Wireless Type 2 Interconnection Service (Type 2) is a finished service for Wireless and Paging. It is an interconnection between your Point of Interface (POI) and the Qwest Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The POI is the physical demarcation between your network and the Qwest PSTN that defines where one party's network responsibility ends and the other party's begins. Because Type 2 is a finished service, Qwest provisions all connections necessary for complete connectivity between your POI and a Qwest terminating tandem or end office. Some Interconnection Agreements call for a POI in each wireline LCA (Local Calling Area). Your POI must be located within a Qwest ILEC wire center boundary. The terms and conditions for Type 2 Interconnection Service may vary by individual Interconnection Agreement. The information in this document describes the terms and conditions of a typical Wireless and Paging agreement with Qwest.
Wireless Type 2 Interconnection Service (Type 2) provides routing of traffic between your end-user and Qwest's end-user. The type of traffic carried on a Type 2 trunk group is dependent upon Qwest's requirements provided in your interconnection agreement and your service objectives for your end-users.
Wireless Type 2 Interconnection Service (Type 2) requires the assignment of Numbering Plan Area (NPA) NXX (10 K block) or NPA NXX X (1K block) block of numbers from NeuStar, a division of Lockheed Martin to you. These numbers are to be requested for the Qwest Rate Center.
The following subject areas provide an overview of Type 2:
Methods of Interconnection
The method of interconnection is the physical path between the WSP POI and the nearest Qwest Serving Wire Center (SWC). The following are the four methods of interconnection available:
Entrance Facility
Qwest provides the facility between the POI and the Qwest SWC. An entrance facility will not extend beyond the Qwest wire center boundary of the SWC.
Collocation
Qwest offers both Physical and Virtual Collocation options. The collocation is your POI. For more information see Wireless Service Providers (WSP) - Collocation - General Information.
Mid-Span Meet POI
Using the Mid-Span Meet POI interconnection option, Qwest and the WSP negotiate a location for the POI within the SWC boundary of the Qwest switch. Both parties agree to build to this point and both accept responsibility for the network on their side of the POI. Generally, Qwest will only build to 50 percent of the distance between the building that houses your equipment and the Qwest SWC. A mid-span meet POI will not extend beyond the area served by the Qwest SWC. When ordering Mid-Span Meet POI the ASR must have the SPEC Code, which is MSMEETP. Mid-Span Meet POI information is described in the Mid-Span Meet POI download.
Bona Fide Request (BFR)
While the 3 methods above are the most common, other technically feasible methods of interconnection can be requested via a Bona Fide Request (BFR).
Trunking
In addition to the physical path between your POI and the nearest Qwest SWC, you must order trunking from your POI to a Qwest Tandem, or EO (End Office) Switch(es). Unless specifically stated otherwise in the interconnection agreement, you must have a separate trunk group for each type of traffic; local, non-local and ancillary.
Direct Trunked Transport (DTT)
Direct Trunked Transport between the Qwest SWC of your POI and a Qwest Switch allows for termination of calls destined for end-users with NXXs associated with that Qwest EO Switch. Direct Trunked Transport between the Qwest SWC of your POI and a Qwest tandem allows for termination of calls destined for end-users with NXXs associated with switches that subtend that tandem. If Direct Trunked Transport is greater than 50 miles in length between the Qwest SWC of your POI and the requested Qwest Switch, and existing facilities are not available in either Qwest's or your network, parties may be jointly responsible for construction and cost of the requested facilities. Qwest may use a "LATA Infrastructure Mileage Initial Transport (LIMIT)" process to coordinate this form of interconnection per the terms and conditions of your Interconnection Agreement or Amendment.
For more information, download LATA Infrastructure Mileage Initial Transport (LIMIT).
Tandem Trunking
Wholesale customers can utilize Qwest's behind-the-tandem infrastructure to exchange traffic with the Local and/or Access Tandem's subtending End Offices serving the Qwest end user customers involved in the calls. Unless SPOP trunking (see below) is requested, you must establish a POI in every LCA (Local Calling Area) and establish 2A, 2B and/or 2D trunking (see below) to each access tandem and/or local tandem covering the localities in which you are doing business. This trunking can involve either direct-final (full) or alternate-final (overflow) call routing. This is described further below.
