Should SWBT be required to maintain characteristics of affected elements for WCOM when SWBT upgrades its network?
The Commission determines that SWBT should be required to maintain characteristics of affected elements for WCOM when SWBT upgrades its network. Contrary to SWBTs assertions that it would be required to maintain obsolete equipment, WCOM is only asking that SWBT maintain the characteristics of affected unbundled network elements in those instances where SWBT upgrades its network. The language supported by WCOM and by Staff is not radical or novel; it is language that was also used in the M2A. More importantly, SWBT has the obligation under Section 256 of the Act to facilitate effective and efficient interconnection of networks. WCOM needs to ensure that it will have the ability to continue utilizing certain characteristics of SWBTs network at the time its interconnection agreement is executed. If WCOM had no right to request that SWBT maintain the characteristics of the unbundled network elements throughout the term of the interconnection agreement, SWBT would be able to unilaterally ch
