Product Catalog (PCAT)
Resale - Market Expansion Line® (MEL)- V26.0
Product Description
CenturyLink's retail telecommunication service, Market Expansion Line ® (MEL) is available for resale by Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) to their end-users. Additional information about resale of CenturyLink's retail services is available in Resale General.
MEL is also known as Remote Call Forwarding (RCF). RCF provides the end-user a local telephone number without having a physical location. The local telephone number works out of a Central Office (C.O.).
Types of MEL service include:
- Local MEL (LMEL) calls are forwarded from the central office (CO) to another number within the same local calling area. Calls can be forwarded to any type of line, and the measured or message charges are assessed for each call answered at the terminating location.
- Long Distance MEL calls are forwarded to an intra- LATA, interLATA, or Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS) e.g. 800, 855, 866, 877, 888 service line number. Any long distance charges that apply will be assessed for each call answered at the terminating location. Long distance charges are not assessed if calls are forwarded to toll-free numbers.
The MEL (Remote Call Forward) Number has one access (talk path) which allows only one call in progress at a time. Additional talk paths can be ordered to allow additional calls to be forwarded provided the distant location is equipped to receive them.
CenturyLink provides notification when local calling areas are changed due to Extended Area Service (EAS) expansions. As a result of these expansions, you should take the opportunity to determine if your current MEL option meets your needs.
Availability
MEL service is available where facilities exist throughout CenturyLink QC. In Utah, a Local MEL is not available when the call forwarding number is to a different exchange in the same local calling area.
For more information refer to the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
Terms and Conditions
Customers with MEL are susceptible to toll fraud so security actions must be taken. It is your responsibility to validate the end-user's billing and credit information.
Additional terms and conditions, rates, and charges can be found for each state in the Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
MEL calls can be forwarded to the following:
- 900 Numbers (Exception: Central States cannot forward to 900 numbers)
- Another local number
- An IntraLATA long distance number
- An InterLATA long distance number
- Foreign/international numbers (DMS-10, DMS-100/DMS-100R and Ericsson only). Canada is allowed in all switches
- A pager
- A 1+700 number (not 0+700 number)
- Cellular/Mobile number
- Semi Public
- WATS 800/888/877/866/855 number.
- Foreign Exchange
- Faxline Numbers
- DID Numbers
- Voice Messaging Mailbox
MEL calls cannot forward to the following:
- 0+700 Number
- 900 Number (Central Only)
- 911
- Foreign/international numbers in 5ESS/5RSM
- OUTWATS
- Private number (non-switched) networks
- UT Only: CFN number that has Call Forwarding
- Public Coin Number
- UT Only: Local MEL where CFN is in a different exchange in the same EAS area.
Technical Publications
Technical characteristics are described in the following:
- Telcordia Generic Requirements(GRs)/Technical References(TRs)/Special Reports(SRs), or the ANSI Standard Publications.
Pricing
Rate Structure
MEL service is offered on a month-to-month basis. Non recurring charges may apply when the service is added and or changed.
Rates are available in Exhibit A or specific rate sheet in your Interconnect or Resale Agreement.
Rates
CenturyLink retail rates are available in the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
CenturyLink's retail rates for MEL service, less any applicable resale discount, apply to resold MEL service.
Tariffs, Regulations and Policy
For terms and conditions applicable to CenturyLink retail products available for resale, view the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
Optional Features
There are no optional features applicable with MEL.
For information regarding availability of Optional Calling Plans refer to the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
Features/Benefits
| Features | Benefits |
| Includes one free directory listing |
|
| Provides a local telephone number without having a physical location. |
|
Applications
See Features/Benefits.
Implementation
Product Prerequisites
If you are a new CLEC and are ready to do business with CenturyLink, view Getting Started for Facility-Based CLECs or Getting Started for Resellers.
If you are an existing CLEC wishing to amend your Interconnection Agreement, additional information is located in the Interconnection Agreement.
Pre-Ordering
You must perform Loop Qualification before ordering new QWB service to determine if, and at what speeds, broadband service is available at the end-user's location. Loop Qualification will qualify addresses for CenturyLink broadband only, and will return the highest speed available for that location. Loop qualification is available by:
Ordering
It is important to understand Resale General procedures before ordering MEL.
General ordering activities are described in the Ordering Overview.
Service requests should be placed using EASE-LSR Extensible Markup Language (XML) orEASE-LSR Graphical User Interface (GUI).
MEL service requests are submitted using the following Local Service Ordering Guidelines (LSOG) forms:
- Local Service Request (LSR)
- End User (EU)
- Resale Service (RS)
- Directory Listing (DL), if applicable
MEL is ordered similarly to Resale POTS with the following unique ordering requirements:
- On the LSR form, the third character of the Type of Service
(TOS) field must include an "M" for measured service (not applicable
for XML users).
