Signaling Link Transport 9.2.1 Signaling Link Transport is a set of two or four dedicated 56 kbps transmission paths between Global Connection-designated Signaling Points of Interconnection that provide appropriate physical diversity.
Access Toll Connecting Trunk Group Architecture 9.2.1 If CSTC chooses to subtend a Verizon access Tandem, CSTC’s NPA/NXX must be assigned by CSTC to subtend the same Verizon access Tandem that a Verizon NPA/NXX serving the same Rate Center Area subtends as identified in the LERG.
9.2.2 CSTC shall establish Access Toll Connecting Trunks pursuant to applicable access Tariffs by which it will provide Switched Exchange Access Services to Interexchange Carriers to enable such Interexchange Carriers to originate and terminate traffic to and from CSTC’s Customers.
9.2.3 The Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be two-way trunks. Such trunks shall connect the End Office CSTC utilizes to provide Telephone Exchange Service and Switched Exchange Access to its Customers in a given LATA to the access Tandem(s) Verizon utilizes to provide Exchange Access in such LATA.
9.2.4 Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be used solely for the transmission and routing of Exchange Access to allow CSTC’s Customers to connect to or be connected to the interexchange trunks of any Interexchange Carrier which is connected to a Verizon access Tandem.
Trunk Group Architecture and Traffic Routing 5.2.1 The Parties shall jointly establish Access Toll Connecting Trunks between CLEC and CBT by which they will jointly provide Tandem-transported Switched Exchange Access Services to Interexchange Carriers to enable such Interexchange Carriers to originate and terminate traffic from and to CLEC's Customers.
5.2.2 Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be used solely for the transmission and routing of Exchange Access and non-translated Toll Free traffic (e.g., 800/888) to allow CLEC’s Customers to connect to or be connected to the interexchange trunks of any Interexchange Carrier that is connected to the CBT access Tandem.
5.2.3 The Access Toll Connecting Trunks shall be one-way or two-way trunks, as mutually agreed, connecting an End Office Switch that CLEC utilizes to provide Telephone Exchange Service and Switched Exchange Access Service in the given LATA to an access Tandem Switch CBT utilizes to provide Exchange Access in the LATA.
Originating Switched Access Detail Usage Data A category 1101XX record as defined in the EMI Telcordia Practice BR-010-200- 010.
Unbundled Network Element Combinations 5.1. Unbundled Network Element Combinations shall include: 1) Enhanced Extended Links (EELs); 2) UNE Loops/Special Access Combinations; 3) Loop/Port Combinations; and 4)
Transit Traffic 7.2.2.3.1 CenturyLink will accept traffic originated by CLEC’s network and/or its end user(s) for termination to other Telecommunications Carrier’s network and/or its end users that is connected to CenturyLink's Switch. CenturyLink will also terminate traffic from these other Telecommunications Carriers’ network and/or its end users to CLEC’s network and/or its end users. For purposes of the Agreement, transit traffic does not include traffic carried by Interexchange Carriers. That traffic is defined as Jointly Provided Switched Access.
7.2.2.3.2 The Parties involved in transporting transit traffic will deliver calls to each involved network with CCS/SS7 protocol and the appropriate ISUP/TCAP messages to facilitate full Interoperability and Billing functions.
7.2.2.3.3 The originating company is responsible for payment of appropriate rates to the transit company and to the terminating company. The Parties agree to enter into traffic exchange agreements with third party Telecommunications Carriers prior to delivering traffic to be transited to third party Telecommunications Carriers. In the event one Party originates traffic that transits the second Party’s network to reach a third party Telecommunications Carrier with whom the originating Party does not have a traffic exchange agreement, then the originating Party will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the second Party against any and all charges levied by such third party Telecommunications Carrier, including any termination charges related to such traffic and any attorneys fees and expenses. In the case of IntraLATA LEC Toll traffic where CenturyLink is the designated IntraLATA Toll provider for existing LECs, CenturyLink will be responsible for payment of appropriate usage rates.
7.2.2.3.4 When CenturyLink receives an unqueried call from CLEC to a telephone number that has been ported to another local services provider, the transit rate will apply in addition to any query rates.
7.2.2.3.5 In the case of a transit call that terminates in the Local Calling Area but in a different state than the call originated, and the CLEC does not have an agreement with CenturyLink in the state where the transit call terminated, CLEC must execute an agreement for that state if it is a state served by CenturyLink. In the absence of a second agreement, the transit rate in Exhibit A of this Agreement will be billed to the CLEC.
Unbundled Sub-Loop Feeder 2.8.4.1 Unbundled Sub-Loop Feeder (USLF) provides connectivity between BellSouth's central office and cross-box (or other access point) that serves an end user location.
