Qwest's collocation products allow you, as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), to interconnect to the Qwest network, access Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs), Ancillary Services and Finished Services by placing equipment or establishing connectivity at Qwest's premises. Accessing Ancillary Services or Finished Services via collocation is permissible if it is required as an adjunct to interconnection or to access UNEs. Collocation includes the leasing of physical space in Qwest premises, as well as the resources necessary for the operation and economical use of collocated equipment, such as your use of power; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); and cabling in Qwest's premises.
As a Facility-Based CLEC, you may wish to use collocation space to place equipment in a wire center or remote premises to access elements of the network available in the unbundled product family, utilize Ancillary Services such as 911/Enhanced 911 (E911), operator services and signaling systems, or to interconnect with the Qwest network. For wire center based collocation, you use an entrance facility to come into the building, although you may also choose to purchase (through the applicable tariffs) Finished Services which are leased lines or templated Digital Service Level 1 (DS1) or Digital Service Level 3 (DS3) lines.
Collocation takes place in or on Qwest premises. Premises are within a Qwest Wire Center or on Qwest owned or controlled property that is not contiguous or adjacent to a Qwest Wire Center. The two primary types of collocation are Physical Collocation, where you have access to your equipment on a 24/7 basis and do your own equipment installation and maintenance and Virtual Collocation, where you do not have access to your equipment and Qwest performs all installation and maintenance on your behalf and at your expense.
NOTE: Wire Center is often referred to as a Central Office (CO). For the purposes of this web page, these terms are used interchangeably.
NOTE: For the purpose of this web page when there is a reference to email, and your company does not utilize email, contact the Customer Service Inquiry and Education (CSIE) group. to establish an alternate method for exchanging information.
The following is a list of Qwest collocation products:
In addition, nonstandard types of collocation (anything not listed above) may be requested through the Bona Fide Request (BFR) process.
Qwest's Collocation is offered in all Qwest-owned or controlled premises where facilities exist throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
Terms and conditions are included in your Interconnection Agreement; if these terms differ from those set forth in this web page, then the terms of your Interconnection Agreement may prevail.
Qwest will provide collocation on rates, terms and conditions that are just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory, in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Collocation is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests for collocation may be denied due to the lack of sufficient space in a Qwest premises for the placement of your equipment.
In the event the type of collocation you requested is not available due to the lack of sufficient space and you have identified alternate choices on your original Collocation Application, Qwest will determine the feasibility of your next preferred option(s). If you did not specify an alternate type of collocation on the original Collocation Application and you would like to pursue another type of collocation, you will be required to submit a new Collocation Application.
To the extent possible, Qwest will make contiguous space available when you request to expand your existing collocation space. Where adjoining space is not available, Qwest will engineer a route, if feasible, for you to provide facilities between your non-adjoining collocation spaces. You may not warehouse collocation space.
When planning renovations of existing facilities, constructing or leasing new facilities Qwest will take into account projected demand for Collocation as identified in CLEC forecasts.
You must identify equipment to be installed and provide the vendor technical specifications of the equipment with your Collocation Application. Qwest will evaluate the requirements associated with the power, floor loading, heat dissipation, environmental particulate level, HVAC and tie cables to determine if Qwest can meet your needs.
The demarcation point for interconnection, UNEs, Ancillary Services
and Finished Services is that physical point where Qwest will terminate
these services for you. The following are identified demarcation
points:
For Caged Physical Collocation, Cageless Physical Collocation, Shared Caged Physical Collocation, and Virtual Collocation, you must lease space for the placement of your equipment within Qwest's premises. Qwest will provide the necessary infrastructure to support the collocation, including physical space, a cage (for Caged Physical Collocation) if requested, required cabling between equipment and other associated hardware.
Qwest will assign the Virtual or Physical collocation space.
All equipment must meet and be installed in accordance with Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 1 safety standards. Qwest will not impose safety or engineering requirements that are more stringent than the safety or engineering requirements Qwest imposes on its own equipment located on its premises.
If during Physical Collocation installation, Qwest determines your activities or equipment do not comply with the NEBS Level 1 safety standards, Qwest's Technical Publications or are in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, all equally applied to Qwest installations, Qwest has the right to stop installation until the situation is remedied.
Qwest will provide you written notice of the noncompliance, as soon as the situation is identified. The notice will include:
For Physical Collocation, if the above conditions pose an immediate threat to the safety of Qwest employees, interfere with the performance of Qwest's service obligations, or pose an immediate threat to the physical integrity of the conduit system, cable facilities or other equipment in the premises, Qwest may perform such work and/or take action that is necessary to correct the condition at your expense. In the event that you dispute any action Qwest may take or has taken, you may pursue immediate resolution by the Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction.
