Loop plant modeling: An approach to modeling operating costs in the loop network

A large share of loop network modeling effort is aimed toward characterizing operating costs. These costs arise because of the day-to-day activities associated with providing loop facilities. This paper considers those activities which occur as a result of inward service orders, i.e., requests for a cable pair. The models are designed primarily to reflect the impact of changes in the feeder portion of the network on operating cost. These models provide a basis for systems for administering the loop feeder network. Applications of the models are illustrated by examples.