2.8.4.2 USLF utilized for voice traffic can be configured as 2-wire voice (USLF-2W/V) or 4-wire voice (USLF-4W/V).
2.8.4.3 USLF utilized for digital traffic can be configured as 2-wire ISDN (USLF-2W/I); 2-wire Copper (USLF-2W/C); 4-wire Copper (USLF-4W/C); 4-wire DS0 level loop (USLF-4W/D0); or 4-wire DS1 and ISDN (USLF-4W/DI).
2.8.4.4 USLF will provide access to both the equipment and the features in the BellSouth central office and BellSouth cross box necessary to provide a 2W or 4W communications pathway from the BellSouth central office to the BellSouth cross- box. This element will allow for the connection of Lightyear’s loop distribution elements onto BellSouth's feeder system.
Unbundled Channelization (Multiplexing) 5.7.1 To the extent NewPhone is purchasing DS1 or DS3 or STS-1 Dedicated Transport pursuant to this Agreement, Unbundled Channelization (UC) provides the optional multiplexing capability that will allow a DS1 (1.544 Mbps) or DS3 (44.736 Mbps) or STS-1 (51.84 Mbps) Network Elements to be multiplexed or channelized at a BellSouth central office. Channelization can be accomplished through the use of a multiplexer or a digital cross-connect system at the discretion of BellSouth. Once UC has been installed, NewPhone may request channel activation on a channelized facility and BellSouth shall connect the requested facilities via COCIs. The COCI must be compatible with the lower capacity facility and ordered with the lower capacity facility. This service is available as defined in NECA 4.
5.7.2 BellSouth shall make available the following channelization systems and interfaces:
5.7.2.1 DS1 Channelization System: channelizes a DS1 signal into a maximum of twenty- four (24)
Bilateral Safeguard Measures 1. Where, as a result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, any product originating in a Party is being imported into the territory of another Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions as to constitute a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof to the domestic industry of like or directly competitive products in the territory of the importing Party, the importing Party may take bilateral safeguard measures to the minimum extent necessary to remedy or prevent the injury, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2 to 10.
2. Bilateral safeguard measures shall only be taken upon clear evidence that increased imports have caused or are threatening to cause serious injury pursuant to an investigation in accordance with the procedures laid down in the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.
3. The Party intending to take a bilateral safeguard measure under this Article shall immediately, and in any case before taking a measure, make notification to the other Parties and the Joint Committee. The notification shall contain all pertinent information, which shall include evidence of serious injury or threat thereof caused by increased imports, a precise description of the product involved and the proposed measure, as well as the proposed date of introduction, expected duration and timetable for the progressive removal of the measure. A Party that may be affected by the measure shall be offered compensation in the form of substantially equivalent trade liberalisation in relation to the imports from any such Party.
4. If the conditions set out in paragraph 1 are met, the importing Party may take measures consisting in increasing the rate of customs duty for the product to a level not to exceed the lesser of:
(a) the MFN rate of duty applied at the time the action is taken; or
(b) the MFN rate of duty applied on the day immediately preceding the date of the entry into force of this Agreement.
5. Bilateral safeguard measures shall be taken for a period not exceeding one year. In very exceptional circumstances, after review by the Joint Committee, measures may be taken up to a total maximum period of three years. No measure shall be applied to the import of a product which has previously been subject to such a measure.
6. The Joint Committee shall within 30 days from the date of notification examine the information provided under paragraph 3 in order to facilitate a mutually acceptable resolution of the matter. In the absence of such resolution, the importing Party may adopt a measure pursuant to paragraph 4 to remedy the problem, and, in the absence of mutually agreed compensation, the Party against whose product the measure is taken may take compensatory action. The bilateral safeguard measure and the compensatory action shall be immediately notified to the other Parties and the Joint Committee. In the selection of the bilateral safeguard measure and the compensatory action, priority must be given to the measure which least disturbs the functioning of this Agreement. The compensatory action shall normally consist of suspension of concessions having substantially equivalent trade effects or concessions substantially equivalent to the value of the additional duties expected to result from the bilateral safeguard measure. The Party taking compensatory action shall apply the action only for the minimum period necessary to achieve the substantially equivalent trade effects and in any event, only while the measure under paragraph 4 is being applied.
7. Upon the termination of the measure, the rate of customs duty shall be the rate which would have been in effect but for the measure.
8. In critical circumstances, where delay would cause damage which would be difficult to repair, a Party may take a provisional emergency measure pursuant to a preliminary determination that there is clear evidence that increased imports constitute a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat thereof, to the domestic industry. The Party intending to take such a measure shall immediately notify the other Parties and the Joint Committee thereof. Within 30 days of the date of the notification, the procedures set out in paragraphs 2 to 6, including for compensatory action, shall be initiated. Any compensation shall be based on the total period of application of the provisional emergency measure and of the emergency measure.
9. Any provisional measure shall be terminated within 200 days at the latest. The period of application of any such provisional measure shall be counted as part of the duration of the measure set out in paragraph 5 and any extension thereof. Any tariff increases shall be promptly refunded if the investigation described in paragraph 2 does not result in a finding that the conditions of paragraph 1 are met.
