ia-long-distance-glossary: January 2006

24 Hrs./Day, Everyday

Refers to plans with standard billing periods, no peak and or off-peak periods.

700

A non-geographic area code that is used in the provisioning and verification of long distance services.

900

An area code that is used to connect you to an "information service". The calls are at no charge to the provider, however the may be of significant cost to the user.

Abbreviated Dialing

A feature that permits the calling party to dial the destination telephone number in fewer than normal digits. Abbreviated Dialing numbers must be set up in advance of their use. Speed Dialing is a typical example of Abbreviated Dialing.

Access

The means by which an end user’s call is connected to a long distance carrier; local line, dedicated/private line.

Access Fees

A fee levied for access to a provider's network. This includes the Customer Access Line Charge or CALC and the Carrier Access Charge or CAC. The first is charged of the consumer by the LEC for access to the local loop. The second is charged of the IXC for access to the local network and thus potential long distance customers.

Access Fees

Access Line

A circuit between a subscriber and a switching center.

Access Tandem / Toll Tandem

A switch that relays the long distance call from the customer's local exchange central office to the long distance switch/POP.

Account Code

A code using up to four digits, controlled by the customer from pre-determined table sets. The customer enters the number while dialing. The bill is sorted/summarized by code.

Activation

The programming of a wireless phone so that it can be used to transmit and receive calls on the wireless network.

Additional Listing

Another or cross-reference of a listing in the subscriber’s home directory.

Agent

A company or individual commissioned to market wireless services provided by a carrier or reseller. 2. The telephony term for each member of an ACD call group.

Aggregated Billing

Combining separate ANIs and/or separate types of long distance usage together for billing purposes. By doing this, customers can increase their volume discount. For example, customers on certain CLD outbound plans can combine this usage with their CenturyTel card and 800 usage for additional discounts.

Aggregator

An independent entity that brings several subscribers together to form a group that can obtain long-distance service at a reduced rate. Subscribers are billed by the original IXC. The aggregator only provides the initial set-up of the plan. He usually provides no service after that. Different than a reseller.

Ain (Advanced Intelligent Network)

Bellcore's switching concept that centralizes a significant amount of intelligence rather than constantly placing more and more information in the central office switch. The AIN infrastructure makes possible a great number of long distance services, such as a national 800 number service and virtual access to private networks. Also called Intelligent Network (IN).

Airtime

Actual time spent talking on the cellular telephone. Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime they use each month. Airtime charges during peak periods of the day vary from about 20 cents to more than 40 cents per minute, depending on the service plan selected. Most carriers offer reduced rates for off-peak usage.

Alt (Alternative Local Transport)

An alternative to the established local telephone company for carrying local traffic. Usually, alternative companies construct a fiber ring in an urban area to attract businesses to use their services in addition to, or in place of, local telephone company services.

Alternate Access

A form of local access where the provider is not the LEC, but is authorized or permitted to provide such service.

Alternate Access Carriers

Local exchange carriers in direct competition with the RBOCs. Normally found only in the larger metropolitan areas. Examples are Teleport and Metropolitan Fiber Systems

Alternative Operator Services

Operator services provided by a company other than a LECRBOC or AT&T that is authorized to provide such service

Amplifier

A device that boosts analog transmission signals as they travel over voice-grade facilities to the central office.

Analog

The traditional method of modulating radio signals so that they can carry information.

Aos (Alternate Operator Services) -

An operator service provider not owned by the Bell Telephone companies.

Appearance

If a key set can access one of the key lines that come into the system's key service unit, that key set is said to have an appearance of that key line. Also called a line appearance

Area Code

The first three digits of a phone number (the middle one of which is always 0 or 1) that identify the part of the country in which it is serviced. The local calling area of a cellular service may include more than one area code. With wireless phones, it is not necessary to dial 1 before entering the area code.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

(ADSL) High speed transmission technology that uses existing copper facilities and has a greater bandwidth in one direction than the other (asymmetrical). It provides slower upstream flow and faster downstream flow.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

At&t (American Telephone And Telegraph Company)

One of the first telephone companies. Once the largest company in the world, it is now 75% smaller due to divestiture of its Bell Operating companies in 1983.

