billing challenges in the age of converged networks
DESCRIPTION
Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Networks. Session Overview. Stephanie Cowart Manager, Billing BellSouth. Megan Campbell General Counsel ATIS. Session Overview (9:45 am - 10:15 am) Stephanie Cowart, Bell South Megan Campbell, ATIS - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Sponsored by the Sponsored by the Alliance for Telecommunications Alliance for Telecommunications
Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
11 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1
Billing Challenges in the Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Age of Converged
NetworksNetworks
Session Overview
Stephanie CowartStephanie Cowart
Manager, BillingManager, BillingBellSouthBellSouth
Megan CampbellMegan Campbell
General CounselGeneral CounselATISATIS
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22 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
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AgendaAgendaSession Overview (9:45 am - 10:15 am)
Stephanie Cowart, Bell South
Megan Campbell, ATIS
The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Competitive Environment (10:15 am - 12:30 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom
Andrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint
TecForum Luncheon (12:30 pm - 2:00 pm)
Solutions to the Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom
Andrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint
Panel Discussion:The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence (3:00 pm - 3:30 pm)
Megan Campbell, ATISBetty Cockrell, Billing ConceptsJill Blakeley, Time Warner TelecomAndrew Darcy, UIT/SprintTami Spocogee, MCI WorldComRebecca Mitchell, U S WESTRandall Reeves, BellSouthDean Grady, MCI WorldComKen Havens, Sprint
Networking Break (3:30 pm - 3:45 pm)
Truth in Billing (3:45 pm - 4:15 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing ConceptsDean Grady, MCI WorldCom
Future Products and Services and the Resulting Billing Challenges (4:15 pm - 4:45 pm)
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner TelecomRandall Reeves, BellSouthKen Havens, Sprint
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
33 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
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ATIS OverviewATIS Overview
Presentation Outline:
• What is the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)?– Mission; Scope; History; and Current
Members
• The Ordering and Billing Forum– Structure; Governing Principles; and Scope
• ATIS Web Site
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ATIS MissionATIS Mission• Assist in the timely resolution of national
and international telecommunications issues
• Initiate and maintain flexible, open industry forums to address technical and operational issues
• Serve as an information source to its members
• Promote industry progress with minimal regulatory intervention
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ATIS ScopeATIS Scope• Sponsors 13 Committees/Forums
– Network Interconnection; Toll Fraud Prevention; Numbering; Toll Free Resources; Ordering and Billing Access
• 2500+ participants/300+ companies• Membership
– North American and North American Numbering Plan Caribbean providers, resellers of those services, manufacturers of equipment and developers of telecommunications software for such equipment, enhances service providers, and providers of operations support used in the provision of those services
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ATIS HistoryATIS History• In 1983, ATIS, formerly the Exchange
Carriers Standards Association (ECSA), was incorporated by members of the wireline exchange carrier industry in response to the divestiture of the Bell system to address interconnection, equal access and other technical issues.
• In 1993, membership was extended to domestic providers of telecommunications services with a plant investment in transport and/or switching equipment (IXC). The name was changed to ATIS.
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ATIS HistoryATIS History
• In 1995, membership was expanded to North American and World Zone 1 Caribbean service providers, resellers of services with a plant investment in transport and/or switching equipment, telecommunications equipment manufacturers used for the provision of service in North American and/or World Zone 1 Caribbean countries, and enhanced service providers.
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ATIS HistoryATIS History
• In 1997, membership was opened up to manufacturers of telecommunications software used in the provision of telecommunications services in North America and/or World Zone 1 Caribbean countries.
• In 1998, membership was expanded to providers of operations support used in the provision of telecommunications services.
