Qwest Communications® (QC) offers you several Directory Assistance (DA) products that assist your end-users with obtaining local, intraLATA (Local Access and Transport Area), national published and non-listed listing information.
The listing information is comprised of the name, telephone number and/or address and ZIP code. Qwest offers searches by name, telephone number (reverse DA) and business type within a given locality. Please note: Business type searches within a given locality is NOT available in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
DA provides this information to your end-users on your behalf when the end-user dials 411, 1-411, 1-Numbering Plan Area (NPA)-555-1212, or as determined by your selected dialing pattern. Qwest will accept a maximum of two listing requests per call to Local or National Directory Assistance (NDA) from your end-user.
Qwest provides access to DA service via dedicated Operator Service (OS) trunks.
DA services include:
Local DA Service
Local DA service is a voice information service provided by Qwest that allows your end-users to receive published and non-listed listing information within the caller's NPA or LATA geographic area, whichever is greater, in Qwest's 14-State local service territory. This service is available with Qwest Branding, Generic Call Branding, Customized Call Branding, Promotional Customized Call Branding, and DA Call Completion (DACC), also referred to as Complete-A-Call.
Qwest's Local DA databases only contain published and non-listed telephone numbers obtained by:
NDA Service
NDA allows your end-users to receive listings outside of Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
DA service is available throughout Qwest's 14-state local service territory.
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 serve basis.
Resale and Commercial, Finished Service, Local Exchange Services Products, e.g. Qwest Local Service Platform® (QLSP®)
With these services you will automatically receive Qwest Local DA and NDA service.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch
Facility-Based CLECs with their own switch must subscribe to Qwest Local DA service to subscribe to NDA service.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own switch must deliver their DA traffic to Qwest's DA/OS switch over their own or leased trunks and transport facilities. Such facilities may be interconnected to the Qwest DA/OS switch or platform at one of two technically feasible points on the trunk side of the platform. The first connection point is at the Qwest DA/OS host switch. The second connection point is at a remote Qwest DA/OS switch.
DA Service for Special Needs End-Users
Qwest considers the relationship between you and your end-users a private and confidential matter. Qwest will provide DA service to you per your Agreement and will charge you for that service.
DA Call Usage
Billable DA calls appear monthly based on usage.
DACC Local and IntraLATA Usage
DACC charges may apply for calls completed locally and within a LATA on a monthly basis.
IntraLATA DACC calls are completed on the Qwest network. QC intraLATA toll charges will apply.
Branding
No charges apply for customized and promotional customized call branding.
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.
Click here for state specific Tariff/Catalogs/Price List information.
DA Call Branding
"Call Branding" means announcing Qwest's name, your name, your name with promotional message (front end only), 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, your company's name with a brief promotional message, 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.
Four types of DA Call Branding are available. Calls may be branded with Qwest's brand, generic call branding, customized call branding, or promotional customized call branding as follows
DACC Service
DACC service allows your end-users to connect to the requested local or intraLATA telephone number directly, using the QC intraLATA toll network, without having to dial another number. This is only offered with local and intraLATA telephone numbers and not with NDA numbers.
Reverse DA Service
Reverse DA service allows your end-users to obtain the name and address related to a listed telephone number. Depending upon the type of telephone number listing, your end-users may not be able to obtain the name and address due to restrictions, e.g., toll-free, non-publish, some cell/mobile listings, pagers, coin phones, second lines, etc. For non-listed telephone numbers, the address is restricted and only the name will be provided.
DA Search 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.
| Features | Benefits |
| End-user support 24 hours a day, 365 days per year | Ensures reliable service and support |
| Operators/Agents that are dedicated and highly skilled to serve as customer advocates | Provides end-users with professional, courteous, and accurate information and services |
| 90% of all DA calls will be answered within 10 seconds | Provides a fast, but personal response to end-users inquiries |
| Front and Back End branding | Reinforces your relationship with your end-user |
| Promotional Customized Call Branding | Direct Product Marketing Opportunity |
| Leading edge Systems and Technology | Network connections that ensure survivability and uninterrupted traffic flow |
Review the following matrix for the DA prerequisites:
| If you are a: | And are new | Or are existing | And want to | View | Then complete and submit |
| Reseller | X | Do business with Qwest | Getting Started as a Reseller | The Customer Questionnaire for Resale. If you want branding or to indicate your special needs customers, also complete the Directory Assistance section of the Customer Questionnaire for Resale. | |
| Reseller | X | Change your branding options or make changes for your special needs customers | The Directory Assistance section of the Customer Questionnaire for Resale | ||
| Commercial local exchange services CLEC without their own Switch | X | Do business with Qwest | Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC. The Master Services Agreement for Qwest Local Services Platform® (QLSP®) products. |
The Customer Questionnaire for Facility-Based CLECs. If you want branding or to indicate your special needs customers, also complete the Directory Assistance section of the Customer Questionnaire for Facility-Based CLECs. |
|
| Commercial local exchange services CLEC without their own Switch | X | Change your branding options or make changes for your special needs customers | The Directory Assistance section of the Customer Questionnaire for Facility-Based CLECs | ||
| Facility-based CLEC with their own Switch | X | Do business with Qwest | Getting Started as a Facility-Based CLEC. | The Customer Questionnaire for Facility-Based CLECs. If you wish to subscribe to Qwest's DA you must complete an Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC). |
|
| Facility-based CLEC with their own Switch | X | Qwest DA service for the first time or need to make changes to your current DA service | The Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC). |
If you have questions regarding completion of the questionnaire(s), contact your Qwest Service Manager. You also need to negotiate an Interconnection Agreement with Qwest for each state in which you wish to do business. Your Qwest Sales Executive can provide you more information regarding these agreements.
