Wholesale Forbearance

What Did I Hear?
The Zebra is Changing Her Stripes?!

That's right. Believe it. In a world where change is constant, Verizon is no exception. And we're embracing it! Last year, Verizon received forbearance from certain common carrier regulation for several packet-switched broadband services as well as non-TDM-based optical networking, optical hubbing, and optical transmission services (Forbearance). For these Forbearance-eligible services, we're moving away from tariff structures and into negotiated private carriage agreements -- enhancing the way we do business with you.

The services eligible for Forbearance include the following

Packet Services: Frame Relay (above 200 kbps) and ATM
Ethernet: Transparent LAN Service (TLS), Verizon Optical Networking and LAN Extension Service (LES)
SONET and Optical Services: Dedicated SONET Ring (DSR), IntelliLight® Broadband Transport (IBT), Custom Connect, IntelliLight Optical Transport Service (IOTS), and Optical Hubbing Service (OHS)

We're changing our "stripes" and that means a new way of working together to help you succeed. We are very excited about this new opportunity because we know that our success is dependent upon your success.

If you are currently purchasing any of the Forberance-eligible services from us out of our tariffs, then you are affected by this change. Some of these services, such as IP Port and Optical Hubbing Service, are no longer available as tariffed services, and must be purchased under a private carriage agreement from Verizon. For other Forbearance-eligible services, we encourage you to contact us about other comparable services which we offer only under a private carriage agreement. Private carriage agreements allow us to work with you to develop solutions that are specific for your needs.

What's the deal with grandfathering?

Beginning in the second half of 2006, Verizon began revising its tariffs and grandfathering certain services that are subject to Forbearance. Here are some of the highlights of grandfathering. For a full description of all of the changes to a grandfathered service, you should review our appropriate interstate tariff*.

For new orders: After the grandfathering of a service, customers cannot submit any new orders for the grandfathered service. If you wish to purchase a comparable service from Verizon, you will need to enter into a private carriage agreement with Verizon.
For existing services: Customers who are currently purchasing a grandfathered service can continue receiving the grandfathered service until the current term of the service expires. During the current term, certain moves, additions, or changes to the existing service are permitted. For a full description of the permitted changes and other terms and conditions for each grandfathered service, please review the tariff. Depending on whether your current grandfathered service is on a month-to-month term or a term plan, you have the following additional choices:
1. If your current grandfathered service is on a term plan, upon expiration of the current term for your grandfathered service, you will have six (6) months following the expiration date to enter into a private carriage arrangement with Verizon to purchase a comparable service.
2. If your current grandfathered service is on a month-to-month term, you will have six (6) months following the grandfathering effective date to enter into a private carriage arrangement with Verizon to purchase a comparable service.

And there are special pricing plans for IntelliLight Broadband Transport (IBT)!

On January 1, 2007, we began offering a unique set of LATA-based rates, terms and conditions for orders of new IBT services, as well as upgrades of existing services and extensions of services associated with one-, three- and five-year term contracts.

The 2007 IBT pricing plan covers the following point-to-point and mux’d IBT rate elements:

Channel terminations
Ports
Mileage (fixed and per mile charges)
Multiplexing

Keep in mind that these new IBT pricing plans are only available under a private carriage agreement and are available for commitment periods of 1-, 3- or 5-years as follows:

A new Service is eligible for commitment periods of 1-year, 3-years and 5-years.
An upgrade to the Service is eligible for commitment periods of 1-year, 3-years and 5-years.
A renewal to the Service is eligible for commitment periods of 3-years and 5-years.

Call one of our Partner Solutions Account Managers or click here to learn more about our IBT pricing plans.

Verizon is committed to the wholesale market and dedicated to helping you succeed. Plus, our exceptional network reliability and nationwide presence make these new pricing plans an even greater value. So, call (888-483-9594) or contact us today!

* The terms and conditions of certain of the services described above are set forth in full detail in Verizon's FCC Tariffs (Tariffed Services), while certain other services described above are provided on a private carriage basis (Private Carriage Services). For Tariffed Services, any summary of Verizon's FCC Tariffs (Tariffs) set forth above is being provided for your convenience, but is not intended to provide a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Tariffs. You should not rely on this summary, and should conduct your own review and analysis of the Tariffs. Any failure or error by Verizon to fully or accurately set forth all relevant terms and conditions of the Tariffs shall not be deemed to bar Verizon from exercising its rights under the Tariffs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Tariffs shall govern over any inconsistent provision set forth herein. For all Private Carriage Services, the above summary is provided for your information and reference only. However, the actual terms, conditions, restrictions, limitations and the like for Private Carriage Services will be those set forth in the agreement between the customer and Verizon for such Private Carriage Service and shall govern over any inconsistent provisions set forth herein.