Common use of SS7 Signaling Clause in Contracts

SS7 Signaling. Where available, the Parties will use Common Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS) to set up calls between the Parties’ Telephone Exchange Service networks. Each Party shall provide Calling Party Number (CPN) within the SS7 signaling message, if available. If CCIS in unavailable, Multi-Frequency (MF) signaling shall be used by the Parties. Each Party shall charge the other Party rates for CCIS signaling at the rates set forth in their respective tariffs. 6.5.1 Each Party is responsible for requesting Interconnection to the other Party’s CCIS network, where SS7 signaling on the trunk group(s) is desired. Each Party shall connect to a pair of access STPs that serve each LATA where traffic will be exchanged or shall arrange for signaling connectivity through a third party provider which is connected to the other Party’s signaling network. The Parties shall establish interconnection at the STP. 6.5.2 The Parties will cooperate on the exchange of Transactional Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messages to facilitate interoperability of CCIS- based features between the respective networks, including all CLASS features and functions, to the extent each Party offers such features and functions to its customers. All CCIS parameters will be provided including CPN, Originating Line Information (OLI), calling party category and charge number. 6.5.3 Where available, and upon mutual agreement, each Party shall cooperate to ensure that its trunk groups are configured using the B8ZS ESF protocol for 64 kbps clear channel transmission to allow for ISDN interoperability between the Parties’ respective networks. 6.5.4 For billing purposes, each Party shall pass Calling Party Number (CPN) on each call that it originates over the Local/IntraLATA Trunks; provided that all calls exchanged without CPN information shall be billed as either Local Traffic or IntraLATA Toll Traffic based upon a percentage of local usage (PLU) factor calculated based on the amount of actual volume during the preceding three (3) months. The PLU will be reevaluated every three (3) months. If either Party fails to pass at least ninety percent (90%) of calls with CPN that it originates within a consecutive two (2) month billing period, then either Party may require that separate trunks groups for Local Traffic and IntraLATA Toll Traffic be established. If both Parties participate in an IntraLATA Toll settlement arrangement, this Section 6.5.4 shall not apply, except that if either Party fails to pass CPN on at least 90% of the traffic on a combined Local/IntraLATA Toll trunk group in a consecutive 2 month period, the Parties agree to review the applicable PLU, and if necessary, may agree to change the PLU until the loss of CPN is corrected. 6.5.5 Measurement of Telecommunications traffic billed hereunder shall be (i) in conversation time as specified in FCC terminating FGD Switched access tariffs for Local Traffic and (ii) in accordance with applicable with applicable tariffs for all other types of Telecommunications traffic.

SS7 Signaling. Where available, the Parties will use Common Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS) to set up calls between the Parties’ ' Telephone Exchange Service networks. Each Party shall provide Calling Party Number (CPN) within the SS7 signaling message, if available. If CCIS in unavailable, Multi-Frequency (MF) signaling shall be used by the Parties. Each Party shall charge the other Party rates for CCIS signaling at the rates set forth in their the respective Parties tariffs. 6.5.1 5.4.1 Each Party is responsible for requesting Interconnection to the other Party’s 's CCIS network, where SS7 signaling on the trunk group(s) is desired. Each Party shall connect to a pair of access STPs that serve each LATA where traffic will be exchanged or shall arrange for signaling connectivity through a third party provider which is connected to the other Party’s 's signaling network. network The Parties shall establish interconnection at the STP. 6.5.2 5.4.2 The Parties will cooperate on the exchange of Transactional Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messages to facilitate interoperability of CCIS- based features between the respective networks, including all CLASS features and functions, to the extent each Party offers such features and functions to its customers. All CCIS parameters will be provided including CPN, Originating Line Information (OLI), calling party category and charge number. 6.5.3 5.4.3 Where available, and upon mutual agreementthe request of the other Party, each Party shall cooperate to ensure that its trunk groups are configured using the B8ZS ESF protocol for 64 kbps clear channel transmission to allow for ISDN interoperability between the Parties’ ' respective networks. 6.5.4 5.4.4 For billing purposes, each Party shall pass Calling Party Number (CPN) on each call that it originates over the Local/IntraLATA Trunkstrunks; provided that all calls exchanged exchange without CPN information shall be billed as either Local Traffic or IntraLATA Toll Traffic based upon a percentage of local usage (PLU) factor calculated based on the amount of actual volume during the preceding three (3) months. The PLU will be reevaluated every three (3) months. If either Party fails to pass at least ninety percent (90%) of calls with CPN that it originates within a consecutive two (2) month billing period, then either Party may require that separate trunks groups for Local Traffic and IntraLATA Toll Traffic be established. If both Parties participate in an IntraLATA Toll settlement arrangement, this Section 6.5.4 shall not apply, except that if either Party fails to pass CPN on at least 90% of the traffic on a combined Local/IntraLATA Toll trunk group in a consecutive 2 month period, the Parties agree to review the applicable PLU, and if necessary, may agree to change the PLU until the loss of CPN is corrected. 6.5.5 Measurement of Telecommunications traffic billed hereunder shall be (i) in conversation time as specified in FCC terminating FGD Switched access tariffs for Local Traffic and (ii) in accordance with applicable with applicable tariffs for all other types of Telecommunications traffic.three