ABSTRACT: As a result of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996, the role of the tandem switching system in Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) networks has evolved and grown from its initial function as an economical means of connecting LEC End Offices (EOs) to being the primary gateway between the LEC and other telecommunications providers.

Issue 2 of GR-540 updates previous requirements contained in TR-TSY-000540 and provides new Automatic Message Accounting (AMA) data generation generic requirements and pointers to existing AMA requirements for Tandem (Local, Toll, and Access) Stored Program Control switching Systems (SPCS's) that provide Exchange Access services and Local Network Interconnection arrangements.

This Tandem Supplement contains tandem switching requirements to be used in combination with the LSSGR "Common Sections" (i.e., LSSGR - Sections 1 through 19) that provide requirements for combined local/tandem switching systems, tandem, and access tandem switching systems. The requirements in this document apply to systems that can be designed using existing analog or digital technology.