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ATIS MembershipATIS Membership• Local Exchange Carriers
• Interexchange Carriers
• Cellular Carriers
• Paging Companies
• PCS Providers
• Manufacturers
• Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
• Telecommunications Software Developers
• Operations Support Systems Providers
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ATIS Committees & ForumsATIS Committees & ForumsAlliance for Alliance for
Telecommunications Telecommunications Industry Solutions Industry Solutions
(ATIS)(ATIS)
Alliance for Alliance for Telecommunications Telecommunications
Industry Solutions Industry Solutions (ATIS)(ATIS)
InternetworkInteroperability
Test Coordination (IITC) Committee
InternetworkInteroperability
Test Coordination (IITC) Committee
Committee T1Committee T1Network and Services
IntegrationForum (NSIF)
Network and Services Integration
Forum (NSIF)
TelecommunicationsIndustry Forum
(TCIF)
TelecommunicationsIndustry Forum
(TCIF)
Network Reliability Steering Committee
(NRSC)
Network Reliability Steering Committee
(NRSC)
Carrier Liaison Committee
(CLC)
Carrier Liaison Committee
(CLC)
Standards Committee O5
Standards Committee O5
Protection Engineers Group
(PEG)
Protection Engineers Group
(PEG)
Data-Aware Transport
Activity(DATA)
Data-Aware Transport
Activity(DATA)
IndustryNumbering
Committee (INC)
IndustryNumbering
Committee (INC)
NetworkInterconnectionInteroperability
Forum (NIIF)
NetworkInterconnectionInteroperability
Forum (NIIF)
Ordering& Billing
Forum (OBF)
Ordering& Billing
Forum (OBF)
Toll FraudPrevention
Committee (TFPC)
Toll FraudPrevention
Committee (TFPC)
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ATIS Committee PrinciplesATIS Committee Principles• Open meetings
• Issues industry-wide in scope
• No discussions of cost, price or other anti-trust sensitive matters
• Timely and accurate notification of meeting activities (I.e., published agenda)
• Accurate record keeping
• Notification of proposed resolution
• Voluntary implementation
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Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum• Provides a forum for customers, providers
and vendors in the telecommunications industry to identify, discuss and resolve national issues affecting the ordering, billing, provisioning and exchange of information about access services and other connectivity and related matters.
• Meets quarterly for week-long general session meetings; February 2000 meeting had 425 registrants from almost 90 companies.
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Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF)Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF)
• Billing - addresses access billing related issues and maintains the MECAB, SECAB, and CARS documents
• Directory Services - addresses issues pertaining to the ordering and exchange of end user listing information
• Message Processing Committee - addresses non-access issues relative to message processing and maintains the EMI
• Subscription - addresses national subscription issues and maintains the CARE document
• Ordering & Provisioning - addresses issues focused on the ordering and/or provisioning of access service and maintains the LSR document
• SMS/800 Number Administration Committee (SNAC) - addresses issues related to the toll free number administration
• Telecommunications Service Ordering Request (TOR) - addresses issues regarding ASR processing (i.e., mechanization plans and implementation schedules) and maintains the ASR document
Seven Standing Subcommittees
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ATIS Web SiteATIS Web Site
• www.atis.org
• Contents– meeting notices, logistics and agendas– meeting notes and attachments– issues– documents– calendar of future events
• Notification of web site postings is done via e-mail exploder list (subscription instruction are found at: www.atis.org/atis/clc/obf/obfemail.htm)
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For More Information...For More Information...
…visit the ATIS web site (www.atis.org) or contact:
Megan CampbellMegan Campbell
ATIS1200 G Street NW
Suite 500Washington, DC 20005
(202) [email protected]
Mike NicholsMike Nichols
ATIS1200 G Street NW
Suite 500Washington, DC 20005
(202) [email protected]
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End-User BillingEnd-User Billing• Billing of business and residence
customers• Local Exchange Carrier Billing
– Third Number– Calling Card– Collect
• Interexchange Carrier Billing– 101-XXXX– Long Distance Charges on Local Phone
Bill
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Access BillingAccess Billing
• Telephone Companies Bill Each Other for Use of Facilities
• Long Distance Carriers Use Facilities of Local Companies
• Local Companies Partner to Complete Local and intraLATA calls
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Stephanie CowartStephanie Cowart
BellSouth600 N. 19th Street
28th FloorBirmingham, AL 35203
(205) [email protected]
Contact InformationContact Information
Megan CampbellMegan Campbell
ATIS1200 G Street NW
Suite 500Washington, DC 20005
(202) [email protected]
March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
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TecForum 1TecForum 1
Billing Challenges in the Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Age of Converged
NetworksNetworks
The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Competitive
Environment
Rebecca MitchellRebecca Mitchell
ManagerManagerUS WestUS West Jill BlakeleyJill Blakeley
Senior ManagerSenior ManagerTime Warner TelecomTime Warner Telecom
Andrew DarcyAndrew Darcy
