This notification is sent when the value of the hop-by-hop forward defect indication (FDI-H), hop-by-hop backward defect indication (BDI-H), or end-to-end (aggregate path) forward defect indication (FDI-E) bit received on an interface changes. 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.