History Log

Product Description

Loop Splitting provides the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) or Data Local Exchange Carrier (DLEC) with the opportunity to offer advanced data service simultaneously with a new or existing Unbundled Local Loop by using the frequency range above the voice band on the copper loop. The advanced data service may be provided by the CLEC or DLEC or another service provider chosen by you. For purposes of this web page, CLEC will refer to the voice provider and DLEC to the advanced data service provider. Only one customer of record determined by the CLEC or DLEC partnership, can be identified to Qwest. The customer of record is the CLEC/DLEC that is billed for the Loop Splitting. The customer of record may designate an authorized agent to perform ordering and/or maintenance and repair functions.

A Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) splitter must be inserted into the Unbundled Local Loop to accommodate establishment of the advanced data service. The POTS splitter separates the voice and data traffic and allows the copper loop to be used for simultaneous DLEC data transmission while you provide the voice service to the end-user. Additional information describing the POTS splitter configurations is available in Collocation - General Information.

The POTS splitter can be located in your collocation space in the Qwest Wire Center or in the Common Area Splitter Collocation in the Qwest Wire Center that serves the end-user.

Either you or the DLEC must provide the end-user with all equipment required for them to receive separate voice and data services across a copper loop.

Enhanced Extended Loop (EEL) splitting is available and can be requested using the Special Request process.

Other alternatives for providing data service are as follows:

• If Qwest provides your voice service, you have the option of using Line Sharing.
• Line Splitting is available with compatible commercial local exchange services products (e.g. Qwest Local Service Platform™ (QLSPTM)).  
• Qwest Commercial Broadband Service.

Product Diagram

Availability
Loop Splitting is available where facilities exist throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.

Terms and Conditions

Loop Splitting is provided where existing compatible facilities are available and/or you have authorized construction per the terms and conditions in your Interconnection Agreement. You are responsible for determining whether the physical characteristics of the facility are compatible with your data service. Technical Publication, Interconnection - Shared Loop, 77406 informs you which facilities are compatible with Loop Splitting.

All splitter collocation installations must be completed prior to submitting Loop Splitting requests.

Upon notification of a loss of an end-user account, it is the customer of record's responsibility to notify any other involved parties. The customer of record is the CLEC that is billed for the Loop Splitting. The customer of record may designate an authorized agent to perform ordering and/or maintenance and repair functions. Loss and Completion Reports are available and are based on loss and gain account activity. For more information about the reports, see the Provisioning and Installation Overview.

Technical Publications
Technical characteristics, including Network Channel/Network Channel Interface (NC/NCI^TM) codes are described in Technical Publication, Interconnection - Shared Loop, 77406.

Pricing

Rate Structure
Recurring charges for Loop Splitting are comprised of the following rate elements:

• Operational Support Systems (OSS)
• POTS Splitter Shelf Charge
• Two Interconnection Tie Pairs (2 ITPs), 1 for voice and 1 for combined voice/data, per connection
• Unbundled Local Loop

Non-recurring Loop Splitting are comprised of the following rate elements:

• Engineering Charge
• Installation charge, per circuit
• POTS Splitter Shelf Charge
• Reclassification Charge
• Splitter Tie Cable Connection Charge

Additional rate information is located in Exhibit A of your Interconnection Agreement.

Recurring charges bill on a month-to-month basis; term contracts are not available.

One-month minimum billing, contract termination liability and associated contract charges for the product from which the loop is being converted will apply, and will be assessed to the end-user as described in the Local Exchange Tariff for the applicable state.

Rates

Wholesale rates for this product or service, including tariff references and any applicable discounts, are provided in your current Interconnection, Resale, Commercial, or other governing agreement

Tariffs, Regulations and Policy

Tariffs, regulations and policies are located in the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.

Optional Features

There are no optional features with Loop Splitting.

