Sec. 51.319  Specific unbundling requirements.

    An incumbent LEC shall provide nondiscriminatory access in 
accordance with Sec. 51.311 and section 251(c)(3) of the Act to the 
following network elements on an unbundled basis to any requesting 
telecommunications carrier for the provision of a telecommunications 
service:
    (a) Local Loop. The local loop network element is defined as a 
transmission facility between a distribution frame (or its equivalent) 
in an incumbent LEC central office and an end user customer premises.

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    (b) Network Interface Device. (1) The network interface device 
network element is defined as a cross-connect device used to connect 
loop facilities to inside wiring.
    (2) An incumbent LEC shall permit a requesting telecommunications 
carrier to connect its own local loops to the inside wiring of premises 
through the incumbent LEC's network interface device. The requesting 
telecommunications carrier shall establish this connection through an 
adjoining network interface device deployed by such telecommunications 
carrier.
    (c) Switching Capability. (1) Local Switching Capability.
    (i) The local switching capability network element is defined as:
    (A) Line-side facilities, which include, but are not limited to, the 
connection between a loop termination at a main distribution frame and a 
switch line card;
    (B) Trunk-side facilities, which include, but are not limited to, 
the connection between trunk termination at a trunk-side cross-connect 
panel and a switch trunk card; and
    (C) All features, functions, and capabilities of the switch, which 
include, but are not limited to:
    (1) The basic switching function of connecting lines to lines, lines 
to trunks, trunks to lines, and trunks to trunks, as well as the same 
basic capabilities made available to the incumbent LEC's customers, such 
as a telephone number, white page listing, and dial tone; and
    (2) All other features that the switch is capable of providing, 
including but not limited to custom calling, custom local area signaling 
service features, and Centrex, as well as any technically feasible 
customized routing functions provided by the switch.
    (ii) An incumbent LEC shall transfer a customer's local service to a 
competing carrier within a time period no greater than the interval 
within which the incumbent LEC currently transfers end users between 
interexchange carriers, if such transfer requires only a change in the 
incumbent LEC's software;
    (2) Tandem Switching Capability. The tandem switching capability 
network element is defined as:
    (i) Trunk-connect facilities, including but not limited to the 
connection between trunk termination at a cross-connect panel and a 
switch trunk card;
    (ii) The basic switching function of connecting trunks to trunks; 
and
    (iii) The functions that are centralized in tandem switches (as 
distinguished from separate end-office switches), including but not 
limited to call recording, the routing of calls to operator services, 
and signaling conversion features.
    (d)(1) Interoffice transmission facilities include:
    (i) Dedicated transport, defined as incumbent LEC transmission 
facilities dedicated to a particular customer or carrier that provide 
telecommunications between wire centers owned by incumbent LECs or 
requesting telecommunications carriers, or between switches owned by 
incumbent LECs or requesting telecommunications carriers;
    (ii) Shared transport, defined as transmission facilities shared by 
more than one carrier, including the incumbent LEC, between end office 
switches, between end office switches and tandem switches, and between 
tandem switches, in the incumbent LEC network;
    (2) The incumbent LEC shall:
    (i) Provide a requesting telecommunications carrier exclusive use of 
interoffice transmission facilities dedicated to a particular customer 
or carrier, or use of the features, functions, and capabilities of 
interoffice transmission facilities shared by more than one customer or 
carrier;
    (ii) Provide all technically feasible transmission facilities, 
features, functions, and capabilities that the requesting 
telecommunications carrier could use to provide telecommunications 
services;
    (iii) Permit, to the extent technically feasible, a requesting 
telecommunications carrier to connect such interoffice facilities to 
equipment designated by the requesting telecommunications carrier, 
including, but not limited to, the requesting telecommunications 
carrier's collocated facilities; and