Sr. Management ConsultantSr. Management ConsultantUnited Information TechnologiesUnited Information TechnologiesProject Development Manager,Project Development Manager,
SprintSprint
Betty CockrellBetty Cockrell
Industry Relations LiaisonIndustry Relations LiaisonBilling ConceptsBilling Concepts
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AgendaAgendaSession Overview (9:45 am - 10:15 am)
Stephanie Cowart, Bell South
Megan Campbell, ATIS
The Loss of NPA-NXX The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Intelligence Due to the New Competitive Environment Competitive Environment (10:15 am - 12:30 pm)(10:15 am - 12:30 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing ConceptsBetty Cockrell, Billing Concepts
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner TelecomJill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom
Andrew Darcy, UIT/SprintAndrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint
Rebecca Mitchell, US WestRebecca Mitchell, US West
TecForum Luncheon (12:30 pm - 2:00 pm)
Solutions to the Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom
Andrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint
Panel Discussion:The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence (3:00 pm - 3:30 pm)
Megan Campbell, ATISBetty Cockrell, Billing ConceptsJill Blakeley, Time Warner TelecomAndrew Darcy, UIT/SprintTami Spocogee, MCI WorldComRebecca Mitchell, U S WESTRandall Reeves, BellSouthDean Grady, MCI WorldComKen Havens, Sprint
Networking Break (3:30 pm - 3:45 pm)
Truth in Billing (3:45 pm - 4:15 pm)
Betty Cockrell, Billing ConceptsDean Grady, MCI WorldCom
Future Products and Services and the Resulting Billing Challenges (4:15 pm - 4:45 pm)
Jill Blakeley, Time Warner TelecomRandall Reeves, BellSouthKen Havens, Sprint
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
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IntroductionIntroduction
• Overview
• What is changing in the industry
• What problems do they cause
• Which processes are impacted
• Discuss potential solutions
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Contributing FactorsContributing Factors
• Telecommunications Act of 1996– Basic Competition
• Local Number Portability (LNP)• Within the Rate Center• Portability Outside the Rate Center (PORC)• Service Type Portability
• Resale• Local• Long Distance
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2323 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
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Contributing FactorsContributing Factors
• Unbundled Network Elements (UNE)
• Numbering Issues– Pooling– Splits/Overlays– Alpha-Numeric Company Identifiers
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2424 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
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Basic ProblemsBasic Problems• Telephone numbers no longer are Carrier
specific
• Telephone numbers are losing geographic significance
• Numbering information is needed, near-real time, at the individual telephone number level
• Existing Industry databases do not support these needs
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IssuesIssues
• Unbillables– Aged Billing– Misdirected Records– Guiding Issues/Erroneous Casual Billing– Fraud Implication
• Uncollectibles– Denied Billing– Customer Service to Wrong Provider
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Issues (cont.)Issues (cont.)
• Incorrect Rating– Retail & End-User– Settlement– Wholesale & Access – Geographic Discounting– Journalization & Verification
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Issues (cont.)Issues (cont.)
• Taxing
• Local Determinations– Local Measured Services/EAS– Local Service and EAS MRCs– Rate Center Consolidations
• Regulatory Requirements
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Issues (cont.)Issues (cont.)
• Service Provisioning/Availability
• Treatment
• Historical analysis & trending
• Industry Data set changes
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Basic Problems (Review)Basic Problems (Review)
• Numbering information is needed, near-real time, at the individual telephone number level
• Existing Industry databases do not support these needs
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What Is The Problem?What Is The Problem?• Local Competition Changes Casual Calling
• Creating Unbillable Alternately Billed Calls – Collect, Third Party & Calling Card– Casual 101-XXXX Dialed Calls (Dial Around)– Anytime LD Carrier Doesn’t Know the End User
or relies on LEC billing to collect charges
• Many CLEC’s Can’t or Won’t Support Billing and Collection Agreements
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The Fraud IssueThe Fraud Issue
• The Inadequacies Inherent in Local Resale and UNE are Creating Many Opportunities for Fraud!
• The ‘Fraudsters’ Know This!
• Prison Inmates - “Friends & Felons Program”
• “Free Long Distance”
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Examples of Fraud ProblemsExamples of Fraud Problems
• Prison Inmates
• Unscrupulous Marketing Practices by Certain Prepaid Local Resellers
• Fraudulent Outbound Tele-marketing Activities
• Individual Consumers Exploiting a “Loop Hole”
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Limit ExposureLimit Exposure
• Control Potential Losses
• Track Activity by Billing Number– Call Volume– Dollar Amount– Total Minutes
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Collection ConcernsCollection Concerns
• How Do I Get This Message on the End User’s Bill?
• Is There a Billing and Collection Agreement?
• What Will the Bill Look Like?
• Will I Get Paid?