Attendant

In a PBX system, the person responsible for greeting callers and switching calls to the appropriate station; In older PBX systems, the attendant also switched all outgoing calls.

Authot (Authorization Code Hotline) -

A table that references the POTS or DNIS number in the switch.

Automatic Call Distributor

A sophisticated feature of telephone systems used for handling incoming calls. Provides distribution of incoming calls evenly to a designated group, and is designed to provide reporting to management on the handling and disposition of calls.

Automatic Number Identification

This is a fixed amount charge for you to have a toll-free personal 800 number or numbers. (ANI) ANI transmits the billing number of the calling party rather than just the originating number. Telephone service that allows a consumer to call outside the local calling area without the assistance of an operator.

Automatic Ring-Down Service

A direct path signaling circuit to a distant phone. Signaling happens automatically when the handset is lifted on either end of the circuit.

Bandwidth

Refers to the transmission capacity of a communications circuit or channel.

Basic Rate Interface

(BRI) Lower-capacity circuits used with ISDN. They provide up to two separate telephone numbers and need special equipment to connect to regular telephones, fax machines, modems, or key telephone systems. BRI can also connect directly to computer equipment for access speeds up to 128 kbps.

Batch Processing

Occurs when everything relating to one complete job is bunched together and transmitted for processing at the same time. Also called Deferred Processing.

Bbs (Bulletin Board System

A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without the people being connected to the computer at the same time. There are many thousands (millions?) of BBS's around the world, most are very small, running on a single IBM clone PC with 1 or 2 phone lines. Some are very large and the line between a BBS and a system like CompuServe gets crossed at some point, but it is not clearly drawn

Billing Account Number - Ban

Used by telephone companies to designate a customer or customer location that will be billed. A single customer may have multiple billing accounts

Billing Address

The address to which your long distance bill will be sent

Billing Increments

Variable units of time measured in minutes or seconds for billing purposes. For instance, if billing is in one-minute increments, any usage from 1 to 60 seconds will be charged for one full minute. The rule of thumb is for each call you will pay for an average unused time equal to about half the billing increment.

Bisdn (Broadband Isdn)

ITU-T communication standards designed to handle high-bandwidth applications such as video. BISDN currently uses ATM technology over SONET-based transmission circuits to provide data rates from 155 to 622 Mbps and beyond.

Broadcast

1) Delivery of a transmission to two or more receiving stations at the same time such as over a local network, by radio transmission or by satellite. 2) Protocol mechanism whereby group and universal addressing are supported

Bundling

A marketing term that combines related telecom services for a joint bill which is less than the total of the combined bills added together.

Business Line

A circuit that connects the local exchange carrier to key telephone equipment or single-line devices such as telephones, facsimile machines and modems for business-class switched services (dial tone service).

Busy Lamp Field

A piece of equipment generally used with a manual key system console, with rows of tiny lights showing which telephone sets are busy and which are idle.

Busy Signal

A tone that indicates that the dialed number is in use. Also, a fast busy signal indicates that all circuits between the caller and the called number are busy.

Cable Modem

A device typically connecting a coaxial TV cable to a users PC. Cable modems are capable of the multi-megabit bandwidths available with Internet access via cable-TV facilities.

Call

All association between two or more users or between a user and a network entity that is established by the used or the network capabilities. This association may have zero or more connections.

Call Blocking

This feature allows one party to block incoming calls from certain phone numbers.

Call Forwarding

A feature that transfers incoming calls to a different telephone number. This can be initiated and changed from the actual location and in some cases from a remote telephone.