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    (iv) Permit, to the extent technically feasible, a requesting 
telecommunications carrier to obtain the functionality provided by the 
incumbent LEC's digital cross-connect systems in the same manner that 
the incumbent LEC provides such functionality to interexchange carriers.
    (e) Signaling Networks and Call-Related Databases. (1) Signaling 
Networks.
    (i) Signaling networks include, but are not limited to, signaling 
links and signaling transfer points.
    (ii) When a requesting telecommunications carrier purchases 
unbundled switching capability from an incumbent LEC, the incumbent LEC 
shall provide access to its signaling network from that switch in the 
same manner in which it obtains such access itself.
    (iii) An incumbent LEC shall provide a requesting telecommunications 
carrier with its own switching facilities access to the incumbent LEC's 
signaling network for each of the requesting telecommunications 
carrier's switches. This connection shall be made in the same manner as 
an incumbent LEC connects one of its own switches to a signal transfer 
point.
    (iv) An incumbent LEC is not required to unbundle those signaling 
links that connect service control points to switching transfer points 
or to permit a requesting telecommunications carrier to link its own 
signal transfer points directly to the incumbent LEC's switch or call-
related databases;
    (2) Call-Related Databases.
    (i) Call-related databases are defined as databases, other than 
operations support systems, that are used in signaling networks for 
billing and collection or the transmission, routing, or other provision 
of a telecommunications service.
    (ii) For purposes of switch query and database response through a 
signaling network, an incumbent LEC shall provide access to its call-
related databases, including, but not limited to, the Line Information 
Database, Toll Free Calling database, downstream number portability 
databases, and Advanced Intelligent Network databases, by means of 
physical access at the signaling transfer point linked to the unbundled 
database.
    (iii) An incumbent LEC shall allow a requesting telecommunications 
carrier that has purchased an incumbent LEC's local switching capability 
to use the incumbent LEC's service control point element in the same 
manner, and via the same signaling links, as the incumbent LEC itself.
    (iv) An incumbent LEC shall allow a requesting telecommunications 
carrier that has deployed its own switch, and has linked that switch to 
an incumbent LEC's signaling system, to gain access to the incumbent 
LEC's service control point in a manner that allows the requesting 
carrier to provide any call-related, database-supported services to 
customers served by the requesting telecommunications carrier's switch.
    (v) A state commission shall consider whether mechanisms mediating 
access to an incumbent LEC's Advanced Intelligent Network service 
control points are necessary, and if so, whether they will adequately 
safeguard against intentional or unintentional misuse of the incumbent 
LEC's Advanced Intelligent Network facilities.
    (vi) An incumbent LEC shall provide a requesting telecommunications 
carrier with access to call-related databases in a manner that complies 
with section 222 of the Act;
    (3) Service Management Systems.
    (i) A service management system is defined as a computer database or 
system not part of the public switched network that, among other things:
    (A) Interconnects to the service control point and sends to that 
service control point the information and call processing instructions 
needed for a network switch to process and complete a telephone call; 
and
    (B) Provides telecommunications carriers with the capability of 
entering and storing data regarding the processing and completing of a 
telephone call.
    (ii) An incumbent LEC shall provide a requesting telecommunications 
carrier with the information necessary to enter correctly, or format for 
entry, the information relevant for input into the particular incumbent 
LEC service management system.

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    (iii) An incumbent LEC shall provide a requesting telecommunications 
carrier the same access to design, create, test, and deploy Advanced 
Intelligent Network-based services at the service management system, 
through a service creation environment, that the incumbent LEC provides 
to itself.
    (iv) A state commission shall consider whether mechanisms mediating 
access to Advanced Intelligent Network service management systems and 
service creation environments are necessary, and if so, whether they 
will adequately safeguard against intentional or unintentional misuse of 
the incumbent LEC's Advanced Intelligent Network facilities.
    (v) An incumbent LEC shall provide a requesting telecommunications 
carrier access to service management systems in a manner that complies 
with section 222 of the Act.
    (f) Operations Support Systems Functions. (1) Operations support 
systems functions consist of pre-ordering, ordering, provisioning, 
maintenance and repair, and billing functions supported by an incumbent 
LEC's databases and information.
    (2) An incumbent LEC that does not currently comply with this 
requirement shall do so as expeditiously as possible, but, in any event, 
no later than January 1, 1997.
    (g) Operator Services and Directory Assistance. An incumbent LEC 
shall provide access to operator service and directory assistance 
facilities where technically feasible.

[ 61 FR 45619 , Aug. 29, 1996, as amended at  62 FR 45587 , Aug. 28, 1997]