Trunk Groups
Type 2A Local Tandem Trunk Groups:
Type 2B Local End Office Trunk Groups
Two categories of Type 2B local trunk groups are available:
2B Direct Final (Full):
2B Overflow (High Use)
2A Access Tandem Trunking
2D Ancillary Trunking
| AND WSP service requested is | AND | THEN |
| Nonqueried 8XX Long Distance using SS7 signaling | Cell pack feature IS NOT available | Customer orders MF Incoming to Qwest MF TFEA trunks |
| Nonqueried 8XX Long Distance using MF | Cell pack feature is available in requested office (Contact your Service Manager for assistance.) |
Customer orders EA (Equal Access) incoming to Qwest or 2 Way SS7 trunks to the Access Tandem |
End Office with Local Tandem Functionality Trunking (EOWLTF)
To the extent Qwest is using a specific EO to deliver limited tandem switching functionality to itself, another WSP, another CLEC or another ILEC; it will arrange the same trunking for you. Trunking may be ordered to Qwest EOWLTF to allow:
Trunking Directionality
All types of trunking arrangements (2B Full, 2B High Use, 2A EA trunks, etc.,) are available in either a 2 way or 1 way direction and the types available are specified in your Interconnection Agreement.
There may be limitations on where 2-way trunking can be provisioned.
Below are the features and benefits of each:
2 Ways
1 Way
SPOP
Single Point of Presence (SPOP) in the LATA allows you to establish as few as a single POI in each LATA, and order trunking to offices in other Local Calling Areas (LCA). This is an alternative to establishing points of interface in each wireline LCA. With SPOP you can deliver Exchange Service (EAS/Local), as well as Exchange Access (IntraLATA Non-Interexchange Carrier (IXC) and Jointly Provided Switched Access (JPSA) (InterLATA and IntraLATA IXC Switched Access (SA)) traffic, at Qwest Access Tandem (AT) Switch(es). Exchange Service (EAS/Local) and Exchange Access (IntraLATA Non-IXC Toll) traffic are commingled on the same trunk group. For the successful routing and completion of transit traffic to your Wireless end users in your SPOP arrangement, a trunk group to Qwest's Local Tandem (LT) will be necessary. Several tools have been added to this document in the Pre-Ordering Section to assist you in ordering SPOP. (Link italicized text to Pre-Ordering Section of this document.) An amendment to your Interconnection Agreement may be required before you submit orders for SPOP.
Qwest's 512 CCS policies remain in effect for the SPOP trunking option. The Method of Interconnection, Facility Levels and Signaling Requirements described in this PCAT also apply to SPOP.
To terminate traffic to a third party, such as a Competitive or Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC or ILEC), or Wireless Service Provider (WSP) that lacks a trunk group to a Qwest local or access tandem, you must order the trunking directly from the third party.
You may order a combined trunk group to the Qwest AT for the origination and termination of Exchange Access (IntraLATA Non-IXC Toll) and Jointly Provided Switched Access (JPSA). Both parties must follow the industry standards outlined in the Multiple Exchange Carrier Access Billing (MECAB) document for the billing of JPSA.
Digital Signal Levels
The following digital signal levels are available for Type 2:
Signaling Requirements
Type 2 must be ordered with Common Channel Signaling (CCSAC)/Signaling System 7 (SS7). Operator Services, 911/E911 and, in most cases, Directory Assistance trunk groups must be ordered as multi-frequency (MF). Ancillary trunks used to transport 8XX traffic must also be ordered as MF.
Wireless Type 2 Interconnection Service is available where facilities exist throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
You must negotiate a Type 2 Interconnection agreement with Qwest for any state. Qwest offers an interconnection agreement template to begin the negotiations. For details on the terms and conditions, see the Wireless Interconnection Agreement Template. Members of the Qwest negotiation team negotiate these agreements. See Qwest Wholesale Interconnection Agreement Negotiation Process for more information.
You may adopt an entire approved agreement of another Wireless Service Provider, provided that it is available and current.
All traffic routing requests must follow rules established in the LERG (Local Exchange Routing Guide).
Network Channel /Network Channel Interface (NC/NCI™) codes are described in Technical Publication, Qwest Swiched Access - Network Channel (NC) codes and Network Channel Interface (NCI) Codes Combinations, 77203.
Message format references TR-NPL-000258, GR-334-CORE
Ancillary trunking for Wireless service is available according to the generic requirements outlined in Telecordia document GR-1504-CORE.
Rate Structure
Interconnect Agreement - When trunking is established and you are ready to send and receive usage, your contract billing language becomes important. There are two different billing arrangements for Exchange Service (EAS/Local) non-transit Minutes Of Use (MOU). They are:
If a new carrier is entering a new market, Qwest enters into a bill and keep arrangement. The criteria used to support bill and keep for existing customers is a relative balance of the traffic between the two companies, based on a traffic study.
