time of sixty (60) minutes or less. If NCI has ordered INP with the
installation of a Loop, BA will coordinate the implementation of INP with the
Loop conversion during with the above stated intervals at no additional charge.
11.8.6 If NCI requests or approves a BA technician to perform
services in excess of or not otherwise contemplated by the Line Connection
Service charge BA may charge NCI for any additional and reasonable labor charges
to perform such services.
11.8.7 If as the result of end user actions, (e.g. Customer not
----
ready ["CNR"]), BA cannot complete requested work activity when technician has
been dispatched to the site, NCI will be assessed a non-recurring charge
associated with this visit. This charge will be the sum of the Service Order
Charge and Premises Visit Charge as specified in the BA's tariff D.T.E. - Mass.-
No. 10.
11.9 MAINTENANCE OF UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENTS
If (i) NCI reports to BA a Customer trouble, (ii) NCI requests a dispatch,
(iii) BA dispatches a technician, and (iv) such trouble was not caused by BA
facilities or equipment in whole or in part, then NCI shall pay BA a charge set
forth in Exhibit A for time associated with
40
said dispatch. In addition, this charge also applies when the Customer contact
as designated by NCI is not available at the appointed time. NCI accepts
responsibility for initial trouble isolation and providing BA with appropriate
dispatch information based on its test results. If as the result of NCI
instructions, BA is erroneously requested to dispatch within a BA Central Office
or to a POT Bay ("dispatch in"), a charge set forth in Exhibit A will be
assessed per occurrence to NCI by BA. If as the result of NCI instructions, BA
is erroneously requested to dispatch outside a BA Central Office or to a POT Bay
("dispatch out"), a charge set forth in Exhibit A will be assessed per
occurrence to NCI by BA. BA agrees to respond to NCI trouble reports on a non-
discriminatory basis consistent with the manner in which it provides service to
its own retail customers or to any other similarly initiated Telecommunications
Carrier.
11.10 OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS INCLUDING RATES AND CHARGES
11.10.1 ULLs and other Network Elements will be offered on the
terms and conditions, including rates and charges, specified herein and on such
other terms as stated in applicable Tariffs, as amended from time to time, that
are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
11.10.2 BA shall charge the non-recurring and monthly recurring
rates for ULLs and other Network Elements set forth in Exhibit A as interim
rates until such time as the Commission adopts permanent rates consistent with
the requirements of the FCC Regulations. Such permanent rates shall be applied
in the manner described in Exhibit A and subsection 20.1.2 below.
12.0 RESALE -- SECTIONS 251(C)(4) AND 251(B)(1)
12.1 AVAILABILITY OF WHOLESALE RATES FOR RESALE
BA shall make available to NCI for resale all Telecommunications Services
that BA provides at retail to Customers that are not Telecommunications Carriers
in accordance with Section 251(c)(4) of the Act, pursuant to the rates, terms
and conditions of BA's tariff D.T.E.- Mass. -No. 14, as amended and in effect
from time to time.
12.2 AVAILABILITY OF RETAIL RATES FOR RESALE
Each Party shall make available its Telecommunications Services for resale
at the retail rates set forth in its Tariffs to the other Party in accordance
with Section 251(b)(1) of the Act. In addition, BA and NCI shall each allow
the resale by the other of all Telecommunications Services that are offered
primarily or entirely to other Telecommunications Carriers (e.g., Switched
-----
and special Exchange Access Services) at the rates already applicable to such
services. BA shall also allow the resale by NCI of such other non-
Telecommunications Services as BA, in its sole discretion, determines to provide
for resale under terms and conditions to be agreed to by
41
the Parties.
12.3 ADDITIONAL TERMS GOVERNING RESALE AND USE OF BA SERVICES
12.3.1 NCI shall comply with the provisions of this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, all applicable BA Tariffs) regarding resale or
use of BA services. In addition, NCI shall undertake in good faith to ensure
that its Customers comply with the provisions of BA's Tariffs applicable to
their use of BA's Telecommunications Services.
12.3.2 Without in any way limiting subsection 12.3.1, NCI shall not
resell (a) residential service to business or other nonresidential Customers of
NCI, (b) Lifeline or other means-tested service offerings, or grandfathered
service offerings, to persons not eligible to subscribe to such service
offerings from BA, or (c) any other BA service in violation of any user or user
group restriction that may be contained in the BA Tariff applicable to such
service to the extent such restriction is not prohibited by Applicable Laws. In
addition, NCI shall be subject to the same limitations that BA's own retail
Customers may be subject to with respect to any Telecommunications Service that
BA may, in its discretion and to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law,
discontinue offering.
12.3.3 BA shall not be obligated to offer to NCI at a wholesale
discount Telecommunications Services that BA offers at a special promotional
rate if such promotions are for a limited duration of ninety (90) days or less.
12.3.4 Upon request by BA, NCI shall provide to BA adequate assurance
of payment of charges due to BA in connection with NCI's purchase of BA services
for resale. Assurance of payment of charges may be requested by BA: if NCI (a)
in BA's reasonable judgment, at the Effective Date or at any time thereafter,
is unable to show itself to be creditworthy; (b) in BA's reasonable judgment, at
the Effective Date or at any time thereafter, is not creditworthy; or, (c) fails
to timely pay a xxxx rendered to NCI by BA. Unless otherwise agreed by the
Parties, the assurance of payment shall be in the form of a cash deposit and
shall be in an amount equal to the charges for BA services that NCI may
reasonably be expected to incur during a period of two (2) months. BA may at any
time use the deposit or other assurance of payment to pay amounts due from NCI.
12.3.5 NCI shall not be eligible to participate in any BA plan or
program under which BA end user retail Customers may obtain products or
merchandise, or services which are not BA Retail Telecommunications Services, in
return for trying, agreeing to purchase, purchasing, or using BA Retail
Telecommunications Services.
12.3.6 BA may impose additional restrictions on NCI's resale of BA's
retail Telecommunications Services to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
13.0 COLLOCATION - SECTION 251(C)(6)
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13.1 BA shall offer to NCI Physical Collocation of equipment necessary for
Interconnection (pursuant to Section 4.0) or for access to unbundled Network
Elements (pursuant to Section 11.0), except that BA may offer only Virtual
Collocation if BA demonstrates to the Commission that Physical Collocation is
not practical for technical reasons or because of space limitations, as provided
in Section 251 (c)(6) of the Act. BA shall provide Collocation solely for the
purpose of Interconnection with facilities or services of BA or access to
unbundled Network Elements of BA, except as otherwise mutually agreed to in
writing by the Parties or as required by the FCC or the Commission, subject to
applicable federal and state Tariffs and license agreements.
13.2 NCI agrees to offer to BA Collocation of equipment for purposes of
Interconnection (pursuant to Section 4) on a non-discriminatory basis and at
comparable rates, terms and conditions as NCI may provide to other third
parties. NCI shall provide such collocation subject to applicable Tariffs.
13.3 In the course of implementation of a Collocation project, BA shall:
(a) identify the Collocation project manager assigned to the project;
(b) develop a written comprehensive "critical tasks" timeline
detailing the work (and relative sequence thereof) that is to be
performed by each Party or jointly by both Parties; and
(c) provide NCI with the relevant engineering requirements.
13.4 The Collocating Party shall purchase Cross Connection to services or
facilities as described in applicable Tariffs.
13.5 Collocation shall occur under the terms of each Party's applicable and
available Tariffs.
13.6 DEDICATED TRANSIT SERVICE
13.6.1 "Dedicated Transit Service" provides for the dedicated
connection between a NCI Collocation arrangement established pursuant to
applicable tariffs and/or license agreements at a BA premises and a Collocation
arrangement of a third Party carrier that maintains a Collocation arrangement at
the same premises. Dedicated Transit Service shall be provided using a
crossconnection (dedicated connection) using suitable BA provided cable or
transmission facilities or any other mutually agreed upon arrangement.
13.6.2 The carrier that requests the Dedicated Transit Service shall
be the customer of record for both ends of the service in terms of ordering,
provisioning, maintenance,
43
and billing. Alternative arrangements may be utilized if agreed upon by all
three parties. Rates and charges for Dedicated Transit Service are stated in
Exhibit A.
