GENERAL These guidelines establish methods for processing orders for access service which is to be provided to an Interexchange Carrier (IC) by two or more Exchange Carriers (ECs). No wording in this document is intended to represent or imply that the involved Exchange Carriers (ECs) must serve separate and discrete geographic areas. These guidelines cover the ordering and design process from submission of an Access Service Request (ASR) through issuance of work documents@ and are based on the concept of one of the involved ECs being placed in an access service coordination role. Additional information regarding the business rules can be found in Access Service Ordering Guidelines (ASOG)@ ATIS-0404000- 0404028. The determination of implementing a multiple Exchange Carrier ordering arrangement between ECs that operate in the same territory is based upon EC to EC negotiations where the regulatory environment permits. When all involved ECs agree to a multiple Exchange Carrier ordering arrangement@ these guidelines are used. In an effort to insure that all possible providers@ users and customers of Access Services are addressed in all issues and documentation maintained by or on behalf of the Ordering and Billing Forum@ two terms describing these providers@ users and customers will be used@ AC (Access Customer) and AP (Access Provider). Throughout this document@ the term IC (Interexchange Carrier) covers activity associated with the Access Customer (AC) and EC (Exchange Carrier) covers activity associated with the Access Provider (AP). Their use@ however@ does not imply exclusivity within the AC and AP categories. All changes made to this document are reflected in the Summary of Change. Coordination requirements of all ECs may not be fully covered in this document because each EC has varying views and needs regarding its relationship with Other Exchange Carriers (OECs). This document does however@ provide a framework for ordering and design requirements. All references in this document regarding Feature Group A (FGA) and/or Feature Groups B@ C@ and D (FGB@ FGC@ FGD) include the equivalent lineside Basic Service Arrangement (BSA) or the equivalent trunkside BSA@ respectively. The guidelines in this document apply to an individual service provided by more than one EC. An ??Access Service Coordination?? (ASC) concept will be utilized to provide the required coordination for each function@ i.e.@ negotiation@ design@ installation and maintenance. These functions will have an EC designated to perform the ASC role; that EC will be identified by the term ASC-EC and may be a different EC for each of the functions. The ASC concept provides for (1) a single EC point of contact/interface between the IC and the ECs and (2) a coordinator for the activities of the involved ECs. Before an ASR is issued by the IC for an access service involving multiple ECs@ the ECs involved should have developed a mutually agreeable working arrangement to allow one or more of the ECs to perform ??Access Service Coordination?? (ASC) for all services requested. The ASC-EC concept as embodied in this document will be utilized regardless of the method of billing employed by the involved ECs. It will be the responsibility of each EC to work cooperatively with the IC and other ECs to ensure that access services are installed@ tested and turned up in a timely manner and that trouble conditions are resolved without undue delay. The ASC for Meet Point Services may be determined by the following method when not specifically designated by the responsible providers per paragraph 1.6 and Section 12. Switched Access A. First point of switching for the service requested. Special Access A. For multipoint@ first point of bridging for the service requested B. Service Termination/Delivery Address (SECLOC) of the service requested C. For a multi-node Ring@ it is the SECLOC of the first segment D. For circuits that ride a higher facility@ the EC within whose territory the SECLOC resides would be designated as the ASC-EC.