Qwest's Performance Assurance Plan (QPAP), also referred to as the Performance Assurance Plan (PAP), is a method to assure you and regulatory bodies of Qwest's commitments to performance in key areas as determined by the Performance Measurements (PIDs). It was prepared in conjunction with Qwest's application for approval under Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Act") to offer in-region long distance service.
Qwest is in conformance with parity standards when the service Qwest provides to you is at parity to that which we provide to our own retail end-users. Parity standards, based on statistical scoring, compares Qwest's performance provided to you with Qwest's performance provided to its retail end-users. For performance measurements that do not have Qwest retail comparatives, non-statistical benchmark standards are used.
If you elect to participate in the PAP, you must first modify your Interconnection Agreement to include PAP. Refer to state specific Performance Assurance Plan Amendment and Performance Assurance Plan Questionnaire to determine how this modification can be done. You must also complete the PAP Questionnaire which will include information as to the form of payment preferred (paper check vs. electronic funds transfer). Qwest shall be able to offset a cash payment to a CLEC with a bill credit applied against any non-disputed charges that are more than 90 days past due. Your Qwest Service Manager will provide you copies of the Amendment(s), which must be completed in triplicate, and will be able to assist you in completing the questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is completed, the processing of the PAP Amendment(s) could take from 30 to 45 days.
Performance reports and PAP calculations by Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), by state, will be provided on a monthly basis through a password protected website.
If the service we provide to you and the service we provide to our own retail end-users is not parity or better, or if Qwest fails to meet applicable standards, you may be eligible for Tier I payments. Tier I payments are based on individual CLEC results and payment is made directly to the CLEC.
If Qwest fails to meet parity and measurement standards on an aggregate (overall) CLEC basis, Qwest will make additional Tier 2 payments as determined by the state regulatory commission.
Payment is generally on a per occurrence basis, (i.e., a set dollar payment times the number of non-conforming service elements). For the performance measurements which do not lend themselves to a per occurrence payment, payment is on a per measurement basis, (i.e., a set dollar payment amount). The level of payment may also depend on the number of consecutive months of non-conforming performance, (i.e., an escalating payment the longer the duration of non-conforming performance).
The PAP is available in Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
CLECs that have Interconnection Agreements currently in effect with Qwest participate in the Performance Assurance Plan (PAP) by augmenting their agreements with a Qwest PAP Amendment.
State specific Amendment documents are available as downloadable word documents.
One of the provisions of Qwest's Performance Assurance Plans is the right for a CLEC to request data files of the CLEC Raw Data for the measurements identified in the PAP. To request Raw Data, contact your Qwest Service Manager. The Qwest Service Manager will transmit your request to the appropriate Qwest department.
There may be occasions when there are issues raised by Qwest's PAP reports, payment calculations and related processes that are not resolved in the normal course of business. In this event, all of Qwest's PAPs provide for a formal dispute resolution process. The general process is identified and described in detail in each state PAP. Except where its Interconnection Agreement involves a different process, a CLEC has the option to initiate a request for dispute resolution by filling out the Qwest Performance Assurance Plan Request For Dispute Resolution form and returning it to PAP.dispute@qwest.com.
Qwest provides customer specific PAP reports via an Electronic Customer Reporting (ECR) site. Monthly reports are available via this secured site.
To request access to the ECR reports, refer to the Qwest Interconnect OSS Electronic Access business procedure. Once the process has been completed, users can access customer specific reports by going to Electronic Customer Reporting (ECR) and logging in with their User ID and Password.
Qwest provides customer specific 271 performance reports via an Electronic Customer Reporting (ECR) site. Qwest Wholesale Performance Results Reports are provided in support of meeting the terms of Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
To view Qwest's 271 Performance Results, click here.
Last Update: January 25, 2008
