Directory Assistance (DA) Service provides subscriber listing information to your customer when the end-user dials 1+ NPA 555-1212. The listing information is comprised of name, telephone number, address and/or ZIP code. Listing information can be obtained by a name, telephone number or type of business, (i.e., florist, plumber, etc). DA Service provides Directory Access Service to DA locations, use of DA access equipment and agents to provide listing information on a regional and national basis.
A maximum of two requests for listing information shall be accepted per call to the DA agent. A telephone number that is not listed in DA records is not available to your end-user. Non-published subscriber telephone number information is not provided.
Three primary types of DA Service are available:
REGIONAL/LOCAL DA (RDA)
Regional/Local DA Service or Regional Directory Assistance (RDA), obtains listing information within Qwest's 14 state region on a per Numbering Plan Area (NPA) specific basis.
NATIONAL DA (NDA)
National DA (NDA) Service obtains listing information for any NPA in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
INTERNATIONAL DA (IDA)
International DA (IDA) is a service that IXCs can purchase from Qwest in conjunction with NDA or as a stand alone product. IDA allows the end-user to obtain listing information for selected countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. A complete list of countries is available upon request. In order to provide this service, the IXC must obtain a 700 or an 8XX number that their end-user must dial to access this service. Search by business type is not available with IDA.
Enhanced DA
Enhanced DA allows your end-users to request listings by business type. DA search by business type allows your end-users to obtain the name of a business(s) within a given locality by requesting a specific business type/category/classification, e.g., your end-user may access DA and request the name of a Dry Cleaner in the Denver area. Listings for the type of business requested will be randomly selected within the locality requested.
In addition to DA search by business type, the following enhanced services are also available for your end-users:
Call Branding
The DA services include call branding. "Call Branding" means announcing Qwest's name, your name, or a generic name on the front end and/or back end of the DA calls.
You have the option of choosing what type of branding announcement you wish to have recorded and played at the beginning and/or end of your end-user's calls to Qwest DA.
Front End Call Branding announces Qwest's name, your company's name, or a generic name at the beginning of the call.
Back End Call Branding announces Qwest's name, your company's name or a generic name at the conclusion of the call. This does not apply to IDA.
Three types of DA Call Branding are available. Calls may be branded with Qwest's brand, generic call branding and customized call branding as follows:
Regional Directory Assistance (RDA), NDA and IDA are available to IXCs where facilities exist nationwide. Search by 'type of business' or 'business category' search is not available when you are connected to a 5E (Lucent) switch that is located in Qwest's Eastern Region (IA, MN, ND, NE & SD). Business category search is not available for IDA.
Qwest will perform DA Services in accordance with operating methods, practices and standards in effect for all end-users. Qwest will respond to your end-user calls to Qwest DA Services using the same call handling priority used to respond to Qwest end-user calls. Calls to Qwest DA Services are handled on a first come, first served basis.
Directory Assistance (DA) Service for Disabled End-users
Qwest considers the relationship between you and your end-users a private and confidential matter. Qwest provides Qwest DA services to you, regardless of the end-user, and will charge you for those services according to your agreement.
Technical characteristics, including Network Channel /Network Channel Interface (NC/NCI™) codes, are described in Technical Publication, Qwest Switched Access Service - Network Channel (NC) and Network Channel Interface (NCI) Codes Combinations, 77203.
Tariffs, regulations and policies are located in the FCC 1 Section 9 Tariffs/Catalogs/Price Lists.
International DA is available to the IXC through a contract which contains the pricing and rate information.
Optional Features
National Directory Assistance (NDA) with Call Completion Link (CCL)
The CCL feature returns the end-user to your switch so that they can be connected to the requested telephone number over your network. This feature is only available for NDA services.
Call Completion Link (CCL) is available with or without Release to Pivot (RTP) capability. SS7 out of band signaling is required. This service must be designed in accordance with Telcordia™ Technical Reference GR-3016-CORE and Technical Publication, Qwest COMMON CHANNEL SIGNALING (CCS) NETWORK INTERFACE SPECIFICATION(ADDENDUM TO GR-905 AND GR-954), 77342
| Features | Benefits |
| Daily updates made to a database of more than 100 million listings | |
| End-users dial 1+NPA-555-1212 (except for IDA as end-users dial a 700/8XX number.) | |
| Operators can search by name/city, name/state or by telephone number and in most cases by business type. Business category search is not applicable for IDA. | |
| Provides telephone numbers, addresses, and/or zip codes, where available, for anyone in any of the 50 states. In addition, provides international listing information for IXCs that purchase the service. | |
| Front-end branding is available for all DA services and back-end branding is available except for IDA. | |
| Calls answered more than 90% of the time within 10 seconds | |
| 24/7 assistance |
Interexchange Carriers that plan to originate or terminate intrastate or interstate traffic must determine if they need to apply to the local Public Utilities Commission or Corporation Commission to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). IXC must obtain an ACNA (Access Customer Name Abbreviation) and CIC (Carrier Identification Code) from Telcordia, and set up an account with the Qwest Wholesale Center for Customer Service. You must also submit a Letter of Intent to the Qwest Sales Executive or Service Manager on your company's letterhead.
