Inside Plant (ISP) Supplier Online Competency Certification
Process Guide – V1.0
History Log (Link text to: Download With Attached History Log)
Description
This Business Process guide is intended to define the purpose/scope of the CenturyLink Local
Network/National Network Services Inside Plant (ISP) Installation/Removal Workmanship
Competency Certification Tools. These sites have been designed to ensure that any entity
performing central office-based equipment placement/removal activities (e.g., internal
CenturyLink employees, approved sub-contracted Line Extension (LE) suppliers, and Competitive
Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) employees (and their approved sub-contracted ISP suppliers)
possess the requisite workmanship skill sets needed to conduct Inside Plant (ISP) central office
equipment installation/removal work in both the Local Network and National Network Services
facility locations.
Availability
This procedure exists throughout the CenturyLink territory. Link blue text to:
http://www.centurylink.com/wholesale/pcat/territory.html)
Terms and Conditions
This Business Practice is intended to provide the information necessary for internal CenturyLink
employees (responsible for the management of all approved Line Extension contractors) to ensure
that these any internal, sub-contracted and CLEC (and CLEC sub-contractors) demonstrate the
requisite skill set competency requirements needed to safely install/remove Inside Plant (ISP)
equipment in all CenturyLink Local Network and National Network Services facility locations.
Technical Publications
Technical characteristics are described in Technical Publication 77350 – Telecommunications
Equipment Installation Guidelines. (Link blue text to:
http://www.centurylink.com/techpub/?rid=techpub)
Accessing the Local Network Central Office Equipment
Engineering & Installation/Technical Standards Policy Review
Tool
The following steps provide guidance for ISP contractors requiring competency certification to the
online Local Network “Central Office Equipment Engineering & Installation/Technical
Standards Policy Review.” Certification to these exams is required in order for the incumbent
ISP supplier to obtain badge/access into a CenturyLink Local Network Central Office facility.
Access the site by clicking on this link: http://www.centurylink-supplier-certification.com/.
When this screen appears, the ISP supplier/CLEC supplier is required to determine their specific
function as a Line Extension contractor approved by CenturyLink to perform services on behalf of
the Company. To ensure that confusion is minimized by ISP, OSP, (or any array of approved
building contractors), the supplier must declare their intent on this screen. All OSP and “Other”
contractors will be redirected to the CenturyLink Facility Access Control Center (CFACC) for
badge/access without having to certify to the ISP requirements. All contractors that identify
themselves as ISP suppliers will then be routed to the screen on Page 6 so that they may
commence with their competency examination.
NOTE: If the subcontractor has NOT previously registered to this site, they are advised to click
the start here link embedded in the middle of the screen. This will immediately forward them to
the initial registration screen below:
NOTE: It is imperative that the ISP subcontractor select the CORRECT option during their initial
sign-up/registration attempt. If the incorrect choice is made, the following steps must be taken:
CenturyLink provides each Supplier’s representative the opportunity to login without constraint. If
the ISP supplier representative realizes that the incorrect choice has been made, they then must
contact the developer company, UpTopCorp and request (and personally pay for) a cache’ reset.
The current representative at UpTopCorp is Mr. Elio Garcia: [email protected]. The
reset charge is $51 and is payable by credit card.
Once the ISP supplier has successfully registered to this exam site, he/she will receive a systemgenerated email to confirm that registration and will provide needed login credential information:
A new account has been created on ExamSite. The details are as follows:
You have successfully registered to the ExamSite. Your authentication information is:
E-mail address: applicant’s [email protected]
Password: KiYuVXXXX
Service Supplier: Supplier’s Company Name
Please note that passwords are case sensitive.
Please refer to CenturyLink Technical Publications and Installation Quality Bulletins at
http://www.qwest.com/techpub/.
This is a system-generated message; please do not reply.
Competency Testing for Local Network Central Office Facility
Locations
The following steps provide guidance for ISP contractors requiring competency certification
specifically to CenturyLink Local Network Central Office facility locations:
From here, the exam applicant will execute their chosen examination modules and begin testing.
During the examination session, should the Supplier get interrupted to tend to other business
needs, the system will maintain an active online status for a period of roughly one hour and then
will automatically logoff. When the Supplier logs back in, the system will remember their place on
the current exam set. This will also be the case when the supplier voluntarily logs off and logs
back in.
