Network Management 56.1 CLEC and CenturyLink will exchange appropriate information (e.g., network information, maintenance contact numbers, escalation procedures, and information required to comply with requirements of law enforcement and national security agencies) for network management purposes. In addition, the Parties will apply sound network management principles to alleviate or to prevent traffic congestion and to minimize fraud associated with third number billed calls, calling card calls, and other services related to this Agreement.
56.2 The Parties will employ characteristics and methods of operation that will not interfere with or impair the Parties’ networks, or the network of any third parties or Affiliated companies, connected with or involved directly in the network or facilities of CenturyLink.
56.3 CLEC shall not interfere with or impair service over any circuits, facilities or equipment of CenturyLink, its Affiliated companies, or its connecting and concurring carriers.
56.4 If CLEC causes any impairment or interference, CenturyLink shall promptly notify CLEC of the nature and location of the problem and that, unless promptly rectified, a temporary discontinuance of the use of any circuit, facility or equipment may be required. The Parties agree to work together to attempt to promptly resolve the impairment or interference. If CLEC is unable to promptly remedy, then CenturyLink may, at its option, temporarily discontinue the use of the affected circuit, facility or equipment until the impairment is remedied.
56.5 Any violation of Applicable Law or regulation regarding the invasion of privacy of any communications carried over CenturyLink’s facilities, or that creates hazards to the employees of CenturyLink or to the public, is also considered an impairment of service.
56.6 CenturyLink shall give advanced notice to CLEC of all non-scheduled maintenance or other planned network activities to be performed by CenturyLink on any Network Element, including any hardware, equipment, software, or system, providing service functionality of which CLEC has advised CenturyLink may potentially impact CLEC End Users.
56.7 The Parties shall provide notice of network changes and upgrades in accordance with 47 C.F.R. §§51.325 through 51.335. CenturyLink may discontinue any Interconnection arrangement, Telecommunications Service, or Network Element provided or required hereunder due to network changes or upgrades after providing CLEC notice as required by this Section. CenturyLink agrees to cooperate with CLEC and/or the appropriate regulatory body in any transition resulting from such discontinuation of service and to minimize the impact to customers which may result from such discontinuance of service.
Infrastructure Infrastructure serves as the foundation and building blocks of an integrated IT solution. It is the hardware which supports Application Services (C.3.2) and IT Management Services (C.3.3); the software and services which enable that hardware to function; and the hardware, software, and services which allow for secure communication and interoperability between all business and application service components. Infrastructure services facilitate the development and maintenance of critical IT infrastructures required to support Federal government business operations. This section includes the technical framework components that make up integrated IT solutions. One or any combination of these components may be used to deliver IT solutions intended to perform a wide array of functions which allow agencies to deliver services to their customers (or users), whether internal or external, in an efficient and effective manner. Infrastructure includes hardware, software, licensing, technical support, and warranty services from third party sources, as well as technological refreshment and enhancements for that hardware and software. This section is aligned with the FEA/DoDEA Technical Reference Model (TRM) which describes these components using a vocabulary that is common throughout the entire Federal government. A detailed review of the TRM is provided in Section J, Attachment 5. Infrastructure includes complete life cycle support for all hardware, software, and services represented above, including planning, analysis, research and development, design, development, integration and testing, implementation, operations and maintenance, information assurance, and final disposition of these components. The services also include administration and help desk functions necessary to support the IT infrastructure (e.g., desktop support, network administration). Infrastructure components of an integrated IT solution can be categorized as follows:
