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Collocation Entrance Facilities Overview - V5.0

History Log

Description

A CLEC may select from five (5) methods for facility access to its collocation space.

They include

  • Fiber Entrance Facilities
  • Private Line or Access Services
  • Unbundled Network Elements
  • Copper Entrance (Minnesota Only)
  • Microwave Entrance Facilities

CLEC may request alternative entrance facilities including Unbundled Dark Fiber (UDF) and other non-standard entrance facilities.

Copper Entrance facilities for all states other than Minnesota and other entrance facility technology requests may be requested via the Bona Fide Request (BFR) Process.

Unbundled Dark Fiber (UDF) is ordered outside of the collocation process.

The Facility Connected (FC) Collocation product is described in Facility Connected (FC) Collocation.

Terms and Conditions for Fiber Entrance Facilities

Collocation Fiber Entrance Facilities

CenturyLink™ offers three (3) Fiber Collocation Entrance Facility options: Standard Fiber Entrance Facility, Cross-Connect Fiber Entrance Facility and Express Fiber Entrance Facilities. These options apply to Caged and Cageless Physical Collocation and Virtual Collocation. Fiber Entrance Facilities provide the connectivity between CLEC's collocation facility within the CenturyLink Wire Center and a Collocation Point of Interconnection (C-POI) outside the CenturyLink Wire Center.

Collocation Point of Interconnection (C-POI)

CenturyLink shall provide an Interconnection point or points, physically accessible by both CenturyLink and CLEC. CenturyLink shall designate Interconnection points as close as reasonably possible to its Premises. CenturyLink shall offer at least two (2) such Interconnection points at each CenturyLink Wire Center when at least two (2) entry points pre-exist and duct space is available. CenturyLink will not initiate construction of a second, separate Collocation entrance facility solely for Collocation. If CenturyLink requires the construction of a new Collocation entrance facility for its own use, then the needs of CLEC will also be taken into consideration.

Fiber Entrance Product Descriptions

Standard Fiber Entrance Facility (Shared Fiber) -- The standard fiber entrance facility provides fiber connectivity between CLEC's fiber facilities delivered to the C-POI and CLEC's Collocation space in increments of 12 fibers. CenturyLink splices CLEC's fiber cable at the C-POI into a CenturyLink-provided shared fiber entrance cable. The fiber cable terminates on a Fiber Distribution Panel (FDP). A 12 fiber minimum (6 pair) Interconnection cable is placed between CLEC's Collocation space and the FDP. The FDP provides CenturyLink with test access and a connection point between the transport fiber and CLEC's Interconnection cable.

CLEC is responsible for providing its own fiber facilities to the C-POI outside CenturyLink's Wire Center. CenturyLink will extend the fiber cable from the C-POI to a Fiber Distribution Panel (FDP). CenturyLink will then provide additional fiber, conduit and associated riser structure from the FDP. The CenturyLink provided facility from the C-POI to the FDP within the CenturyLink Wire Center shall be considered the Collocation Fiber Entrance Facility.

Cross-Connect Fiber Entrance Facility -- The cross-connect fiber entrance facility provides fiber connectivity between a CLEC's fiber facilities and multiple locations within a CenturyLink Wire Center. The CLEC's fiber cable is spliced by CenturyLink at the C-POI into a CenturyLink shared fiber entrance cable that terminates on a CenturyLink OSP FDP located in the CenturyLink Wire Center. The OSP FDP connects via fiber jumpers to a secondary FDP to connect to the CLEC's collocation space.

The Fiber Entrance Facility is ordered in 12 fiber strand increments and delivered from the secondary FDP to the CLEC collocation space.

CLEC fiber running from a CLEC collocation site to a CenturyLink Central Office secondary FDP forming the Central Office portion of a Cross-Connect Fiber Entrance Facility can be re-designated as spare CLEC Central Office fiber. The CLEC may place an inverse augment order to have all or a portion (in 4 strand increments, i.e. 2 fiber circuits) of the fiber cross connect jumpers removed, effectively reducing the number of fiber entrance facilities. One application of this process is the CLEC may elect to reallocate the disconnected fiber to connect to another CLEC within the same CenturyLink Wire Center. This CLEC to CLEC Connection is also referred to as a CLEC to CLEC Cross-Connect.