For IDA services, contact your Qwest Sales Executive to sign an agreement.
Customized Call Branding for DA will entail recording and setup of a brand message.
You must complete the Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). If you have questions regarding completion of the questionnaire, please contact your Qwest Service Manager. Qwest will process your request to access Qwest's Operator Services based on your completed questionnaire(s).
Interexchange Carriers must do the following to obtain DA Service:
Mutually agree with Qwest on customized branding information.
Once the Prerequisites and Pre-Ordering tasks have been completed the Qwest Service Manager will work with you to begin the Implementation process.
Qwest DA Service is ordered by completing an Access Service Request (ASR) form and the Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Interexchange Carriers (IXCs.) You are required to order the trunk group from a point of presence in the switch to be mutually agreed upon by you and Qwest OIS (Operator and Information Services) personnel. No other type of traffic may be carried on this trunk group.
The following trunks must be ordered for the service indicated:
The ASR for most Directory Assistance Services carries a "SPEC" code which is unique to the type of Directory Assistance Services. There is no spec code needed for RDA. For NDA, you will populate the "SPEC" code with NATLDA and for IDA the "SPEC" code is XCTRYDA. Each ASR should also contain the Traffic Type code. The Traffic Type code is dependent on the type of services you order. Below is a table of the ASOG Traffic Type codes and a brief description:
| DA | Directory Assistance |
| DC | Directory Assistance Call Completion Service |
| ND | National Directory Assistance |
NOTE 1: "OP", "ID", "DA", "DD,", "50", "80", "90", "PO", "C0", "C1" and "IO" are all types of originating traffic. If the quantity ordered is unique for only one type of originating traffic, the customer will utilize one of these codes. However, if the quantity ordered is a mixture of different originating traffic types, the customer will use "OT".
The following table contains key elements of the Directory Assistance Services ASR entries. These entries should be discussed with your service manager prior to placing your order.
Following are necessary ASR entries required to provision this service:
Regional Directory Assistance (RDA) ASR Entries
| Field | Enter |
| SPEC | Leave field blank |
| SECLOC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| CSPC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| Traffic Type code | See table above |
| NC Code | SD-D |
National Directory Assistance (NDA) ASR Entries
| Field | Enter |
| SPEC | NATLDA |
| SECLOC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| CSPC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| Traffic Type code | See table above |
| NC Code | SHSA |
National Directory Assistance (NDA) with CCL using Release to Pivot or Release Link Trunking
ASR Entries
| Field | Enter |
| SPEC | DACCRLT |
| SECLOC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| CSPC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| Traffic Type code | See table above |
| NC Code | SHSA |
National Directory Assistance (NDA) with CCL using Hairpin Solution
ASR Entries
Note: 2 ASRs are required for this service for originating and terminating.
| Field | Enter |
| SPEC | DADAL |
| SECLOC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| CSPC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| Traffic Type code | See table above |
| NC Code | SHSA |
International Directory Assistance (IDA) ASR Entries
| Field | Enter |
| SPEC | XCTRYDA |
| SECLOC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| CSPC | TBD based on switch chosen |
| Traffic Type code | See table above |
| NC Code | SHSA |
For any subsequent order activity (i.e., add, change or delete an existing service) you must complete the Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Interexchange Carriers (IXCs.
The Interexchange Operator Services/Directory Assistance Services Disconnect request form is used to discontinue DA Service.
If you encounter problems with the service, contact your Qwest Service Manager.
Integrated Access Billing System (IABS) billing is described in Billing Information - Integrated Access Billing System (IABS™).
View additional Qwest courses in the Course Catalog.
Qwest contact information for Interexchange Carriers is located in Interexchange Carrier Customer Contact.
This section is being compiled based on your feedback
Last Update: June 11, 2008