The content of each Central Office Equipment (COE) Only exam set is comprised of various
modules testing the incumbent’s knowledge in the areas of central office drawing symbol
interpretation, basic installation guidelines relative to all TP 77350 chapters, and a simulated
installation workmanship audit/review to establish a baseline level of quality of work awareness.
The modules comprising the COE + Power exams focus on competencies needed to perform
“hot” DC Power cut-over activities, the proper installation/removal of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid
(VRLA) batteries/cells into and out of the central office and the correct disposition of hazardous
materials. Refer to TP 77350 Chapter 2, Par. 2.1.11.
NOTE: If the Supplier has selected the COE + Power exam set, he/she is able to select their
preference choice of either exam set upon registration; however BOTH exam sets must be
successfully passed in order for the competency certification system-generated email to execute
to the CenturyLink Facility Access Control Center (CFACC).
If the Supplier fails an exam module, he/she will be permitted a second attempt at completion. If
that retest attempt also ends with an incompletion, the Supplier will be locked out of the system
for a week to study/review the online documentation to eventually secure a successful
certification. When the Supplier has successfully navigated through the entire exam set, this
screen will appear to signify a successful certification completion.
In addition, the incumbent exam-taker will receive a system-generated email as follows:
EXAM TAKER], [EXAM TAKER COMANY] ([EXAM TAKER EMAIL]) has completed all exams for
the Certification: [CERTIFICATION NAME] in the CenturyLink National Network Services
Competency Certification and is qualified to perform installation/removal work within CenturyLink
National Network Services facility locations. This competency certification is now active for a
period of 2 years from the date of receipt of this email. The previously-granted exam site login
credentials have now been invalidated/expired until the next impending renewal cycle.
The next step to obtaining access/clearance into CenturyLink central office locations is to access
the CenturyLink Centralized Access Control Center (CACC) website:
https://kai04.centurylink.com/PSWA/VenLogin.aspx and generate the login credentials applicable
to that system. If you have any inquiries re: the CACC system or the badging and access
process requirements, please contact the CACC System at (303) 992-5591 for guidance.
Applying For Local Network Central Office Facility
Badging/Access
The following steps provide guidance for ISP contractors requiring badged access into
CenturyLink Local Network Central Office facility locations:
Upon receipt of the above noted system-generated email verifying a successful exam set
completion, the supplier will then access https://kai04.centurylink.com/PSWA/VenLogin.aspx to
begin the process for applying for an access badge:
Under the tab entitled “Instructions,” the Supplier is encouraged to download/review the
accompanying CENTURYLINK PHYSICAL SECURITY Facility Access Request User Manual
for additional guidance. NOTE: The login credentials previously-obtained to access the exam site
are NOT applicable at the Facility Access Control site.
When notified by the CFACC representative, the Supplier will be requested to submit a digital
photo for the identification “skin” of the access badge and the Supplier’s competency certification
level will be stratified (COE Only vs. COE + Power) based upon their final completion status.
Accessing the National Network Services Sub-Contractor
Workmanship Competency Certification Tool
The following steps provide guidance for ISP contractors requiring competency certification to the
online National Network Services Sub-Contractor Workmanship Competency Certification
Tool required to perform ISP installation/removal activities in a CenturyLink National Network
Service facility.
Access the site by clicking on this link: https://national.centurylink-supplier-certification.com/.
NOTE: This site is “firewall dependent.” For internal CenturyLink employees, the screen above
will appear. For all sub-contracted suppliers, the right side of the screen will be activated to
accept the supplier’s email address and password.
Competency Testing For National Network Services Facility
Locations
Once accessed, the Supplier will see the following screen with the self-explanatory “Take Exam”
button shown below.
The exam content will consist of the following modules:
1. National Networks Change Management Requirements
2. National Networks Facility Installation Requirements
3. National Networks Facility Access Requirements
4. National Networks Services Power Safety & Hot Cut-Over Power Activities
5. Personal Safety (Use of Personal Protective Equipment)
NOTE 1: The National Network Services Certification modules comprise a 25-question
examination. Incumbent Supplier exam takers are required to obtain a 100% completion in order
to attain certification.
NOTE 2: Incorporating facility access and badging with this certification is under review. Currently
National Network Services Field Operations (FOPS) representatives control facility access for all
ISP Suppliers.
Contacts
Network Administrative Contact
Jeff Bostow – [email protected]
Last Update: (month day, year)