10. Five years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall review in the Joint Committee whether there is need to maintain the possibility to take safeguard measures between them. If the Parties decide, after the first review, to maintain such possibility, they shall thereafter conduct biennial reviews of this matter in the Joint Committee.
Tandem Transit Traffic
12.1 As used in this Section, Tandem Transit Traffic is Telephone Exchange Service traffic that originates on Onvoy's network, and is transported through Frontier’s Tandem to the subtending End Office or its equivalent of another carrier (CLEC, ILEC other than Frontier, Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) carrier, or other LEC (“Other Carrier”). Neither the originating nor terminating customer is a Customer of Frontier. Subtending End Offices shall be determined in accordance with and as identified in the Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG). For the avoidance of any doubt, under no circumstances shall Frontier be required to transit traffic through a Frontier Tandem to a Central Office that the LERG does not identify as subtending that particular Frontier Tandem. Switched Exchange Access Service traffic is not Tandem Transit Traffic.
12.2 Tandem Transit Traffic Service provides Onvoy with the transport of Tandem Transit Traffic as provided below.
12.3 Tandem Transit Traffic may be routed over the Interconnection Trunks described in Sections 2 through 6 of this Attachment. Onvoy shall deliver each Tandem Transit Traffic call to Frontier’s Tandem with CCS and the appropriate Transactional Capabilities Application Part (“TCAP”) message to facilitate full interoperability of CLASS Features and billing functions.
12.4 Onvoy may use Tandem Transit Traffic Service only for traffic that originates on Onvoy’s network and only to send traffic to an Other Carrier with whom Onvoy has a reciprocal traffic exchange arrangement (either via written agreement or mutual tariffs) that provides for the Other Carrier, to terminate or complete traffic originated by Onvoy and to bill Onvoy, and not to bill Frontier, for such traffic. Onvoy agrees not to use Frontier’s Tandem Transit Traffic Service to send traffic to an Other Carrier with whom Onvoy does not have such a reciprocal traffic exchange arrangement or to send traffic that does not originate on Onvoy’s network.
12.5 Onvoy shall pay Frontier for Tandem Transit Traffic Service at the rates specified in the Pricing Attachment. Frontier will not be liable for compensation to any Other Carrier for any traffic that is transported through Frontier’s Tandem and Frontier reserves the right to assess to Onvoy any additional charges or costs any Other Carrier imposes or levies on Frontier for the delivery or termination of such traffic, including any Switched Exchange Access Service charges. If Frontier is billed by any Other Carrier for any traffic originated by Onvoy, Frontier may provide notice to Onvoy of such billing. Upon receipt of such notice, Onvoy shall immediately stop using Frontier’s Tandem Transit Traffic Service to send any traffic to such Other Carrier until it has provided to Frontier certification that the Other Carrier has removed such billed charges from its bill to Frontier and that the Other Carrier will not bill Frontier for any traffic originated by Onvoy. Such certification must be signed by an authorized officer or agent of the Other Carrier and must be in a form acceptable to Frontier.
12.6 If Onvoy uses Tandem Transit Traffic Service for traffic volumes that exceed the Centum Call Seconds (Hundred Call Seconds) busy hour equivalent of 200,000 combined minutes of use per month (a DS1 equivalent) to the subtending End Office of a particular Other Carrier for any month (the “Threshold Level”). Onvoy shall use good faith efforts to establish direct interconnection with such Other Carrier and reduce such traffic volumes below the Threshold Level. If Frontier believes that Xxxxx has not exercised good faith efforts promptly to obtain such direct interconnection, either Party may use the Dispute Resolution processes of this Agreement.
12.7 If Onvoy fails to comply with Section 12 of this Attachment, such failure shall be a material breach of a material provision of this Agreement and Frontier may exercise any and all remedies under this Agreement and Applicable Law for such breach.
12.8 If or when a third party carrier plans to subtend an Onvoy switch, then Onvoy shall provide written notice to Frontier at least ninety (90) days before such subtending service arrangement becomes effective so that Frontier may negotiate and establish direct interconnection with such third party carrier. Upon written request from Frontier, Onvoy shall offer to Frontier a service arrangement equivalent to or the same as Tandem Transit Traffic Service provided by Frontier to Onvoy as defined in this Section such that Frontier may terminate calls to a Central Office or its equivalent of a CLEC, ILEC other than Frontier, CMRS carrier, or other LEC, that subtends an Onvoy Central Office or its equivalent (“Reciprocal Tandem Transit Service”). Onvoy shall offer such Reciprocal Transit Service arrangements under terms and conditions of an amendment to this Agreement or a separate agreement no less favorable than those provided in this Section.
12.9 Neither Party shall take any actions to prevent the other Party from entering into a direct and reciprocal traffic exchange arrangement with any carrier to which it originates, or from which it terminates, traffic.
