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Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Networks

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

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Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Networks

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  1. Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Networks Session Overview Stephanie Cowart Manager, Billing BellSouth Megan Campbell General Counsel ATIS

  2. Session 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, ATIS Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom Andrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint Tami Spocogee, MCI WorldCom Rebecca Mitchell, U S WEST Randall Reeves, BellSouth Dean Grady, MCI WorldCom Ken Havens, Sprint Networking Break (3:30 pm - 3:45 pm) Truth in Billing (3:45 pm - 4:15 pm) Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts Dean Grady, MCI WorldCom Future Products and Services and the Resulting Billing Challenges (4:15 pm - 4:45 pm) Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom Randall Reeves, BellSouth Ken Havens, Sprint Agenda

  3. ATIS 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

  4. ATIS 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

  5. ATIS 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

  6. ATIS 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.

  7. ATIS 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.

  8. ATIS 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.

  9. ATIS Membership • Local Exchange Carriers • Interexchange Carriers • Cellular Carriers • Paging Companies • PCS Providers • Manufacturers • Competitive Local Exchange Carriers • Telecommunications Software Developers • Operations Support Systems Providers

  10. ATIS Committees & Forums Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) Internetwork Interoperability Test Coordination (IITC) Committee Committee T1 Network and Services Integration Forum (NSIF) Telecommunications Industry Forum (TCIF) Data-Aware Transport Activity (DATA) Network Reliability Steering Committee (NRSC) Carrier Liaison Committee (CLC) Standards Committee O5 Protection Engineers Group (PEG) Industry Numbering Committee (INC) Network Interconnection Interoperability Forum (NIIF) Ordering & Billing Forum (OBF) Toll Fraud Prevention Committee (TFPC)

  11. ATIS 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

  12. Ordering 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.

  13. 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 Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) Seven Standing Subcommittees

  14. ATIS 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)

  15. For More Information... …visit the ATIS web site (www.atis.org) or contact: Megan Campbell ATIS 1200 G Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 434-8847 mcampbel@atis.com Mike Nichols ATIS 1200 G Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 434-8822 mnichol@atis.com

  16. End-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

  17. Access 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

  18. Contact Information Stephanie Cowart BellSouth 600 N. 19th Street 28th Floor Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 321-2878 stephanie.cowart@bridge.bellsouth.com Megan Campbell ATIS 1200 G Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 434-8847 mcampbel@atis.com

  19. Billing Challenges in the Age of Converged Networks The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Competitive Environment Betty Cockrell Industry Relations Liaison Billing Concepts Rebecca Mitchell Manager US West Andrew Darcy Sr. Management Consultant United Information Technologies Project Development Manager, Sprint Jill Blakeley Senior Manager Time Warner Telecom

  20. Session 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 Rebecca 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, ATIS Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom Andrew Darcy, UIT/Sprint Tami Spocogee, MCI WorldCom Rebecca Mitchell, U S WEST Randall Reeves, BellSouth Dean Grady, MCI WorldCom Ken Havens, Sprint Networking Break (3:30 pm - 3:45 pm) Truth in Billing (3:45 pm - 4:15 pm) Betty Cockrell, Billing Concepts Dean Grady, MCI WorldCom Future Products and Services and the Resulting Billing Challenges (4:15 pm - 4:45 pm) Jill Blakeley, Time Warner Telecom Randall Reeves, BellSouth Ken Havens, Sprint Agenda

  21. Introduction • Overview • What is changing in the industry • What problems do they cause • Which processes are impacted • Discuss potential solutions

  22. Contributing 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

  23. Contributing Factors • Unbundled Network Elements (UNE) • Numbering Issues • Pooling • Splits/Overlays • Alpha-Numeric Company Identifiers

  24. Basic 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

  25. Issues • Unbillables • Aged Billing • Misdirected Records • Guiding Issues/Erroneous Casual Billing • Fraud Implication • Uncollectibles • Denied Billing • Customer Service to Wrong Provider

  26. Issues (cont.) • Incorrect Rating • Retail & End-User • Settlement • Wholesale & Access • Geographic Discounting • Journalization & Verification

  27. Issues (cont.) • Taxing • Local Determinations • Local Measured Services/EAS • Local Service and EAS MRCs • Rate Center Consolidations • Regulatory Requirements

  28. Issues (cont.) • Service Provisioning/Availability • Treatment • Historical analysis & trending • Industry Data set changes

  29. Basic Problems (Review) • Numbering information is needed, near-real time, at the individual telephone number level • Existing Industry databases do not support these needs

  30. 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

  31. The 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”

  32. Examples of Fraud Problems • Prison Inmates • Unscrupulous Marketing Practices by Certain Prepaid Local Resellers • Fraudulent Outbound Tele-marketing Activities • Individual Consumers Exploiting a “Loop Hole”

  33. Limit Exposure • Control Potential Losses • Track Activity by Billing Number • Call Volume • Dollar Amount • Total Minutes

  34. Collection 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?

  35. Identify 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)

  36. Facilities 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?

  37. Local 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)

  38. Return Code 50 Rejects

  39. EMI 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?

  40. Options • 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?

  41. Information Transmitted During Call • Collect, Third Party & Calling Card • Existing Processes Don’t Provide Complete Data at All Times • 101-XXXX • No Satisfactory Solutions Currently Exist

  42. Some Conclusions • Deficiencies in Local Resale and UNE Processes Have Created New Opportunities for Fraud • Further Solutions Need to Be Identified

  43. ILEC Issues • Unbillables • Aged Billing • Misdirected Records • Guiding Issues • Fraud implication • Uncollectibles • Denied Billing

  44. ILEC Issues (cont.)

  45. ILEC Issues (cont.) • REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS • ILEC must provide 5 activities to Co-Provider • Preordering • Ordering • Provisioning • Maintenance and Repair • Billing

  46. 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

  47. ILEC Issues (cont.) • Taxing • Local Determinations • Local Measured Services/EAS • Local Service and EAS MRCs • Rate Center Consolidations • Service Provisioning/Availability • Regulatory Requirements

  48. The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Competitive Environment Andrew Darcy UIT/Sprint

  49. CLEC 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

  50. The Loss of NPA-NXX Intelligence Due to the New Competitive Environment Jill Blakeley Senior Manager Time Warner Telecom

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