In order to facilitate negotiated resolutions of any dispute concerning a request for interconnection, services or network elements pursuant to the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (FTA) §251, the parties are encouraged, but not required, to pursue any method of alternative dispute resolution agreeable to them, including, without limitation, mediation or private binding arbitration, in which the commission is not a direct participant. Agreements reached through the parties' use of alternative dispute resolution methods will be considered as equivalent to negotiated agreements, and will be processed for review and approval pursuant §21.97 of this title (relating to Approval of Negotiated Agreements).