Telecom For Dummies

In This Chapter

• Understanding your configuration information

• Ordering ISDN and SS7

• Knowing your local loop pricing and options

• Receiving the Firm Order Commitment (FOC) document

• Using the Carrier Facilities Assignment (CFA) document

• Understanding the Design Layout Report (DLR) document

• Selecting a collocation provider

• Creating a technical cut sheet

You can use dedicated circuits for many things, including to aggregate standard voice lines and to provide the access for your Internet connection. Similarly, dedicated circuits can terminate to your local carrier (for a local dedicated circuit) or to your long-distance carrier (in the case of a long-distance dedicated circuit). The process of ordering a dedicated circuit is generally complex, but you can offload much of the process to your carrier and hardware vendor. Even then, the process can be frustrating if you don’t understand the steps involved.

Every carrier has its own timelines for ordering dedicated circuits, and delays aren’t uncommon. Simple problems may slow you down by 24 hours, and large problems can set you back several months. This chapter covers everything you need to know when you order a dedicated T-1 circuit, and helps you know what to expect so you won’t be surprised when your carrier quotes you 30 to 45 days to install a small circuit. You may need to order a circuit larger than a T-1 to meet your telecom needs, but in the end it all boils down to the T-1 (DS-1) level circuit and the 24 individual voice channels (DS-0s) that allow you to have a conversation. If you aren’t sure a dedicated circuit is for you, brush up on the financial justifications for a dedicated circuit in Chapter 2.