EDI Telecommunications Billing (ETB)

About The EDI Telecommunications Billing Committee

The EDI Telecommunications Billing (ETB) Committee is comprised of representatives from telecommunications companies and their customers and other interested parties that utilize EDI Telecommunications Standards. The ETB Committee originated and has continually maintained the ANSI ASC X12 Consolidated Service Invoice/Statement Transaction Set (811 TS) for complex telecommunications billing along with 820 TS, 824 TS and 864 TS. ETB participants work together to standardize the use of the EDI transaction sets in the telecommunications industry.

Telecommunications billing can be very complex and large in volume. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) offers an opportunity for trading partners to streamline their electronic information through the use of an industry standard. The ETB Committee works closely with the other ATIS Forums and Committees to develop standards so that the business cycle can be completely electronic by using various ASC X12 Transaction Sets.

The following paragraphs provide preliminary information for the transaction sets that are used in the telecommunications billing process:

The ANSI ASC X12 Consolidated Service Invoice/Statement Transaction Set (811 TS) is used for complex telecommunications billing. The 811 TS supports hierarchical billing that can span multiple service providers in a single transaction.

The Payment Order/Remittance Advice (820 TS) is used to send an electronic payment order and remittance through the banking system. The 820 TS can be used to make a payment, send a remittance advice, or make a payment and send a remittance advice.
The Application Advice (824 TS) is used to report the results of an application system’s data content edits.

The Text Message (864 TS) provides the capability to electronically move messages, contracts, explanations, and other one-time communications.

The Functional Acknowledgment (997 TS) is used as an acknowledgment for receipt of the 811 TS, 824 TS and 864 TS, as is the standard X12 procedure.

Billing is very dynamic as telecommunications companies add more complex services which are not alike. The ETB continually evaluates impacts to billing and to the transaction sets for each X12 version release. In order to do this efficiently and consistently, the ETB needs input from telecommunications suppliers and customers. The ETB is the forum where customers and suppliers should come to present their needs or their issues.

ETB welcomes the participation of all telecommunications billing organizations and interested parties in this important work.