The End Office Access Line Hunting feature automatically hunts for an idle trunk over end office access lines. This feature hunts for an idle trunk based on the precedence level of the call. The search occurs over either a preemptable trunk group or a nonpreemptable trunk group.

For calls that are higher than Routine precedence, the system hunts for an idle trunk in a preemptable trunk group. The following steps describe the hunting algorithm:

1. If the system finds an idle trunk, the system provides precedence ringing.

2. If the system does not find an idle trunk, the system reexamines a preemptable trunk group on a preemptive search. The system preempts an active call that is of the lowest available precedence level.

3. The system hunts for an idle trunk in a nonpreemptable trunk group. If the system finds an idle trunk, the system provides precedence ringing.

4. If the system cannot find a trunk, the call is routed to the Blocked precedence call recorded announcement, see Announcements for Precedence Calling. If announcements are not recorded or administered, the caller hears reorder tone.

For calls that are Routine precedence, the system hunts for an idle trunk in a nonpreemptable trunk group and attempts to connect the call. If the system does not find an available trunk, the caller hears busy tone. For more information about preemptable and nonpreemptable trunks, see Preemption.