Before ordering DA service from Qwest, you should do the following:
Resale and Commercial, Finished Service, Local Exchange Services Products, e.g. QLSP without their own Switch: Pre-Ordering and Ordering activities are not necessary as these end-users automatically have access to both DA and NDA service.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch:
Must provide dedicated Operator Services (OS) trunk group that provides Automatic Number Identification (ANI) to the Qwest DA facilities in each LATA. The facilities may be interconnected to the Qwest DA/OS switch or platform at one of two technically feasible points on the trunk side of the platform. The first connection point is at the Qwest DA/OS host switch. The second connection point is at a remote Qwest DA/OS switch. The purpose of this dedicated trunk is to deliver your DA traffic to Qwest and have the ability to setup a brand message.
In addition, you must have a state specific OCN (Operating Company Number) in order to associate you with your dedicated trunk group. Refer to Local Interconnect Service (LIS) for additional information.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch - only:
Once the Product Prerequisites and Pre-Ordering tasks have been completed, the Qwest Service Manager will work with you to begin the Implementation process.
Additions, Deletions, or Changes to Existing Services
Resale and Commercial, Finished Service, Local Exchange Services Products, e.g. QLSP without their own Switch):
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch
If you are an existing Facility-Based CLEC and want to add new services, delete or change existing services, you must complete the Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC) and submit it.
Complete Discontinuance of DA for Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch
If you are a Facility-Based CLEC with out their own Switch and choose to completely discontinue your DA with Qwest, download Operator Services/Directory Assistance Services Disconnect Request form and submit it.
Resale and Commercial Local Exchange Services CLECs without their own Switch:
When your end-user accesses Qwest’s DA, the calls will be transported to Qwest’s DA/OS switch via shared use of Qwest operator trunks. Your calls will be branded with the same brand message as calls made by Qwest retail end-users unless you make arrangements for generic call branding or customized call branding with or without a promotional message.
There are two options to obtain call branding:
DACC, will automatically be provided, where available. To block DACC, you must enter appropriate values in the Blocking Activity (BA) field and the BLOCK field of the Resale Services (RS) Form of your Local Service Request (LSR). For additional information regarding blocking DACC, refer to Complete-A-Call. Refer to the Resale Services (RS) LSOG 6 Form Preparation Guide for additional information regarding the RS Form.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch
If you use your own switch and provide or lease transport facilities to deliver your end-user's DA calls to Qwest's DA/OS switch, your calls can be branded with Qwest's brand, generic call branding or customized call branding with or without a promotional message. The default call branding message will vary depending upon the state in which your end-user has service. Branding details are outlined above and also will be addressed during implementation.
Facility-Based CLECs with their own switch that want DACC must indicate this on the OS/DA Questionnaire. In addition, for CLECs located in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, a separate trunk must be provisioned to the DACC remote in the state or states in which they reside. The CLEC's Service Manager can assist the CLEC with the implementation of DACC in these states.
You should provide your individual state OCN for each state in which you do business with Qwest as a Facility-Based Provider on the Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC).
Customized and Generic Branding Testing
Qwest will perform acceptance testing on customized, promotional customized, and generic Call Branding with you, at no additional charge, to insure the branding is operational.
Qwest will, at your request, schedule a mutually agreeable time to perform acceptance testing in cooperation with you. If you are unable to participate in the acceptance testing or if you request that branding installation be completed without your presence, the service will be considered accepted (i.e., blind acceptance) by you.
Qwest branding implementation personnel will conduct preliminary testing. Testing includes the following steps:
Trunk provisioning and facility ownership must follow Qwest guidelines and will be addressed during implementation.
If you encounter problems with the service, contact your Qwest Service Manager.
Resale and Commercial Local Exchange Services CLECs without their own Switch
These accounts are billed monthly for the number of calls placed to Qwest DA, including DACC and intraLATA toll, if applicable, by your end-users, from the Customer Records and Information System (CRIS) billing system.
CRIS billing is described in Billing Information - Customer Records and Information System (CRIS).
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch
Facility-Based CLECs with their own Switch are billed monthly for the number of calls placed to Qwest DA, including DACC if applicable, by your end-users on a separate invoice from the Local Exchange Carrier Information System (LEXCIS).
LEXCIS billing is described in Billing Information - Local Exchange Carrier Information System (LEXCIS).
Local Qwest 101 "Doing Business With Qwest"
View additional Qwest courses in the Course Catalog.
Qwest contact information is located in Wholesale Customer Contacts.
1. Which OCN will I use for Resale to get the correct branding?
You need to use the National Resale OCN as provided by National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA)
2. I don't have a National OCN so how do I obtain one?
Go to: http://www.neca.org/source/NECA_Home.asp.
3. What do I do if I don't want DACC offered to my end-users?
Resale and Commercial Local Exchange Services CLECs without their own Switch
You must enter appropriate values in the Blocking Activity (BA) field and the BLOCK field of the Resale Services (RS) Form of your Local Service Request (LSR). For additional information regarding blocking DACC, refer to Complete-A-Call. Refer to the Resale Services (RS) LSOG 6 Form Preparation Guide for additional information regarding the RS Form.
Facility-Based CLEC with their own Switch
You should indicate "No DACC" on the appropriate Operator Services/Directory Assistance Questionnaire for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC)
Last Update: March 31, 2009
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