T-1 FAQ
T-1 FAQ
Company:
1. Who is Atlantech Online?
Atlantech Online is a
privately held ISP headquartered in Silver Spring, MD
just outside of Washington, D.C. Started in 1995, Atlantech
has been profitable since its inception. Atlantech is
debt free, has not grown using venture capital and is
therefore responsible to one group only - its customers.
For more information, please visit this page. top
2. Who are Atlantech's customers?
Atlantech's customers
are primarily small and medium size businesses who require
a permanent connection to the Internet. Being a full
service ISP, Atlantech has a strong mix of services
including: Internet connectivity customers utilizing
T-1's, DS-3's and DSL services; web hosting customers
who host their websites on Atlantech's servers; colocation
customers who place their equipment in Atlantech's facilities;
dedicated hosting customers who lease Internet servers
from Atlantech housed in Atlantech's facilities; and
managed hosting customers who Atlantech provides servers
and system administration services.
Some of Atlantech's larger
customers include: The Executive Office of the President
of the United States, the Department of Commerce, the
University of Maryland, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Hyatt,
the Salvation Army, United States Postal Service and
Deloitte & Touche top
3. Does Atlantech provide a Service Level Agreement
(SLA)?
Yes. Your contract includes
a full SLA with credits for any down time due to a failure
in Verizon or Atlantech's service. top
4. Does Atlantech Online provide DNS, web hosting,
email, and other Internet services?
Atlantech is a full service
ISP providing all Internet related services. Your sales
rep can assist you in arranging for any Internet service
you require. top
5. The telecommunications industry is very volatile
(Chapter 11, Chapter 7, retrenching, lay-offs, etc.)
What is happening with Atlantech?
With regard to the industry
in general, there is currently a weeding out of companies
based on ability to deliver services in a profitable
way. Most of the companies that are going through Ch.
11, Ch 7, retrenching, lay-offs, etc. are doing so because
they were provided funding either from VC's or Wall
Street with the direction to get big fast during the
Internet glory days of 1998 and 1999. These Internet
companies were not rewarded for coming up with a plan
to get profitable, so they didn't. The end result is
that most companies spent all of their money on getting
big without obtaining enough revenue to continue their
business once the investment money dried up. And dried
up is what happened in 2000 and 2001. Funding sources
are no longer available for companies that do not have
viable business plans and more volatility and failures
are predicted through the end of 2001 (that's when most
of the early funding money finally completely dries
up).
Atlantech on the other
hand has done the exact opposite. While approached many
times to accept funding from a variety of sources, Atlantech
has conservatively moved down its traditional path -
earn the customer's business, build what they need and
continue with a managed growth philosophy. Atlantech
has never accepted outside funding and does not carry
any debt on its books. By not having funding sources
to answer to, Atlantech can better follow the demands
of the most important group it serves, its customers.
Atlantech has never had any layoffs and in fact we continue
to add employees at the same rate we always have. So,
in short, no debt, profitable since inception, secure
employees who care about the customers and a long term
plan to remain successful. That's what's happening with
Atlantech - perhaps a little boring, but we think that's
what customers want. top
T-1 Vs.
DSL Comparison:
1. How is this T-1 service different from DSL?
DSL utilizes a single
copper pair from your Regional Bell Operating Company
(the RBOC - such as Verizon) to connect your location
to equipment in your local CO (this equipment is called
a DSLAM). The DSLAM (owned typically by a Competitive
Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) such as Covad and NAS)
aggregates traffic from multiple end user customers
and sends the traffic over a shared circuit to multiple
Internet Service Providers for connection to the Internet.
The RBOC services the single copper pair. The CLEC is
responsible for the connection from the CO to the ISP.
The ISP is typically responsible for the entire connection
from the end user's standpoint. Therefore when there
is a problem, the end user calls the ISP, the ISP works
with the CLEC to determine where the problem is and
if it's a RBOC problem, the CLEC contacts the RBOC to
fix it. If it's an RBOC problem, the RBOC fixes it according
to their business phone line support intervals (usually
1 to 2 business days).
Atlantech's T-1 service
is simpler. A T-1 utilizes two copper pairs from the
Verizon's CO to the end user's location. Verizon connects
the T-1 into Atlantech's equipment at an Atlantech CO.
Verizon is responsible from your location to the Atlantech
CO and Atlantech takes it from there. If the end user
has a problem, Atlantech can determine where the problem
is and, if it's a problem with Verizon's line, contacts
Verizon to dispatch a tech to fix the problem. Verizon
fixes T-1 service 24 hours a day and usually within 6
hours. top
2. Should we purchase DSL or a T-1 for our business?
If you and your staff
need reliable high bandwidth service with guaranteed
performance, choose a T-1. If saving a couple hundred
dollars per month is more important, you should choose
DSL. top
3. With our DSL service, Verizon would take a couple
of days to fix the line if it was a Verizon problem.
What's Verizon's policy and history for fixing T-1's?