New MEL accounts do not require technician appointments. In order to satisfy edits in EASE-LSR, for new MEL service, populate the following fields on the LSR form as indicated:- DDD - the requested due date
- APPTIME - HHMM
- APTCON - MEL
- On the EU form, populate the Location and Access section with
the applicable address information. If there is a physical end-user
address, use this address to populate these fields; if not, use
the CO address that can be obtained from your CenturyLink Service Manager
or Interconnect Service Center
- For a new account, if there is a physical end-user address, use this address to populate these fields; if not, use the CO address that can be obtained from your CenturyLink Service Manager or Interconnect Service Center.
- For an existing account that is converting to MEL, use the physical address. The existing address will be changed to the C.O. address when the service order is written.
- On the Directory Listing form:
- If a physical address is to be listed in the Directory, provide this information on the Listings Form.
- If a CO address is used, the address should be omitted from the directory listing.
If you want the main listing to be Non-Published this will be provided free of charge for the main listing only. To achieve this you must :
-
a) add NP3 USOC in Feature Detail section
b) include appropriate DL form entries
The RS Form must contain the appropriate line Universal Service Order Code(s) (USOCs). The following table contains the USOCs available for MEL service.
| Product | Business USOCs | Residential USOCs |
| Resale LMEL | RCFVH - AZ, ID-S, MT, NM, UT*, WY RCFVF - CO, IA, MN, NE, ND, SD RD5 - ID-N, OR, WA |
RCFRH - AZ, ID-S, MT, NM, UT*, WY RCFRF - CO, IA, MN, NE, ND, SD RD6 - ID-N, OR, WA |
| Resale Long Distance MEL | RCFVT - AZ, CO, ID-S, MT, NM, UT, WY RCFVE (Interlata) - IA, ID-N, MN, NE, ND, OR, SD, WA RCFVS (Intralata) - IA, ID-N, MN, NE, ND, OR, SD, WA |
RCFRT - AZ, CO, ID-S, MT, NM, UT, WY RCFRE (Interstate) - IA, MN, NE, ND, SD RCFRS (Interstate) - IA, MN, NE, ND, SD NA in ID-N, OR, WA |
| Resale WATS MEL | RCFWT - AZ, CO, ID-S, MT, NM, UT, WY RCFVS (Intrastate Termination) - IA, MN, NE, ND, SD RCFWS (Intrastate Termination) - ID-N, OR, WA RCFVE (Interstate Termination) - IA, MN, NE, ND, SD RCFWE (Interstate Termination) - ID-N, OR, WA |
NA |
| Resale International MEL (includes Canada) |
RCFVN - IA, ID-N, MN, NE, ND, OR, SD, WA | RCFRN - IA, MN, NE, ND, SD |
| MEL additional path (If you want to be able to answer two or more calls from the MEL number) | RCA - All states | RCA - All states |
* UT: Local Remote Call Forwarding is not available when the call forwarding number is to a different exchange in the same local calling area.
The MEL can be arranged to handle more than one call simultaneously by establishing additional talk path(s). The additional talk path functions as an incoming call group which allows multiple calls to the MEL number to be completed simultaneously.
If customer wants to be able to answer two or more calls from the MEL at the same time they must:
- Have additional pathway(s) on the MEL number.
- Be able to answer multiple calls at the CFN with a feature like Call Waiting, Hunting, Call Forward Busy.
| IF YOU HAVE | AND | THEN | EXAMPLE |
| One MEL, No additional path (RCA) Call Waiting at CFN | First MEL call is in progress | Second MEL call will get a busy | RCFVH/GSZ 1 |
| One MEL, One additional path (RCA), Call Waiting at CFN | First MEL call is in progress | Second MEL call can be answered | RCFVH/GSZ 2 RCA/GSZ 2 |
The total number of calls that can be in progress at the same time is identified by the FID /GSZ (Group Size). If additional call paths are required, the USOC RCA will be added to the request followed by the FID /GSZ and the total number of call paths. The Group Size is calculated by adding the MEL line plus the additional call paths.
The RCA (Remote Call Additional) adds the capability of forwarding additional calls from the same MEL line. Each RCA added to the MEL Line will forward one additional call to the forwarding end. There are limitations to how many additional paths are allowed by Central Office Switch Type. The table below shows the RCA limitations.
| Central Office Type | RCA Limitation |
| 5ESS/RSM | 99 paths |
| DMS10 | 15 paths |
| DMS-100 | 511 paths |
NOTE: The Remote Call Forwarding/Market Expansion Line has only one Access Path (or Talk Path). This allows only one in-progress call at a time. Additional Paths can be ordered to allow additional calls to be forwarded, provided the terminating location is equipped to receive them. (End users lines should be equal to or greater than the number of talk paths.). If callers to the MEL are getting busy signals, this is an indication that there are an insufficient number of talk paths to accommodate the number of concurrent calls. Call Waiting and Call Forward Busy arrangements have physical limitations depending on switch type and should not be relied on to handle calls being received. The total GSZ should not exceed the number of calls that can be answered at the end-user's premises. For example, a MEL with a GSZ=6 should have six lines in a hunt group, or five lines in a hunt group with the last line forwarding to voice mail.