Transit - is any traffic that originates from one Telecommunications Carrier's network, transits a Tandem Telecommunications Carrier's network and terminates to yet another Telecommunications Carrier's network. Neither the originating nor the terminating End User Customer is a Customer of a Tandem Telecommunications Carrier.
Billing for transit traffic will be determined by the terms and conditions specified in your Interconnection Agreement. The three billing scenarios for transit traffic billing are provided below.
Intra- InterMTA -MTA is defined as Major Trading Areas, which are geographic boundaries for Wireless Service Providers that determine if a call is rated as local (IntraMTA). An IntraMTA call is defined as a call made between two carriers within the same MTA. Calls between MTAs (interMTA) are non-local; however, Qwest is not able to determine the jurisdiction of the InterMTA traffic. You are expected to state what percentage of your traffic will be InterMTA. The InterMTA factor will be applied to all of your usage and that amount of usage will be rated at switched access rates. The percentage of usage remaining will be billed and rated as EAS/local.
A nonrecurring charge applies to the installation of service(s) and in some states a disconnect service(s) charge will apply. If you have an interconnection agreement with Qwest, the applicable rates are found in the rate sheet of your Interconnection Agreement. Otherwise you will be billed according to the state-specific rates.
If you contemplate signing an interconnection agreement, the applicable rates pursuant to an interconnection agreement can be found in the state-specific Exhibit A of the Wireless Interconnection Agreement Template.
The following table illustrates facility/trunks rate elements:
| Facility/Trunks | Nonrecurring | Recurring |
| Entrance Facility Network Access Channel (NAC) Channel Facility |
X | X |
| Expanded Interconnect Channel Termination | X | X |
| Multiplexing | X | X |
| Dedicated Transport/Direct Trunk Transport - Fixed and Per Mile | X | X |
| Trunks | X | X |
| Ancillary Trunks | X | X |
The following Usage rate elements apply depending on the types of traffic delivered between Qwest and the WSP:
| Types of Traffic | ||
| Rate Element- Per Minute of Use (MOU) | Local | Non local traffic (interMTA roaming, etc) |
| Tandem Switching | X | Qwest FCC Switched Access |
| Tandem Transmission - fixed and per mile | X | |
| End Office Call Termination | X | N/A |
| FCC-ordered ISP rate | X | |
Transit rates are usage-sensitive and billed according to the scenarios mentioned above.
According to the terms of your Interconnection Agreement, Qwest may bill you the FCC approved rate for un-queried 8XX calls, on a per occurrence basis.
Miscellaneous Charges:
Testing associated with repair and standard provisioning is not billable. Additional cooperative acceptance testing, automatic scheduled testing, cooperative scheduled testing, manual scheduled testing and non-scheduled testing are billable. Testing fees, as referenced in your Interconnection Agreement, may apply to you when requesting this type of testing.
Cancellation charges may apply based upon the critical dates, terms and conditions of the Qwest Access Service Tariff Section 5.2.3, and the Trunk Nonrecurring Charges referenced in your Interconnection Agreement.
Expedites are allowed only on an exception basis with executive approval within the same timeframes as provided for Qwest retail designed services. When expedites are approved, expedite charges may apply if described in your Interconnection Agreement.
Construction charges may apply to you and are described in your Interconnection Agreement.
Additional rate structure information can be found in your Interconnection Agreement.
Tariff, regulations and policies are located in the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
The following optional features and functions may be added to improve its quality or its utility of the Type 2 service to meet specific communication requirements:
SHARP/SHARP Plus (Self-Healing Alternate Route Protection/Self-Healing Interoffice Protection) - Is provisioned solely on fiber optics and provides a separate facility path for the protection between the Qwest SWC and your premises. It protects you against failure of primary fiber route and the electronics in the local loop. The SHARP Plus feature extends the same alternate route protection into the interoffice portion of the circuit.
* NOTE: SHARP Plus is no longer available for new service requests. The grandparenting action will affect you in the following ways:
For additional information about the grandparenting of SHARP Plus contact your Qwest Service Manager.
Facility Protection - Provides you with continual communication. The two types of Facility Protection are Diversity and Avoidance; they can be requested separately or in combination. Diversity is a one-to-one alternate working circuit that is diversely routed from the primary circuit. Avoidance is a circuit that is physically routed to avoid a designated geographic location or wire center.
| Features | Benefits |
| Provides access to a world-class network | Access to a highly reliable, advanced network |
| Offers multiple options for establishing a POI | Flexibility for build-out strategies and schedules |
| Provides tandem routing | Efficient trunking and network usage saves money for everyone using the network |
| Supports transit traffic via tandem switching | Can reach other carriers efficiently. You may not need to connect to other carriers directly where Qwest tandems and trucking are present |
See Features and Benefits section.
