CO Technician I

Central Office Technician I

The Central Office Technician I is responsible for installation, maintenance and troubleshooting of digital Central Office (CO) equipment and facilities; tests, analyzes and evaluates equipment.

Essential Job Functions

• Installs and maintains digital CO equipment and transmission facilities; assists in installation, servicing and removal of CO facilities.
• Repairs and provides preventive maintenance on CO power supply equipment, including rectifiers, standby generators and batteries, ringing machines and distribution panels and fuses.
• Tests, maintains and evaluates performance of all other CO equipment, such as subscriber line equipment, Nortel CS1500 switching gear and common equipment, trunks leaving and entering central office and billing and traffic metering equipment; ensures operation of transmission facilities and associated equipment including voice frequency repeaters, carrier systems, electronic telephone equipment, fiber transport equipment, line equipment and trunk facilities.
• Performs acceptance tests on new equipment; oversees the daily checking of toll, EAS, other types of trunks and alarm reporting systems.
• Assists in preparation of plans and specifications and other data for additional equipment or upgrades; follows routine procedures and ensures that routines are performed on all carrier, fiber and toll circuits; records the results of routines and acceptance tests; performs regularly scheduled standby duties.
• Ties cross-connections needed to establish, modify or terminate telephone service; coordinates with connecting companies when necessary in establishing, maintaining and removing special circuits, such as FX lines, broadcast circuits and data transmission facilities.
• Coordinates with the Network Manager and VP of Plant & Operations on the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of various carriers, fiber optic, toll and transmission systems when the company investigates possible upgrades and system additions; plans and schedules installations to meet system deadlines.
• Assists in the installation, maintenance and support of microwave radios and alarm systems; works closely with subsidiary and supplier personnel to turn up and maintain new systems.
• Receives and analyzes trouble reports; records and forwards traffic metering usage data; forwards all recorded billing data to commercial or finance departments.
• Repairs and provides preventive maintenance for service assistance; performs related duties, such as building and installing support structures for power supplies and cable.
• Completes and submits all related records for CO and plant equipment.
• Performs all major emergency repairs as required, using knowledge of electrical circuitry and its applications and understanding of all CO and carrier equipment and its direct application to system outside plant, both buried and aerial.
• Installs subscriber carrier systems and related equipment; makes acceptance and lineup tests; clears trouble in carrier equipment.
• Establishes efficient CO and transmission facilities record-keeping system; prepares various reports, transmission and trunking including fiber optic and carrier transmission facilities analysis for the Network Manager, progress reports on job, work orders and maintenance forecasts.
• Installs and maintains data equipment and modems, four-wire circuits and automatic toll ticketing equipment.
• Coordinates with finance, commercial and other departments on service installations; requisitions materials and supplies as needed and maintains adequate inventory levels.
• Provisions, maintains and troubleshoots switching/transmission equipment.
• Keeps records updated on all circuits.
• Performs work with the awareness of all potential hazards connected with the installation and maintenance of CO power supply equipment, CO switching gear and other CO equipment, including but not limited to falls, electric shock, falling objects and traffic; uses safety equipment and utilizes safety practices; attends and participates in all designated cooperative safety and training meetings.
• Complies with all RUS specifications, industry standards, safety rules and regulations and company policies and procedures.
• Uses safety equipment; utilizes safety practices; attends and participates in all designated cooperative safety and training meetings; abides by the company's safety manual.
• Places a premium on customer satisfaction; and makes every attempt to perpetuate the cooperative's PVT and its subsidiaries positive image in all subscriber customer related service activities.
• Completes other duties as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned by Management.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of telephone plant operations, procedures and service offerings; thorough knowledge of telecommunications equipment and materials; knowledge and experience with digital switching equipment; familiarity with all transmission facilities equipment including fiber optic, carrier and trunking equipment and materials and preventive maintenance procedures. Strong understanding of switching, light-wave and microwave radio equipment. Strong understanding of digital circuits, including, DS0 -> OC192. Strong understanding of DC power and related equipment. Basic understanding of SS7 circuits and translations, basic understanding of trunking and translations, understanding and ability to operate test equipment related to switching/transmission equipment. Communicate effectively, both in written and verbal skills in professional and courteous manner to co-workers and general public; able to complete work accurately under time constraints and deadlines; able to work independently.

Education and/or Experience

High School diploma or GED. Associate's degree or higher in Telecommunications, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Information Systems Management or equivalent, a minimum of 1 year experience in telecommunications, electronics and/or formal training in digital switching/transmission equipment.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

Must have, or be able to obtain, and maintain a valid New Mexico state driver's license, have an excellent driving record and be insurable under the Company's insurance policy.

Other Qualifications and/or Credentials

Network certifications.

Physical Requirements

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

0-24%

25-49%

50-74%

75-100%

Seeing: 75-100%

Must be able to read computer screen and various reports.

Hearing: 75-100%

Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with employees and industry contacts.

Standing/Walking: 50-74%

Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling: 25-49%

Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: 25-49%

Fingering/Grasping/Feeling: 75-100%

Must be able to write, type, and use phone system.

Working Conditions

Usually good working conditions. Climate controlled building with adequate lighting and space. Occasional exposure to elements such as noise, dust, cold/heat, and traffic or interruptions. Some elements present which make conditions less desirable than usually found in an office. The normal noise level is quiet in the office environment and may be moderate to loud in outside conditions.

Note

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

PVT is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. PVT makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.