Hierarchical switch support of services for subscribers directly served by local exchange carriers

In a telecommunication network having a first local exchange carrier (LEC) switch that provides service to first subscribers, a method for providing features for first subscribers making calls to second subscribers, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first signal from the first switch at a second telecommunication switch disposed at a hierarchical level above the first switch, the first signal indicating to the second switch that call origination services are to be provided directly by the second switch for one of the first subscribers;
• receiving a second signal at the second switch via the first switch indicative of the identification of the one first subscriber;
• locating a record in a database coupled to the second switch in response to receiving the second signal, the location of the record being based on the identification of the one first subscriber as defined by the second signal;
• identifying a group affiliation parameter stored in said record, the group affiliation parameter defining one organization of which the one first subscriber is a member;
• receiving third signals at the second switch generated by the one first subscriber, the third signals conveying a call destination number of a second subscriber;
• the second switch transmitting a call setup message to a third switch associated with the second subscriber, the call setup message based on the group affiliation parameter so that the first subscriber's membership in the one organization can be used in further call processing.