Making Sure You Get a CFA

CFA (pronounced see-eff-ay) stands for Carrier Facilities Agreement, and the term is associated with ordering a dedicated circuit. It refers to the specific location into which your circuit cable will be wired. The CFA actually lists the physical location of your carrier’s point of presence (POP), as well as the bay, panel, rack, and slot to which your circuit is assigned. It’s a brief, one-page document, but it is very specific. The CFA is also one of the first benchmarks in the process of setting up dedicated service. When you receive the CFA, you can rest assured that you’re halfway to completion.

 Tip  When you’re checking on the progress of your dedicated service, the next time you talk to someone at your carrier, say, “It’s been three weeks since we sent you the order for our new circuit in Dallas. Do we have a CFA yet?”