If Qwest finds, in the course of business, reasonable evidence to substantiate that any equipment or property of CLEC has been abandoned or left unclaimed in or at any Premises, Qwest shall notify CLEC in writing, via an electronic form of the existence of such equipment or property and CLEC shall have sixty (60) calendar days from the date of receipt of such notice to remove such equipment or property from the Premises. If Qwest has not received any response to this notice within thirty (30) calendar days of the sending of the notice, Qwest shall send a copy of the notice to CLEC via registered mail.
Information regarding Out of Space Procedures are located in the Negotiations Template Agreement sections 8.2.1.10 - 13 and in your Interconnection Agreement.
You may obtain more than one type of collocation (e.g., Virtual, Caged Physical, Shared Caged Physical and Cageless Physical Collocation or ICDF Collocation) in a single premises, provided space is available.
Nonstandard entrance facilities, such as copper cable, will be reviewed through the BFR process (except in Minnesota where the request is not considered a BFR) and, if approved, will require a suitable protection arrangement for the copper cable. Protection that may be required related to such entrance facilities may obligate you to obtain a Physical Collocation within the Qwest premises for placing lightning or voltage protection units on standard connector blocks on a distribution frame. All copper cables used for interconnection must come through a cable vault/entrance facility and have grounded/bonded sheaths. For information regarding Collocation - Entrance Facilities Overview.
Qwest will provide basic telephone service with a connection jack at your request for Caged Physical Collocation, Shared Caged Physical Collocation or Cageless Physical Collocation space. This service is available based on the standard Qwest retail service provisioning processes and rates.
A minimum of 20 amps of Direct Current (DC) power must be requested on new collocation orders with the exception of Adjacent Collocation, Common Area Splitter Collocation, Facility Connected Collocation, and ICDF Collocation. Adjacent Collocation, Common Area Splitter Collocation, Facility Connected Collocation, and ICDF Collocation do not have a minimum DC power requirement.
Technical characteristics, including Network channel/Network Channel Interface (NC/NCI™) codes are described in the following Technical Publications:
Collocation charges will be based on the information you provided on your Collocation Application and the scope of work to be performed. There are charges that apply to all Collocation and typically could appear on a Collocation quote.
Nonrecurring charges are comprised of the following rate elements, if applicable:
Recurring charges are comprised of the following rate elements, if applicable:
Wholesale rates for this product or service, including tariff references and any applicable discounts, are provided in your current Interconnection, Resale, Commercial or other governing agreement.
Tariffs, regulations and policies are located in the state specific Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
The following optional features are available with collocation:
| Features | Benefits |
| Access to Local Services |
|
Qwest Collocation allows you to interconnect with Qwest's network.
If you are a new CLEC and are ready to do business with Qwest, view Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC. If you are an existing CLEC wishing to amend your Interconnection Agreement or New Customer Questionnaire, additional information is located in the Interconnection Agreement.
If terms and conditions for a specific collocation product are not included in your Interconnection Agreement, you will be required to amend your Interconnection Agreement. For additional information, or to obtain an Interim Collocation Agreement, refer to Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC. For additional information regarding Collocation product pre-requisites, refer to the Negotiations Template Agreement.
For information on how to proceed with your collocation order once an agreement is executed, but prior to Commission approval, refer to the Opportunity for Early Ordering section of Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC.
Qwest requests you submit an annual forecast updated quarterly, identifying your future collocation requirements. Individual CLEC Interconnection Agreements may differ on specific terms and conditions for forecasting. For additional information on forecasting and to access the Collocation Forecasting Form, click here.
Below is a list of collocation supporting documentation:
To determine space availability prior to submitting a Collocation Application, the following options are available:
Upon receipt of the request, the CPMC will prepare a quote and email it to. This quote will equal the number of offices multiplied by the Space Availability Report Charge. The bill is final and due upon receipt.
Upon receipt of the quoted charges, the Space Availability Report will be generated and sent to you. The information contained in the report is guaranteed to be accurate only on the day it is generated. Additional information regarding the Space Availability Report is located in the Negotiations Template Agreement section 8.2.1.9. You can submit a request for Collocation Space Reservation or Space Option in a Qwest premises for the purpose of establishing a future collocation. For additional information refer to the Negotiations Template Agreement (section 8.4.1.7 for Space Reservation and section 8.4.1.8 for Space Option).
For information on the Reclamation and Reconditioning of Space refer to the Negotiations Template Agreement section 8.2.1.14.