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Identify The Billing CompanyIdentify The Billing Company
• Who Does the End User Think His Telephone Company Is?
• Who Does the Network Think the Telephone Company Is?
• It Depends on the LEC!– Facilities Based – Non-facilities Based (Local Resale)– The Hybrid - UNE (Unbundled Network
Elements)
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Facilities Based CLECFacilities Based CLEC
• LRN (Location Routing Number) – LNP Query on Originating, Terminating or
Billing Number
• LRN => NPA-NXX => OCN – The Code Holder of the Exchange OCN
on the TPM
• What If the Ported Number is Resold?
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Local Resale and UNELocal Resale and UNE
• The LRN Belongs to the Wholesaler– Incumbent LEC– Facilities Based CLEC
• Options for Identifying the Billing Company– Incumbent LEC Rejects the Call– (EMI Return Code 50)
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Return Code 50 Rejects Return Code 50 Rejects
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EMI Return Code 50EMI Return Code 50
• The Reject Code Used by the Incumbent LEC When the End User’s Account Belongs to a Different LEC
• The New Operating Company Number Is Usually Provided
• Now What?
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OptionsOptions• Direct Bill the End User for the Calls
– Finding Customer Name and Address– Generating a Bill– Will They Pay?
• Send Messages to the New LEC– Does The CLEC Support B&C?
• Block End User’s Future Calls– How Long Should I Block?– Will He Change LEC’s Again?
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Information Transmitted Information Transmitted During CallDuring Call
• Collect, Third Party & Calling Card– Existing Processes Don’t Provide
Complete Data at All Times
• 101-XXXX– No Satisfactory Solutions Currently Exist
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Some ConclusionsSome Conclusions
• Deficiencies in Local Resale and UNE Processes Have Created New Opportunities for Fraud
• Further Solutions Need to Be Identified
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ILEC IssuesILEC Issues
• Unbillables– Aged Billing– Misdirected Records– Guiding Issues– Fraud implication
• Uncollectibles– Denied Billing
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4444 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
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ILEC Issues (cont.)ILEC Issues (cont.)TOPIC ISSUES SOLUTIONS IMPACTS
1) Historya) LNPb) UNEc) Resellersd) Facilty
Based
NPANXX versus 10digit (1a,1b,1c)
Telcordia Billing Validation
Databases Customer
Account
Distribution, Billing &Settlements (1a,1b,1c,1d)
NPAC identifies routing &distribution for LNP
Use Customer Account toidentify accountowner/co-provider (1b,1c)
Modified existingdistribution & Settlementprocesses (1a,1b,1c,1d)
Expense to identify messages forCLEC (1b,1c)
Expense to manually validate &correct settlements (1b,1c)
2) Unbillablesa) Agedb) Misdirected/
GuidingErrors
c) Fraudd) Uncollect-
ibles
Wrong recipient Incumbents (2a,2b)
CLEC (2a,2b)
IC (2a,2b,2c)
Charges difficult tosustain and/or collect(2a,2b,2c,2d)
Manually correct andrebill as much as possible(2a,2b)
Return Code 50 on ICmessages (2b,2c)
NPAC, BNA, LIDB (2A,2B,2C)
Expense to investigate andcorrect or loss if unable to rebillor sustain(2a,2b,2c)
Expense to retain account ownerfor returning IC messages (2b,2c)
Fraud is not an issue
3) Taxing / LocalDeterminations
a) LNPb) Facility
Based
NPANXX used todetermine taxing
jurisdictions Local Area Calling
Service Address used todetermine taxing jurisdictions Local Area Calling
Possibility of incorrect taxing
Customers billed for longdistance charges instead of LocalCall
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
4545 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
ILEC Issues (cont.)ILEC Issues (cont.)
• REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS– ILEC must provide 5 activities to Co-
Provider• Preordering• Ordering• Provisioning• Maintenance and Repair• Billing
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4646 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
ILEC Issues (cont.)ILEC Issues (cont.)– Provide data information to co-provider so
that they can bill their customer• Summary Bill• Usage• Loss & Completion
• Daily File that includes Order Number, Date and Service Order Activity
– Goal is to meet all requirements for performance as identified in the Telecommunications ’96 and to be compliant with the 271
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4747 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
ILEC Issues (cont.)ILEC Issues (cont.)