If you are a new WSP and are ready to do business with Qwest, view Getting Started as a Facility-Based WSP. If you are an existing WSP wishing to amend your Interconnection Agreement or Customer Questionnaire, additional information is located in the Interconnection Agreement.
To ensure expediency the following are some of the steps that should be executed prior to requesting service:
Your Qwest Account Team will work with you to ensure that you have all the necessary pieces in place before submitting a service request. Contact your Account Team / Sales Executives and Service Managers for further details, or see Getting Started as a Facility-based Wireless Service Provider (WSP).
Wireless interconnection requests for SPOP will be facilitated by your Qwest Service Manager. Your network trunking diagrams for initial architecture are reviewed and Qwest makes architectural recommendations to ensure call routing and completion during peak/non-peak hours. This cooperation is critically needed and called for in you agreement. The SPOP Customer Checklist. asks a range of questions that you must answer associated with your initial SPOP trunking request. Many of the questions on the SPOP Customer Checklist are required fields you must complete on your ASR (Access Service Request) and are referenced for SPOP ordering; share this information with your Ordering Department.
The SPOP Customer Checklist asks you to consider different portions of your interconnection to be included in your SPOP network configuration.. Questions are related to:
The questions on the SPOP Customer Checklist are for you to use as your guide when you complete the SPOP LATA Map(s) for the area you will be doing business in when you request new SPOP service. The LATA Maps provide you with information related to Qwest tandems, end offices and localities served in the LATA.
Qwest has LATA Map diagrams for you to illustrate your initial architecture for your proposed network configuration in any LATA within Qwest's 14-state in region territory. If you select SPOP as your method of Interconnection, select the appropriate LATA Maps(s) from the list below, by state, and illustrate your Type 2 SPOP Network trunking requirements for the appropriate LATA.
Eastern LATA Maps:
| MINNESOTA | NORTH DAKOTA |
| Rochester, MN 620 | Fargo, ND 636 |
| Duluth, MN 624 | Bismarck, ND 638 |
| St Cloud, MN 626 | SOUTH DAKOTA |
| Minneapolis, MN 628 | Sioux Falls, SD 640 |
| IOWA | NEBRASKA |
| Sioux City, IA 630 | Omaha, NE 644 |
| Des Moines, IA 632 | Grand Island, NE 646 |
| Davenport, IA 634 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA 635 |
Central LATA Maps:
| MONTANA | COLORADO |
| Great Falls, MT 648 | Denver, CO 656 |
| Billings, MT 650 | Colorado Springs, CO 658 |
| UTAH | NEW MEXICO |
| Salt Lake City, UT 660 | Albuquerque, NM 664 |
| WYOMING | ARIZONA |
| Casper, WY 654 | Phoenix, AZ 666 |
| Tucson, AZ 668 |
Western LATA Maps:
| IDAHO | WASHINGTON |
| Boise, ID 652 | Seattle, WA 674 |
| OREGON | Spokane, WA 676 |
| Eugene, OR 670 | |
| Portland, OR 672 |
Each LATA Map includes specific instructions for illustrating your Network. The SPOP LATA Map Instructions contains general guidelines for filling out each LATA Map. Consult the SPOP LATA Map Examples for graphical examples of how the LATA Maps should be completed. The LATA Map examples also illustrate the relationship between the SPOP Customer Checklist questions and the LATA Map diagram entries, so that if you have answered the questions on the Checklist, the task of completing the diagrams will be easier. You are encouraged to share all of this information with your Ordering Department.
Another optional form for you to complete as you diagram your SPOP network requirements, is the DEOT form which is to be used when you anticipate a high level of traffic to a Qwest End Office. You may also need to complete an EOWLTF diagram for your Network.
Return your completed SPOP Customer Checklist and LATA Map(s) to your Qwest Service Manager via email, who will review it with you prior to your order issuance. Also include your DEOT and EOWLTF forms, if required. Your Service Manager will contact you to discuss your diagrams at a pre-Provisioning meeting with your Service Delivery Coordinator and other Qwest employees.
