VIII. Proposed Rules - Cross-Connects

The March 2, 2001 ALJ ruling proposed the following rules regarding cross-connects.

1. Definition: There are two types of cross-connects.

A. Wires that connect the utility's building entrance terminal to the utility's network access termination point, e.g., ready access terminals (RATs) or Network Interface Units (NIUs). (These configurations comprise a small portion of the utility's network.) Such cross-connects do not connect directly to the building owner's access terminal. They need not be altered in order for another utility to provide service to customers. Therefore, they need not be accessible to other utilities or the building owner. As a result, such cross-connects are part of the utility's network. These cross-connects will be identified as Utility Network Cross-Connects (UNCs).

B. Wires that connect the utility's network access termination point to the building owner's access terminal. These are the cross-connects that may be removed or changed when a customer switches from one provider to another. These cross-connects will be identified as Service Provisioning Cross-Connects (SPCs).

C. There are configurations that have no building owner's access terminals. In these cases, the inside wire runs from the customer's equipment directly to the utility network access termination point. No SPC is utilized. Such configurations are beyond the scope of these rules.

2. SPCs are intra-building network cable.¹

3. SPCs shall not be owned by utilities.

4. Utilities shall not pay for access to or use of SPCs.

5. Transition of existing utility-owned SPCs:

· Existing utility-owned SPCs need not be removed until:

· Requested by the property owner.

· The tenant served by the SPCs discontinues the service provided by the SPCs.


· The existing utility-owned SPCs require replacement for operational, maintenance or other purposes.

· Existing utility-owned SPCs shall not be replaced by utility-owned SPCs.

· Utilities that own existing SPCs may not restrict access to their existing utility-owned SPCs.

· Utilities that own existing SPCs may not charge for their removal except when such removal is due solely to the request of the property owner.


6. When a tenant switches service from one utility to another, the new carrier shall provide at least a 24-hour advance notice to the previous carrier of the disconnection of the SPCs.


7. All facilities-based carriers shall establish and make available to other carriers a phone number where advance notice of disconnection of SPCs can be made. The phone number shall be capable of receiving incoming calls 24 hours per day, seven days per week.