2005 Level 3 Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1 2005 Level 3 Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Implementation of E911 for VoIP Providers

Victoria MandellRegulatory Counsel

Level 3 CommunicationsDecember 12, 2005

Tennessee Regulatory Authority


Level 3 Communications

• Level 3 is certificated to provide facilities based and resold local and long distance services in Tennessee

• Level 3 operates one of the three largest internet backbones in the world

• Level 3 carries approximately 30 billion minutes of traffic on its network each month

• Level 3 is wholesale provider of network components for telecommunications, IP and VoIP services including access to E-911 services

• Level 3 does not provide services to traditional retail end-users



• FCC VoIP E911 Order issued June 3, 2005 requires E911 for VoIP

• …became one of the first providers to deliver enhanced 9-1-1 services for VoIP

• …announced its Level (3) E-911 Direct, a portfolio of services including an FCC compliant, nomadic VoIP E9-1-1 solution in June 2005

• …is a member of NENA’s Technical Roundtable and the E9-1-1 Institute


• The world’s 10 largest telecom providers

• The 10 largest carriers in Europe

• The four largest local phone companies in the U.S

• The 10 largest North American ISPs

• The six largest U.S. cable companies

• Internet content providers

• Media and entertainment companies

• Research and academic institutions

• 35 Federal Departments - Agencies

Level 3 Customers


Level 3 Network Map

Level 3 Facility

Level 3 Intercity

Level 3 Intercity Expansion

Level 3 Metro

Level 3 Limited Availability

Leased Fiber

40 0 4020

Miles

Confidential & Proprietary

10-25-05

Level 3 NetworkTennessee

I 20

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I 71I 70

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Kentucky

Tennessee

GeorgiaAlabama

Illinois

Mississippi

Indiana

Missouri

South Carolina

North Carolina

Virginia

Ohio

West Virginia

Arkansas

Nash- ILA

Lutts- ILA

Walnut- ILA

Bogart- ILA

Atlanta- NOC

Rockdale- ILA

Flovilla- ILA

Irvington- ILA

Gluck- Synergy

Tallapoosa- ILA

Huntsville- ILA

Atlanta- Gateway

Shelbyville- ILA

Spartanburg- ILAMemphis- Synergy

Reubensville- ILA

Howells Cove- ILA

Blountsville- ILA

St. Louis- Gateway

Nashville- Synergy

Louisville- Synergy

Birmingham- Synergy


WilTel Network


Level 3’s E-911 Coverage


The FCC E9-1-1/VoIP Order

• The FCC ruled in May 2005 that Interconnected VoIP Providers must offer a E9-1-1 solution for nomadic VoIP

• What is an Interconnected VoIP Service? – Enables real-time, two-way voice

communications;

– Requires a broadband connection from the user’s location;

– Requires IP-compatible Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) (including soft phones); and,

– Permits users to receive calls that originate on the PSTN and to terminate calls to the PSTN.


The FCC E9-1-1/VoIP Order

Interconnected VoIP Provider Requirements

• … must transmit all 9-1-1 calls to the PSAP serving the caller’s Registered Location

• …calls must be ANI (or pseudo-ANI) routed via the dedicated wireline E9-1-1 network in all service territories that are capable of utilizing ALI & ANI data– The Registered Location must be available from or through the

ALI database

• …may satisfy the PSAP connectivity requirements by interconnecting indirectly through a third party CLEC

• …must transmit all 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate PSAP via the dedicated wireline E9-1-1 network in service territories where 9-1-1 is supported by the use of Selective Routers


The FCC E9-1-1/VoIP OrderInterconnected VoIP Provider Requirements

• … must submit a letter to the FCC detailing their compliance with the order by November 28

• …must notify current and new subscribers of the abilities and limitations of their 9-1-1 and E9-1-1 services– Including relocation of CPE, broadband failure, power outage, delays in

updating registered location, etc.

• …must maintain records of acknowledgement by every subscriber

• …must distribute stickers or labels warning subscribers that E9-1-1 service may be limited or not available

• …must provide subscribers at least one method of updating their Registered Location, including one option that uses only the customer premise equipment– Allow subscribers to update the Registered Location at will and in a

timely manner

• …may not allow subscribers to “opt-out” of 9-1-1 services


The Nomadic Solution is Dependent Upon Relationships Between Three Key Parties — Each with Distinct and Critical Responsibilities

VSP - Subscriber

communication- Interface for

subscriber to enter and update location information

- Control of the 911 routing decision / dip with VPC

Level 3 (Emergency Services Gateway Provider)- ESRN/ESQK

provisioning- Maintaining dedicated

trunks to emergency services network

- Integration with VPC to provide routing and query key pool

- Routing 911 call over dedicated emergency services network to relevant SR and PSAP

- Maintenance of Level 3 911 coverage maps

VPC - Maintain Subscriber

Location Database - Manage ESRN/ESQK

pools - Maintenance of 911

coverage data- Provide ESRN/ESQK

to customer during call processing

- ALI shell record provisioning

- Updating ALI database with subscriber location information


Call Flow


Level 3 E-911 Direct Nomadic Service

• Routes and completes 911 calls to the geographically relevant selective router and PSAP

• This solution supports nomadic behavior via a partnership with VoIP Positioning Centers (VPCs) that are responsible for collecting, updating and reporting subscriber location information



• Commitment and Experience– Level 3 has been building and operating its E-911 infrastructure since September

2003– During the last 2 years, Level 3 has devoted substantial time and resources to

establish connections to more than to hundreds of E-911 selective routers and thousands of PSAPs nationwide

– Level 3 is a member of the National Emergency Number Association's (NENA) Technical Roundtable, working to ensure technology and consumer safety go hand-in-hand

• Coverage– Level 3 delivers E-911 enabled VoIP services to areas encompassing

approximately 67 percent of all U.S. households– In the 10 largest MSAs, Level 3 covers greater than 91 percent of the population

with E-911-enabled VoIP service – Offers greater E-911 coverage for VoIP providers than any single carrier,

including the largest Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) – Is the key supplier of E-911 service to a wide range of cable companies, Internet

Service Providers (ISPs), carriers and other VoIP access providers – Is continuing to expand our footprint and plans to cover more than 70 percent of

U.S. households by the end of the year


VoIP E911

• Today, it’s Compliance– Retrofit VoIP to the PSTN– VoIP E911 standard designed for minimal impact on PSAPs– Interconnection through ILEC Selective Routers– Do what the PSTN does

• Tomorrow, it’s our Imagination– Exploit the benefits of IP Communications for richer information– Direct Connection to PSAPs with new VoIP E911 standard– Go beyond PSTN capabilities

2005 Level 3 Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Transcript of 2005 Level 3 Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.