This read-only integer (0..0xff) is a consolidated bitmap of the channel's alarm state, with individual bit positions documented for specific conditions, for example bit 1 flags an alarm for network-side AIS/RDI received, and bit 4 flags a fail condition for CC failed/RAS failed, among other defined positions. An administrator reads and decodes this single value to get a compact snapshot of multiple simultaneous alarm/fail conditions on the channel without polling each underlying state object individually. For example, a chanStatusBitMap value with bit 4 set would indicate a continuity-check or RAS failure condition on that channel, distinct from a value with only bit 1 set, which would instead indicate a network-side AIS/RDI receive alarm.