SECTION 251(B) PROVISIONS
14.0 NUMBER PORTABILITY -- SECTION 251(B)(2)
14.1 SCOPE
14.1.1 The Parties shall provide Number Portability on a reciprocal
basis to each other to the extent technically feasible, and in accordance with
rules and regulations as from time to time prescribed by the FCC and/or the
Commission. The Parties shall provide Number Portability to each other in the
event a Customer of one Party ("Party A") elects to become a Customer of the
other Party ("Party B") and the Customer (i) remains within the same central
office district and within the boundary of the smallest geographical area that
is significant for billing (e.g. exchange zone) as defined by the LEC to whom
---
the ported Customer's NXX code was originally assigned and (ii) elects to
utilize the original telephone number(s) correspondent to the Exchange
Service(s) it previously received from Party A in conjunction with the Exchange
Service(s) it will now receive from Party B.
14.1.2 Until Permanent Number Portability is implemented by the
industry pursuant to regulations issued by the FCC and/or the Commission, the
Parties agree to reciprocally provide Interim Number Portability ("INP") to each
other at the prices listed in Exhibit A. Such agreed-upon prices for INP are not
intended to reflect either Party's views on the cost recovery mechanisms being
considered by the FCC in its current proceeding on number portability issues.
14.1.3 Upon the agreement of the Parties or issuance of applicable
FCC and/or Commission order(s) or regulations mandating the adoption of a
Permanent Number Portability ("PNP") arrangement, BA and NCI will commence
migration from INP to the agreed-upon or mandated PNP arrangement as quickly as
practically possible while minimizing interruption or degradation of service to
their respective Customers. Once Permanent Number Portability is implemented,
either Party may withdraw, at any time and at its sole discretion, its INP
offerings, subject to advance notice to the other Party and coordination to
allow the seamless and transparent conversion of INP Customer numbers to
Permanent Number Portability. Upon implementation of Permanent Number
Portability pursuant to FCC or Commission regulation, both Parties agree to
conform and provide such Permanent Number Portability. To the extent PNP rates
or cost recovery mechanisms are not established by the applicable FCC or
Commission order or regulation mandating the adoption of PNP, the Parties will
negotiate in good faith the charges or cost recovery mechanism for PNP service
at such time as a PNP arrangement is adopted by the Parties.
14.1.4 Under either an INP or PNP arrangement, NCI and BA will
implement a process
44
to coordinate Number Portability cutovers with ULL conversions (as described in
Section 11 of this Agreement).
14.2 PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING INP THROUGH REMOTE CALL FORWARDING
NCI and BA will provide INP through Remote Call Forwarding as follows:
14.2.1 A Customer of one Party ("Party A") elects to become a Customer
of the other Party ("Party B"). The Customer elects to utilize the original
telephone number(s) corresponding to the Telephone Exchange Service(s) it
previously received from Party A, in conjunction with the Telephone Exchange
Service(s) it will now receive from Party B. Upon receipt of confirmation of a
signed letter of agency ("LOA") from the Customer (and an associated service
order) assigning the number to Party B, Party A will implement an arrangement
whereby all calls to the original telephone number(s) will be forwarded to a new
telephone number(s) designated by Party B, only within the same Exchange Area as
the original telephone number(s). It is Party B's responsibility to maintain a
file of all LOAs and Party A may request, upon reasonable notice, a copy of the
LOA. Party A will route the forwarded traffic to Party B over the appropriate
Telephone Exchange Service Trunks as if the call had originated on Party A's
network.
14.2.2 Party B will become the customer of record for the original
Party A telephone numbers subject to the INP arrangements. Party A shall use its
reasonable efforts to consolidate into as few billing statements as possible all
collect, calling card, and 3rd-number billed calls associated with those
numbers, with sub-account detail by retained number. Such billing statement
shall be delivered to Party B in a mutually agreed-upon format via either
electronic file transfer, magnetic tape, or other mutually acceptable medium.
14.2.3 Party A will update its Line Information Database ("LIDB")
listings for retained numbers, with the screening options provided by Party B on
a per order basis. Party B shall determine which of the screening options
offered by Party A should apply to the Party B Customer account. Party A will
cancel calling cards associated with those forwarded numbers assigned to Party
B.
14.2.4 Party B will outpulse the telephone number to which the call
has been forwarded to the 911 Tandem Office. Party B will also provide the 911
database with both the forwarded number and the directory number, as well as the
appropriate address information of the Customer.
14.2.5 Within two (2) business days of receiving notification from the
Customer, Party B shall notify Party A of the Customer's termination of service
with Party B, and shall further notify Party A as to that Customer's
instructions regarding its telephone number(s). Party A will reinstate service
to that Customer, cancel the INP arrangements for that Customer's telephone
number(s), or redirect the INP arrangement to another INP-participating LEC
pursuant
45
to the Customer's instructions at the time.
14.2.6 Party A shall be permitted to cancel INP arrangements and
reassign the telephone number(s) upon receipt of notification from Party B or a
third party that is authorized to act on behalf of the Customer. The Parties
agree to work cooperatively to develop procedures or adopt industry standards or
practices concerning the initiation and termination of INP service in a multi-
carrier environment.
14.3 PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING INP THROUGH ROUTE INDEXING
Upon mutual agreement, BA will deploy a Route Index arrangement which
combines direct trunks, provisioned between BA's and NCI's end offices, with
trunk side routing translations and full functionality for those CLASS services
deployed in the specific BA switch. Under this arrangement, inbound calls to a
ported number will be pointed at a route index that sends the call to a
dedicated trunk group, built as a direct final, for the sole purpose of
facilitating completion of calls to a ported number. BA will coordinate with NCI
to provide this solution in a mutually agreeable and administratively manageable
manner (e.g. NXX level) so as to minimize switch resource utilization for both
---
Parties.
14.4 PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING INP THROUGH FULL NXX CODE MIGRATION
Where either Party has activated an entire NXX for a single Customer, or
activated at least eighty percent (80%) of an NXX for a single Customer, with
the remaining numbers in that NXX either reserved for future use by that
Customer or otherwise unused, if such Customer chooses to receive Telephone
Exchange Service from the other Party, the first Party shall cooperate with the
second Party to have the entire NXX reassigned in the LERG (and associated
industry databases, routing tables, etc.) to an End Office operated by the
second Party. Such transfer will be accomplished with appropriate coordination
between the Parties and subject to appropriate industry lead-times for movements
of NXXs from one switch to another. Neither Party shall charge the other in
connection with this coordinated transfer.
14.5 OTHER INTERIM NUMBER PORTABILITY OPTIONS
NCI may also request Direct Inward Dial Trunks pursuant to applicable
tariffs.
14.6 RECEIPT OF TERMINATING COMPENSATION ON TRAFFIC TO INP'ED NUMBERS
The Parties agree in principle that, under the INP arrangements described
in subsections 14.2 and 14.3 above, terminating compensation on calls to INP'ed
numbers should be received by each Customer's chosen LEC as if each call to the
Customer had been originally addressed by the caller to a telephone number
bearing an NPA-NXX directly assigned to the Customer's chosen LEC. In order to
accomplish this objective where INP is employed, the Parties shall utilize the
process set forth in this subsection 14.6 whereby terminating compensation on
calls
46
subject to INP will be passed from the Party (the "Performing Party") which
performs the INP to the other Party (the "Receiving Party") for whose Customer
the INP is provided.
14.6.1 The Parties shall individually and collectively make best efforts to
track and quantify INP traffic between their networks based on the CPN of each
call by identifying CPNs which are INP'ed numbers. The Receiving Party shall
charge the Performing Party for each minute of INP traffic at the INP Traffic
Rate specified in subsection 14.6.3 in lieu of any other compensation charges
for terminating such traffic, except as provided in subsection 14.6.2.
14.6.2 By the Interconnection Activation Date in each LATA, the Parties
shall jointly estimate for the prospective six months, based on historic data of
all traffic in the LATA, the percentages of such traffic that, if dialed to
telephone numbers bearing NPA-NXXs directly assigned to a Receiving Party (as
opposed to the INP'ed number), would have been subject to (i) Reciprocal
Compensation ("Recip Traffic"), (ii) appropriate intrastate FGD charges ("Intra
Traffic"), (iii) interstate FGD charges ("Inter Traffic"), or (iv) handling as
Transit Traffic. On the date which is six (6) months after the Interconnection
Activation Date, and thereafter on each succeeding six month anniversary of such
Interconnection Activation Date, the Parties shall establish new INP traffic
percentages to be applied in the prospective six (6) month period, based on the
Performing Party's choice of actual INP traffic percentages from the preceding
six (6) month period or historic data of all traffic in the LATA.