Call Hold

A feature that allows a station user to hold any call in progress on that station line by flashing the switchhook, dialing a second digit such as "1," or depressing a special station pushbutton that will automatically provide a second dial tone for the purpose of originating another call.

Call Restriction

feature that allows blockage of defined incoming or outgoing calls, such as long distance calls.

Call Setup

Process of establishing a call connection between a wireless phone and the wireless system.

Call Waiting

A feature for a single line telephone whereby one can receive a second call while the line is in use. The feature may be turned on and off as needed for non-interruption purposes such as Internet use.

Caller Id

A feature whereby the phone numbers, and sometimes, the name or state of incoming callers is disclosed to the call receiver. Most local telephone companies offer this service. A Caller ID Box or a telephone set with the Caller ID Feature is required for this service.

Calling Card

An alternative billing method that allows users to place calls from any telephone and have them billed to their "home" account.

Calling Card

A telecommunication credit card with an AuthCode for using a long distance carrier when the customer is away from their home or office (ANI).

Calling Card Rate

The charge per-minute of any long distance calling cards linked to your account. This is usually steeper than your normal long distance rate (to make you pay more for the added convenience).

Cancellation Fee

Also called Early Termination Fee, is a sum assessed of the consumer in the event the consumer terminates service prior to the predetermined service end date. Some carriers may prorate this fee based on remaining term.

Cap (Competitive Access Provider)

A telecommunications entity engaged in providing competitive access service.

Capacity

The issue of whether a network has sufficient transmitting capability amount its available transmission media to respond to customer demand for communications transport, especially at peak times.

Card

An electronic circuit board used to provide features in a key system or PBX; If the card connects individual stations to the PBX, it is known as a line card.

Carrier

A company that provides communications channels or circuits for both wireline and wireless service. Carriers are either "common" or "private". Common carriers may not refuse you service, whereas private carriers can.

Carrier Code

A unique five-digit number (SID) assigned by the FCC to each licensed cellular switch center. See CIC for long distance carrier code.

Carrier Common Line Charge

Refers to a fee paid to the local exchange carrier by the IXCs for connecting to the LECs local loop. This fee is in turn recovered by the IXC through the consumer.

Carry A Call

A phrase used to express the action a phone company takes to connect a call from the caller to the receiver.

Ccitt

(Consultative Committee on International Telegraph and Telephone) Telecommunications organization established by the United Nations to recommend international standards for communications carriers; in April 1994, the name changed to International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecommunications Standardization Sector

Cell Site

Location of wireless antenna and network communications equipment.

Cellular Phone

A wireless phone that permits users to roam from one communications cell to the next. A ubiquitous term used to refer to all wireless phones.

Centrex

A class of business services that offers features similar to that of a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), without the necessity of customer-owned equipment and utilizes standard business lines. Because the equipment is located, owned and maintained by the local telephone company's central office, the customer is spared the expense of keeping up with fast-moving technology changes. Local service providers have given unique trade names to their Centrex-like services, e.g., Centranet, Centron, ESSX, Plexar, Premier, Prestige.

Channel

A telecommunications path of a specific transmission rate between two or more locations.

Circuit

A physical connection or path connecting two points, through which en electrical current may be established. This connection is used for both sending and receiving.

Circuit Switching

The process of connecting two callers not hard-wired to each other in a closed communication path. The path is established only on demand (i.e., when the caller lifts the telephone receiver and receives dial tone) and is maintained only for the duration of the call

Co (Central Office)

The local exchange company's facility / switch, where subscribers' lines are joined to switching equipment for making local and long-distance calls.

Cocot (Customer-Owned Coin Operated Telephone)

As pay phones are no longer the sole province of the telephone company, any entrepreneur can buy, install, and collect from, a set of privately-owned pay phones.

