Network Interface Device (NID) is a physical device that is used for the interconnection of Inside Wire (IW) not owned or controlled by Qwest to Qwest's distribution network. The NID includes any means of interconnection of customer premises wiring to Qwest's distribution plant, such as a cross-connect device used for that purpose.
When located at the Minimum Point of Entry (MPOE), the NID contains terminations and a protective ground connection that protects the end-user's IW against lightning and other high voltage surges. These protective ground connections are also referred to as "protection", "protector blocks", or the "protector field". The NID is capable of terminating media such as twisted pair cable. When accessing a NID located beyond the MPOE, you may connect to the customer premises wiring without restriction from Qwest. When Qwest owns the intra-building cable beyond the MPOE, you may interconnect at the MPOE using the Multi-Tenant Environment-Point of Interconnection (MTE-POI) process and the Sub-Loop Intra Building Cable (IBC) product.
There are three standard configurations for NID deployment:
There are two kinds of NID offerings:
If a standard Unbundled Network Element (UNE) includes a NID (e.g., and unbundled local loop), when you order the UNE, there is no need to separately identify or order the NID. You will automatically receive access to the NID, and all features and functions, at no additional charge.
Product Diagram
The NID is available where facilities exist throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
In an MTE, you must first determine who owns and controls the IW. If Qwest owns and controls the IW then you will need to establish an MTE-POI and order the appropriate Sub-Loop which will include the NID.
If the building owner or end user customer owns and controls the IW then the following provisions which will include the NID.
You can use the existing Qwest NID to terminate your drop or cable if space permits, otherwise a new NID or other technically feasible interconnection point is required. If you install your own NID, you may connect your NID to the Qwest NID by placing a cross-connect between the two. When you provision a NID to NID connection, you will isolate the Qwest facility in the NID by unplugging the modular unit. If you require a non-modular unit to be replaced with a modular NID, Qwest will perform the replacement for the charge described in your Interconnection Agreement. If you are a Facility Based provider providing your own NID, the Qwest facility currently in place, including the NID, will remain in place. At no time should you remove the Qwest Loop facilities from the Qwest NID.
Qwest will allow you to connect your Loops directly to the Qwest NID field containing the terminations of the IW not owned or controlled by Qwest. Where Qwest does not own or control the IW, you and the owner of the premises shall determine the procedures for access to the Qwest NID.
Pursuant to generally acceptable work practices, and provided IW re-termination is needed to meet service requirements of either your or Qwest's end-user, you or Qwest may remove the inside wire from the NID and connect that wire to your NID or Qwest's NID.
You may enter the subscriber access chamber or end user's side of dual chamber NID enclosures for the purpose of NID to NID connections.
When you access a Qwest NID, or if you physically connect your NID (or equivalent) to the Qwest NID and make cross-connections necessary to provide service, you should employ generally accepted best engineering practices and comply with industry standards. At MTE NIDs, you will clearly label the cross-connect wires you use to provide service. See Qwest's Standard MTE Terminal Access Protocol for detailed information. Qwest will label its terminals when a technician is dispatched for work at the MTE NID. Qwest will not dispatch a technician for the sole purpose of labeling an MTE NID.
All services connected through a protector field in a Qwest NID and located inside a building will interface on an industry standard termination block. It will then extend, via a cross connection, to the premises IW. All services that are connected through a protector field in a Qwest NID and that are attached to a building will interface on industry standard lugs or a binding post type of termination. It will then extend, via a cross connection, to the end-user's premises IW.
At your request, Qwest will allow you to connect your facility directly to the protector field at a Qwest NID that has unused protectors, and that are not used by Qwest or any other Telecommunications provider to provide service to the premises. If you access the Qwest protector field, you will access the distribution side of the protector field only where spare protector capacity exists. In such cases, you will only access a Qwest NID protector field in cable increments appropriate to the NID. If 25 or more metallic cable pairs are simultaneously terminated at the MTE NID, additions must be in increments of 25 metallic pairs. In all cases, telecommunications cables entering a Qwest NID must be terminated in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 88-57, section 315 of the National Electric Safety Code and section 800.30 of the National Electric Code. Other types of Protector Field access may be available. Refer to your Interconnection Agreement for further information.
After determination of ownership of intra-building cable, which is obtained by submitting a MTE Point of Termination Form to Qwest, you will need to complete and submit the CLEC Access at Qwest Protector Field Application to request access at the protector splice or access to the protector field.
Nonrecurring charges are comprised of the following rate elements:
Unbundled NID
Stand Alone NID
Upon your request, Qwest will make rearrangements to the IW terminations or terminal enclosure. Charges will be assessed on a time and labor basis. Rates can be found in tyour Interconnection Agreement.
No charge will be assessed if Qwest initiates the rearrangement of such terminations. In all instances, rearrangements shall be performed in a non-discriminatory fashion and in a timeframe that will not perceivable disruption end-users. Qwest will not make any rearrangements of wiring that is provided by you and that is properly labeled, or that relocates your test access point without notifying you first.
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 policies are located in the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
If you access a NID, as well as a Sub-Loop IBC connected to that NID, you may do so pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in your Interconnection Agreement. If you need access only to a NID (e.g., you do not wish to access a Sub-Loop IBC connected to that NID), you may only do so pursuant to the Terms and Conditions contained herein. Qwest shall permit you to connect your own Loop facilities to premises IW through Qwest's NID, or at any other technically feasible point.
If you request Unbundled Loops on a reuse basis, the existing drop and Qwest's NID, as well as any on premises wiring that Qwest owns or controls, will remain in place and continue to carry the signal over the end-user's IW to the end-user's equipment.