14.6.3 The INP Traffic Rate shall be equal to the sum of:
(Recip Traffic percentage times the Reciprocal Compensation Rate set forth in
-----
Exhibit A)
plus
----
(Intra Traffic percentage times Receiving Party's effective intrastate FGD
-----
rates)
plus
----
(Inter Traffic percentage times Receiving Party's effective interstate FGD
-----
rates).
14.7 RECOVERY OF INP COSTS PURSUANT TO FCC ORDER AND RULEMAKING
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 14, in
light of the FCC's First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, adopted June 27, 1996, in CC Docket 95-116 (the "Order"), the
Parties stipulate and agree as follows:
14.7.1 The rates listed in Exhibit A for the provision of INP are
appropriate amounts that each Party providing INP service should recover for the
provision of those INP functionalties in BA's operating territory on an
interim basis until the Commission mandates an alternative cost recovery
mechanism for the provision of INP. For the INP functions it provides, each
Party should be allowed to recover these amounts in a manner consistent with any
final FCC and/or Commission order on INP cost recovery (such as a state-wide
fund contributed to by all telecommunications carriers).
47
14.7.2 The Parties agree that neither Party waives its rights to
advocate its views that are consistent with this subsection 14.7 on the
appropriate INP cost recovery mechanism, or to present such views before any
relevant regulatory body or other agency as they relate to FCC or Commission
actions on INP cost recovery.
15.0 DIALING PARITY - SECTION 251(B)(3)
BA and NCI shall each provide the other with nondiscriminatory access to such
services and information as are necessary to allow the other Party to implement
Dialing Parity for Telephone Exchange Service, operator services, directory
assistance, and directory listing information with no unreasonable dialing
delays, as required under Section 251(b)(3) of the Act.
16.0 ACCESS TO RIGHTS-OF-WAY - SECTION 251(B)(4)
Each Party ("Licensor") shall provide the other Party ("Licensee") access
for purposes of making attachments to the poles, ducts, rights-of-way and
conduits it owns or controls, pursuant to any existing or future license
agreement between the Parties, and in conformance with 47 U.S.C. 224, where
facilities are available, on terms, conditions and prices comparable to those
offered to any other entity pursuant to each Party's applicable Tariffs
(including generally available license agreements). Where no such Tariffs exist,
such access shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of 47 U.S.C.
224, including any applicable FCC regulations that may be issued.
17.0 DATABASES AND SIGNALING
17.1 Each Party shall provide the other Party with access to databases and
associated signaling necessary for call routing and completion by providing SS7
Common Channel Signaling (CCS) Interconnection in accordance with existing
Tariffs, Access to 800/888 databases, LIDB, and any other necessary databases
shall be in accordance with existing Tariffs and/or agreements with other
unaffiliated carriers, at the rates set forth in Exhibit A. Alternatively,
either Party may secure CCS Interconnection from a commercial SS7 hub provider,
and in that case the other Party will permit the purchasing Party to access the
same databases as would have been accessible if the purchasing party had
connected directly to the other Party's CCS network. In either case, NCI shall
comply with BA's SS7 certification process prior to establishing CCS
interconnection with BA.
17.2 The Parties will provide CCS Signaling to each other, where and as
available, in conjunction with all Local Traffic, Toll Traffic, Meet Point
Billing Traffic, and Tandem Transit Traffic. The Parties will cooperate on the
exchange of TCAP messages to facilitate interoperability of CCS-based features
between their respective networks, including all CLASS
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
features and functions, to the extent each Party offers such features and
functions to its Customers. All CCS Signaling parameters will be provided upon
request (where available), including called party number, calling party number,
originating line information, calling party category, and charge number. All
privacy indicators will be honored. The Parties will follow all Ordering and
Billing Forum-adopted standards pertaining to CIC/OZZ codes. Where CCS Signaling
is not available, in-band multi-frequency (MF) wink start signaling will be
provided. Any such MF arrangement will require a separate local trunk circuit
between the Parties' respective switches in those instances where the Parties
have established End Office to End Office high usage trunk groups. In such an
arrangement, each Party will outpulse the full ten-digit telephone number of the
called party to the other Party.
17.3 Each Party shall provide trunk groups, where available and upon
reasonable request, that are configured utilizing the B8ZS ESF protocol for 64
kbps clear channel transmission to allow for ISDN interoperability between the
Parties' respective networks.
17.4 The following publications describe the practices, procedures and
specifications generally utilized by BA for signaling purposes and is listed
herein to assist the Parties in meeting their respective Interconnection
responsibilities related to Signaling:
(a) Bellcore Generic Requirements, GR-905-CORE, Issue 1, March, 1995,
and subsequent issues and amendments; and
(b) Xxxx Atlantic Supplement Common Channel Signaling Network
Interface Specification (BA-905).
(c) Bellcore Special Report SR-TSV-002275, BOC Notes on the LEC
Networks-Signalling (for MF type signalling).
17.5 Each Party shall charge the other Party mutual and reciprocal rates
for any usage-based charges for Local and IntraLATA CCS Signaling, 800/888
database access, LIDB access, and access to other necessary databases, as
follows: BA shall charge NCI in accordance with Exhibit A hereto and applicable
Tariffs; NCI shall charge BA rates equal to the rates BA charges NCI, unless
NCI's Tariffs for CCS signaling provide for lower generally available rates, in
which case NCI shall charge BA such lower rates; except to the extent a Party
uses a third party vendor for the provision of CCS Signaling, in which case
mutual and reciprocal rates will not apply. Rates and charges applicable to
third party interconnection can be found in BA's applicable Switched Access
tariffs.
18.0 COORDINATED SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
18.1 INTERCEPT AND REFERRAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
When a Customer changes its service provider from BA to NCI, or from NCI to
BA, and
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
does not retain its original telephone number, the Party formerly providing
service to such Customer shall provide a referral announcement ("Referral
Announcement") on the abandoned telephone number which provides details on the
Customer's new number or provide other appropriate information to the extent
known. Referral Announcements shall be provided reciprocally, free of charge to
either the other Party or the Customer, for a period of not less than one
hundred and eighty days (180) days after the date the Customer changes its
telephone number in the case of business Customers and not less than ninety (90)
days after the date the Customer changes its telephone number in the case of
residential Customers or other time periods as may be required by the
Commission. The periods for referral announcement may be shorter if a number
shortage conditions is in effect for a particular NXX code. However, if either
Party provides Referral Announcements for a period different than the above
respective periods when its Customers change their telephone numbers, such Party
shall provide the same level of service to Customers of the other Party.
18.2 COORDINATED REPAIR CALLS
NCI and BA will employ the following procedures for handling misdirected
repair calls:
18.2.1 NCI and BA will educate their respective Customers as to the
correct telephone numbers to call in order to access their respective repair
bureaus.
18.2.2 To the extent Party A is identifiable as the correct provider
of service to Customers that make misdirected repair calls to Party B, Party B
will immediately refer the Customers to the telephone number provided by Party
A, or to an information source that can provide the telephone number of Party A,
in a courteous manner and at no charge.
18.2.3 NCI and BA will provide their respective repair contact numbers
to one another on a reciprocal basis.
18.3 CUSTOMER AUTHORIZATION
18.3.1 Without in any way limiting either Party's obligations under
subsection 28.1, each Party shall comply with Applicable Laws with regard to
Customer selection of a primary Telephone Exchange Service provider. Until the
Commission and/or FCC adopts regulations and/or orders applicable to Customer
selection of a primary Telephone Exchange Service provider, each Party shall
adhere to the rules and procedures set forth in Section 64.1100 of the FCC
Rules, 47 CFR (S) 64.1100, in effect on the Effective Date hereof when ordering,
terminating, or otherwise changing Telephone Exchange Service on behalf of the
other Party's or another carrier's Customers.
18.3.2 In the event either Party requests that the other Party
install, provide, change, or terminate a Customer's Telecommunications Service
(including, but not limited to, a Customer's selection of a primary Telephone
Exchange Service Provider) and (a) fails to provide
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
documentary evidence of the Customer's primary Telephone Exchange Service
Provider selection upon request, or (b) without having obtained authorization
from the Customer for such installation, provision, selection, change or
termination in accordance with Applicable Laws (or as provided in subsection
18.3.1 above), the requesting Party shall be liable to the other Party for all
charges that would be applicable to the Customer for the initial change in the
Customer's Telecommunications Service and any charges for restoring the
Customer's Telecommunications Service to its Customer-authorized condition,
including to the appropriate primary Telephone Exchange Service provider.