• Taxing
• Local Determinations– Local Measured Services/EAS– Local Service and EAS MRCs– Rate Center Consolidations
• Service Provisioning/Availability
• Regulatory Requirements
March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
4848 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1
The Loss of NPA-NXX The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Intelligence Due to the New Competitive EnvironmentCompetitive Environment
Andrew Darcy
UIT/Sprint
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
4949 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
CLEC IssuesCLEC Issues
• All of ILEC Issues Plus:– Identification of Serving and Calling Areas
– Tracking of Customer’s Services and Associated Access Methods (UNE, TSR, FBLS)
– Pricing Decisions
– Size
March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
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5050 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1
The Loss of NPA-NXX The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Intelligence Due to the New Competitive EnvironmentCompetitive Environment
Jill Blakeley
Senior Manager
Time Warner Telecom
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Industry Solutions Industry Solutions Ordering and Billing ForumOrdering and Billing Forum
5151 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access Billing ComponentsAccess Billing Components• Notification
– Industry developed process that requires companies to notify other companies operating in the same area that reflects information needed to establish billing
• Bill Rendering– Processes developed by individual companies to render
bills for use of their network.– Bills are compliant to Industry developed formats– Billing includes components that are flat rate and rate per
minute
• Bill Validation– Processes developed by individual companies to validate
that the billing received is accurate
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5252 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access Billing IssuesAccess Billing Issues
• NPA/NXX Intelligence Used For:– Routing of Traffic/Calls– Identification of Company Originating the Call– Identification of Company Terminating the Call– Determination of Jurisdiction of the Call for Rate
Application– Identification of Type of Company Owning
NPA/NXX for Bill Process Determination– Identification of Company for Record Exchange
Used for Bill Rendering and Bill Validation
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5353 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access Billing IssuesAccess Billing Issues
• Unbillables– If a company using your network to originate or terminate
traffic,can’t be identified, Bill Rendering can’t be accomplished, resulting in loss of revenues.
– If a company doesn’t have recording capabilities or information is not transmitted within the traffic signaling path into or out of your network, receipt of records from another company are required to perform Bill Rendering. The company providing the records must be able to identify you to provide the records. If identification can’t be made, Bill Rendering can’t be accomplished resulting in
loss of revenues. • Industry has developed guidelines for record exchange.
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5454 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing
• Misrouted Network Messages– Companies not performing query dips for
number portability information during the call set-up at the origination of calls, may experience calls that don’t complete or are delayed.
– Companies not performing query dips for number portability information during call set -up at the origination of calls, may prohibit accurate billing for use of companies network for their company and other companies.
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5555 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing
• Incorrect Rating– Type of Company (Cellular, LD, LEC, CLEC,
ULEC) determines the billing relations for Bill Rendering
– Type of Company identification can’t be made, either Bill Rendering will be incorrect or not rendered at all.
– May affect correct tracking and journaling
– Type of Company identification not accurate, it will affect Bill Validation processes creating dispute activities
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5656 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing
• Taxing– If Jurisdiction of traffic not identified, it
could result in inaccurate tax application on Access bills
– If Type of Company not identified, it could result in application of Taxes incorrectly
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5757 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing
• Local Determinations– Jurisdiction of traffic essential for
accurate access rate application– In some areas further identification of
traffic is required for specific rate application
• ISP• Routed Direct or via Tandem
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5858 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing• Service Provisioning/Availability
– Identification of companies network meet-points needed for correct rate element application in Bill Rendering and Bill Validation
• Transit Issues– More than two providers are involved in
the routing of a call
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5959 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Access BillingAccess Billing
• Regulatory Requirements– FCC and State PUC’s have issued directives for
Access Bill Rendering processes• In 1984, (Divestiture of Bell Systems and AT&T) the
FCC established mandate for the Industry to develop guidelines for Meetpoint Billing Processes
• In 1999, Ohio PUC issued directives for Billing Relations for ISP traffic
• In 1999, NY PUC issued a mandate for the Billing Relations for unbundled elements
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6060 Billing Challenges in the Age of Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged NetworksConverged Networks
TecForum 1TecForum 1March 6, 2000March 6, 2000
Contact InformationContact Information
Andrew DarcyAndrew Darcy
UIT/Sprint9225 Indian Creek ParkwayOverland Park, KS 66210
(913) [email protected]
Betty CockrellBetty Cockrell
Billing Concepts7411 John Smith Drive
Suite 200San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 949-7170
Jill BlakeleyJill Blakeley
Time Warner Telecom10475 Park Meadows Drive
Littleton, CO 80124(303) 566-5830
Rebecca Mitchell
US West1801 California, Room 450
Denver, CO 80202(303) 965-3796