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Carrier-Grade
Billing
The
CABS Leader
Key
Features
Client/Server
Flexibility
Easy
Access to Info
Bill
Usage Verification
Easy
Implementation
System
Setup
Reports
Service
Bureau
Customers
Reciprocal
Compensation
Work Order Software
Work Administration, Service Call Tracking
Outside Plant Software
Designed for Managing Outside Plant |
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The CLEC - UNE-P Connection
CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) that
lease facilities from the incumbent local company and do not own telecom
facilities are called
UNE-Ps (from Unbundled Network Element Platform). They take full advantage
of the Unbundled Network Elements provision of the Telecommunications Act of
1996.
Before 1996, the CLECs were at a disadvantage in the construction of tariff
rates because they would be putting in all new facilities to provide service to
the subscribers. Naturally, to justify the expenditure, the CLECs went after the
large businesses that had a lot of traffic.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave CLECs a big boost by mandating that the
ILECs lease their facilities to the CLECs, allowing the CLECs to get into
business immediately on a pay-as-you-go basis. This arrangement was not happily
accepted by the ILECs. The method used to calculate the lease fees to the CLECs
was different by state. Facilities included in some states were not allowed in
others, resulting in differing rates from state to state. For example, the
per-access line rates in Illinois, New York, and West Virginia look like this:
Illinois: $2.59 - $11.40 *
New York: $7.70 - $15.51 *
West Virginia: $14.49 - $43.44 *
* These rates are subject to change at any time.
Contact an Intec Telecom Systems representative to learn about the current
rates.
Of course the CLECs are going to provide service where they make money.
The LECs have fought the UNE-P concept because it forces the ILECs to create and
subsidize their own competition. The FCC has effectively disregarded the ILECs
complaints on this matter and thrown the issue back to the states. Now that
fifty regulatory bodies are determining if UNE-P will be allowed and the rates
under which the service will be offered, look for more diversity and complexity
to be seen.
Whatever way the facilities are provided, IXCs have complained that the cost of
the network is too high. In 1984 the cost of access averaged about nine cents
per minute. IXCs claimed that this cost was not justified. Further, the
expenditure prohibited them from lowering the cost of long distance to the
subscriber, whose local telephone service they claimed was subsidized by long
distance revenue. The IXCs also took the position that the cost of the last mile
of service was imbedded and paid for long ago.
The ILECs, on the other hand, argued that the new services being offered to the
subscriber necessitated new technology for updating and enhancing facilities.
New, more robust switches with higher capacity and the outside plant to support
the growing capabilities allowed the IXC to offer new and improved service,
therefore justifying the access costs. Without these facilities, some of the
services could not be offered to subscribers. Indeed, some areas of the US still
cannot offer new technology services.
The provision of the local loop is the local service provider’s responsibility,
but its costs need to be shared by both the local company and the long distance
provider. By using the CABS (Carrier Access Billing System) method in the way of
payment for use of services, both the LECs and the IXCs benefit by satisfying
the subscriber.
InterconnecT CABS CG from Intec Telecom
Systems empowers you to track, accumulate and bill your long distance carrier
partners with a minimum investment in system, training and staff
costs, and
maximum results in collecting
all the revenues you have earned with your network. You can even let our
service
bureau handle everything!
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