Verizon is available 24
hours a day, every day of the year to repair T-1's. Our
experience has been that Verizon will work all 24 hours
of the day to fix a T-1 so long as they have access to
your location. Atlantech has been providing T-1 service
since 1995 and have been thrilled with the support we
receive from Verizon on all T-1 problems. Whether it
is a simple cabling problem or having to bring in digging
equipment to repair a 1200 pair cable bundle, Verizon
has done it all for Atlantech in a very consistent and
caring way.
If you wonder why they
treat T-1's differently than DSL, it is quite simple,
with a T-1 they are paid at least 10 times as much as
they are for a simple DSL loop. When you make that kind
of money the stakes and expectations are raised. top
Pricing:
1. How is Atlantech Online providing Full T-1 service
at prices starting at more than a 60% discount from
most of its competitors?
Bandwidth pricing over
the past few years has dropped dramatically while end
user T-1 pricing has remained relatively flat. Atlantech's
pricing history has always reflected a middle tier positioning
while offering a very high quality of service. Recognizing
the high quality Atlantech can provide end user T-1 service;
we have decided to adjust our pricing to closer reflect
the reduced cost of our wholesale bandwidth charges.
In addition, Atlantech has negotiated very favorable
T-1 local loop rates and is passing the savings on to
its customers. top
2. Why does Atlantech believe that its competitors
are not pricing T-1's at these rates?
Most of Atlantech's competitors
carry very large debt and have hungry stockholders seeking
either a return on their investment or an increase in
stock price. Further, most of these competitors have
made large investments in national networks that carry
a very large overhead to maintain. All of these factors
lead to Atlantech's competitors not having an interest
in reducing T-1 pricing which would obviously hurt their
ability to pay off debt, increase stockholder value
and fund their operations. top
General
T-1 Questions:
1. Who is providing the local loop T-1 connection
from our business to Atlantech's network?
Verizon will provide a
Point-to-Point clear channel T-1 (1.5 Mbps) from your
location to the closest Atlantech Central Office (CO)
location. An Atlantech CO is a Verizon CO in which Atlantech
has equipment to terminate your T-1 connection into.
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2. Is this a frame-relay T-1 or a point-to-point
T-1?
Point-to-Point T-1. Atlantech
is not using any frame-relay or ATM aggregation "clouds".
All T-1's are configured as clear channel T-1's using
either Cisco's HDLC or other vendor's PPP encapsulation.
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3. Are there any distance limitations?
There are no DSL style
distance limitations regarding the distance of your
location to your local central office. Any location
can obtain T-1 service according to FCC Tariff. There
may be pricing limitations, however, based on your local
CO's distance from Atlantech's closest CO's distance.
If your local CO is also an Atlantech CO, you will receive
the best pricing. If your local CO is more than 5 miles
from the closest Atlantech CO, a charge per mile will
be added to our standard pricing. Atlantech has more
than 30 CO's between Washington, D.C. and Boston, MA.
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4. Is this a burstable or metered service?
Neither. This is a clear
channel T-1 (1.5 Mbps) and the end user can use the full
T-1 without any additional charges for the service. top
5. My company needs (or will need) more bandwidth
than a single T-1. What can Atlantech do for me?
Atlantech offers DS-3
service as well as bonded T-1's. Let your sales rep know
that you require more than 1.5 Mbps and we will provide
all viable options. top
6. I want to obtain more bandwidth by bonding multiple
T-1's together. Can I do this and, if so, what equipment
does Atlantech recommend?
Utilizing a Cisco router,
you can bond up to 6 T-1's (a total of up to 9 Mbps).
Up to two T-1's can be configured on 16xx, 17xx, 25xx
and 26xx series Cisco routers. 36xx series and above
Cisco routers can handle up to 6 T-1's bonded together.
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7. We have a VPN concentrator at our office that
our employees use to connect into our corporate LAN.
Can we continue to use this with Atlantech's T-1 service?
Yes, the T-1 is an IP path
to the Internet and the VPN concentrator will take advantage
of that path. top
8. Our company has offices in different parts of
the country. Can we use Atlantech's T-1 service to connect
them together?
Yes, Atlantech Online
offers nationwide T-1 Internet access. top
Equipment:
1. What type of equipment do I need?
Atlantech recommends Cisco
and Netopia routers. In fact, you can ship either of
these brands of routers to Atlantech and we will configure
this equipment for you free of charge. Any other brand
of router with a standard T-1 CSU/DSU should work. Please
speak with your sales rep to discuss your existing equipment.
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2. Can we use our existing DSL router?
If you have a Netopia
SDSL or IDSL series R router, a TER/53 T-1 CSU/DSU module
can be inserted to replace the existing DSL interface.
If you have other DSL routers, please check with the
manufacturer of the router for options. top
3. Can Atlantech configure our equipment?
Atlantech can configure
your Cisco and Netopia equipment. This may even be possible
while you are connected on an old service. Please contact
your sales rep for more details. top
4. I need to acquire a router to use with Atlantech's
service. Should I get the Netopia or the Cisco?
