Opinion ID: 168880
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Shared Transport

Text: 38 Transport trunks are wires carrying calls between switches. Iowa Utils. Bd., 525 U.S. at 371, 119 S.Ct. 721. The FCC has defined shared transport as transmission facilities shared by more than one carrier, including the incumbent LEC, between end office switches, between end office switches and tandem switches, and between tandem switches in the incumbent LEC's network. TRRO, 18 F.C.C.R. at 17319 ¶ 533; see also U.S. Telecom Ass'n v. F.C.C., 359 F.3d 554, 588 (D.C.Cir. 2004). 8 It has also noted that switching and shared transport are inextricably linked, such that a CLEC must be given access to unbundled shared transport if it is entitled to unbundled switching under 47 U.S.C. § 251(c)(3). TRRO, 18 F.C.C.R. at 17319-20 ¶ 534. 39 In light of this understanding of shared transport, we conclude that shared transport relates to the physical linking of two networks. Indeed, calls must often pass through a switch, travel across a shared transport trunk, and then pass through another switch in order to cross from one network to another. In this way, switching and shared transport are inextricably linked and both relate to the physical connection of two networks. 40 Likewise, shared transport relates to Qwest's obligation to provide unbundled network elements. Shared transport is a network element that Qwest is providing on an unbundled basis. The FCC has determined that a lack of access to shared transport impairs a CLEC's ability to provide services to the extent that a lack of access to switching impairs the CLEC's ability to provide services. Id. As with switching, access to shared transport facilitates the CLEC's provision of services to its customers. It is therefore related to the ILEC's § 251(c)(3) duty to provide access to unbundled network elements whose absence would impair the CLEC's ability to provide services.