Section 790.415  Special Access and Private Line Interconnection – Standards for Interconnection Arrangements

a)         Space allocation and exhaustion. In LEC locations that are tariffed to provide physical collocation, LECs shall:

1)         Offer space on a first-come, first-served basis to all telecommunications carriers and end users;

2)         Offer a physical collocation arrangement until such space available for interconnection is filled to capacity;

3)         Not reject subsequent interconnection requests due to lack of space, but shall provide a virtual collocation arrangement in lieu of the physical collocation arrangement unless the LEC has obtained a waiver under Section 790.410(c); and

4)         Include the demand for interconnection when planning to remodel an existing location or building a new location in the same manner as any other demand for other services is taken into consideration.

b)         Points of interconnection. When virtual collocation is provided, LECs shall specify an interconnection point or points as close as possible to the location in which telecommunications carriers and end users are requesting interconnection. These interconnection points must be physically accessible by the telecommunications carriers and end users on a non-discriminatory basis. Under virtual collocation, the interconnection point shall constitute the demarcation between the telecommunications carrier or end user and the LEC ownership of facilities.

c)         Points of entry. LECs shall provide at least two separate points of entry to a location for the telecommunications carrier's or end user's cable facilities whenever there are at least two entry points for LEC cable facilities.

d)         Equipment placed by or for telecommunications carriers and end users. Expanded interconnection requirements shall apply only to CO equipment needed to terminate or aggregate basic transmission facilities. The LECs are not required to place or allow the placement of other types of equipment by telecommunications carriers and end users (such as switching equipment, enhanced services, or customer premises equipment) in the location under either a physical collocation arrangement or a virtual collocation arrangement.

e)         Interconnection of microwave technologies. Tier 1 LECs shall provide interconnection for microwave technology. Tier 1 LECs may petition for, and the Commission shall grant, a waiver of this subsection if the FCC has granted a waiver of the requirement to interconnect microwave technology or, after hearings, the Commission finds that the LEC has demonstrated that the CO cannot physically accommodate the equipment or it is not technologically feasible to provide the expanded interconnection.

f)         Locations at which interconnection is available. LECs shall provide expanded interconnection at serving wire centers and end offices (central offices).

g)         Shared use of switched and special access services. Telecommunications carriers and end users shall not be allowed to use intrastate special access expanded interconnection offerings to connect their transmission facilities with the local exchange carrier's intrastate switched services until the LEC has an effective tariff on file with the Commission implementing an interim local transport rate structure at the intrastate level in response to the order adopted by the FCC on September 17, 1992 in CC Docket 91-213, "In the Matter of Transport Rate Structure and Pricing."