Wholesale: Products & Services

Archived System CR SCR050812-1X Detail

The most recent example of a failed process involved copper retirement which was announced in CenturyLink’s Network Disclosure Announcement #751 and impacted a senior living facility in Minnesota (“Customer”) which was served via copper loop facilities. Disclosure #751 established the planned retirement date of July 13, 2011 for copper facilities which were subsequently used by CenturyLink to provision service to the Customer. After receipt of Disclosure #751 and prior to the announced retirement date, XO found alternative service arrangements for several customers then served by the copper facilities subject to the planned retirement.

With respect to the Customer, the copper loop facilities needed to provide service weren’t placed into service by CenturyLink until November 3, 2011 – nearly 4 months after the planned copper retirement date about which CenturyLink had notified XO via notice #751. XO received no notice from CenturyLink that such retirement had been substantially delayed. Based on the above, XO had reasonably concluded that the facilities subject to notice #751 had been retired in July as CenturyLink’s notice indicated. The fact that CenturyLink provisioned the copper facilities to Customer in November clearly demonstrates that CenturyLink’s systems showed copper facilities were available to Customer’s premises when ordered and that even CenturyLink personnel weren’t aware that the facilities were about to be disconnected.

On January 25, 2012, XO was notified by CenturyLink that the copper facilities serving the Customer were about to be removed by construction crews. CenturyLink and XO had to take extraordinary measures in a short period of time and incur significant costs in order to delay removal of the copper and prevent a service disruption to the Customer while an alternative means of service provision was identified and put in place.

The recent experience described above makes abundantly clear that CenturyLink needs to expeditiously update its pre ordering and ordering systems to accurately show copper facilities noticed for retirement , thus avoiding threats to customer service and the imposition of significant costs. XO sought to participate in a cooperative evaluation and modification of CenturyLink’s systems, which CenturyLink refused to do. Instead, CenturyLink invited XO to request a process change by following the CMP process located at: http://www.centurylink.com/wholesale/cmp/

Status History

Project Meetings

Discussion under Attachment I Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink provided an update on the event notification 6318254 associated with Copper Retirements. Jamal said that there are some crossboxes that have an old format that do not begin with an “X” which is causing some problems. Jamal said the good news is that there are not that many and that there is no issue going forward. Jamal said the fix is tentatively scheduled for IMA Release 35.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked if all of the pending copper retirements are now included in IMA.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said yes the pending are now posted. Jamal said he has a couple retirements coming up in the next couple weeks and that a notice will be going out.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink asked based on the update from Jamal whether we could close out this CR.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked if the fix could be tracked on the Event Notice. If so, Kim said she was OK with closing the CR.

Susan Lorence - CenturyLink said CenturyLink would keep the Event Notice open until the fix goes in with Release 35 and asked if everyone was then OK to Close the CR. There were no objections.

7/17/13 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting SCR050812-1X CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes SCR101111-4IG IMA – LSOG - LSR Form Update Phase 2 Mark Coyne – CenturyLink relayed these CRs are associated with IMA Release 34.0 which was implemented on May 20, 2013. Mark said there was an Action item specific to the Copper Decommission CR that was discussed last month that would be addressed under Attachment I. CenturyLink would like to move these CRs to a Completed status.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked if the open point for the CR would then be tracked as a separate Action item.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said she was working with Jamal Boudhaouia (CenturyLink) and thought the remaining terminals had been added to the table. Kim Isaacs – Integra relayed there is still an open trouble ticket on this CR.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said that there is still a pending trouble ticket that relays that the Copper Retirement response may not be as expected. We will get back with Jamal to see if that has been resolved.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said we will leave this CR in CLEC Test but requested confirmation that it was OK to close the LSOG CR. There were no objections.

UNDER ATTACHMENT I - JULY CMP SCR050812-1X CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said we already discussed this and have an action item.

6/19/13 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Discussion under ATTACHMENT G CRs to Consider for Closure Mark Coyne – CenturyLink relayed these CRs are associated with IMA Release 34.0 that was implemented on May 20, 2013. Mark said there are no issues reported associated with the Release but that there is a walk-on request associated with the Copper decommission CR that will be discussed under Attachment N of the package.

Kim Isaacs - Integra asked if anyone had transitioned to XML.

Carrie Bousfield - CenturyLink said the first migrations are scheduled for June 29, 2013 and other CLECs are scheduled for later dates.

Kim Isaacs - Integra suggested keeping the CRs open until the successful XML migration has occurred.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said the CRs would be revisited for closure in July.

Discussion under ATTACHMENT N - WALK ONS SCR050812-1X CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes Mark Coyne – CenturyLink relayed that Integra had submitted a walk-on request associated with this CR and that the Integra comments and some examples along with the CenturyLink response were posted to the calendar. Mark questioned whether the CenturyLink response addressed the Integra concerns.