Both are excellent routers.
The Netopia is the least expensive choice and is good
for companies that do not sustain more than 1.0 Mbps
of traffic. Cisco is the way to go if you require higher
throughput, redundant services, and onsite service contracts.
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5. What is a T-1 repeater and why would I need one?
While it is true that
every location can qualify for a T-1 regardless of
their distance from their central office, the local
bell company (in our case Verizon) may need to install
a T-1 repeater (basically a signal booster) in order
for the service to reach customers who are "too distant"
from the CO. "Too distant" is going to vary depending
on the type of cabling and infrastructure (slicks, pedestals,
etc.) between the customer and the CO. In the event
that a repeater is required, Verizon will probably extend
installation date of the T-1 for at least 4 weeks. top
6. What router and CSU/DSU equipment does Atlantech
recommend?
For router's Netopia and
Cisco. For CSU/DSU's, Netopia and Cisco both offer internal
CSU/DSU's. Also Adtran makes an excellent external CSU/DSU
called the TSU that is good for routers that do not
take internal cards. Kentrox also makes good CSU/DSU's
as well. top
7. I am obtaining my router from Atlantech. What
will I need to do when it arrives?
Atlantech ships routers
pre-configured. You do not need to do any programming
of the router. Plug the router into power, into the
T-1 jack provided by Verizon and into your companies
switch or hub. Once this is done, contact Atlantech
to perform turn-up and testing of your circuit. top
Installation:
1. If the local Verizon Central Office my business
is connected to, is located beyond 5 miles from one
of the Verizon Central Offices that Atlantech has its
equipment, why am I charged an additional fee?
Atlantech has negotiated
a flat rate for CO's located 1 to 5 miles from an Atlantech
CO. Beyond 5 miles, Verizon charges Atlantech a variable
rate per mile that we pass on to the end user top
2. Does every location qualify for T-1 service?
Yes, every location qualifies
for T-1 service by FCC Tariff. top
3. What is the typical installation time for a T-1?
Atlantech Online is
ready to go today to connect literally thousands of
T-1's. We are simply waiting for Verizon to deliver the
T-1 to your location and for Verizon to connect the other
end of the T-1 to Atlantech's networking equipment in
a local Verizon central office.
From the date of your
order, Verizon will let us know in 3 to 7 days whether
or not adequate Verizon facilities (cabling, termination
equipment, etc.) are available and will provide a Firm
Order Commitment (FOC) date (this is the date Verizon
will show up and complete the install of your T-1 line).
The FOC date will be about three to four weeks from
the date you placed your order with Atlantech (assuming
adequate Verizon facilities are available). If Verizon
facilities are not available, this will typically extend
your install date by up to an additional 30 to 70 days.
Please note, Verizon sometimes shows up in advance of
the FOC date to perform site surveys and/or pre-wiring
- this does not mean your T-1 is ready to go - your T-1
is ready to go typically on your FOC date. In short,
Verizon takes any where from 21 days to 30 days on a
normal install to complete a T-1 install assuming there
are adequate Verizon facilities available. top
Technical
Support:
1. If we have a problem with the T-1, whom do we
call - Verizon or Atlantech?
Atlantech is your single
point of contact. Atlantech is available 24 hours a
day, every day to resolve your T-1 connectivity problems.
If the problem is with the line, Atlantech will dispatch
Verizon to fix the problem and coordinate the repair.
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2. Does Atlantech provide 24-hour support?
Yes, Atlantech is available
24 hours a day, every day to resolve your T-1 connectivity
problems. top
3. Will the T-1 line from Verizon ever go down?
Yes, T-1's go down from
time to time. Any service that can be brought down by
clipping a wire as thin as a spaghetti noodle can go
down (think of all the telecom vans driving around,
each of them has a technician with a pair of scissors
and a punch down tool fully capable of breaking wires
anywhere, anytime). Fortunately, Verizon takes good
care of its T-1 local loops and will dispatch a technician
to fix problems within a few hours of it being reported.
In general, T-1 trouble
ticket submissions are quite low compared to other services.
Over the past year, Atlantech trouble ticket submissions
for T-1's have been less than 2% of all of our trouble
tickets, while DSL represents more than 24% of all trouble
tickets. top
4. What does Atlantech recommend for backup services
to a T-1 line in the event of a failure?
A second T-1 line, DSL,
ISDN and Analog are all viable backup options for a
T-1. Contact your sales rep to discuss your particular
needs. top
Billing:
1. Who will be billing us for this service?
A single bill for the
service comes from Atlantech. top
2. Are there any hidden fees with Atlantech's T-1
service?
No, the flat rate quoted
covers all the fees. The only variable cost will be
if Verizon needs to do any work onsite (i.e. install
extra wiring, jacks, etc.) to complete the T-1 install.
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