Features	Benefits
Carries data on the High Frequency Spectrum Unbundled Network Element (HUNE) above the voice band on the copper loop.	Enables CLEC/DLEC to offer data services through partnership with another CLEC/DLEC thus providing you with access to products without capital expenditure.
Provides access to facilities throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.	Allows CLEC/DLEC to order service using existing CLEC Unbundled Local Loops in areas where no facilities are available for new loops.

Loop Splitting enables a DLEC to create a business arrangement with a CLEC to provide data and voice service on an existing Unbundled Local Loop. Loop Splitting enables you to provide data and voice service to end-users that do not have spare facilities at their location or who do not desire to purchase an additional line.

Product Prerequisites
If you are a new CLEC and are ready to do business with Qwest, view Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC. If you are an existing CLEC wishing to amend your Interconnection Agreement or New Product Questionnaire, additional information is located in the Interconnection Agreement.

Pre Ordering

General pre-ordering activities are described in the Pre-Ordering Overview.

Requirements for pre-ordering are described in Local Service Ordering Guidelines (LSOG) Pre-Order.

Qwest strongly recommends use of Pre-Ordering functionality to assist in achieving increased service request flow through and accuracy that will result in reduced service request rejects.

The loop qualification queries should be used prior to submitting a service request. Use of these queries can greatly reduce service request rejects by ensuring the types of facilities requested are available prior to placing a service request. The queries will enable you to verify the type of facility and the physical characteristics of the facility. Based on the physical characteristics you can determine if the facility needs to be conditioned, i.e., the removal of load coils or bridged tap, which will assist you in identifying the appropriate ordering intervals, described in the Service Interval Guide (SIG).

Some of these queries are available in IMA and others are web based. Loop qualification queries are available for you to access the physical characteristics of the Qwest loop facility and are based on data obtained from Qwest's underlying plant records. This is the same underlying data that Qwest utilizes for its retail product offerings.

The following applies to the loop qualification queries:

• The queries are for informational purposes only and do not restrict or imply that your service will or will not work on a given facility. This determination is your responsibility.
• Some of the queries offered include Qwest's evaluation of the recorded and calculated loop characteristic information.
• As mentioned, the physical characteristics provided are based on Qwest's plant facility database. If you encounter any inaccuracies in the information, please contact your Qwest Service Manager.

IMA qualification queries are:

• Loop Qualification Query
• Raw Loop Data (RLD) query

Wed based qualification queries is:

• Wire Center RLD

The Wire Center RLD query provides wire center specific information. This query provides the physical characteristics of the facilities for an entire wire center. The wire center raw loop data is presented as a comma delimited file and needs to be downloaded into a database or spreadsheet to analyze the individual facilities. Contact your Qwest Service Manager to request an ID, which will be required to obtain the digital certificate required to access this query. You will need to provide the names and telephone numbers of your employees that will be accessing the query. After your Qwest Service Manager has notified you that the necessary access permissions have been established, and provided you with your ID you may then initiate the digital certification process.

Information about the IMA based loop qualification queries is available in the IMA User's Guide. The IMA Loop Qualification and Raw Loop Data-CLEC Job Aid is a document designed to provide valuable information and instructions on how to use the IMA based loop qualification queries and interpret the information provided.

Performing a Central Office Splitter Search and Qualifying the Loop

Prior to ordering Loop Splitting, you will need to identify the end-user's Serving Wire Center (SWC) for the purpose of determining whether you have a POTS splitter in the SWC. Additionally, it is recommended that you qualify the end-user's loop.

Because Loop Splitting is provided on an Unbundled Local Loop and is a non-switched service, Qwest does not track this customer record by telephone number. You will not be able to qualify the loop or perform a Wire Center splitter search by telephone number. Instead, Qwest tracks this record by Common Language Serial Number Circuit (CLS). For that reason, you will need to determine the SWC and qualify the loop using the end-user's service address as follows:

• To determine the SWC, use the Address Validation function in IMA.
• To qualify the loop, use the Loop Qualification function in IMA.

