Dark Fiber 8.1 Access to unbundled Dark Fiber will be provided by Verizon, where existing facilities are available at the requested availability date, in the loop, subloop and interoffice facilities (IOF) portions of the Company's network. Access to Dark Fiber will be provided in accordance with, but only to the extent required by, Applicable Law. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, the following terms and conditions apply to Verizon's Dark Fiber offering.
8.2 A “Dark Fiber Loop” consists of continuous fiber optic strand(s) in a Verizon fiber optic cable between the fiber distribution frame, or its functional equivalent, located within a Verizon Wire Center, and Verizon’s main termination point, such as the fiber patch panel located within a Customer premise, and that has not been activated through connection to the electronics that “light” it, and thereby render it capable of carrying Telecommunications Services. In addition to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the following terms and conditions also shall apply to Dark Fiber Loops:
8.2.1 Verizon shall be required to provide a Dark Fiber Loop only where (1) one end of the Dark Fiber Loop terminates at Z-Tel's collocation arrangement and (2) the other end terminates at the Customer premise. A CLEC demarcation point shall be established either in the main telco room of a building where a Customer is located or, if the building does not have a main telco room, then at a location to be determined by Verizon. Verizon shall connect a Dark Fiber Loop to the demarcation point by installing a fiber jumper.
8.2.2 Z-Tel may access a Dark Fiber Loop only at a pre-existing hard termination point of such Dark Fiber Loop, and Z-Tel may not access a Dark Fiber Loop at any other point, including, but not limited to, a splice point. Verizon will not introduce additional splice points or open existing splice points to accommodate a CLEC’s request. Unused fibers located in a cable vault or a controlled environment vault, manhole or other location outside the Verizon Wire Center, and not terminated to a fiber patch, are not available to Z-Tel.
8.2.3 A strand shall not be deemed to be continuous if splicing is required to provide fiber continuity between two locations. Dark Fiber will only be offered on a route-direct basis where facilities exist (i.e., no intermediate offices).
8.2.4 Verizon shall perform all work necessary to install a cross connection or a fiber jumper, including, but not limited to, the work necessary to connect a dark fiber to a demarcation point, a fiber distribution frame or a POT bay.
8.2.5 At the Customer premise, unused fibers are not available to Z-Tel pursuant to this Attachment unless such fibers terminate on a fiber patch panel. Unused fibers in a fiber splice point located outside the Customer premise are not available to Z-Tel.
8.2.6 Dark Fiber will be offered to Z-Tel in the condition that it is available in Verizon's network at the time that Z-Tel submits its request (i.e., "as is"). In addition, Verizon shall not be required to convert lit fiber to Dark Fiber for Z-Tel's use.
8.2.7 Spare wavelengths on fiber strands, where Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) or Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment is deployed, are not considered to be spare Dark Fiber Loops and, therefore, will not be offered to Z-Tel as Dark Fiber.
8.2.8 Z-Tel shall be responsible for providing all transmission, terminating and regeneration equipment necessary to light and use Dark Fiber.
8.2.9 Z-Tel may not resell Dark Fiber purchased pursuant to this Attachment to third parties.
8.2.10 In order for Verizon to continue to satisfy its carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations under Applicable Law and/or to preserve the efficiency of its network, Verizon will limit Z-Tel to leasing a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Dark Fiber in any given segment of Verizon's network during any two-year period. In addition, except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, Verizon may take any of the following actions, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:
8.2.10.1 Revoke Dark Fiber leased to Z-Tel upon a showing of need to the Commission and twelve (12) months' advance written notice to Z-Tel; and
8.2.10.2 Revoke Dark Fiber leased to Z-Tel upon a showing to the Commission that Z-Tel underutilized fiber (less than OC-12) within any twelve (12) month period.
8.2.10.3 Verizon may reserve Dark Fiber for maintenance purposes, or to satisfy Customer orders for fiber related services or for future growth. Verizon reserves and shall not waive, Verizon’s right to claim before the Commission that Verizon should not have to fulfill a Z-Tel order for Dark Fiber because that request would strand an unreasonable amount of fiber capacity, disrupt or degrade service to Customers or carriers other than Z-Tel, or impair a Verizon obligation to serve as a carrier of last resort. 8.2.11 Z-Tel may not reserve Dark Fiber.
