Feature Group A

 

FG A can be configured for originating only, terminating only, or two-way traffic.   Feature Group A represents a very small percentage of Switched Access business. It is primarily used for regular telephone service or long distance, also referred to as MTS/WATS like service, in targeted local calling areas (we all recall the infamous "WATS" line, where employees could make unlimited long-distance calls for one flat rate - well WATS is actually available on all three Feature Groups).  To service an entire LATA, Feature Group A must be acquired by the IXC in each local calling area within that LATA for originating traffic - however, in certain jurisdictions it may be used for all terminating traffic throughout the entire LATA.

NOTE:  there are no Feature Group A trunks - only lines !!!

Originating Calls over Feature Group A - typically, customers order FG A into metro areas with large Dial Tone offices.  With Feature Group A, the customer buys a Feature Group A line so that its subscribers in the local calling area can dial a local number to access the long distance service.  Subscribers dial the seven digit local Feature Group A number, get a second dial tone, and then dial their PIN number and the number they want to call.  This is a rather inconvenient way for an end user to place a long distance call since he or she may have to dial as many as 20 digits. However, in some cases, Feature Group A represents an economical way for an IXC to enter a target market. Typically, IXCs order it for a specific metro area where a large Dial Tone office gives them the greatest return on their investment. 

NOTE:  quite often, these originating FG A lines are used only to service a specific local area of customers within a LATA.  If the IXC did want to provide the entire LATA with access to originating Feature Group A, they would have to establish Feature Group A service for each local calling area in the LATA. In practice, this rarely happens since it is expensive for the IXC.

Terminating Calls over Feature Group A - once the IXC has purchased a Feature Group A line, he is then connected to the LEC's SWC.  At this point, although the line only allows customers of that specific End Office to originate calls - the IXC is now connected to the SWC and can terminate calls to anywhere in the LATA over the FG A lines.  If the IXC also has FG b or FG D trunks, then he can terminate calls using either the FG A lines or the FG B or D trunks.  

Feature Group A Characteristics - FG A can be provided with dial pulse or touch tone (DTMF) dialing. Because Feature Group A is a lineside connection, it has the signaling characteristics of a line rather than a trunk, such as dial tone or touch tone (also known as DTMF dialing). It cannot be provided with Multi-frequencing, known as MF, or SS7 as these are characteristics of Feature Group B or D trunks.

Occasionally, an Interexchange Carrier will require dial tone directly from an End Office. This is typically a small IXC, (employees of the Big 3 will rarely purchase Feature Group A trunks from the LEC).  In this case the small carrier believes they can provide long distance service at a competitive rate - in comparison to what the larger IXC is currently charging.  

The IXC requests a line, rather than a trunk (see "Line" in yellow in the top diagram), between the Serving Wire Center and the End Office. This service can only be provided via Direct-Trunked Transport (see link to "Feature Groups"). This is a special case that typically applies only to one class of switched access service, known as Feature Group A.  This is a special service ordered from the LEC by the IXC, where end users dial a phone number with a local exchange to make a long distance call.

The purchaser of FG A lines is usually a small long distance carrier operating regionally. They believe they can be highly competitive in certain areas, typically small towns. In fact, they believe they can beat the other providers and give end users an economical way to make long distance calls from within their local calling area.  Feature Group A is perfect for these kinds of customers because it is the only Switched Access Service which uses a lineside switching connection. 

With FG A, Interexchange Carriers or end users order a telephone number and a telephone line rather than trunks to provide the service. Because it's a lineside connection, Feature Group A is never routed through Access tandems, instead, it is always direct routed from the End Office, also known as the Dial Tone Office. 

FG A was one of the first ways for Interexchange Carriers to provide long distance and WATS service, and it remains a class of service today because it is still an economical way to provide long distance to subscribers in certain areas, especially if a carrier wants to test a potential market. 

In conclusion, Feature Group A :

You will probably never encounter a Feature Group A in your career.

 

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