This notification is sent when the value of the received end-to-end path forward defect indication or the received end-to-end path backward defect indication changes. Note that the end-to-end path forward defect indication is implicit, i.e. it is not signalled using a bit. An end-to-end path forward defect is inferred when no CDL Ethernet or Idle packets are received over a pre-determined length of time. To minimize the probability of prematurely reacting to momentary signal variations, a soak time may be incorporated into the notification in the following manner. A notification is generated after a defect is first detected, when the defect persists for a period of time that exceeds the set soak interval specified by coCdlDefectIndSetSoakInterval. A notification is generated after a defect stops being detected, when the defect does not appear over a period of time that exceeds the clear soak interval specified by coCdlDefectIndClearSoakInterval. When changes in CDL defect indications are received for multiple interfaces within a short time span, notifications should be deferred so that each notification is generated at least one coCdlDINotifyThrottleInterval after the previous notification.