The NIIF has determined the need to develop a document to assist Service Providers (SPs), that did not participate in either the Illinois LNP FCC Field Test or regional field trials, and wish to perform LNP testing prior to entering the LNP market.

 

The FCC Field Test was a one time occurrence which took place in Illinois. When initial LNP Testing is completed in a state/MSA/Region, subsequent LNP testing between SPs will then be handled on an individual basis between SPs.

 

The initial point of contact for new entrants (NE) to request LNP testing should be the account manager or designated person depending on the individual company. The account manager may then work with the service manager, if applicable, to set up the testing. The service manager or designated person will serve as the overall project coordinator of the testing. (Note contact titles may vary depending on company.)

 

PRE-TEST

 

The following items must be completed prior to the start of inter-company network testing:

 

1. NEs should have interconnection agreements in place with SPs, where applicable.

 

2. The NEs end office or applicable network should be turned up in accordance with industry standards. A network topology drawing is recommended as a useful tool in setting up testing. The NE must be SS7 capable and should size their network to allow for increased volume produced by LNP queries. The NE should have completed testing of their internal procedures.

 

3. The NE will be certified by the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC)

serving their region. The NPAC is a database administered by Lockheed Martin and contains all the LRN information. The NPAC contact telephone number is 1-888-NPAC HELP.

 

4. If the NE uses a hub provider for routing of Line Information Database (LIDB) Transaction Capability Application Protocol (TCAP) queries, the NE should provide a written statement verifying that the hub provider will accept the Originating Point Code (OPCs) and route the LIDB query.

 

The above requirements and recommendations (1-4) describe, in general terms, what needs to be in place before the NE can begin inter-company network testing.

 

 

TESTING

 

The next steps identify what the SP desires to test.

 

1) Test scripts can be selected from several testing documents:

 

2) When the NE has identified their desired test scenarios, a testing agreement should be established between all SPs desiring to perform inter-company network testing . The test agreement should document the following:

a.) The agreement to perform testing.

c.) The duration of the testing.

d.) The location of the testing.

    1. The scenarios to be tested.
    2. The telephone numbers required by each SP for testing (typically 1 to 5)

The process to establish telephone numbers may include the following: The service manager may instruct the SP to order bundled service through the retail business office. The SP should call in as though they are an end user requesting service and utilize the appropriate Local Service Request (LSR) format.

 

Once the order for the bundled service has been processed and completed, the SP can then send an LSR into the designated Service Center. The Service Center will verify that the LSR is accurate. If the LSR is accurate, the Service Center will FOC the carrier within 24 hours of receipt of the LSR.

 

The Service Center will issue the appropriate orders to port the numbers and notify appropriate parties of the telephone numbers, the order numbers involved and the due date. The order will follow the appropriate flow, and the number should port over to the new SP.

 

    1. Documentation as to what constitutes a successful test.

Each SPs responsibilities during the testing.

It should also be noted that if the NE encounters problems regarding the porting of telephone number(s) during testing, the NE is to report these problems for resolution. All problems and their resolutions should be documented with as much detail as possible to assist other NEs during their testing.

    1. Agreement on the points of contact. Contacts may include:

overall project management,

ordering of service via the Local Service Request (LSR),

provisioning or maintenance.

Others as determined through negotiations

 

Once the above requirements have been met, and the testing agreement has been signed, the service manager should notify all appropriate work groups within their company to make them aware that the NE will be testing and on what dates.

 

To assist the NE in gathering the needed information to perform LNP via the LRN method, a Network Data Form has been created. The Network Data Form is attached to this package.

 

After the test numbers have been established, the NANC flows should be followed for the porting process. NANC flows can be located at www.fcc.gov/ccb/Nanc

 

The NE should now be able to start the suggested tests from the NIIF and any additional tests they choose from the Illinois LNP FCC Field Test Plan.

 

Once the NE has successfully completed their test scenarios, the NE should initiate a LSR requesting that half of their telephone numbers that they ported to other service providers are ported back to the original SP. The remaining half should be disconnected by the recipient SP/NE to test the snap back feature.

 

The final step is for SPs/NE’s to determine and acknowledge the successful completion of testing at the conclusion of the port to original and snap back processes.

 

 

 

New Entrant LNP Test Network Details

 

Please complete the following information specific to your company for LNP testing.

Please Print or Type.

 

Network Details Submitted by:______________________________

Company:___________________________________________________

Name: _____________________________________________________

Title:_____________________________________________________

Phone:____________________ Fax: ________________________

Pager: ________________________________ PIN:___________________________________________

Email:______________________________________________________

Mailing Address:____________________________________________ City: __________________ State: ____________ Zip:___________

IN LRN feature: SSN = AIN LRN feature: SSN =

 

Does your company intend to test CLASS features between Field Test Participant’s? Yes ___ No ___

If yes has your company advised the ILEC? Yes ______ Date_______ No ______

 

What Translation Type does your company intend to use for the testing?

Translation Type CLASS = (0 to 255)

Translation Type CNAM =

ISVM Destination Point Code =

LIDB Destination Point Code =

 

Participant Contacts

Switch 1:

Switch address:

Switch Vendor:_____________________________________________________

Phone number at Switch::

Fax number at Switch:

Switch 1 Point Codes(DPC)

Switch 1 CLLI Codes:

Rate Center NPA-NXXs:________ Rate Center Name:____________ ___________________NPA-NXX____________________

Rate Center Name: ________________________________________ NPA-NXX____________________

Rate Center Name: ________________________________________ NPA-NXX ___________________

Rate Center Name: ________________________________________ NPA-NXX ___________________

Alias Point Code:_________________________________________

Alias Point Code:_________________________________________

Alias Point Code:___________________________________________

Alias Point Code:_________________________________________

Alias Point Code:________________________________________

 

Switch 2:

Switch address:

Switch Vendor:__________________________________________________

Phone number at Switch:

Fax number at Switch:

Switch 2 Point Codes:

Switch 2 CLLI Codes:

LRN #

Numbers reserved for the Field Test

911 Provider::

 

SS7 Network Contact:

Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Contact STP #1 (of the mated pair):

Phone at STP:

Contact STP #2 (of the mated pair):

Phone at STP #2:________________________________________________________

Fax number at STP #2:

 

Overall SPOC/ Coordinator:

Name:

Phone:

Fax number:

Pager number: ________________________________Pin

Email address:

Person to contact for escalation: ____________________________________________

Title: _________________________ Phone: __________________________________

Email address: ___________________ Pager __________________ Pin___________