Kim Isaacs - Integra said there was more discussion required. Kim said the CenturyLink response was that the copper retirements had occurred prior to the release install and that they understood that. Kim said there was a question in the CR detail that was not answered that had to do with what would be done with the existing copper retirements. Kim said the concern was that customers could get a Loop Qual response where copper has been retired that copper was available.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink verified he understood the scenario saying that network disclosure had been distributed last year regarding copper retirement but the Loop Qual tool says copper is still available.

Kim Isaacs - Integra said that was correct. Integra had tested addresses before and after the IMA release install where copper had been retired. Some addresses received a status that copper was still available.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said he understood. He said the Arvada addresses were associated with Disclosure 770 sent December 2012 with copper retirement planned for March 2013. Jamal said the job has not yet completed and he would not know that the date has slipped unless the engineers tell him. Jamal said it does not happen often.

Kim Isaacs - Integra said they had picked these addresses at random. Kim said if the job has completed, the IMA Loop Qual will indicate the loop is not available. Kim asked how to take care of what was in the pipeline but not completed.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said he is trying to load the pending jobs for the last six months where the date has slipped.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Dept of Commerce said she thought during CR discussions that CenturyLink was going to implement a message for those retirement jobs in the pipeline that indicated to customers “order at your own risk”.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said that change went in with the IMA May 20 release. Jamal said for the recent copper retirement disclosure, customers would receive the agreed upon message. Jamal said for copper retirement jobs disclosed in prior years, that history was not being added. From January 2013 going forward, that history will be included in the IMA release and was being added currently.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Dept of Commerce questioned if the ten years of historical data of copper retirements was not going to be disclosed in IMA.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said LFACs would take care of the copper decommission jobs that have completed.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Dept of Commerce recapped that if the copper decommission job completed ten years ago, LFACs will reflect no loops available.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink recapped that the scenarios that Integra questioned are from disclosures not yet completed.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said correct.

Kim Isaacs - Integra said correct and that Integra is looking forward to having the pending jobs added.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said those will be added this week.

Mark Van de Water – AT&T asked if the discussion relates to replacement of copper with fiber or just copper retirement.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said this is specific to copper retirement. This is not specific to the Omaha project.

Mark Van de Water – AT&T said this has been an issue with Hurricane Sandy in New York and it has been a learning experience. Mark said we know more will be occurring and that he has a team that are very interested in working with CenturyLink after working with Verizon on Sandy. One issue relates to ordering.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink said he needs to understand it more as well.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink asked if there were any other questions. There were none.

Kim Isaacs - Integra said she is OK for now and will do more testing on the latest disclosure.

5/15/13 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Susan Lorence – CenturyLink said these CRs are associated with IMA Release 34.0 that was scheduled for implementation on May 20, 2013. The CRs will be moved to CLEC Test as of that date.

3/20/13 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Kim Isaacs – Integra said a question had come up in the IMA Release 34.0 walkthrough associated with this CR.

Susan Lorence – CenturyLink said the question brought up by Integra in the walkthrough on Monday, March 18, 2013 was whether the EEL product was really included as one of the products associated with this CR. The documentation indicated EEL was included.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said she worked with the SME team and though the initial CR identified EEL, the release would really now include unbundled loop, line sharing and line splitting.

Kim Isaacs – Integra said LNP should not be part of this CR. Voice Grade loops will never be impacted by copper decommission. Kim said it should be by NC codes, LX-N and LX-R.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said the NC codes are ADU, LX-N and LXR-. Lori said EEL was eliminated and the CR is specific to shared loop, unbundled loop split, UNE-POTS, Local number loop split and local number portability.

Susan Lorence – CenturyLink said this CR was originally a product process CR and was crossed over to systems. The original CR indicates that EEL is included. Susan said that she will get with the CR originator John Ivanuska, XO Communications, to update the CR with the correct products.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink clarified that the edit will be engaged on the following NC codes ONLY: LXR-, LX-N and ADUD for ISDN capable loops. ISDN Capable loops are included because DSLAMs do not support ISDN. Jamal said shared loops are not available either.

Kim Isaacs – Integra confirmed that that is when the CR edit would be applied.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said yes and that this change did not change the Walkthrough presentation.

12/12/2012 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said the main focus for the IMA Release 34 is SCR050812-1X CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes. In addition, the revised LSOG Phase 2 CR SCR101111-4IG will also be included. Mark said based on the available resources, CenturyLink will utilize the Special Change Request Process (SCRP) for the additional hours.

10/17/2012 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said the original approach for this CR was to use the Fax Gateway for the situation where the customer still wants to place an order on a decommissioned route. Mark said during the Clarification call, Integra offered an alternative solution to use the Override function. The CenturyLink SME team had investigated this option.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said the SME team had determined that it was possible to use the Override function and was proceeding with that as the solution. Lori said the decision had just been made and that CenturyLink SMEs were looking at how to tweak the Override process.