18.3.3 Without in any way limiting NCI's obligations under subsection
28. 1, NCI shall comply with Applicable Laws with regard to Customer Proprietary
Network Information, including, but not limited to, 47 U.S.C. (S) 222. NCI shall
not access (including, but not limited to, through BA OSS Services and BA Pre-
OSS Services), use, or disclose Customer Proprietary Network Information made
available to NCI by BA pursuant to this Agreement unless NCI has obtained any
Customer authorization for such access, use and/or disclosure required by
Applicable Laws. By accessing, using or disclosing Customer Proprietary Network
Information, NCI represents and warrants that it has obtained authorization for
such action from the applicable Customer in the manner required by Applicable
Laws and this Agreement. NCI shall, upon request by BA, provide proof of such
authorization (including a copy of any written authorization).
18.3.4 BA shall have the right to monitor and/or audit NCI's access to
and use and/or disclosure of Customer Proprietary Network Information that is
made available by BA to NCI pursuant to this Agreement to ascertain whether NCI
is complying with the requirements of Applicable Laws and this Agreement with
regard to such access, use, and/or disclosure. To the extent permitted by
Applicable Laws, the foregoing right shall include, but not be limited to, the
right to electronically monitor NCI's access to and use of Customer Proprietary
Network Information that is made available by BA to NCI pursuant to this
Agreement.
19.0 DIRECTORY AND OPERATOR SERVICES
19.1 DIRECTORY LISTINGS AND DIRECTORY DISTRIBUTIONS
19.1.1 BA will include the Customer's primary listing in the
appropriate "White Pages" directories (residence and business listings) and
"Yellow Pages" directories (business listings), as well as in any electronic
directories in which BA's own customers are ordinarily included, and directory
assistance databases, and will distribute such directories to such customers, in
an identical manner in which it provides those functions for its own customers'.
Listings of NCI's Customers will be interfiled with listings of BA's Customers
and the Customers of other LECs included in the BA directories. Where required,
NCI will pay BA a non-recurring charge as set forth in Exhibit A for providing
such service for each NCI Customer's primary listing. NCI will also pay BA's
Tariffed charges, as the case may be, for additional and foreign white page
listings and other white pages services for NCI's Customers. BA will not require
a minimum number of
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
listings per order.
19.1.2 Upon request by NCI, BA will make available to NCI a directory
list of relevant NXX codes, the close dates, publishing data, yellow page
headings and call guide close dates on the same basis as such information is
provided to BA's own business offices.
19.1.3 NCI shall provide BA with daily listing information on all new
NCI Customers in the format required by BA or a mutually-agreed upon industry
standard format, at no charge. The information shall include the Customer's
name, address, telephone number, the delivery address and number of directories
to be delivered, and, in the case of a business listing, the primary business
heading under which the business Customer desires to be placed, and any other
information necessary for the publication and delivery of directories. NCI will
also provide BA with daily listing information showing Customers that have
disconnected or terminated their service with NCI. BA will provide NCI with
confirmation of listing order activity, either through a verification report or
a query on any listing which was not acceptable, within forty-eight (48) hours.
19.1.4 BA will accord NCI's directory listing information the same
level of confidentiality which BA accords its own directory listing information,
and BA shall ensure that access to NCI's directory listing information will be
used solely for the purpose of providing directory services; provided, however,
that should it determine to do so, BA may use or license information contained
in its directory listings for direct marketing purposes so long as the NCI
Customers are not separately identified as such; and provided further that NCI
may identify those of its Customers that request that their names not be sold
for direct marketing purposes, and BA will honor such requests to the same
extent as it does for its own Customers.
19.1.5 Both Parties shall use their best efforts to ensure the
accurate listing of NCI Customer listings. BA will provide NCI with a report of
all NCI customer listings no less than ninety (90) days prior to publishing date
for that directory. BA will process any corrections made by NCI with respect to
its listings, provided such corrections are received prior to the close date of
the particular directory. BA will provide appropriate advance notice of
applicable close dates.
19.1.6 NCI will adhere to all practices, standards, and ethical
requirements of BA with regard to listings, and, by providing BA with listing
information, warrants to BA that NCI has the right to place such listings on
behalf of its Customers. BA will provide NCI, upon request, a copy of the BA
listings standards and specifications manual. NCI agrees that it will undertake
commercially practicable and reasonable steps to attempt to ensure that any
business or person to be listed is authorized and has the right (i) to provide
the product or service offered, and (ii) to use any personal or corporate name,
trade name or language used in the listing. In addition, NCI agrees to release,
defend, hold harmless and indemnify BA from and against any and all claims,
losses, damages, suits, or other actions, or any liability whatsoever, suffered,
made, instituted, or asserted by any person arising out of BA's listing of the
listing information provided by NCI hereunder.
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
19.1.7 BA's liability to NCI in the event of a BA error in or omission
of a listing shall not exceed the amount of charges actually paid by NCI for
such listing. In addition, NCI agrees to take, with respect to its own
Customers, all reasonable steps to ensure that its and BA's liability to NCI's
Customers in the event of a BA error in or omission of a listing shall be
subject to the same limitations that BA's liability to its own Customers are
subject to.
19.2 SERVICE INFORMATION PAGES
BA will include all NCI NXX codes associated with the areas to which each
directory pertains, to the extent it does so for BA's own NXX codes, in any
lists of such codes which are contained in the general reference portions of the
directories. NCI's NXX codes shall appear in such lists in the same manner as
BA's NXX information. In addition, when NCI is authorized to, and is offering,
local service to end-users located within the geographic region covered by a
specific directory, at NCI request, BA will include in the "Customer Guide" or
comparable section of the applicable white pages directories listings provided
by NCI for NCI's installation, repair and customer service and other essential
local service oriented information, as agreed by the Parties, including
appropriate identifying logo. Such listings shall appear in the manner agreed to
by the Parties. NCI will be responsible for providing the necessary information
to BA by the applicable close date for the particular directory. BA will provide
NCI with the close dates and reasonable notice of any changes in said dates. BA
shall not charge NCI for inclusion of this essential local service-oriented
information, but reserves the right to impose charges on other information NCI
may elect to submit and BA may elect to accept for inclusion in BA's white pages
directories.
19.3 YELLOW PAGES MAINTENANCE
The Parties agree to work cooperatively to ensure that Yellow Page
advertisements purchased by Customers that switch their service to NCI
(including Customers utilizing NCI-assigned telephone numbers and NCI Customers
utilizing LTNP) are maintained without interruption. BA will offer Yellow Pages
services to NCI Customers on the same basis as they are offered to BA Customers.
19.4 DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE (DA) AND OPERATOR SERVICES (OS)
19.4.1 Upon request, BA will provide NCI with directory assistance
and/or IntraLATA operator services substantially in accordance with the rates
and terms set forth in the Directory Assistance and Operator Services Agreement
appended hereto as Exhibit C.
19.4.2 NCI shall arrange at its expense the trunking and other
facilities required to transport to and from the designated DA and OS switch
locations.
19.5 WHOLESALE BUSY LINE VERIFICATION AND INTERRUPT (BLV/I)
19.5.1 Wholesale Busy Line Verification permits the operator of one
local carrier
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
to request the status of access lines (conversation in progress, available to
receive calls, or out of order) that are served by another local carrier.
Interrupt allows the operator of one local carrier to request interruption of
conversation on access lines that have been determined to be in use.
19.5.2 If Local Carrier A decides or is required by a regulatory body
of competent jurisdiction to offer BLV/I services to enable its Customers to
verify and/or interrupt calls of Local Carrier B's Customers, the operator
bureau of Local Carrier B shall accept and respond to Wholesale BLV/I requests
from the operator bureau of Local Carrier A. NCI and Xxxx Atlantic shall
compensate the other Local Carrier for Wholesale BLV/I inquiries in accordance
with the rates of the other Local Carrier's Tariff or at the rates specified in
Exhibit A of this Agreement for Wholesale BLV/I.
19.5.3 The Local Carrier B operator shall only verify the status of
the line or interrupt the line to inform the called party that another caller is
attempting to reach them. The Local Carrier B operator will not complete the
telephone call of the Customer initiating the BLV/I request. The Local Carrier B
operator will make only one Wholesale BLV/I attempt per operator bureau
telephone request, and the applicable charges apply whether or not the called
party releases the line. Wholesale BLV/I cannot be performed on telephone
numbers utilizing a "call forwarding" feature. The operator shall respond to
only one telephone number per call on requests for Wholesale BLV/1.