Express Fiber Entrance Facility (Express Fiber)

- CenturyLink will place CLEC-provided fiber cable from the C-POI directly to CLEC's Collocation space. Fiber will be installed by CenturyLink when all fiber cables for all requested entrances have been delivered. The fiber cable placed in the Wire Center must meet NEBS Level 1 fire rating requirements. This option will not be available if there is only one (1) conduit with two (2) unused innerducts (one (1) for emergency restoral and one (1) for a shared entrance cable). This option eliminates the CenturyLink splice in the C-POI and bypasses the FDP. The CLEC will be responsible for a transition to NEBs Level 1 fire retardant cable prior to the C-POI.

The express fiber entrance facility is assumed to be fiber optic cable and meets industry standards (GR. 20 Core). Metallic sheath cable is not considered a standard Collocation entrance facility.

  • In Minnesota, for Express Fiber, the CLEC has the option for CenturyLink to splice the NEBS Level 1 fiber in the C-POI.

If you are unable to deliver your Fiber Entrance facility in a timely manner, additional information is described in the Collocation Express/Shared Fiber Process Overview.

Terms and Conditions for DS1 Private Line, DS3 Private Line and UNE Entrance Facilities

As an alternative to the Fiber Entrance Facilities described above, CLEC may purchase unbundled dedicated interoffice transport (UDIT), cataloged DS1 or DS3 Private Line or CenturyLink Tariff Access or Switched Access Services.

Terms and Conditions for Microwave Entrance Facilities

Microwave Entrance Facilities - is the placement of an antenna on a non-penetrating roof mount, or on an existing tower, building or supporting structure on the exterior of a CenturyLink premises building, to be used in conjunction with transmission (radio) equipment collocated inside the premises.

CenturyLink offers Microwave Entrance Facilities, on Premises owned or controlled by CenturyLink, to access CLEC transmission equipment collocated on or inside the CenturyLink Premises. The rooftop, duct, conduit, and riser cable space for Microwave Entrance Facilities is available on a first-come, first-served basis, where Technically Feasible. CLEC may place its microwave antenna on a CenturyLink owned or controlled existing tower, building or supporting structure, where space is available, or CLEC may construct such tower or supporting structure, if necessary and if there is sufficient space and the building structure is not jeopardized. Such microwave equipment will be limited to that which is necessary for Interconnection to CenturyLink's network or access to CenturyLink's Unbundled Network Elements. Any equipment used to produce or extract moisture must be connected to existing or newly constructed building or roof top drainage systems, at the CLECs expense.

CenturyLink will jointly coordinate and plan with CLEC for the placement and location of the microwave equipment on a non-penetrating roof mount, or an existing tower or supporting structure on the exterior of a CenturyLink Premise. The method of placing CLEC microwave equipment shall be mutually agreed upon. Tower or building roof space that allows for unobstructed line-of-sight will be provided by CenturyLink where Technically Feasible. A weatherproof cable entry hatch or an existing wave-guide hatch or other suitable entrance into the building is required. If space is available, CLEC may use an existing cable entry hatch or a new cable entry hatch will need to be constructed. The cable entry hatch charges are calculated on a per Port used basis.

CLEC can perform the determination of line-of-sight feasibility or if requested, CenturyLink will perform the line-of-sight feasibility. CLEC will submit a Microwave Entrance Facility Application for each antenna arrangement and each CenturyLink Premises requested. A site visit will include appropriate CenturyLink and CLEC personnel for the purpose of determining whether an unobstructed line-of-sight is Technically Feasible and structural analysis of the building. The site visit will take place within fifteen (15) calendar Days after receipt by CenturyLink of the CLEC's Microwave Entrance Facility Application, unless the CLEC requests a later date. If CLEC performs the structural analysis and line-of-sight feasibility, it shall submit a response regarding its analysis to CenturyLink and CenturyLink will only bill for an escort fee per site requested. If either Party disputes the technical feasibility, space availability, or other conditions proposed by CenturyLink, the Parties will promptly petition the Commission for resolution of the dispute.

If CenturyLink performs the feasibility analysis, a response will be provided to CLEC within thirty (30) calendar Days after the site visit with the structural analysis and line-of-sight feasibility. If the site visit determines that unobstructed line-of-sight and placement of the microwave equipment are not Technically Feasible, CLEC will be billed only for the site visit. If the site visit determines that the placement of microwave equipment is Technically Feasible, CenturyLink will provide a quote for the Microwave Entrance Facility with the quote for the submitted Collocation Application. If CLEC does not submit a Collocation Application for the Premises within thirty (30) calendar Days following the completion of the line-of-sight and structural feasibility analysis or CLEC subsequently cancels the Collocation Application; CLEC will be billed for the site visit.