Use of USOCs and Field Identifiers (FIDs) are described in the USOCs & FIDs Overview. Use of the USOC/FID Finder will assist you in identifying USOC and FID requirements.
Other field entry requirements are described in the LSOG.
If requesting a directory listing, the listed address can not be the CO address. The listed address must be the address where calls are answered or the address may be omitted from the directory.
Additional information on ordering directory listings is available in the White Pages Directory Listings PCAT
Feature Detail (FID and Data Requirements)
The Activity type of Conversion as Specified (ACT = V - Conversion as specified/DL) should be used for the following changes:
- An existing Resale or Retail MEL not owned by you that is changing to another non-MEL Resale or commercial local exchange services product, (e.g. CenturyLink™ Local Service Platform (CLSP™)).
- An existing Retail or Resale product not owned by you that is changing to Resale MEL
- Your existing Resale MEL that is changing to a commercial local exchange services product
- Your existing commercial local exchange services product is changing to Resale MEL
If you are the owner of the account, refer to the following examples when changing to a different type of service.
Changing from Resale POTS or Centrex service to Resale MEL
This feature is ordered by including:
- REQTYP = E-Resale (POTS, PAL, PBX, ISDN and CenturyLink High-Speed Internet™)
- ACT = C - Change an Existing Account
- TOS third character must be M (Measured Rate), not applicable for XML users
- AN on the LSR form must be the current Resale POTS or Centrex account number
- TN on Resale form is the number that is changing to MEL
- Feature Activity Type C and Existing USOC
- Feature Activity Type T and appropriate MEL USOC from table above
- Feature Activity Type N and USOC RCA (repeat for each additional call path desired)
Example of entries:
- C 1FB
- T RCFVH
- N RCA (repeat for each additional call path desired)
Changing from Resale MEL service to Resale POTS
This feature is ordered by including:
- REQTYP = E-Resale (POTS, PAL, PBX, ISDN and CenturyLink High-Speed Internet)
- ACT = C - Change an Existing Account
- TOS = End State POTS values
- Feature Activity Type C and MEL USOC
- Feature Activity Type T and appropriate USOC
- Feature Activity Type D and USOC RCA
- REMARKS will contain the physical address with the Manual Indicator set to "Y - Remarks must be processed manually".
Example of entries:
- C RCFVH
- T 1FB
- D RCA
Changing from Resale MEL service to Resale Centrex Plus
This feature is ordered by including:
- REQTYP = P - Centrex
- ACT = C - Change an Existing Account
- TOS = End State Centrex values
- End User Form First Location is address information for the Common Block
- End User Form Second Location is address information for the end user
- Feature Activity Type C and MEL USOCs
- Feature Activity Type T and appropriate USOCs
- Feature Activity Type D and RCA USOC
Example of entries:
- C RCF
- T RKY/LCC xxx
- D RCA
Provisioning and Installation
Firm Order Confirmation (FOC) intervals are available in the SIG.
A jeopardy occurs on a LSR request if a condition exists that threatens timely completion. Jeopardy notification information is described in the Provisioning and Installation Overview.
Maintenance and Repair
General maintenance and repair activities are described in the Maintenance and Repair Overview.
Billing
On a monthly basis, CenturyLink will provide you with billing information that will provide summary account information as well as end-user account information.
Customer Records and Information System (CRIS) billing is described in Billing Information - Customer Records and Information System (CRIS).
Training
Local CenturyLink 101 "Doing Business With CenturyLink"
- This introductory web-based training course is designed to teach the Local CLEC and Local Reseller how to do business with CenturyLink. It will provide a general overview of products and services, CenturyLink billing and support systems, processes for submitting service requests, reports, and web resource access information. Click here for Course detail and registration information.
View additional CenturyLink courses in the Course Catalog.
Contacts
CenturyLink contact information is located in Wholesale Customer Contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What number will appear on the Caller ID?
A. Caller ID displays the Calling Number and not the Remote Call
Forwarding (MEL) Number.
Q. Can a Reseller send CenturyLink a request to Port-In a telephone
number (non-native to CenturyLink) and establish it as a MEL?
A. Yes, as long as all rules for both Port-In and MEL are followed,
including but not limited to porting within the same Rate Center.
Additional information can be found in the Port-In
Business Procedure
Q. Can more than one MEL be billed on the same account?
A. Yes, more than one MEL may be billed on the same account as long
as they originate from and terminate in (CFN) the same exchanges,
i.e., originating exchanges are same and terminating exchanges are
same.
Q. Can usage for each MEL be billed separately?
A. If more than one MEL on account all local usage is billed together
for all MELs. If usage is needed separately for each MEL, issue
each MEL request as a separate account.
Last Update: April 6, 2015
Last Review: November 2, 2023
Market Expansion Line® is a Registered Trademark of CenturyLink™