Qwest retains sole ownership of the Qwest NID and its contents on Qwest's side. Qwest is not required to proactively conduct NID change-outs (e.g., change a simple NID to a smart NID). However, Qwest will change the NID at your request and the appropriate charges will apply. Qwest will not inventory NID locations on your behalf.
There are no Optional Features for Stand-Alone NID.
| Features | Benefits |
| Protector Field | Protects your facilities against high-voltage |
| Loop termination options | You can deploy your own NID and connect to the Qwest NID by
placing a cross-connect between the two Access to the IW provides you access to the end-user Terminate to a new NID or other technically feasible interconnection point |
See Features/Benefits.
If you are a new CLEC and are ready to do business with Qwest, view Getting Started for Facility-Based CLECs. If you are an existing CLEC wishing to amend your Interconnection Agreement or your New Customer Questionnaire, additional information is located in the Interconnection Agreement.
Border town characteristics, including a NPA/NXX matrix are described in the Pre-Ordering Overview.
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 order flow through and accuracy that will result in reduced service request rejects.
Information about the IMA address validation is available under Pre-ordering process in the IMA User's Guide.
Performing an end-user address validation will need to be performed in preparation for issuance of the service request.
Prior to placing a request for access to an MTE, it is necessary for you to determine if the wiring beyond the MPOE.
To determine wiring ownership:
Qwest will notify you within ten calendar days as to whether Qwest or the MTE owner owns the intra-building cable. In the event that you provide Qwest with a written claim by an authorized representative of the MTE owner that Qwest owns the facilities on the customer side of the terminal, the preceding ten-day period shall be reduced to five calendar days from Qwest receipt of claim. In the event that there has been a previous determination of on-premises wiring ownership at the same MTE, Qwest shall provide such notification within two business days. If the MTE owner owns the cable facilities on the end-user side of the terminal, Qwest will notify you that you need to negotiate access to all facilities in the building with the building owner.
If the wiring beyond the MPOE is owned by Qwest, the facility, including the NID is considered a Sub-Loop IBC. If you need to access a NID as well as a Sub-Loop IBC connected to that NID, you may do so only pursuant to the terms and conditions defined in the Sub-Loop product.
General ordering activities are described in the Ordering Overview.
To request access to the protector field at the MTE, complete and submit the CLEC Access at Qwest Protector Field Application
Electronically mail a message to ospteam@qwest.com and attach the completed form.
Stand Alone or Non Multi-Tenant NID service requests are submitted using the following LSOG forms:
To access the protector field of the NID, you must submit a service request. When you need to connect to a cross-connect field other than to the end-user field of the NID, you need to submit a service request. for connection to the NID. The Stand-Alone NID is requested, via a service request, in faxed mode only at 1-888-796-9089. You need to provide the remark of 'NID required' in the Remarks section of the LSR. Field entry requirements are described in the LSOG.
When you order Unbundled Local Loop or Sub-Loop, you will receive all features, functions and capabilities of the NID. You do not need to order the NID separately from these products.
Upon receipt of a service request requesting access to an MTE terminal, Qwest shall notify you if the requested terminal is a Demarcation Point. If the terminal is a Demarcation Point and you wish to access the protector side of the NID, charges will apply for the capacity you utilize. If you wish to access the end-user fields of the NID, no additional verification is needed by Qwest and no charges apply. After you have run the jumper wire, you will need to tag the jumper wire.
If the connection is not technically feasible, Qwest shall inform you of the basis for our claim of technical unfeasibility and identify all alternative points of connection that Qwest would support. You have the option of employing an alternative terminal or disputing the claim of technical unfeasibility pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of your Interconnection Agreement.
General provisioning and installation activities are described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.
Operational characteristics and available Interfaces are specified in Technical Publication, Interconnection - Unbundled Loop, 77384 and Design requirements are specified in Technical Publication, Unbundled Network Combinations Including Enhanced Extend Loop (EEL) and Loop Mux Combinations (LMS), 77403.
A jeopardy occurs on a Local Service Request (LSR) if a condition exists that threatens timely completion. Jeopardy notification information is described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.
General maintenance and repair activities are described in the Maintenance and Repair Overview.
You are responsible for isolating the trouble to the correct unbundled element or collocated equipment. If Qwest is dispatched to an end user's location on a maintenance issue and finds the NID to be defective, Qwest will replace the defective element or, if beyond repair, the entire device at no cost to you. If the facilities and lines have been removed from the protector field or damaged by you, then you will be responsible for all costs associated with returning the facilities and lines back to their original state. Charges for this work will be on a time and materials basis and billed directly to you as outlined in the Billing section contained herein.
Billing disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process contained in your Interconnection Agreement.
If the NID is owned by you and used exclusively for your services to the end user, you are responsible for maintaining the NID and all of its components including replacement if damaged.
Qwest will provide you with test results when testing and repairing your reported trouble. Qwest employees will not provide any service or conduct any work (repair or installation) beyond the NID. If the NID is owned by Qwest and capacity is shared with you, Qwest will be responsible for maintaining the NID. If damage is caused by you, Qwest will repair and bill applicable time nonrecurring and labor charges. This labor charge is billed in 1/2 hour increments. Rates can be found in your Interconnection Agreement.
Customer Records and Information System (CRIS billing is described in Billing Information - Customer Records and Information System (CRIS).
Billing and Receivable Tracking (Bart billing is described in Billing Accounts Receivable Tracking (BART).
Local Qwest 101 "Doing Business With Qwest"
Unbundled Loop (UBL)
View additional Qwest courses in the Course Catalog.
Qwest contact Information is located in the CLEC & Reseller Center Contacts.
This section is being compiled based on your feedback
Last Update: February 19, 2008
