Managed Facility Voice Network

A Managed Facility Voice Network, or MFVN, is a physical network owned and operated by a voice service provider which delivers traditional telephone service using non-traditional technology (typically Voice over Internet Protocol technology). MFVNs are interconnected with the Public Switched Telephone Network to allow calls to be made to any telephone line in the global PSTN. MFVNs typically include the physical access network (last mile network of copper, coaxial cable, or fiber optics), customer premises equipment (CPE), network switches and routers, network management systems, and voice call servers and gateways to the PSTN.

MFVN providers may include cable operators and telephone companies using VoIP, but do not include Internet VoIP providers (such as Vonage) that use the public internet to carry calls.

Required characteristics of MFVN providers:

(a) Manage and maintain their network to ensure end-to-end service quality and reliability from the service subscriber location to the PSTN connection,(b) Provide a service that is functionally equivalent to PSTN-based services with respect to dialing, dial plan, call completion, carriage of voice signals and protocols, and loop voltage treatment,(c) Provide real-time transmission of voice signals and carry fax, data, POS, and alarm system formats unchanged,(d) Provide both professional installation and subscriber information on home wiring practices for residential installations if self-installation is available, which preserves primary line seizure for alarm system interconnection, and(e) Have major and minor disaster recovery plans to address both individual customer outages and widespread events such as tornados, ice storms or other occurrences of a catastrophic nature, which include specific network power restoration procedures equivalent to those of traditional landline telephone services.