Collect Call

A method of operator assisted calling whereby the receiver of the call is billed. This process requires the approval/authorization of the person being called

Collocation

Refers to the placement of a competitive telecommunications company’s switches and or equipment on the premises of the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier

Common Equipment

The equipment that governs the system functions of a PBX, key system, or hybrid system. The common equipment is the point where central office lines and/or trunks are connected to the system

Communications Protocol

strict procedure or interchange convention required to initiate and maintain communications over a communications channel

Conference Calling

A call whereby three or more parties are connected by means of phone equipment, subscribed phone service or a third party operator/phone service.

Connectivity

Being connected to the local central office for access to the public switched network

Country Code

Two or three digit codes used for International calls outside of the North American Numbering Plan area codes. Dial: 011 + country code + city code + local phone number) (e.g. "011 + 91 + 22 + 123- 4567" 91 = India, 22 = Bombay

Cramming

An illegal activity by unscrupulous long distance carriers who bill you for additional services that you did not request. If you have been crammed, contact the Federal Communications Commission.

Cross Bar Switch

A second-generation private branch exchange switching system, using magnets to connect horizontal and vertical paths to establish a path through the network. The cross bar is outdated today because it is not programmable and its electromechanical relays and switches take a great deal of space.

Cross-Reference

Another or cross-reference of a listing in the subscriber’s home directory

Cross-Talk

Energy leak from one channel to another. On the telephone network you hear somebody else's conversation. If transmitting data, a noise source

Csr (Customer Service Representative)

employee who processes service orders to establish, change or disconnect residential telephone service.

Csu/Dsu (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit)

The devices used to access digital data channels. At the customer's end of the telephone connection, these devices perform much the same function for digital circuits that modems provide for analog connections.

Custom Calling Features (Ccf)

The basic custom calling features now available to subscribers include call waiting, call forwarding, abbreviated dialing, 3-way calling, etc. These revenue-generating features are available from the central office, and do not require any special customer premises equipment.

Custom Calling Service

Provision of enhanced services to small business users and residential telephone lines.

Cutover

The exact date/time that a phone number, circuit, etc. is scheduled to be (or was) moved from one implementation (carrier, etc.) to another. (e.g. moving an 800 number from MCI to WorldCom).

Dacs (Digital To Analog Converter)

device which converts digital pulses (data) into analog signals, so these signals can be used by analog devices such as telephones. Also known as D/A Converter

Dal (Dedicated Access Line)

A type of service often used by large companies having a telephone line going directly to the long distance company's POP/switch, thereby bypassing the local telephone company and reducing the cost per minute. A DAL uses a single channel.

Dal - Dedicated Access Line

A non-switched circuit from the customer to a carrier.

Data Communications

The process, equipment, and facilities to transmit signals from one device to another at a different location

Dco

Digital Central Office

Ddd - Direct Distance Dialing

A network consisting of all the central offices and their interconnections throughout North America. It is organized so that any telephone in North America has a unique network address and can dial any other telephone in North America without requiring an operator's assistance

Deactivation

A request to terminate service (or the process of terminating service)

Deaveraging

This means that charges in different locations may vary for the same service received. This is because it is more expensive to provide certain services in some areas than others.

Dedicated Access

A dedicated line connection between a phone or phone system and an IXC. All calls on that line are routed to the chosen IXC.

Dedicated Channel

A channel leased or purchased from the LEC to be used exclusively by the end user

Dedicated Line

A channel leased or purchased from the LEC to be used exclusively by the end user

Dedicated Network

A network in which all connections are made by dedicated lines

Dedicated Service

A communication network dedicated to a single person, group, or purpose. It may also be a specific sub part of a larger network.

Default Carrier

Your regular Dial-1 carrier. Call 1-700-555-4141 to find your default carrier.

Demarcation

A physical piece of equipment that marks where the LEC/IXC carrier's responsibilities end and the customer's responsibilities begin, in regard to the network. The demarcation point is usually located on the customer's premises

Demodulation

The process of turning analog format electrical impulses back into sound waves. 2. The process of retrieving an electrical signal from a carrier signal

Dial Around Numbers

Access codes such as 10-10-xxx numbers to override the regular long distance carrier. Dial Around may offer better rates than standard long distance calling plans but there may be monthly fees, surcharges, or minimums.