Kim Isaacs – Integra said thank you.

Bonnie Johnson – MN DOC said if system changes were required, was there a solution available in the interim. Bonnie asked if customers will be allowed to fax orders in during the interim until the system solution is in place.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said there was no interim solution; the change to use the manual Override function is in association with the planned IMA system changes. Lori said the IMA system changes will be to reject the order if it is on a decommissioned route. The use of the Override is to be used in conjunction with the IMA reject as the manual workaround at that time.

Bonnie Johnson – MN DOC said she was not sure how long it was going to be before the Override function is in place.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said the IMA changes are scheduled for IMA 34 which is May 2013.

Bonnie Johnson – MN DOC asked if the Fax solution is available until the Override is in place.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said she was trying to understand the need for an interim solution. The use of the Override will be put in place at the same time the system change is put in place to reject the order on a route that is to be decommissioned. Until the order reject is in place, an interim solution is not required.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked if that is because today, (10/26/12 Updates received from Integra in CAPS) CENTURYLINK PROVISIONS orders on [delete A] decommissioned routeS [delete ARE PROVISIONED; THEY ARE NOT REJECTED TODAY]. [insert] THEY DO NOT REJECT THE ORDERS TODAY.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink said yes.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said the LOE is 4200-4800 hours and that the CR is slotted for IMA Release 34.

09/19/2012 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Mark Coyne – CenturyLink said there was an Ad hoc call on 9/5/12 and that the meeting minutes are posted to the calendar. He said there was an action item from the meeting to explore the use of the override function vs. using fax gateway. There will be another ad hoc call scheduled for early October.

Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink said there is not much new as if yet. During the ad hoc, he was asked about using the override function for submitting LSRs vs. using fax gateway in the onesy-twosy situations when the customer still wants to place an order on a route that is to be decommissioned. Chuck said there are both system and process impacts and that he is still exploring the feasibility and that it will be worked out by the next ad hoc call.

Susan Lorence – CenturyLink said she wanted to point out that this Decommissioning CR is the only other CR pending for the IMA Release 34 that was previously under discussion with the LSOG CR.

09/05/12 Ad Hoc Meeting Minutes FINAL Attendees: John Ivanuska – XO Communications,Mark Coyne – CenturyLink,John Hansen – CenturyLink,Liz Tierney – Megapath,Kim Isaacs – Integra,Al Finnell – Windstream,Bonnie Johnson – Minnesota Department of Commerce,P. J. Koller - PriorityOne Telecommunications Denny Mechan – Strata Networks,Karrie Willis – Popp.com Inc.,Shannon Bishop – HickoryTech Inc.,Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink Lori Burchett – CenturyLink,Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink,Clint Maurice – CenturyLink,Mitch Moore – Oregon Public Utilities Commission

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink introduced the Change Request (CR) and asked Chuck Anderson from CenturyLink to discuss the proposed resolution to the request.

Chuck Anderson –CenturyLink stated that CenturyLink’s approach was to react to the existing notification process. The information in the notification would be used to implement an edit that would provide the decommissioning status in the Pre-Order process within IMA and also a reject condition when an order is placed in IMA. CenturyLink anticipates that it will take twenty-four (24) business hours to react to the notification and have the data in place for the information and reject process to occur for the copper retirement areas.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked what elements in the notice would be used to build the edits.

Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink stated that it would be from the cross box.

Bonnie Johnson – Minnesota Department of Commerce asked about the manual override process for those situations where a CLEC wished to order a temporary service anyway.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink stated that another subject matter expert would be addressing this issue after Chuck had completed his description of the edit.

Liz Tierney – Megapath asked for confirmation that the reject would be in conjunction with the distribution area (DA).

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink confirmed that it would be at the cross box area as indicated in the Network Disclosure; therefore it could be equated to the DA level.

Liz Tierney – Megapath asked for confirmation that the entire wire center would not be impacted.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink confirmed that it would just be the DA or the cross box serving the DA.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Department of Commerce stated that there was interest in knowing that the CR is designed to notify a CLEC that existing copper is destined to be retired. She asked what the current solution if the copper has been retired and no copper is available or if it was a temporary situation where no copper was currently available. The CLEC is often asked to submit the request anyway (9/13/12 Updates received from MN-DOC in CAPS) TO SEE IF SOMETHING CAN BE ASSIGNED. She asked if there was a message defining either situation.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink asked if she could provide examples. The current loop qualification tool does not currently provide an example.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Department of Commerce stated that she had not made reference to whether or not this was wholesale or retail and restated her question. She stated that a current loop qualification may respond with “no qualified loops’ but the customer does not know if this is temporary (9/13/12 Updates received from MN-DOC in CAPS) AND PAIRS CAN BE FOUND or if the copper is retired and NO COPPER LOOP will never be available. A CLEC in Minnesota has been told to send the request anyway and considers this an effort that may be unnecessary if the CLEC could only know that the situation was temporary or final.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink referred the question to Chuck Anderson.

Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink stated that there were several generic messages already but were not specific to the copper issue. He stated that with this CR, any decommissioned areas would be stored as archived info and would consistently give the same message.

Bonnie Johnson - Minnesota Department of Commerce asked if previously decommissioned areas could be included in the archive.

Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink stated that it had not been explored, but that he could take it back to the development team and investigate.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink asked for other questions for Chuck Anderson. There were none. He asked Lori Burchett – CenturyLink to discuss the override option.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink stated that the manual process would require that the order be sent through Fax Gateway. She offered information as to how to find information regarding Fax Gateway in case anyone needed. She also offered information as to how to sign up for Network Disclosure notices.

Kim Isaacs – Integra stated that faxing was not a desired option and asked why CenturyLink did not consider using the “Override” option in IMA to submit these requests.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink stated that it was felt that this was the best option.

Kim Isaacs – Integra state that the purpose of the “Override” option was designed for this purpose and reiterated that it would be a preferred option.

Jamal Boudhaouia – CenturyLink stated that CenturyLink would explore using that option, but that from the training perspective, the Fax Gateway was the preferred option.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink asked if there were any other questions for Lori, or any other questions or comments overall. There were none. He concluded that there were two follow-up action items. First, on the edit side, subject matter experts would check into the option of adding previously retired copper areas, and second, on the manual process side, they would check into the “Override” option. In regards to next steps, the team would take the information back and provide a level of effort and it would be presented in the September CMP meeting if possible. If not, it would be presented in the October meeting. At that point the candidate would be placed on the list for the next IMA release which would be in 2013. It would also be subject to prioritization if that were to become necessary.

Chuck Anderson – CenturyLink asked, in regards to the “Override” policy, if it was expected to be for an entire company or if it were a “one off” option.

Kim Isaacs – Integra that it was designed to be a per LSR request when a customer needed a short term solution.

Mark Coyne –CenturyLink asked the CR submitter, John Ivanuska from XO Communications, if he had any comments. He did not and the call was concluded at 12:55 PM MT.

07/18/2012 Monthly Systems CMP Meeting Mary Coyne – CenturyLink asked Lori to update CLECs on SCR050812-1X CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes.

Lori Burchett – CenturyLink stated that a proposal was under internal review and was hopeful that it would meet the requested requirements. The proposal would require that for overrides, it would need to be submitted through Fax Gateway.

06/20/2012 CMP Prod Proc Meeting Mark Coyne - CenturyLink stated that John Ivanuska from XO Communications presented the CR in the May meeting. A clarification call was held May 16, 2012. Mark read the CenturyLink response that was sent June 13, 2012 that CenturyLink has determined that the best solution for this CR is a systems change. CenturyLink has proposed that this CR be closed and a system crossover CR be opened. That new CR number will be SCR050812-1X. CenturyLink’s evaluation of the CR is ongoing.

Kim Isaacs – Integra asked when the ad hoc calls were anticipated.

Mark Coyne – CenturyLink stated that no date has been set and when they are scheduled, an announcement would be made. Mark asked if John had any other comments. John Ivanuska – XO Communications said he was fine with the approach and looked forward to the ad hoc calls.

CenturyLink Response

June 13, 2012

John Ivanuska, XO Communications

SUBJECT: CR # PC050812-1 CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes

This letter is in response to XO’s Change Request (CR) PC050812-1,CenturyLink’s recognition of to be decommissioned copper routes. This CR requests that CenturyLink reject orders that are placed on a route that is to be decommissioned.

During the Clarification call held on May 16, 2012, there was some discussion that there could be a CenturyLink process issue that was causing this to be a problem. After further investigation, that is not the case. CenturyLink processes and systems associated with tracking copper retirement are working as designed. Furthermore, during the Clarification call, Integra proposed a revision to the CR that an order could be placed on an exception basis if a CLEC has a need for an unbundled copper loop on a temporary basis. The SME team has been reviewing potential solutions and believes that the most efficient approach for a solution to this CR will require a system change since orders are placed through IMA. Thus, CenturyLink proposes that this CR cross over to a system CR during the June CMP meeting. As such, this CR PC050812-1 will be closed and CenturyLink will open CR SCR050812-1X on XO’s behalf with a reference to the original product process CR.

CenturyLink is continuing to evaluate the possible options for a system solution and hopes to schedule an ad hoc call in the near future to present the proposed solution.

Sincerely, Susan Lorence CenturyLink CR Project Manager