To request nonstandard collocation that is not available to you
through your Interconnection Agreement, Negotiations
Template Agreement, or defined as a Qwest product, refer to
the BFR process.
The previous version Collocation Application form will only be accepted for 30 calendar days after the date of the new version of the Collocation Application form. Current forms are located in this web page in the Ordering section-Collocation Application Forms and Order Forms
The collocation order process consists of the following four stages:
Once you have completed the Collocation Application, email it to rfsmet@qwest.com.
The CPMC OVT will review the Collocation Application to verify that it is complete and accurate. If Qwest receives the Collocation Application on a weekend or a Qwest Holiday, the Application date will be the following business day. For a list of Qwest Holidays, please see Wholesale Customer Contacts.
If the CPMC OVT determines that the Collocation Application is not complete/accurate, a Validation Corrections/Clarifications Notification will be emailed to you. Qwest will provide in sufficient detail, the discrepancy(s) and corrective action(s) needed, so you have a reasonable opportunity to correct each deficiency. You must correct all deficiencies on your Collocation Application, re-date and resubmit it prior to further processing by Qwest. Timeframes for both Qwest notification of discrepancies and your resubmission are specified in your Interconnection Agreement. Deficiencies include, but are not limited to:
The day Qwest has validated your Collocation Application, an Order Validation Acceptance Notification will be emailed to you. The Order Validation Acceptance Notification includes the following information:
On the Collocation Application form you can request a 48-hour call providing both you and Qwest with the opportunity to review the Collocation Application. If you do not request a 48-hour call, and the CPMC OVT needs additional clarity about your Collocation Application, the CPMC OVT will call you. If additional clarification is not required, your Collocation Application will be accepted as a valid application.
Qwest will make every attempt to facilitate your first choice. However, if space is not available and you have identified alternate choice(s), they will be evaluated before your request is denied. If space is not available and you have not identified alternate choice(s), your request will be denied. You will be notified by email and your request will be handled in accordance with the Out of Space Procedures located in your underlying Interconnection Agreement, also located in the Negotiations Template Agreement, sections 8.2.1.10 - 13.
If your request for collocation is feasible, a quote will be developed.
Collocation price quotes will be honored for 30 calendar days from the date the quote is provided. During this period, the collocation entrance facility and space are reserved pending your acceptance of the quote.
If the payment is not received by the due date, the quote expires, the job will be cancelled and you will be billed the entire QPF charge.
Upon receipt of your Collocation Acceptance, your RFS date will be established and a formal Acceptance Letter emailed to you from the CPMC.
NOTE: The RFS is the date Qwest has committed to have your collocation site completed and available for your use.
For specific information regarding time frames for Feasibility, Quote and Acceptance Stages refer to your Interconnection Agreement.
Any material changes, modifications or additional engineering requested, subsequent to your original collocation order, must be submitted with a revised Collocation Application.
If you need to cancel a collocation order already in progress, refer to the Collocation - Cancellation Overview process.
Once you have established your collocation site, it may be necessary for you to make changes. To change or augment an existing site, submit a revised Collocation Application utilizing the same process used for your original collocation request. Change request information is located in the following documents:
Below is a list of all Collocation product Application forms and Alternate Point of Termination (APOT) Forms:
Provisioning information and design requirements are described in Qwest's Technical Publications.
The Service Interval Guide (SIG) outlines the standard installation completion intervals for each collocation product. If your Interconnection Agreement does not specify a service interval, refer to the SIG. Unless otherwise specified, Qwest will allow application of a 'forecasted’ interval for new Collocation Applications within 60 Days (90 Days for WA) of announcement of a new wire Center being added to the non-impaired Wire Center list - for that Wire Center ONLY. Where the CLEC has not forecasted and the newly non-impaired wire center was identified more then 60 day ago (90 for WA), the standard non-forecasted interval would apply, as specified in the SIG.
For additional collocation interval specifications, from application to installation, refer to Section 8.4 of the Negotiations Template Agreement.
The intervals for ICDF Collocation, Physical Collocation and Virtual Collocation apply to a maximum of five Collocation Applications per CLEC, per week, per state. If you submit six or more Collocation Applications in a one-week period, in a state, intervals are individually negotiated. When Qwest is permitted to complete a collocation installation in an interval that is longer than the standard interval, Qwest will use its best efforts to minimize the extension of the intervals beyond the standard intervals, depending on the total volume of applications pending from other CLECs.
If your collocation order requires cabling, there are two options available. For more information refer to the Collocation - CLEC and Qwest Cabling Receipt Process Overview.
For information regarding Early Access to your collocation site, refer to Collocation - Early Access Overview.