Dial Pulsing

A means of signaling consisting of regular momentary interruptions of a direct or alternating current at the sending end in which the number of interruptions corresponds to the value of the digit or character. When you dial a number, you hear a series of clicks. Each number on the keypad emits a unique sequence of clicks. Push the 4 key and you'll hear four clicks. Gets its name from the old fashioned rotary dialing telephone.

Dial Tone

A signal heard when the telephone handset is off the hook indicating that the central office is ready to accept and process a dialed number

Dial Tone Line

A circuit that connects the Local Exchange Carrier’s central office to the user’s phones and equipment for business and residential services.

Dial-One Access

The use of digit 1 preceding the 10-digit telephone number to route long-distance calls through the local network to the primary long-distance carrier pre-selected by the customer; also known as equal access

Dialer

Equipment that pulses out a standard dial protocol signal

Did

(Direct-Inward-Dialing) A class of business service that enables direct dialing from outside telephones to internal station numbers via special trunks and customer equipment

Did (Direct Inward Dialing)

A feature of telephone systems that provides the ability for a caller outside the system to call an internal user of the system, bypassing the attendant. The digits are passed from the LEC's switching equipment to the PBX for routing

Digital Signal

Transmission signal that carries information in a discontinuous stream of on/off pulses.

Digital Switch

Solid state device that routes a signal in digital format.

Direct Outward Dialing (Dod)

The ability to make calls directly form an office station without going through the PBX attendant.

Direct/Single Lines

Refers to lines from a CO or PBX that terminate on specific phones. These termini appear in the same place on every phone in that system, e.g. a direct line to the engineering group.

Directory Assistance Service

This is a service usually but not always with a fee attached, that allows you to gain access to a database of directories and listings.

Directory Listing

Appearance in the alphabetical/white pages telephone directory. There are several types of listing, including standard, bold, additional lines and a foreign listing in a directory other than the subscriber’s home directory

Disa (Direct Inward System Access)

A special capability configured for a PBX that allows a caller from any touch tone telephone outside the PBX to dial a code and access a special trunk known as a DISA line. The caller can then use the DISA line to make outgoing calls through the PBX system

Disconnect

The disassociation or release of a switched circuit between two stations.

Distance Sensitive

Cost of a call varies with the distance between origination and termination points. For example, it costs more to call Hawaii from Louisiana than to call Mississippi from Louisiana.

Dlr

Detailed Line Record

Dnis (Direct Number Identification Station)

A reference source within the switch that associates the 800 number or authorization code with the POTS telephone number.

Ds-0

Digital Signal. A single DAL

Ds-1 / Ds-3 (Digital Signal Level 1 Or Level 3)

Digital transmission rates for time division multiplexing. DS-1 transmits voice, data and signaling at 1.544 Mbps. With the same data rate as T-1, DS-1 is equivalent to 24 DS-0 channels, or DALs, combined. DS-3 operates at 45 Mbps equivalent to 28 DS-1 facilities. SONET equivalents are VT and STS-1.

Dss (Direct Station Selection)

A piece of key system equipment that allows the attendant or answering position to know the status of individual station users, displayed via lamps. It also provides the capability to directly transfer a call to an idle station through depressing a button associated with a particular station.

Dtmf (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency

Describes what is better known as touch-tone dialing. With DTMF signaling, when a button is depressed, a combination of two tones is sent to the distant end describing the corresponding number depressed on the touch-tone pad

Dual Band

A handset that works on both the 800 MHz cellular and the 1900 MHz PCS frequencies

Dual Mode

A handset that works on analog and digital wireless networks

Duplex

Two-way voice communication occurring simultaneously on one line

E-Rate-Sld (Schools And Libraries Division)

Responsible for administering the E-Rate application process, including the independent review of applications for compliance with FCC rules, creating and maintaining a web site to post service applications, and performing outreach and public education functions needed to administer the schools and libraries program

Eas (Extended Area Service)

An option offered by local telephone companies where a subscriber can pay a higher rate and reach more areas as local calls (no long distance charges).

