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Readiness: Lumen® Ethernet

While every customer site is unique, there are things you can do before your Ethernet installation to help minimize delays and complications. Here, you'll find a video and other tools to help you understand these tasks and how you can prepare your environment for your new service.

What is this pre-installation site readiness and for whom is it intended?

This site addresses common questions and answers for the business owner or technical staff who is responsible for overseeing the physical installation of the Ethernet service related to Lumen Ethernet. This information will help whether the Ethernet service is used for Lumen services like Metro Ethernet or Ethernet Local Access for services such as Managed Office, Managed Office Essentials, Hosted VoIP, or IQ Networking.

Your checklist for Ethernet installation

To ensure you are ready for your Ethernet installation, use this checklist as you watch the video to take notes and confirm you are familiar with the location and availability of these items. If these elements are missing or inadequate, or you are unable to locate them, your installation may be delayed and incur additional costs. Please refer to the appropriate questions and answers below for additional information.

Frequently asked questions

Got a question? Choose a selection below to read FAQs related to the following products & services:
 

  • Metro Ethernet
  • Managed Office
  • Managed Office Essentials
  • Hosted VoIP
  • IQ Networking

Can I schedule the installation time for my install? Can I schedule the installation after hours or on weekends?

Yes, you can! Your Lumen Sales Account Team can ensure that your order details include comments for the preferred installation time. The internal Lumen service delivery team will contact you regarding the service installation details and you can emphasize the desired installation time with the Lumen service delivery team. The Lumen service delivery team will proactively coordinate all the service activation tasks with you and your on-site service delivery team. Standard installation times are 8am-5pm (your local time zone). Your Lumen service delivery representative will inform you potential related charges for the non-standard installation (that is outside of the standard installation times of 8am-5pm).

Is there any paperwork I need to have in order for work to begin? Will I need permission from the building owner if I don't own the facilities? Does Lumen take care of any permits that need to be filed? How do I know if I have existing copper facilities that will handle the new service?

  • You should work directly with the building owner or building responsible individual to determine exactly what is required for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services to your site.

  • An optional service that Lumen provides is for Lumen to coordinate a Site Survey with the Local Access vendor that will result in determining site-readiness; optional service is accompanied with a related service charge.

  • As a last resort, Lumen will provide an opportunity for you to partner with a 3rd party vendor and 3rd party vendor will notify you of required activity to assist in ensuring that the your site is ready for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services. When your Lumen service delivery team contacts you, he/she will inform you of the 3rd party vendor Site Survey opportunity, and if you agree to the 3rd party vendor Site Survey assistance, Lumen will provide your contact information to the approved 3rd party vendor. The 3rd party vendor will contact you within 48 hours to schedule a site survey (at no charge). Then, the 3rd party vendor will provide a recommendation (including a price quote) for activities that will help ensure your site is ready for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services. The 3rd party vendor is not an agent of Lumen and Lumen disclaims all liability for any work you hire the 3rd party vendor to perform for you. Should you decide to hire the 3rd party vendor, the vendor will bill you directly for the work performed for you.

  • All building permits and/or building paperwork should be coordinated directly with the building owner in preparation of a successful Ethernet service installation. You should also work directly with the building owner or building responsible individual to discuss any existing facility questions.
     
What do I physically need to do in order to prepare for the installation? What is needed for prepping the inside of my building/site?

  • You should work directly with the building owner or building responsible individual to determine exactly what is required for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services to your site.

  • An optional service that Lumen provides is for Lumen to coordinate a Site Survey with the Local Access vendor that will result in determining site-readiness; optional service is accompanied with a related service charge.

  • As a last resort, Lumen will provide an opportunity for you to partner with a 3rd party vendor and 3rd party vendor will notify you of required activity to assist in ensuring that the your site is ready for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services. When your Lumen service delivery team contacts you, he/she will inform you of the 3rd party vendor Site Survey opportunity, and if you agree to the 3rd party vendor Site Survey assistance, Lumen will provide your contact information to the approved 3rd party vendor. The 3rd party vendor will contact you within 48 hours to schedule a site survey (at no charge). Then, the 3rd party vendor will provide a recommendation (including a price quote) for activities that will help ensure your site is ready for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services. The 3rd party vendor is not an agent of Lumen and Lumen disclaims all liability for any work you hire the 3rd party vendor to perform for you. Should you decide to hire the 3rd party vendor, the vendor will bill you directly for the work performed for you.

  • Your site's Telecommunications Room where Lumen will deliver Ethernet service must: 1) be easily accessible, 2) be environmentally controlled between 55F° and 80F° with less than 70% humidity, 3) have a 4 x 4 foot (3/4 inch thick) fire-rated piece of plywood securely mounted to the Telecommunications Room's wall with available space and power for the Ethernet service's equipment, or a data equipment rack with four consecutive available rack units, and 4) be a dust-free environment.
     

What should I do if I have additional questions about Ethernet site readiness?


Please contact your Lumen representative. Your Lumen representative is your primary point of contact and is able to address any questions you may have.
 

The parking lot is between my building and where the Lumen Technician indicated Ethernet services need to be extended; how will that impact the installation?


You should work directly with the building owner or building responsible individual for a proactive plan with the least amount of parking lot disturbance in preparation for Lumen to deliver Ethernet services to your site.
 
I don't have the required entrance conduit; will Lumen install this for an extra fee? If not, can Lumen recommend someone to install this?

You should work directly with the building manager to determine the required activities for conduit installation.
 

I'm a tenant of the building and my building manager works with specific vendors. How can I be sure of what I need to have completed to be site ready?


You should work directly with the building manager to determine the required activities for your site to be site ready for a successful Ethernet service installation.
 

I don't know where the building's main telecommunications room is located; how can I find out?


You should work directly with the building owner to determine where the building's main telecommunications room is located.

Who needs to be on-site during the Ethernet installation? How can I identify the Lumen technician?

Your designated on-site service delivery team and the Lumen local access provider (Lumen-coordinated) should be present for service activation. The Lumen technician will wear an identification badge and Lumen apparel. If Lumen has utilized a non-Lumen local access provider to perform the Ethernet installation, that individual is identified via an identification badge and the non-Lumen local access provider's apparel.

I am experiencing a problem with my service after it was installed; who do I contact?

Please contact your Lumen representative. Your Lumen representative is your primary point of contact and is able to address any questions you may have and assist with ensuring that the problem is resolved.

I need the Ethernet service delivered a distance away from my telecommunications room's demarcation point and into my office/suite. Do I need to install this inside wiring, or can CenturyLink deliver the inside wiring for me? What happens when my office/suite is more than 100m away from the telecommunications room's demarcation point?

It may be possible for the Lumen local access provider to extend the service for an additional inside wiring charge, but please contact your Lumen representative to coordinate that service. Your Lumen representative is your primary Lumen point of contact and is able to address any questions you may have. It is also important to follow industry standards for Ethernet service; these standards define exact specifications for maximum distances.

If I require a different physical connector from the telecommunication room demarcation point to my Ethernet service (e.g., copper instead of fiber), who do I contact?

This should be discussed with your Lumen representative at the beginning of your initial order. It's critical that this information is conveyed at your earliest opportunity because changing the physical connector once the Lumen technician is on site for Ethernet service installation will significantly impede the Lumen technician's ability to install service during that visit, and a follow-up visit will have to be scheduled.