The Pre-Order Process Section of the IMA User's Guide specifically details information applicable to address validation and loop qualifications functions.

If you do not have access to IMA, you will need to take the following steps to determine the SWC and qualify the loop:

1. Obtain a copy of the end-user's CSR by contacting the Customer Service Center.
2. Locate the LSO (Local Service Office) Field Identifier (FID) on the end-user's Unbundled Local Loop CSR. The LSO is six-digit numeric code identification for the physical switch and can be cross-referenced to a Wire Center by using the InterCONNection (ICONN) Database. You can then determine whether you have a splitter at that location.
3. If you do not have access to IMA, you can use the web-based Wire Center RLD query. At the digital certificate web page, click on "I Have A Digital Certificate" to gain access to the web-based Wire Center RLD query.

Ordering

General ordering activities are described in the Ordering Overview.

The Batch Hot Cut (BHC) Process permits you to migrate volumes of existing line split loops using Commercial Local Exchange Services or Qwest Platform Plus (QPP) lines to a loop splitting arrangement. Detailed information and processes are described in the Batch Hot Cut (BHC) Overview.

Synchronization Testing is an option associated with your collocation space and Loop Splitting service requests. In order to receive notice of a failed Synchronization Test for Loop Splitting, you will be required to contact your service manager to sign up for Failed Synchronization Test PTA notification.    For more information  refer to Collocation - Synchronization Testing Overview.

When Synchronization Testing is performed, the CLEC will be notified that there is a problem in their equipment if the test fails. The service request will be placed in a jeopardy status. For more information on Jeopardy Status refer to Provisioning and Installation Overview.

Loop Splitting orders are submitted using the LSOG forms:

• Local Service Request (LSR)
• End User (EU)
• Loop Service (LS)

Field entry requirements are described in the LSOG.

The Interconnect Mediated Access (IMA) User's Guide specifically details the information applicable to ordering functions.

Valid NC/NCI codes are required on all Loop Splitting requests. NC/NCI codes are located in Technical Publication, Interconnection - Shared Loop, 77406.

Loop Splitting requests are submitted using Circuit Identification numbers. Information describing Circuit Identification number format is available in Unbundled Local Loop General Information.

A Design Layout Report (DLR) request is described in the IMA XML Network Disclosure Document or the IMA User's Guide.

The Basic Installation option is available for Loop Splitting. For an existing end-user, the Basic Installation option is the 'lift and lay' procedure. In this scenario the Qwest technician 'lifts' the loop from its current termination and 'lays' it on a new termination connecting to the CLEC. Test results are not provided to the CLEC. Detailed information about this option is located in your Interconnection Agreement.

Service interval guidelines are found in the SIG .

Service requests should be placed using Interconnect Mediated Access (IMA) , IMA Graphical User Interface (GUI), or faxed to 888-796-9089. Loop Splitting should be ordered the same as Line Sharing.

If no facilities are available, the service request will be rejected for a No Facilities reason. Reject notification information is described in the Ordering Overview.

Use of Universal Service Order Codes (USOCs) and Field Identifiers (FIDs) is described in the USOCs and FIDs Overview. Use of the USOC/FID Finder will assist you in identifying USOC and FID requirements.

The limitations when ordering multiple lines for Loop Splitting on a single service request are as follows:

• Qwest will accept multiple Loop Splitting requests on a single order if the Circuit Identification numbers are associated with the same end-user address. When you submit a service request requesting Loop Splitting for multiple Unbundled Local Loops from the same address, the quantity on the LQTY field on the LS of the service request must be equal to the number of Unbundled Local Loops to which Loop Splitting is being added.
  
• You are required to submit a separate service request for each Loop Splitting request when the Circuit Identification numbers terminate at a different end-user address.

In the Remarks Section of the LSR, provide the ZCID of the party who owns the splitter.