Electromagnetism

Magnetism developed by a current of electricity

Electronic Key System -

The most commonly sold type of key set today, offering extensive features and simpler wiring than earlier electromechanical key systems. Electronic key systems are extremely popular with small businesses looking for communications flexibility with a low level of investment

Electronic Switching System

A telephone system where the instructions are separated from the hardware, i.e., computer driven. All systems today are electronic. The term was adopted in response to the old electromechanical switches, where relays acted in direct response to a number dialed.

Enhanced Service

Services like voicemail, call waiting & unified messaging. Again, usually charged extra for, but sometimes offered free as an incentive from your long distance carrier.

Equal Access

The ability of a subscriber to dial a long distance number preceded by 1 and have that call carried by their long distance company of choice. Equal access was mandated in the Modified Final Judgement (MFJ) which defined the terms of divestiture and breakup of the Bell system

Esmr

(Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio) Digital version of SMR, which includes many features found on digital cellular and PCS phones, including messaging and data services

Esp

Enhanced Service Provider

Estimated Local Number Of Calls Or Minutes

Approximate number of local calls or minutes used monthly.

Estimated Long Distance Number Of Calls Or Minutes

Approximate number of long distance calls or minutes used monthly.

Exchange

A geographic area within which users can connect local calls through services provided by one or more central offices

Exchange Area

An area within which there is a uniform tariff for telephone service - there may be more than one central office in an exchange area

Exchange Code

The three-digit code identifying the caller's assigned central office.

Facilities-Based Carrier - Fbc

A carrier that uses its own facilities to provide service, in contrast with resellers, that purchase the services of other carriers and then retail the services to customers. (Most facilities-based carriers use the services of other carriers to some extent.)

Facilities-Based Provider

Refers to a service provider that offers services via its own switching stations. Since they have their own equipment, they do not simply resell services of other companies, but are the actual service provider

Feature Groups

Feature Groups A, B, C, and D (FGA, FGB, FGC, FGD) are four separate switching arrangements available from the long distance carriers. These switching arrangements allow the long distance carrier's end users to make toll calls through their favorite long distance carrier. Feature groups are described in a tariff filed by the National Exchange Carrier Association with the FCC. The feature group used by each carrier together with any special access surcharge determine the service they can provide their customers and the carrier common line access fee they will pay to the long distance carrier involved

Federal Communications Commission

A federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate communications services.

Fga (Feature Group A)

Signaling system which sends calls to the entire LATA. Also used with dial-up service to originate calls from certain locations. Software answer supervision is used with this feature group. Hardware answer supervision is not available with FGA. See Answer Supervision.

Fgb (Feature Group B)

Signaling which sends calls to a particular central office and does have hardware answer supervision. See Answer Supervision.

Fgd (Feature Group D)

Equal access 1+ signaling that sends calls to a particular tandem and has hardware answer supervision

Fiber Optics

Transmission technology that transports digital information from point to point in the form of light pulses through glass-fiber strands

Final Authority

A person involved in the service order sign-off procedure to check the order for accuracy. The Final Authority clerk is the last person to see the service order before it is sent to the billing system.

Flat Rate Service

A calling plan that provides unlimited local calling for a certain fee.

Foc-Firm Order Confirmation

Notice returned to advise that the request for service was processed and is error-free

Foliage Attenuation

Reductions in signal strength or quality due to signal absorption by trees or foliage obstructions in the signal's line-of-sight path. For example, 800 MHz systems are seldom deployed in forested areas. Pine needles nearly the same length as 800 MHz antennas can negatively affect signal reception in that band

Follow Me Roaming

The ability of the user's wireless provider to automatically forward incoming calls to the user even when the user has left the home coverage area.

