Understanding Key Issues with the Local Access Network

What is the local access network?

Local access is essentially the “last mile” connectivity between an agency's communications infrastructure within a facility and their service provider's Central Office (CO) or Point of Presence (POP).

Why be concerned about the local access network?

An agency that depends on communications for its operations should be particularly concerned about the local access; if an event, disaster, or accident affected the local access, communications may be entirely lost.

What is route diversity?

Route diversity is defined as communications routing between two points over more than one geographic or physical path, with no points in common. The greater the separation between the physical paths, the less likely an event would affect both paths thereby significantly increasing communications survivability.

How can local access be made more survivable?

Survivability of the local access depends upon three elements:

• Protective measures - to decrease the likelihood of damage to the local access
• Redundancy - built into the local access (e.g., redundant equipment, redundant power)
• Route diversity - redundant circuit paths with maximized physical separation

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