An Alternate Point of Termination (APOT) form is provided to the DLEC as part of the collocation hand-off process.

The splitter meet points for the Shared Loop are identified on the APOT form. Information contained on the APOT form is required on all Loop Splitting requests. The following table provides an example of Common Area Splitter Collocation format used to identify the splitter location.

Character Field Location	Field Entry *
Characters 1 through 3	vda
Characters 4 through 10	Floor and Aisle
Characters 11 through 12	Bay
Characters 13 through 14	Shelf
Characters 15 through 18	Unit

* vda.0010121.02.01-001 is an example of the Common Area Splitter Collocation format.

The following table provides an example of format used to identify the splitter location when the splitter is located inside your collocation.

Character Field Location	Field Entry *
Characters 1 through 3	vda
Characters 4 through 8	Cable Pair
Characters 9 through 11	Voice Pair

* vda.ALT06.201 is an example of Inside the Collocation Area format.

Loop Splitting, UBL Split and/or UBL Split with NP

In IMA you may see the UBL Split or UBL Split with NP options for requesting new Loop Splitting and UBL Split arrangements at the same time. If you are requesting new Loop Splitting and UBL services at the same time, you must select the UBL Split or UBL Split with NP option in IMA. Loop Splitting requests on an existing UBL services may be requested utilizing the Loop Splitting option in IMA.

Projects
If you relate 25 or more Purchase Order Numbers (PONs) and associate orders to a Project Identification Code in the PROJECT field on the LSR, the request will be handled as a project by the Center responsible for handling your account. The installation guidelines for the project are negotiated on an Individual Case Basis (ICB) based on the request. The main point of contact for your project will be your Qwest Service Manager.

Provisioning and Installation

General provisioning and installation activities are described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.

Provisioning information and design requirements are available in Technical Publication Interconnection – Shared Loop, 77406.

Firm Order Confirmation (FOC) intervals are available in the SIG.

For Loop Splitting, the Migration activities will not exceed forty five (45) minutes. For more information on migrations and conversion, see the Migrations and Conversions Procedural PCAT.

A jeopardy occurs on a service request order if a condition exists that threatens timely completion. Jeopardy notification information is described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.

Loss and Completion Reports are based on loss and gain account activity. Completion notification, including Loss and Completion Reports, is described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.

Loop Splitting is provided where existing facilities are available. If no facilities can be found, and there is No Planned Engineering Job, the service request will be rejected for a No Facilities reason and the order cancelled. Contact your Qwest Sales Executive if you wish to authorize construction per the terms and conditions of your Interconnection Agreement. Information regarding reject codes is available in the Ordering Overview. Refer to Section 9.19 of your Interconnection Agreement, which addresses options available to you when facilities are not available or refer to your Interconnection Agreement.

Qwest will install and maintain the splitter if it is installed using Common Area Splitter Collocation. You have the options either to purchase POTS splitters then provide them to Qwest, or to have Qwest purchase them on your behalf, subject to full reimbursement of costs incurred. All splitter collocation installations must be completed before Loop Splitting requests can be processed.

New Loop Splitting, UBL Split and/or UBL Split with NP options for Loop Splitting may be provisioned on a 2-Wire Non-Loaded Unbundled Local Loop. Loop Splitting (request on a UBL service) may also be requested on an existing 2-Wire Non-Loaded or ADSL Compatible Loop. When requesting Loop Splitting on an existing ADSL Compatible Loop Qwest will convert the loop to a non-loaded loop type. This is performed by changing the NC/NCI code combinations.

Directory Listings are not part on the Loop Splitting product offering.

Maintenance and Repair

General maintenance and repair activities are described in the Maintenance and Repair Overview.

Qwest will work with the customer of record to resolve trouble impacting voice services provided through Loop Splitting, as well as for the physical line between the demarcation point at the end-user premises and the demarcation point in the Qwest SWC. You and/or the DLEC are responsible for repairing data services provided using Loop Splitting. Each service provider is responsible for maintaining their own equipment; the party in control of the POTS splitter is responsible for its maintenance.

