CHAPTER 1.0 - Introduction

1.4 How to Read this Guide

Each section of the Start-Up Guide addresses a topic in which a CLEC will need to become knowledgeable as the relationship with BellSouth is initiated. Although it is recommended that a CLEC read the entire Start-Up Guide, the sections are designed so that the reader can refer to an individual section for information on a particular topic. For example, if the reader is interested in knowing more about BellSouth's CLEC Training program, he/she can refer directly to the CLEC Training section of the Start-Up Guide.

The sections of this guide are organized as follows:

Overview of BellSouth's CLEC Program
Overall Start-Up Process Flow
BellSouth - CLEC Roles & Responsibilities
Activation for Resale & Facility-based CLECs
Local Interconnection Services for Facility-based Carriers
Electronic Interfaces and Gateways
Requesting Customer Service Records
CLEC Training
Business Process Overviews
BellSouth Resources & Contacts
Appendices

Overview of BellSouth's CLEC Program
This section provides an introduction to the CLEC's relationship with BellSouth. It offers a high-level overview of BellSouth's CLEC program.

Overall Start-Up Process Flow This section describes the major activities that a CLEC participates in during start-up/activation with BellSouth, beginning with the "Initial Contact" phase and continuing through "Support for CLECs Utilizing OSS."

BellSouth & CLEC Roles & Responsibilities
This section outlines the roles and responsibilities of BellSouth concerning its relationship with the CLEC. This section also covers the roles and responsibilities of each CLEC concerning its relationship with BellSouth.

Activation for Resale & Facility-based CLECs
This section consists of two sub-sections: CLEC Account Establishment and Doing Business as a CLEC. CLEC Account Establishment addresses forms and actions that the CLEC must complete prior to establishing a "Q" Account. Doing Business as a CLEC provides information on forms used by CLECs as well as additional information for conducting business as a CLEC.

Local Interconnection Services for Facility-based CLECs
This section provides information about local interconnection services that are specific to Facility-based carriers.

Electronic Interfaces & Gateways
This section provides an overview of the electronic interfaces and gateways available to CLECs to perform Pre-Ordering, Ordering, and Trouble Maintenance functions. It contains an overview of the following: Local Exchange Navigation System (LENS), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Telecommunication Access Gateway (TAG), Trouble Administration and Facilitation Interface (TAFI), and Electronic Communication Trouble Administration (ECTA).

Requesting Customer Service Records
This section is an overview of the process used to request Customer Service Records (CSRs). CSRs provide the CLEC with account information for both BellSouth and CLEC end-users.

CLEC Training
This section provides an overview of the BellSouth CLEC training program, including the course schedule, course registration, and course offerings. It also contains links to areas on the BellSouth Interconnection Services Web site, which have current schedule, registration, and course information.

Business Process Overviews
This section provides a high-level overview of the following core process areas within BellSouth: Pre-Ordering, Ordering, Provisioning, Maintenance and Repair, Billing, Collocation, and Local Number Portability Ordering. Since the overviews are not detailed, references and links are provided referencing more specific process information.

BellSouth Resources & Contact Information
This section provides resources, along with contact information, that are available to assist the CLEC. This section also contains multiple links to helpful Web sites.

Appendices
The Appendices provide helpful examples, necessary forms, and a glossary. References to the Appendices are made in bold throughout this guide.