Foreign Central Office

A Local Exchange Carriers (LEC) switching facility outside a user’s ‘home’ service area.

Foreign Exchange Service

Provides local calling from an exchange outside the customer’s own local exchange area

Four-Wire Line

A transmission medium in which each wire pair carries one-way signaling for each party.

Fractional T1

A digital T1 line in which the data-carrying capacity is only partially activated. The monthly recurring charges are determined by the amount of bandwidth used

Frame Relay

A high-speed packet switching protocol used in wide area networks (WANs). It can provide speeds from 56Kbps up to a T3 (45Mbps) and is very popular for LAN-to-LAN connections across remote distances.

Franchise Fees/Surcharge

Fees paid by the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) to municipalities for the right to provide telephone service within the municipality. Most regulations allow LECs to pass such fees along to their customers

Frequency

The rate at which current alternates.

Frequency Reuse

Technique that enables wireless carriers to increase their system capacity with a limited number of channels. It Works by sufficiently separating transmitters that use the same frequency or set of frequencies so that they do not interfere with one another

Frs

(Family Radio Service) Low power, short-range two-way radio service in the 460 MHz band.

Fusf (Federal Universal Service Fee)

A charge that contributes to a federal fund for providing discounted communications services to communities across the nation. All communications companies, including local and long distance providers, are required to contribute to this Universal Service Fund. Each company's required contribution is based on its annual revenue. Providers may pass these charges on to end users.

Fwa (Fixed Wireless Access)

Also known as Wireless Local Loop (WiLL), FWA is a fixed wireless service meant to compete with or substitute for local wireline phone service.

Fx (Foreign Exchange)

A dedicated service that terminates in the central office of a distant city. FX service provides the customers a local presence in a remote city without the necessity of a physical location

Generic Dsl

(xDSL) Refers to the general class of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology

Gmpcs

(Global Mobile Personal Communications Services) Refers to future mobile satellite systems that will provide wireless phone service anywhere in the world

Gsm

Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) The most common digital cellular system in the world. GSM is used all over Europe, plus many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and North America. GSM's air interface is based on narrowband TDMA technology, where available frequency bands are divided into time slots, with each user having access to one time slot at regular intervals. Narrow band TDMA allows eight simultaneous communications on a single radio multiplexer and is designed to support 16 half-rate channels. GSM also is the only technology that provides incoming and outgoing data services, such as email, fax, and Internet surfing. GSM makes use of a SIM card that allows memory portability between dumb GSM phones.

Gte (General Telephone And Electronics)

A major telecommunications company whose main business is owning and operating independent (non-Bell) local telephone companies.

Half Duplex

A circuit or device capable of transmission in two directions, however not simultaneously

Handoff

The process of transferring a wireless phone call in progress from one cell transmitter to another without interruption of service.

Hands Free Speakerphone

Feature on some wireless phones that allows the user to talk and listen to calls without lifting or holding the handset

Handshake

Sharing of signals between a wireless phone and a wireless communications system to establish call setup

Hard-Wired Connection

A permanent wire circuit between two devices

Hdsl

(High-Bit-Rate Digital Subscriber Line) A high-speed digital transmission that allows Local Exchange Carriers (LEC) to provide T1 data speed service over existing copper telephone lines. HDSL is typically used for wide-band digital transmission within a corporate site and between the telephone company and a customer. The main characteristic of HDSL is that it is symmetrical.

Home Coverage Area

Geographical area within which wireless phone calls are considered local calls and therefore do not incur long distance or roaming charges

Hook Switch

The button located in the base of the telephone, responsible for opening the circuit when no call has been made or received and for closing the circuit when a call is in progress; also known as the switchhook

Horizontal Distribution System

The general term for the system of cables, wires, and building features that permit individual offices on a given floor of a multistory building to be connected to the riser cable and, thereby, to lines and trunks from the central office

Hunt

The process by which a switch moves from contact to contact (phone to phone) until a connection is made.