Collocation - Joint Testing Process At the Interconnection Distribution Frame (ICDF) Overview allows you to request Qwest to participate in the joint testing of your terminations at the ICDF after you have placed equipment in your physical or virtual collocation space. Joint testing can be requested as part of the New/Change/Augment Collocation Application or a separate request by using the Joint Testing At the ICDF Application
You may inquire to the status of your collocation request by contacting the Customer Service Inquiry and Education (CSIE) group. If there is a delay that will impact your RFS date, Qwest will notify you, by phone or an email, with the reason for the delay, corrective action, and the anticipated impact on your RFS.
The Alternate Point of Termination (APOT) form identifies specific collocation terminations at the ICDF frame or the frame where the service terminates and is used for the purpose of ordering UNEs, Ancillary Services and Finished Services. You will receive two emails. The first email will contain a Preliminary APOT form and the second email will contain a final APOT form.
The Preliminary APOT will be provided prior to the RFS and will contain the terminations as they were originally assigned; Qwest has not verified this information.
All APOT forms are located in the specific collocation product catalogs with the exception of the APOT listed below:
NOTE: If you requested UNEs, Ancillary Services and Finished Services on Preliminary APOT verify the information against your Final APOT. If the information is different, you will need to supplement the orders with the correct information. Supplement Service information is located in the Supplements and Cancelled Service Requests section of the Ordering Overview.
Upon completion of the collocation order, you and the Qwest State Interconnect Manager (SICM) will jointly conduct the Acceptance Walkthrough, if applicable. If the Acceptance Walkthrough is required, the SICM will notify you by phone or an email. Any exceptions will be documented and the SICM will forward them to the CPMC for resolution.
At the conclusion of the Acceptance Walkthrough, the SICMs will answer any questions and provide the information necessary for you to operate in the Qwest Wire Center, including the Collocation - Qwest Network Interconnection Guidelines Overview.
If a Walkthrough is not required, or you are unable to or elect not to participate in the Walkthrough within 21 calendar days from the scheduled RFS date, the SICM will facilitate a Walkthrough and sign the Collocation Acceptance form noting that you did not participate and forward the information to you by email.
Information regarding access to Qwest's Wire Center(s) is located in Collocation - Qwest Premises Access Overview.
Qwest will perform all building maintenance and building repair in the Qwest premises excluding collocation cages. You are responsible for work within your caged area. This section refers to maintenance and repair once a site is completed and circuits have been provisioned. Any problems relating to the site itself, after acceptance but prior to provisioning should be referred to the State Interconnection Manager (SICM) that conducted your acceptance. If you are unable to locate the SICM name and number for your state, contact the Collocation Project Management Center (CPMC) at rfsmet@qwest.com.
You are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your equipment located within Qwest's premises. You will have 24/7 access to your collocation site.
To access a Qwest premises outside of normal business hours (7 PM to 7 AM, Monday - Friday, Weekends, Qwest Holidays) you are required to notify the Qwest NROC:
| Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming | 1-800-713-3666 |
Qwest may require access to your site for augmentation of the site due to a collocation order or other necessary central office work.
Qwest or a Qwest authorized vendor will perform the maintenance and repair of your virtually collocated equipment. Qwest will perform these functions at your direction and at your expense, within the same time periods and with failure rates that are no greater than those that apply to the performance of similar functions for comparable Qwest equipment.
You are entitled to request access to test your virtual CLEC termination cables under the Collocation - Test Access Points Overview procedures.
If you detect a failure with your virtually collocated equipment, contact the Qwest Wholesale Repair Center at 1-800-223-7881, select "2", and provide the following information from your APOT form received at completion of your virtual site installation or augmentation.
Non-fiber Circuit ID (e.g., HJ101/OFX/PTLDOR14/PTLDOR14xxx)
CLEC Company Name
CLEC reported by: CLEC Employee Name and Telephone Number
Detailed description of work requested
Once the work has been completed, you will be billed on an hourly basis for the maintenance performed, as specified in your Interconnection Agreement, based on the time spent to complete the request.
The Field Connection Point (FCP) is a demarcation point outside the Qwest Central Office where CLEC facilities interconnect with Qwest facilities. The FCP is located in the Qwest accessible terminal (e.g., Feeder Distribution Interface (FDI)/Serving Area Interface (SAI) or other technically feasible location). If you have a problem with a specific circuit, turn in a repair ticket on that Circuit ID. Contact the Qwest Wholesale Repair Center at 1-800-223-7881 select "2". If you do not have trouble related to an individual circuit and still wish to access the FCP, notify the repair center that you would like a joint meet. Ask for a Message Report joint meet ticket. You will be required to provide a specific FCP address in lieu of a Circuit ID or Telephone Number for a joint meet.