19.5.4 Each Local Carrier shall route Wholesale BLV/I traffic
inquiries over separate direct trunks groups (and not the
Local/IntraLATA/InterLATA Trunks) established between the Local Carriers'
respective operator bureaus. Each Party shall offer interconnection for
Wholesale BLV/I traffic at its operator services switch serving the LATA or
other mutually agreed point within the LATA. Unless otherwise mutually agreed,
the Parties shall configure Wholesale BLV/I trunks over the Interconnection
architectures in accordance with the terms of Section 4 of this Agreement. Local
Carrier A shall outpulse the appropriate NPA, ATC Code, and Routing Code
(operator code) to Local Carrier B.
20.0 COORDINATION WITH TARIFF TERMS
20.1 The Parties acknowledge that some of the services, facilities, and
arrangements described herein are or will be available under and subject to the
terms of the federal or state tariffs of the other Party applicable to such
services, facilities, and arrangements. To the extent a Tariff of the providing
Party applies to any service, facility, and arrangement described herein, the
Parties agree as follows:
20.1.1 Those rates and charges set forth in Exhibit A for the
services, facilities, and arrangements described herein that reference or are
identical to a rate contained in an existing Tariff of the providing Party,
shall conform with those contained in the then-prevailing Tariff and vary in
accordance with any changes that may be made to the Tariff rates and charges
subsequent to the Effective Date.
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
20.1.2 As applied to wholesale discount rates, unbundled Network
Elements or termination of Reciprocal Compensation Traffic and other
Interconnection services purchased for the provision of Telephone Exchange
Service or Exchange Access, the rates and charges set forth in Exhibit A shall
apply until such time as they are replaced by new rates as may be approved by
the Commission from time to time, subject to a stay or other order issued by any
court of competent jurisdiction. At such time(s) as such new rates have been
approved by the Commission, the Parties shall amend Exhibit A to reflect the new
approved rates.
20.2 Except with respect to the rates and charges described in subsection
20.1 above, all other terms contained in an applicable Tariff of the providing
Party shall apply in connection with its provision of the particular service,
facility, and arrangement hereunder.
21.0 INSURANCE
21.1 At all times during the term of this Agreement each Party shall keep
and maintain in force at each Party's expense all insurance required by law
(e.g., workers' compensation insurance) as well as general liability insurance
for personal injury or death to any one person, property damage resulting from
any one incident, automobile liability with coverage for bodily injury for
property damage. Upon request from the other Party, each Party shall provide to
the other Party evidence of such insurance (which may be provided through a
program of self insurance).
22.0 TERM AND TERMINATION
22.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first above written
and continue in effect until June 24, 2000, and thereafter the Agreement shall
continue in force and effect unless and until terminated as provided herein.
Upon the expiration of the initial term, either Party may terminate this
Agreement by providing written notice of termination to the other Party, such
written notice to be provided at least ninety (90) days in advance of the date
of termination. In the event of such termination, those service arrangements
made available under this Agreement and existing at the time of termination
shall continue without interruption under (a) a new agreement executed by the
Parties, (b) standard Interconnection terms and conditions approved and made
generally effective by the Commission, (c) Tariff terms and conditions generally
available to CLECs, or (d) if none of the above is available, under the terms of
this Agreement on a month-to-month basis until such time as (a), (b), or (c)
becomes available.
22.2 For service arrangements made available under this Agreement and
existing at the time of termination, if the standard Interconnection terms and
conditions or Tariff terms and conditions result in the non-terminating Party
physically rearranging facilities or incurring programming expense, the non-
terminating Party shall be entitled to recover such rearrangement or programming
costs from the terminating Party, provided that such non-terminating Party
advised the other Party of such expenses in writing within a reasonable time
after they were
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
incurred.
22.3 If either Party defaults in the payment of any amount due hereunder,
or if either Party violates any other provision of this Agreement, and such
default or violation shall continue for sixty (60) days after written notice
thereof, the other Party may terminate this Agreement and services hereunder by
written notice; provided the other Party has provided the defaulting Party and
the appropriate federal and/or state regulatory bodies with written notice at
least twenty-five (25) days prior to terminating service. Notice shall be posted
by overnight mail, return receipt requested. If the defaulting Party cures the
default or violation within the twenty-five (25) day period, the other Party
will not terminate service or this Agreement but shall be entitled to recover
all costs, if any, incurred by it in connection with the default or violation,
including, without limitation, costs incurred to prepare for the termination of
service.
23.0 DISCLAIMER OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, NO PARTY MAKES OR
RECEIVES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES,
FUNCTIONS AND PRODUCTS IT PROVIDES UNDER OR CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND
THE PARTIES DISCLAIM THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
24.0 CANCELLATION CHARGES
Except as provided in this Agreement or as otherwise provided in any
applicable Tariff, no cancellation charges shall apply.
25.0 INDEMNIFICATION
25.1 Each Party agrees to release, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
other Party from and against all losses, claims, demands, damages, expenses,
suits or other actions, or any liability whatsoever, including, but not limited
to, costs and attorneys' fees (collectively, a "Loss"), (a) whether suffered,
made, instituted, or asserted by any other party or person, relating to personal
injury to or death of any person, or for loss, damage to, or destruction of real
and/or personal property, whether or not owned by others, arising from
transactions or activities relating to this Agreement and to the extent
proximately caused by the negligent or willful acts or omissions of the
indemnifying Party, regardless of the form of action, (b) suffered, made,
instituted, or asserted by its own customer(s) against the other Party arising
out of the other Party's provision of services to the indemnifying Party under
this Agreement, (c) claims for libel, slander, infringement of copyright arising
from the material transmitted over the Indemnified Party's facilities arising
from the Indemnifying Party's own communications or the communications of such
Indemnifying Party's Customers, or (d) claims for infringement of patents
arising from combining the Indemnified Party's facilities or services with, or
the using of the Inderrinified Party's services or facilities in connection
with, facilities of the Indemnifying
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing indemnification, nothing in this Section
25.0 shall affect or limit any claims, remedies, or other actions the
indemnifying Party may have against the indemnified Party under this Agreement,
any other contract, or any applicable Tariff(s), regulations or laws for the
indemnified Party's provision of said services.
25.2 The indemnification provided herein shall be conditioned upon:
(a) The indemnified Party shall promptly notify the indemnifying Party
of any action taken against the indemnified Party relating to the
indemnification.
(b) The indemnifying Party shall have sole authority to defend any
such action, including the selection of legal counsel, and the indemnified
Party may engage separate legal counsel only at its sole cost and expense.
(c) In no event shall the indemnifying Party settle or consent to any
judgment pertaining to any such action without the prior written consent of
the indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or
withheld. However, in the event the settlement or judgment requires a
contribution from or affects the rights of the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to refuse such settlement or
judgment and, at its own cost and expense, take over the defense against
such Loss, provided that in such event the indemnifying Party shall not be
responsible for, nor shall it be obligated to indemnify the indemnified
Party against, the Loss for any amount in excess of such refused settlement
or judgment.
(d) The indemnified Party shall, in all cases, assert any and all
provisions in its Tariffs that limit liability to third parties as a bar to
any recovery by the third party claimant in excess of such limitation of
liability.
(e) The indemnified Party shall offer the indemnifying Party all
reasonable cooperation and assistance in the defense of any such action.
25.3 Notwithstanding this indemnification provision or any other provision
in the Agreement, neither Party, nor its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates,
agents, servants, or employees shall be liable to the other for "Consequential
Damages" as that term is described in Section 26.2 below.
26.0 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
26.1 Except as provided in Section 25 and 27, no liability shall attach to
either Party, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, servants or
employees for damages arising from errors, mistakes, omissions, interruptions,
or delays in the course of establishing, furnishing, rearranging, moving,
terminating, changing, or providing or failing to provide services or facilities
(including the obtaining or furnishing of information with respect thereof or
with respect to users of the services or facilities) in the absence of gross
negligence or willful
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
misconduct.
26.2 Neither Party shall be liable to the other in connection with the
provision or use of services offered under this Agreement for indirect,
incidental, consequential, reliance or special damages, including (without
limitation) damages for lost profits (collectively, "Consequential Damages"),
regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, warranty, strict
liability, or tort, including, without limitation, negligence of any kind, even
if the other Party has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
26.3 The Parties agree that neither Party shall be liable to the customers
of the other Party in connection with its provision of services to the other
Party under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create
a third party beneficiary relationship between the Party providing the service
and the customers of the Party purchasing the service. In the event of a dispute
involving both Parties with a customer of one Party, both Parties shall assert
the applicability of any limitations on liability to customers that may be
contained in either Party's applicable Tariff(s).