Joint Forecasting Process
Interconnection Agreements often require that you and Qwest participate in joint planning meetings each year, to provide each other trunking forecasts and discuss any network projects planned. Through a Joint Forecasting Process Qwest will provide network components in a timely manner to help you develop new solutions for your business. Forecasting expectations are described in the Forecasting business procedure
Type 2 service requests are submitted using the following Access Service Ordering Guidelines (ASOG) forms:
Use the appropriate SPEC code for the service you are requesting. (See below SPEC Code Information Section.)
Field entry requirements are described in the Access Service Request (ASR) Forms.
Local Number Portability (LNP) is available on Wireless Interconnection Service (WIS) accounts. LNP information is available in Wireless Local Number Portability (LNP).
A Design Layout Report (DLR) provides you with a description of the facilities and services ordered. It is provided at your request and is intended to assist in designing the overall service. You can choose to view and/or retrieve the DLR information on-line through IMA or have it delivered electronically. Information about requesting DLR's is described in the Ordering Overview.
ASRs for WSP trunking can be submitted as much as six months in advance of the requested due date.
If you have access to the QORA (Qwest Online Request Application) system you can transmit the ASR to Qwest electronically. If you are not certain which center to use, contact your Qwest Service Manager.
Qwest Wholesale Information Tool (QWIT) provides Customer contact information. You can obtain information by entering your business name and ACNA.
SPEC Code information
The Type 2 SPEC Codes - SPOP document lists all of the possible entries required in the SPEC field of the ICASR screen.
Service intervals are found in the Service Intervals Guide (SIG).
You can initiate trouble reports for Wholesale Products and Services via electronic or manual interfaces enabling you to initiate, change, and cancel trouble reports to Qwest. Qwest will update you on the status of your trouble report through final disposition. If your end-users experience problems with their wireless service, provisioned with Qwest provided products and services, their first point of contact is you, their WSP. Prior to issuing a trouble report to Qwest, you must isolate your end-user's trouble to the Qwest provisioned product or service.
The electronic method is Customer Electronic Maintenance and Repair System (CEMR). It is a graphical user interface to Qwest Operation Support Systems for trouble administration activities such as creating and editing trouble reports, monitoring status and reviewing trouble history on Circuit IDs. See Customer Electronic Maintenance and Repair (CEMR) for more information.
Qwest Wholesale Information Tool (QWIT) describes Customer Contact information.
Review the downloadable Billing Percentage Development Worksheet for calculating billing percentages when both Qwest and a WASP provide Jointly Provided Switched Access for an Interexchange Carrier.
Integrated Access Billing System (IABS™) billing is described in Billing Information - Integrated Access Billing System (IABS™).
The Interconnection Agreement type, (i.e., Reciprocal Compensation, and B&K, (defined earlier as Bill & Keep)), applies to Exchange Service (EAS/Local) non-transit MOUs. In addition, the parties bill the originating carrier for Exchange Service (EAS/Local) transit MOUs as well as Exchange Access (IntraLATA Non-IXC Toll) non-transit and transit MOUs.
If the Interconnection Agreement type is Reciprocal Compensation, the parties bill each other for Exchange Service (EAS/Local) non-transit MOUs originating with one party's end-user and terminating to the other party's end-user. The parties bill the originating ILEC/CLEC/WSP for Exchange Service (EAS/Local) transit MOUs.
If the Interconnection Agreement type is B&K, the Qwest-generated bill does not include charges for Exchange Service (EAS/Local) non-transit MOUs until both parties agree that the terms and conditions of the Interconnection Agreement for conversion to Reciprocal Compensation have been met.
Local Qwest 101 "Doing Business With Qwest"
ASR Wireless Training
CCSAC/SS7 Product
Qwest contact information is located in Account Team / Sales Executives and Service Managers
Qwest's Wholesale Service Delivery contacts can be found via the QWIT. The QWIT provides you with information specific to your contact and support needs. When you use the tool, you will be able to determine your account management team information. For billing and service request questions consult the customer contact information in the QWIT.
1. What does QWEST require of a WSP to begin Type 2 ordering?
Wireless service providers must have an approved license by the FCC to provide wireless service in any given state. In addition, providers must obtain:
2. How does Internet-related traffic fit in with Type 2 service and billing?
The FCC's Declaratory Ruling, in CC Docket No. 96-98 released February 26, 1999, found Internet traffic to be interstate. Qwest's position is that Internet-related traffic is interstate in nature and not subject to reciprocal compensation.
Last Update: September 17, 2009
NC/NCI™ is a Trademark of Telcordia Technologies, Inc
IABS™ is a Trademark of Qwest Communications International, Inc.