CLEC must obtain all necessary variances, licenses, approvals and authorizations from governmental agencies with jurisdiction, such as use permits, building permits, FCC licenses and FAA approval, if required, to construct, operate and maintain the CLEC facilities. If CenturyLink's assistance is required in order for a CLEC to obtain necessary licenses or permits, CenturyLink will not unreasonably withhold such assistance. CLEC will pay all expenses associated with that assistance on a time and materials basis.

CLEC is responsible for the engineering, purchasing, supplying, installing, maintaining, repairing and servicing of its microwave specific equipment. CLEC shall provide the cable from the antenna equipment to the building cable entry hatch. However, CLEC is not permitted to penetrate the building exterior wall or roof. CenturyLink will do all building penetration and CenturyLink will install the coaxial cable or wave-guide/transmission facility from the cable entry hatch to the CLEC's Collocation space within the interval, as set forth in your Interconnection Agreement, for the type of Collocation requested by CLEC. CLEC facilities shall not physically, electronically or inductively interfere with the existing CenturyLink or other CLECs' equipment. Each transmitter individually and all transmitters collectively, for CenturyLink, CenturyLink Affiliates and CLECs, at a given location shall comply with appropriate Federal, State, and Local regulations governing the safe levels of RF radiation.

Upon expiration or termination of the Collocation arrangement or the Microwave Entrance Facility, CLEC shall return the antenna space to its original condition. CLEC shall repair any damages caused by removal of its microwave equipment, or by the use, operation or placement of its microwave equipment on the Premises. If CLEC performs the foregoing, CenturyLink shall impose no charges on CLEC for such work. In the event the CLEC fails to remove its microwave equipment, CLEC shall be liable to CenturyLink for all reasonable costs of removal, restoration of the property, storage and transportation to CLEC of such microwave equipment incurred by CenturyLink.

Terms and Conditions for Microwave Entrance Facilities

are included in your Interconnection Agreement; if those differ from those set forth in the document, then the terms of the Interconnection Agreement may prevail.

If terms and conditions for Microwave Entrance Facilities are not included in your Interconnection Agreement, you will be required to amend your Interconnection Agreement. In the event you wish to relocate any of your existing Microwave Physical Collocation facilities to a different place contiguous to or on the relevant CenturyLink premises rooftop, you must submit a written request to CenturyLink, at rfsmet@centurylink.com specifying the new location you propose to occupy. CenturyLink will, within 30 calendar days, approve such relocation or describe, in writing, why the relocation is not technically feasible.

CenturyLink, its contractors/vendors and you or your contractors/vendors are required to adhere to the requirements of Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 1 safety standards, Generic Equipment Requirements (TR-NWT-000063), Electromagnetic, Compatibility and Electrical Safety Generic Criteria for Network Telecommunication Equipment (TR-NWT-001089), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Bulletin 65 dated 08/97, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as to the following CenturyLink Technical Publications and web page. These standards apply equally to CenturyLink, CenturyLink affiliates, CenturyLink contractors/vendors and CLECs or CLECs' contractors/vendors.

The following Technical Publications are specific to Microwave installation

Rates

General rates for Collocation Entrance Facilities are described in the Collocation General Information PCAT.

Ordering

Collocation Fiber Entrance Facilities are ordered on the general Collocation Application form, in conjunction with your request for collocation.

General Collocation ordering activities are described in the Collocation General Information PCAT.

Microwave Entrance Facilities are ordered on the Collocation Application form, in conjunction with your request for Collocation.

  • You will be required to submit a Microwave Entrance Facility/Site Visit order form prior to your Collocation Application form, to rfsmet@centurylink.com, when requesting Microwave Entrance Facilities. Your Collocation Application form may be submitted after you have received the feasibility response from your Microwave Entrance Facility/Site Visit order form.
  • The Microwave Entrance Facility/Site Visit order form can be found in the ordering section of the Collocation - General Information web page at: http://centurylink.com/wholesale/pcat/collocation.html#apform.
  • If the feasibility response to the Microwave Entrance Facility/Site Visit order form is yes, select Microwave as your requested Entrance Facility Type in the appropriate section of the Collocation Application form.
  • If the feasibility response to the Microwave Entrance Facility/Site Visit order form was no, you will be required to submit your Collocation Application, indicating an alternate type of entrance facility.

Each antenna arrangement must be requested on a separate application.

Training

Local CenturyLink 101: "Doing Business with CenturyLink"

  • This introductory Web-based training course is designed to teach the Local CLEC and 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 to learn more about this course and to register.

View additional CenturyLink courses by clicking on Course Catalog.

Contacts

CenturyLink contact information is located in Wholesale Customer Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This section is being compiled based on your feedback.

Last Update: August 8, 2011