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
27.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES
27.1 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
BA shall provide the Interconnection and unbundled Network Elements
contemplated hereunder in accordance with the performance standards set forth in
Section 251(c) of the Act and the FCC Regulations.
27.2 PERFORMANCE REPORTING
27.2.1 At such time as BA makes available the Performance Monitoring
Reports described by the FCC Order in the Application of XXXX ATLANTIC
Corporation, Transferee, For Consent to Transfer Control of XXXX ATLANTIC
Corporation and its Subsidiaries, NSD-L-96-10, Memorandum Opinion and Order
(August 14, 1997) ("the FCC Merger Order") to other Telecommunications Carriers
purchasing Interconnection from BA, BA shall provide NCI with the Performance
Monitoring Reports applicable to NCI in accordance with the requirements of said
FCC Merger Order.
27.2.2 NCI agrees that the performance information included in the
Performance Monitoring Reports is confidential and proprietary to BA, and shall
be used by NCI solely for internal performance assessment purposes, for purposes
of joint NCI and BA assessments of service performance, and for reporting to the
Commission, the FCC, or courts of competent jurisdiction, under cover of an
agreed-upon protective order, for the sole purpose of enforcing BA's obligations
hereunder. NCI shall not otherwise disclose this information to third parties.
27.3 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
At any time during the effectiveness of this Agreement, NCI shall have the
right to select any liquidated damages mechanism adopted by the FCC pursuant to
the FCC Merger Order or by the DTE in the Consolidated Arbitrations and to have
such mechanism incorporated into, and effective with respect to performance
under, this Agreement.
28.0 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; REGULATORY APPROVAL
28.1 Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of any
governmental action that suspends, cancels, withdraws, limits, or otherwise
materially affects its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
28.2 The Parties understand and agree that this Agreement will be filed
with the Commission and may thereafter be filed with the FCC as an integral part
of BA's application pursuant to Section 271 (d) of the Act. The Parties covenant
and agree that this Agreement is satisfactory to them as an agreement under
Section 251 of the Act. Each Party covenants and agrees to fully support
approval of this Agreement by the Commission or the FCC under Section 252 of the
Act without modification. The Parties, however, reserve the right to seek
regulatory
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
relief and otherwise seek redress from each other regarding performance and
implementation of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the conformance
of this Agreement to the FCC Regulations as provided in subsection 28.3 below.
28.3 The Parties recognize that the FCC has issued and may continue to
issue regulations implementing Sections 251, 252, and 271 of the Act that affect
certain terms contained in this Agreement. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions contained herein is inconsistent with any applicable rule
contained in such FCC Regulations or, in BA's reasonable determination, affects
BA's application pursuant to Section 271 (d) of the Act, the Parties agree to
make only the minimum revisions necessary to eliminate the inconsistency or
amend the application-affecting provision(s). Such minimum revisions shall not
be considered material, and shall not require further Commission approval
(beyond any Commission approval required under Section 252(e) of the Act).
28.4 In the event any Applicable Law other than the FCC Regulations
requires modification of any material term(s) contained in this Agreement,
either Party may require a renegotiation of the term(s) that require direct
modification as well as of any term(s) that are reasonably affected thereby. If
neither Party requests a renegotiation or if an Applicable Law requires
modification of any non-material term(s), then the Parties agree to make only
the minimum modifications necessary, and the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
28.5 Compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act
of 1994 ("CALEA"). Each Party represents and warrants that any equipment,
facilities or services provided to the other Party under this Agreement comply
with CALEA. Each Party shall indemnify and hold the other Party harmless from
any and all penalties imposed upon the other Party for such noncompliance and
shall at the non-compliant Party's sole cost and expense, modify or replace any
equipment, facilities or services provided to the other Party under this
Agreement to ensure that such equipment, facilities and services fully comply
with CALEA.
29.0 MISCELLANEOUS
29.1 AUTHORIZATION
29.1.1 BA is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform the
obligations hereunder.
29.1.2 NCI is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder.
29.2 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
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NCI - XXXX ATLANTIC Interconnection Agreement
Each Party shall perform services hereunder as an independent contractor
and nothing herein shall be construed as creating any other relationship between
the Parties. Each Party and each Party's contractor shall be solely responsible
for the withholding or payment of all applicable federal, state and local income
taxes, social security taxes and other payroll taxes with respect to their
employees, as well as any taxes, contributions or other obligations imposed by
applicable state unemployment or workers' compensation acts. Each Party has sole
authority and responsibility to hire, fire and otherwise control its employees.
29.3 FORCE MAJEURE
Neither Party shall be responsible for delays or failures in performance
resulting from acts or occurrences beyond the reasonable control of such Party,
regardless of whether such delays or failures in performance were foreseen or
foreseeable as of the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation:
adverse weather conditions, fire, explosion, power failure, acts of God, war,
revolution, civil commotion, or acts of public enemies; any law, order,
regulation, ordinance or requirement of any government or legal body; or labor
unrest, including, without limitation, strikes, slowdowns, picketing or
boycotts; or delays caused by the other Party or by other service or equipment
vendors; or any other circumstances beyond the Party's reasonable control. In
such event, the affected Party shall, upon giving prompt notice to the other
Party, be excused from such performance on a day-to-day basis to the extent of
such interferences (and the other Party shall likewise be excused from
performance of its obligations on a day-to-day basis to the extent such Party's
obligations relate to the performance so interfered with). The affected Party
shall use its best efforts to avoid or remove the cause(s) of non-performance
and both Parties shall proceed to perform with dispatch once the cause(s) are
removed or cease.
29.4 CONFIDENTIALITY
29.4.1 All information, including but not limited to specification,
microfilm, photocopies, magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, drawings, sketches,
models, samples, tools, technical information, data, employee records, maps,
financial reports, and market data, (i) furnished by one Party to the other
Party dealing with customer specific, facility specific, or usage specific
information, other than customer information communicated for the purpose of
publication or directory database inclusion, or (ii) in written, graphic,
electromagnetic, or other tangible form and marked at the time of delivery as
"Confidential" or "Proprietary," or (iii) communicated orally and declared to
the receiving Party at the time of delivery, and by written notice given to the
receiving Party within ten (10) days after delivery, to be "Confidential" or
"Proprietary" (collectively referred to as "Proprietary Information"), shall
remain the property of the disclosing Party. With respect to the information
described in (i) above, the Party furnishing the information shall use
reasonable efforts to xxxx such information at the time of delivery as
"Confidential" or "Proprietary."
29.4.2 Each Party shall keep all of the other Party's Proprietary
Information confidential in the same manner it holds its own Proprietary
Information confidential (which in all cases shall be no less than reasonable)
and shall use the other Party's Proprietary Information only
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for performing the covenants contained in this Agreement. Neither Party shall
use the other Party's Proprietary Information for any other purpose except upon
such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Parties in writing.
29.4.3 Unless otherwise agreed, the obligations of confidentiality
and non-use set forth in this Agreement do not apply to such Proprietary
Information that:
(a) was, at the time of receipt, already known to the receiving
Party free of any obligation to keep it confidential as evidenced by
written records prepared prior to delivery by the disclosing Party; or
(b) is or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act of the
receiving Party; or
(c) is rightfully received from a third person having no direct or
indirect secrecy or confidentiality obligation to the disclosing Party with
respect to such information; or
(d) is independently developed by an employee, agent, or
contractor of the receiving Party that is not involved in any manner with
the provision of services pursuant to this Agreement and does not have any
direct or indirect access to the Proprietary Information; or
(e) is approved for release by written authorization of the
disclosing Party; or
(f) is required to be made public by the receiving Party pursuant
to applicable law or regulation, provided that the receiving Party shall
give sufficient notice of the requirement to the disclosing Party to enable
the disclosing Party to seek protective orders.
29.4.4 Upon request by the disclosing Party, the receiving Party
shall return all tangible copies of Proprietary Information, whether written,
graphic, electromagnetic or otherwise, except that the receiving Party may
retain one copy for archival purposes only.
29.4.5 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
provisions of this subsection 29.4 shall apply to all Proprietary Information
furnished by either Party to the other in furtherance of the purpose of this
Agreement, even if furnished before the Effective Date.
29.5 CHOICE OF LAW
The construction, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which this
Agreement is to be performed, except for its conflicts of laws provisions. In
addition, insofar as and to the extent federal law may apply, federal law will
control.