The Remote Collocation is a demarcation point outside the Qwest Central Office where CLEC facilities interconnect with Qwest facilities. The Remote Collocation is located in the Qwest accessible terminal (e.g., Feeder Distribution Interface (FDI)/Serving Area Interface (SAI) or other technically feasible location). If you have a problem with a specific circuit, turn in a repair ticket on that Circuit ID. Contact the Qwest Wholesale Repair Center at 1-800-223-7881 select "2". If you do not have trouble related to an individual circuit and still wish to access the Remote Collocation, notify the repair center that you would like a joint meet and provide the following information:
You may also need to provide a specific Remote Collocation address for the joint meet.
Qwest will provide you with written notification at least five business days before any scheduled non-emergency Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) power work in the collocated facility that may cause a power disruption to your equipment located in the Qwest premises. This does not include notification of routine power testing or power installation work that is not expected to cause a power disruption.
Qwest will notify you through the Abnormal Condition Report (ACR) of:
Physical Caged Area Building Maintenance
Qwest will perform building maintenance and repair within the Qwest Central Office premises which includes repair work on the physical cage, if constructed by Qwest, and repair work on any related building system serving the cage.
You are responsible for keeping your caged area functionally clean and maintained by the following criteria:
Keep the floor and equipment dust free
Match the cleanliness of the surrounding Qwest space
Provide and replace lamps for light fixtures dedicated to your caged area
Dust mop with a treated cloth or damp mop
Provide waste container, use and replace liners in waste containers
Empty and clean waste containers on each visit
Flammable materials cannot be stored on premise
Open waste containers need to be emptied at the end of each day
Deposit waste in designated Qwest containers
Do not strip and wax the floor, and do not apply any chemical substances to the floor
Do not perform any pest control
Any questions or concerns about cleaning your area should be directed to a Qwest representative at the Work Environment Center.
To report building related problems, including problems gaining access to Qwest premises (where you have an issued Qwest ID card), contact the Work Environment Center at 1-800-201-7033.
Adjacent Collocation Areas with CLEC Structures
You are responsible for all building and structure maintenance, repair, cleaning, snow and trash removal within your assigned area on Qwest's property.
Central Office Building Addition or Related Work Notification
Qwest will notify you of any central office premise building work initiated by Qwest identifying start and end dates for a particular premise and the nature of the work. These letters will identify contact numbers should you wish to know more about the scheduled Qwest building work. These letters will be sent by the Collocation Project Management Center (CPMC).
Upon completion of the collocation construction activities, Qwest will close the Collocation job and begin billing recurring charges at the conclusion of the Walkthrough or 21 Calendar days after the actual RFS. The recurring charges will be retroactive to the actual RFS plus two business days.
Nonrecurring charges are billed in Billing Accounts Receivable Tracking (BART). BART is described in Billing Accounts Receivable Tracking
Recurring charges are billed in Integrated Access Billing System (IABS™). IABS billing is described in Integrated Access Billing System.
Note: Payments made without an invoice will require investigation and manual handling and will delay posting of your payment to Qwest payment records.
All payments should be made to the Qwest Remittance Payment Center address listed on your invoice. Payments are not to be sent or given to your Service Manager.
Local Qwest 101 "Doing Business With Qwest"
Collocation
View additional Qwest courses in the Course Catalog.
Qwest contact information is located in Wholesale Customer Contacts.
1. How can I find out if collocation space in a Qwest premises
is exhausted?
Qwest provides a list of Qwest premises where collocation space
has been exhausted at the following web site: http://www.qwest.com/wholesale/notices/collo/spaceAvail.html.
2. How will I know if Qwest has accepted my Collocation Application?
The Qwest CPMC OVT will validate your Collocation Application and
email an Order Validation Acceptance Notification that includes
the following information: BAN, Feasibility Due Date, Quote Due
Date and CLLI.
3. How can I find out what the installation interval will be
for the type of collocation product I have ordered?
Installation intervals for collocation products are located in your
Interconnection Agreement, the SGAT,
for the relevant state or the SIG.
4. When will I receive my RFS date for the order that I have
submitted?
Once Qwest receives payment of at least the first 50% of the quoted
nonrecurring charges, the CPMC will email you a formal Acceptance
Letter, which includes your RFS date.
5. Who do I talk to if I have questions regarding charges that
may not be listed in my Interconnection Agreement?
Contact the Qwest Billing Center.
Last Update: May 1, 2009
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IABS™ is a Trademark of Qwest Communications International, Inc.