Qwest will perform Synchronization Testing on Loop Splitting repair reports upon CLEC request in the CO;s where Qwest Commercial Broadband Service service is provided.

When the CLEC issues a repair report, the CLEC will need to provide Qwest with the appropriate protocol, for additional information see Customer Electronic Maintenance & Repair (CEMR) On-line Help to test (i.e., DMT-T1.413, DMT-G.LITE, DMT-G.DMT, or CAP), as well as the setting for Rate Limiting and Auto Sync (On or Off). Refer to the CEMR On-line Help Section 10.7.8 for information regarding requesting a synchronization test.

In CO's where Qwest Commercial Broadband Service is not provided, Qwest will test for electrical continuity involving Loop Splitting in response to trouble initiated by you. If the trouble ticket is not in Qwest's network, a Trouble Isolation Charge will be assessed. If the testing equipment has been installed at the SWC, Qwest will perform an electrical continuity test on the data side of the splitter upon your request. You may also request that Qwest perform additional testing. If the testing uncovers a problem in the portion of the network that Qwest is responsible for, you will not be charged for the testing. However, if the additional testing uncovers a problem in the portion of the network you are responsible for, an Additional Testing Charge will be assessed. Rates are specified in your Interconnection Agreement.

Billing

Recurring and nonrecurring charges for Loop Splitting, OSS, Basic Installation, ITPs, Trouble Isolation, and Additional Testing are billed in Customer Records and Information System (CRIS). Detailed information regarding the CRIS Summary Bill, Inquiry and Disputes is described in the Billing Information – Customer Records and Information System (CRIS). web page.

Nonrecurring charges for Splitter Shelves, Splitter TIE Cable Connections, Engineering, and Reclassification are billed Billing and Receivable Tracking (BART) System. Detailed information regarding the BART Bill, Inquiry and Disputes is described in the Billing Information – Billing and Receivable Tracking (BART).

Recurring charges for Splitter Shelves and Splitter TIE Cable Connections will be billed in Integrated Access Billing System (IABS). Detailed information regarding the IABS Bill, Inquiry and is described in the Integrated Access Billing System (IABS).

Training

Local Qwest 101 "Doing Business With Qwest"

• This introductory web-based training course is designed to teach the Local CLEC and Local Reseller how to do business with Qwest. It will provide a general overview of products and services, Qwest billing and support systems, processes for submitting service requests, reports, and web resource access information. Click here for Course detail and registration information.

Unbundled Loop (UBL)

• This instructor-led process and systems training course is designed to introduce and teach the Unbundled Loop (UBL) products, instructing CLECs on how to request service for service for Unbundled Loops. This course will provide an overview of the current UBL products, and address the PreOrder, Order, Post-Order, Provisioning, Billing and Customer Electronic Maintenance & Repair (CEMR) On-line Help unique to the UBL product. Click here to learn more about this course and to register.

IMA "Hands On"

• This introductory instructor-led training course teaches you how to use Qwest's IMA Graphical User Interface (GUI) to order wholesale products. You will experience interactive software demonstrations and participate in hands-on practice sessions to familiarize yourself with the IMA GUI system. Click here to learn more about this course and to register.

View additional Qwest courses by clicking on Course Catalog.

Contacts

Qwest contact information is available in Wholesale Customer Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who installs and maintains the POTS splitter in the Common Area of the Qwest Central Office?
Qwest will install and maintain the POTS splitter if it is installed using Common Area Splitter Collocation. You have the option to purchase POTS splitters and provide them to Qwest, or have Qwest purchase them on your behalf, subject to full reimbursement for cost incurred.

2. Where can we access our Loop Splitting loops?
You can access your loops at the point where the combined voice and data circuit is connected to the POTS splitter.

Last Update: February 22, 2008

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