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29.6 TAXES
Each Party purchasing services hereunder shall pay or otherwise be
responsible for all federal, state, or local sales, use, excise, gross receipts,
transaction or similar taxes, fees or surcharges levied against or upon such
purchasing Party (or the providing Party when such providing Party is permitted
to pass along to the purchasing Party such taxes, fees or surcharges), except
for any tax on either Party's corporate existence, status or income. Whenever
possible, these amounts shall be billed as a separate item on the invoice. To
the extent a sale is claimed to be for resale tax exemption, the purchasing
Party shall furnish the providing Party a proper resale tax exemption
certificate as authorized or required by statute or regulation by the
jurisdiction providing said resale tax exemption. Failure to timely provide said
resale tax exemption certificate will result in no exemption being available to
the purchasing Party.
29.7 ASSIGNMENT
Either Party may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
hereunder to a third party, including, without limitation, its parent or other
affiliate, with the other Party's prior written consent, which consent shall not
be unreasonably delayed or withheld upon the provision of reasonable evidence by
the proposed assignee that it has the resources, ability, and authority to
provide satisfactory performance under this Agreement. Any assignment or
delegation in violation of this subsection 29.7 shall be void and ineffective
and constitute a default of this Agreement.
29.8 BILLING AND PAYMENT; DISPUTED AMOUNTS
29.8.1 Except as may otherwise be provided in this Agreement, each
Party shall submit on a monthly basis an itemized statement of charges incurred
by the other Party during the preceding month(s) for services rendered
hereunder. Payment of billed amounts under this Agreement, whether billed on a
monthly basis or as otherwise provided herein, shall be due, in immediately
available U.S. funds, within thirty (30) days of the date of such statement.
29.8.2 Although it is the intent of both Parties to submit timely and
accurate statements of charges, failure by either Party to present statements to
the other Party in a timely manner shall not constitute a breach or default, or
a waiver of the right to payment of the incurred charges, by the billing Party
under this Agreement, and the billed Party shall not be entitled to dispute the
billing Party's statement(s) based on such Party's failure to submit them in a
timely fashion.
29.8.3 If any portion of an amount due to a Party (the "Billing
Party") under this Agreement is subject to a bona fide dispute between the
Parties, the Party billed (the "Non-Paying Party") shall within thirty (30) days
of its receipt of the invoice containing such disputed amount give notice to the
Billing Party of the amounts it disputes ("Disputed Amounts") and include in
such notice the specific details and reasons for disputing each item. The Non-
Paying Party shall pay when due (i) all undisputed amounts to the Billing Party
and (ii) all
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Disputed Amounts into an interest bearing escrow account with a third Party
escrow agent mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
29.8.4 If the Parties are unable to resolve the issues related to the
Disputed Amounts in the normal course of business within ninety (90) days after
delivery to the Billing Party of notice of the Disputed Amounts, each of the
Parties shall appoint a designated representative who has authority to settle
the dispute and who is at a higher level of management than the persons with
direct responsibility for administration of this Agreement. The designated
representatives shall meet as often as they reasonably deem necessary in order
to discuss the dispute and negotiate in good faith in an effort to resolve such
dispute. The specific format for such discussions will be left to the discretion
of the designated representatives, however all reasonable requests for relevant
information made by one Party to the other Party shall be honored.
29.8.5 If the Parties are unable to resolve issues related to the
Disputed Amounts within forty-five (45) days after the Parties' appointment of
designated representatives pursuant to subsection 29.9, then either Party may
file a complaint with the Commission to resolve such issues or proceed with any
other remedy pursuant to law or equity. The Commission may direct release of any
or all funds (including any accrued interest) in the escrow account, plus
applicable late fees, to be paid to either Party.
29.8.6 The Parties agree that all negotiations pursuant to this
subsection 29.8 shall remain confidential and shall be treated as compromise and
settlement negotiations for purposes of the Federal Rules of Evidence and state
rules of evidence.
29.8.7 Any undisputed amounts not paid when due shall accrue interest
from the date such amounts were due at the lesser of (i) one and one-half
percent (1- 1/2%) per month or (ii) the highest rate of interest that may be
charged under applicable law.
29.9 DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute between the Parties regarding the interpretation or enforcement
of this Agreement or any of its terms shall be addressed by good faith
negotiation between the Parties, in the first instance. Should such negotiations
fail to resolve the dispute in a reasonable time, either Party may initiate an
appropriate action in any regulatory or judicial forum of competent
jurisdiction.
29.10 NOTICES
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, notices given by one Party
to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (a)
delivered personally, (b) delivered by express delivery service, (c) mailed,
certified mail or first class U.S. mail postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, or (d) delivered by telescope to the following addresses of the
Parties:
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To NCI:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, President
Norfolk County Internet, Inc.
Xxxx 00X Xxxxx Xxxxx
00-00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
Rich, May, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, P.C.
The Old South Building
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
To BA:
XXXX ATLANTIC
0000 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000
Attn: President - Telecommunications Industry Services
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
with a copy to:
XXXX ATLANTIC
0000 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
or to such other address as either Party shall designate by proper notice.
Notices will be deemed given as of the earlier of (i) the date of actual
receipt, (ii) the next business day when notice is sent via express mail or
personal delivery, (iii) three (3) days after mailing in the case of first class
or certified U.S. mail, or (iv) on the date set forth on the confirmation in the
case of
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telecopy.
29.11 SECTION 252(I) OBLIGATIONS
29.11.1 To the extent required under Applicable Law, BA shall make
available to NCI any interconnection, service or network element provided under
an agreement approved by the Commission under Section 252 of the Act to which BA
is a party upon the same terms and conditions as those provided in the
agreement.
29.12 JOINT WORK PRODUCT
This Agreement is the joint work product of the Parties and has been
negotiated by the Parties and their respective counsel and shall be fairly
interpreted in accordance with its terms and, in the event of any ambiguities,
no inferences shall be drawn against either Party.
29.13 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES; DISCLAIMER OF AGENCY
This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their permitted
assigns, and nothing herein express or implied shall create or be construed to
create any third-party beneficiary rights hereunder. Except for provisions
herein expressly authorizing a Party to act for another, nothing in this
Agreement shall constitute a Party as a legal representative or agent of the
other Party, nor shall a Party have the right or authority to assume, create or
incur any liability or any obligation of any kind, express or implied, against
or in the name or on behalf of the other Party unless otherwise expressly
permitted by such other Party. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, no Party undertakes to perform any obligation of the other Party,
whether regulatory or contractual, or to assume any responsibility for the
management of the other Party's business.
29.14 NO LICENSE
29.14.1 Except as may be expressly provided herein, nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed as the grant of a license with respect to any
patent, copyright, trademark, trade name, trade secret or any other proprietary
or intellectual property now or hereafter owned, controlled or licensable by
either Party. Neither Party may use any patent, copyrightable materials,
trademark, trade name, trade secret or other intellectual property right of the
other Party except in accordance with the terms of a separate license agreement
between the Parties granting such rights.
29.14.2 Neither Party shall have any obligation to defend, indemnify
or hold harmless, or acquire any license or right for the benefit of, or owe any
other obligation or have any liability to, the other Party or its customers
based on or arising from any claim, demand, or proceeding by any third party
alleging or asserting that the use of any circuit, apparatus, or system, or the
use of any software, or the performance of any service or method, or the
provision of any
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facilities by either Party under this Agreement, alone or in combination with
that of the other Party, constitutes direct, vicarious or contributory
infringement or inducement to infringe, misuse or misappropriation of any
patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, or any other proprietary or
intellectual property right of any Party or third party. Each Party, however,
shall offer to the other reasonable cooperation and assistance in the defense of
any such claim.
29.14.3 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE
PARTIES AGREE THAT NEITHER PARTY HAS MADE, AND THAT THERE DOES NOT EXIST, ANY
WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT THE USE BY THE PARTIES OF THE OTHER'S
FACILITIES, ARRANGEMENTS, OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT
GIVE RISE TO A CLAIM BY ANY THIRD PARTY OF INFRINGEMENT, MISUSE, OR
MISAPPROPRIATION OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT OF SUCH THIRD PARTY.
29.15 TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the ability of either Party to
upgrade its network through the incorporation of new equipment, new software or
otherwise. The Party making the upgrade shall provide written notice to the
other Party at least ninety (90) days prior to the incorporation of any such
upgrades in its network that will materially affect the service of the other
Party, and shall exercise reasonable efforts to provide at least one hundred
eighty (180) days notice where practicable. In addition, each Party shall comply
with the FCC Network Disclosure rules set forth in the FCC Regulations to the
extent applicable. Each Party shall be solely responsible for the cost and
effort of accommodating such changes in its own network.
