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OCR for page 75
SECTION 9
INFORMATION AND ORGANIZATION
The need for improved ~nformat~on transfer among carr~ers, users,
and sponsors was demonat rat edvon numerous occas Lons during .t.he study. Th~s
lack of Lnformat.Lon Ls felt 'by, all and will grow more ser Ious as the ;i.nter-
connect;i.on area evolves~ It exhibits itself ~n the improper design of equip-
ment, confusion as to rules;" rates; and procedures, and a cer t adn rigidity in
the approach to mutual problems, At present, no formal organizat~onal
mechanisms ex~st to prov~de the desired' information interchange. It is the
opinion of the Panel that suchmechan~sms should be establ~shed in this
area to cope with the problems that are sure to develop,
Existing inter~ and intra-industry organizations should be encouraged
to assist in improving the flow of technical information not only 'among the
carriers, manufacturers, and usens , but also within. manufacturing and user
organizations. It is especially important, to expedite the process of
obtaining agreement among the groups through technical and standardization
meetings.
As discussed in the section on "Certification," certain organiza-
tional steps and mechanisms should be developed if that program is to be
implemented. In that connection, organizational mechanisms may be similar
to others but with a major difference, i,e., that of'reSPOIisibility. Since
the certification program will be reflected in tariffs, the federal regulatory
agency responsible should ensure that the certification program reflects
that responsibility. Such a new organizational mechanism should, therefore,
be formally recognized to ensure that proper weights are attributed to its
recommendations.
The Panel recommends that organizational mechanisms
be established to:
Promote a two-way exchange concerning problems of
1.
interconnection interfaces among users and suppliers
and between them and the carriers. This exchange is
vital to the problem of possible liberalization of
interconnection and the resulting integrity of the
public telephone network.
2. Promote and establish working groups that will be
concerned with standards development, certification
programs for equipment, licensing programs for
installation and maintenance procedures,and f;i.nally,
with the data gathering and analysis of technical
interfacing problems. The various user groups should
have a common, author~tative forum to which data are
fed and reacted to in the coming decade. Other trade
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OCR for page 76
~ 76 -
and industrial organizations would probably welcome
anindependent,atmosphei:e for discussions-related to
their specific positions. on interconnection policy
from a technical standpoint,
3, Develop recOriu'nendations toa federal regulatory agency
as to the timing of the elements of a phasing-in
process if a certification program is established.
These recOmmendations should specify specific changeover
interim periods for certain classes of users to minimize
the impact of the new standards and certification programs.
4. ?romotea workable atmosphere concerned with innovation
problems in interconnection on a continuing basis. There
are three areas of concern: (a) interchange of ideas and
information before new concepts and equipment developments
are implemented; (b) interchange of ideas and new approaches
'before installations are made (by the carrier or user);
and (c) interchange of problems data 'after new services
are installed' in which unforeseen problems sometimes
arise. ..,
A possible structure of a possible new organization is noted in
Figure 1. This 'structure is purely an examp1e,and is by no means meant to
be definitive. Various standing committees on continuing problems could be
organized and short~ange ad hoc groups would function on specific problems
such as the phasing-in period for the proposed standards and certification
program for direct-eonnection equipment. Another important area is that of
coordination with the state regulatory agencies to foster a negree of
uniformity on technical matters.
OCR for page 77
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ยท. .,
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FIGURE 1
Federal Regulatory Agency Other Government Agencies
ORGANIZATION(S)
Phase-in Standards Independent "Innovation" Computer Communi- State PUC
Program Agency Lab and Technician Conferences cations Equipment Coordination
Task ForcE Development Certification process Seminars
.....
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