29.16 SURVIVAL
The Parties' obligations under this Agreement which by their nature are
intended to continue beyond the termination or expiration of this Agreement
shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
29.17 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
The terms contained in this Agreement and any Schedules, Exhibits, tariffs
and other documents or instruments referred to herein, which are incorporated
into this Agreement by this reference, constitute the entire agreement between
the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, superseding all prior
understandings, proposals and other communications, oral or written. Neither
Party shall be bound by any preprinted terms additional to or different from
those in this Agreement that may appear subsequently in the other Party's form
documents, purchase orders, quotations, acknowledgments, invoices or other
communications.
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29.18 COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
29.19 MODIFICATION, AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT, OR WAIVER
No modification, amendment, supplement to, or waiver of the Agreement or
any of its provisions shall be effective and binding upon the Parties unless it
is made in writing and duly signed by the Parties. A failure or delay of either
Party to enforce any of the provisions hereof, to exercise any option which is
herein provided, or to require performance of any of the provisions hereof shall
in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or options.
29.20 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the Parties
and their respective legal successors and permitted assigns.
29.21 PUBLICITY AND USE OF TRADEMARKS OR SERVICE MARKS
Neither Party nor its subcontractors or agents shall use the other Party's
trademarks, service marks, logos or other proprietary trade dress in any
advertising, press releases, publicity matters or other promotional materials
without such Party's prior written consent.
29.22 RESTRUCTURED/NEW RATES
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect or limit (i) BA's right to introduce
a new element or service not offered to NCI under this Agreement on the
Effective Date of this Agreement, or (ii) BA's right to modify, restructure or
change an existing element or service and to charge NCI such rates as approved
by the DTE for such modified, restructured or altered element or service. BA
shall be entitled to recover from NCI such new, additional or restructured
rates, charges or prices at such time and subject to such true-up arrangements
as may be ordered or approved by the DTE.
29.23 INTEGRITY OF NETWORKS
The Parties acknowledge that BA, at its election, may deploy fiber
throughout its network and that such fiber deployment may inhibit or facilitate
NCI's ability to provide service using certain technologies. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, either Party shall have the right to deploy,
upgrade, migrate and maintain its network at its discretion.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
as of this ______ day of ________, 199__
NORFOLK COUNTY INTERNET, INC. XXXX ATLANTIC - MASSACHUSETTS
By: _____________________ By: _______________________
Printed: ________________ Printed: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------
Title: __________________ Title: Vice President -
--------------
Interconnection Services
------------------------
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SCHEDULE 1.0
CERTAIN TERMS AS DEFINED IN THE ACT
"Affiliate" means a person that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls,
is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another
person. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "own" means to own an equity
interest (or the equivalent thereof) of more than ten percent (10%).
"Dialing Parity" means that a person that is not an Affiliate of LEC is
able to provide Telecommunications Services in such a manner that Customers have
the ability to route automatically, without the use of any access code, their
Telecommunications to the Telecommunications Services provider of the Customer's
designation from among two (2) or more Telecommunications Services providers
(including such LEC).
"Exchange Access" means the offering of access to Telephone Exchange
Services or facilities for the purpose of the origination or termination of
Telephone Toll Services.
"InterLATA Service" means Telecommunications between a point located in a
local access and transport area and a point located outside such area.
"Local Access and Transport Area" or "LATA" means a contiguous geographic
area: (a) established before the date of enactment of the Act by a Xxxx
operating company such that no Exchange Area includes points within more than
one (1) metropolitan statistical area, consolidated metropolitan statistical
area, or State, except as expressly permitted under the AT&T Consent Decree; or
(b) established or modified by a Xxxx operating company after such date of
enactment and approved by the FCC.
"Local Exchange Carrier" means any person that is engaged in the provision
of Telephone Exchange Service or Exchange Access. Such term does not include a
person insofar as such person is engaged in the provision of a commercial mobile
service under Section 332(c) of the Act, except to the extent that the FCC finds
that such service should be included in the definition of such term.
"Network Element" means a facility or equipment used in the provision of a
Telecommunications Service. Such term also includes features, functions, and
capabilities that are provided by means of such facility or equipment, including
subscriber numbers, databases, signaling systems, and information sufficient for
billing and collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other provision
of a Telecommunications Service.
"Number Portability" means the ability of users of telecommunications
services to retain, at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers
without impairment of quality,
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reliability, or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier
to another.
"Telecommunications" means the transmission, between or among points
specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in
the form or content of the information as sent and received.
"Telecommunications Carrier" means any provider of Telecommunications
Services, except that such term does not include aggregators of
Telecommunications Services (as defined in Section 226 of the Communications
Act).
"Telecommunications Service" means 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.
"Telephone Exchange Service" means (a) service within a telephone exchange
within a connected system of telephone exchanges within the same exchange area
operated to furnish subscribers intercommunicating service of the character
ordinarily fumished by a single exchange, and which is covered by the exchange
service charge, or (b) comparable service provided through a system of switches,
transmission equipment, or other facilities (or combination thereof) by which a
subscriber can originate and terminate a telecommunications service.
"Telephone Toll Service" means telephone service between stations in
different exchange areas for which there is made a separate charge not included
in contracts with subscribers for exchange service.
71
SCHEDULE 4.0 NETWORK INTERCONNECTION SCHEDULE
LATA NCI-IP BA-IP Activation Date
72
EXHIBIT B
NETWORK ELEMENT BONA FIDE REQUEST
1. Each Party shall promptly consider and analyze access to a new
unbundled Network Element with the submission of a Network Element Bona Fide
Request hereunder. The Network Element Bona Fide Request process set forth
herein does not apply to those services requested pursuant to Report & Order and
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 91-141 (rel. Oct. 19, 1992) T 259 and n.603 or
subsequent orders.
2. A Network Element Bona Fide Request shall be submitted in writing and
shall include a technical description of each requested Network Element.
3. The requesting Party may cancel a Network Element Bona Fide Request at
any time, but shall pay the other Party's reasonable and demonstrable costs of
processing and/or implementing the Network Element Bona Fide Request up to the
date of cancellation.
4. Within ten (10) business days of its receipt, the receiving Party
shall acknowledge receipt of the Network Element Bona Fide Request.
5. Except under extraordinary circumstances, within thirty (30) days of
its receipt of a Network Element Bona Fide Request, the receiving Party shall
provide to the requesting Party a preliminary analysis of such Network Element
Bona Fide Request. The preliminary analysis shall confirm that the receiving
Party will offer access to the Network Element or will provide a detailed
explanation that access to the Network Element is not technically feasible
and/or that the request does not qualify as a Network Element that is required
to be provided under the Act.
6. If the receiving Party determines that the Network Element Bona Fide
Request is technically feasible and otherwise qualifies under the Act, it shall
promptly proceed with developing the Network Element Bona Fide Request upon
receipt of written authorization from the requesting Party. When it receives
such authorization, the receiving Party shall promptly develop the requested
services, determine their availability, calculate the applicable prices and
establish installation intervals.
7. Unless the Parties otherwise agree, the Network Element Requested must
be priced in accordance with Section 252(d)(1) of the Act.
8. As soon as feasible, but not more than ninety (90) days after its
receipt of authorization to proceed with developing the Network Element Bona
Fide Request, the receiving Party shall provide to the requesting Party a
Network Element Bona Fide Request quote which will include, at a minimum, a
description of each Network Element, the availability, the applicable rates and
the installation intervals.
1
9. Within thirty (30) days of its receipt of the Network Element Bona
Fide Request quote, the requesting Party must either confirm its order for the
Network Element Bona Fide Request pursuant to the Network Element Bona Fide
Request quote or seek arbitration by the Commission pursuant to Section 252 of
the Act.
10. If a Party to a Network Element Bona Fide Request believes that the
other Party is not requesting, negotiating or processing the Network Element
Bona Fide Request in good faith, or disputes a determination, or price or cost
quote, or is failing to act in accordance with Section 251 of the Act, such
Party may seek mediation or arbitration by the Commission pursuant to Section
252 of the Act.
2
APPENDIX 2
SCHEDULE 4.0 NETWORK INTERCONNECTION SCHEDULE
LATA FOCAL-IP BA-IP Activation Date
XXX XXX XXX XXX