Hunt Group

A series of central office lines arranged in such a manner that a call coming into the group will search for an idle line. If the call encounters a busy condition on the first line, the hunt will continue through the other lines until it locates an idle line. If it cannot locate an idle line in the entire group, it returns a busy signal to the caller.

Hybrid System

A telephone system that has attributes of both key telephone systems and PBXs.

Interexchange Carrier - IXC - IEC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs

Icb (Individual Case Basis)

this is the term generally used to describe specially-authorized, non-standard rate plans for customers

Iddd (International Direct Distance Dialing)

Sometimes known as International 15-digit Dialing. A feature that allows the subscriber to directly dial international numbers

Iden

(Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) A Motorola Inc. enhanced specialized mobile radio network technology that combines two-way radio, telephone, text messaging and data transmission into one network.

Idf (Intermediate Distribution Frame)

A metal rack designed to connect cables running from the main distribution frame to intermediate closets. Changes in wiring are usually done at the IDF to save confusion. The IDF frame supports the wiring to station sets.

Iec - Interexchange Carrier

A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.

Ilec

Companies that were providers of local telephone services in defined territories prior to deregulation in 1996. This includes companies such as Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, US WEST, GTE, Sprint, SNET and many smaller companies

Immunity

Immunity has special meaning in a 911 context. No CMRS or 911 provider, its employees, officers or agents is criminally liable or liable for any damages in a civil action for injuries, death or loss to person or property resulting from any act or omission in connection with the development, adoption, implementation, maintenance, enhancement or operation of E911 service, unless such damage or injury was intentional or the result of gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct

In (Intelligent Network)

A network that allows functionality to be distributed flexibly at the various nodes on and off the network, and allows the architecture to be modified to control various services.

In-Territory Service Area

A service area in which CenturyTel is the LEC and CenturyTel long distance is also a long distance carrier option. (See Out-of-territory Service Area.)

Inbound Calls

Calls originating from another telephone to yours.

Incoming Calls

Calls originating from another telephone to yours.

Independent Telephone Companies

Telephone companies that provide local service to subscribers and are not affiliated with the Bell Telephone companies. They operate largely in rural areas and small towns. There are approximately 1,400 independent telephone companies. Also called independent Operating Companies (IOC).

Induction

The process by which an electromagnetic force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit.

Inp-Interim Number Portability

Allows a customer to keep the same telephone number regardless of the choice of local telephone carrier, also allows customer to retain special services to which customer is accustomed

Inp-Interim Number Portability

INP-Interim Number Portability

Inside Wire

All fixed ground communications-electronics equipment that is permanently located inside buildings.

Integrated Services Digital Network

(ISDN) Circuits that provide digital transmission in two basic varieties, PRI and BRI. PRI or Primary Rate Interface is the faster of the two at 1.544Mbps. PRI can also be multiplexed into as many 24 voice grade lines. BRI has a speed of 144Kbps and is designed for desktop application

Intelsat

(International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium) Formed in 1964 with the goal of creating a worldwide satellite system

Inter-Office Trunk

Trunks that link central offices together

Interconnect Facility

One or more communications links used to provide local area communications service between or among several locations which, taken as a whole, form a node in the network

Interconnect Industry

Companies that sell, install and maintain telephone systems (equipment) for subscribers.

Interconnection

Connecting one communications network with another. For example, connecting a wireless phone network with the local exchange.

Interconnection Fee

Fee charged by wireline carriers to connect wireless phone calls to the wireline network.

Interexchange

Communications between points in different exchanges

Interexchange Carrier

A common long that provides services to the public local exchanges on an intra or inter LATA basis in compliance with local or Federal regulatory requirements.

International

Refers to all locations outside the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Interstate

Refers to calls between points in different states

Interstate Rate

the rate for outbound and inbound state to state calls

Intralata

Communication within a Local Access Transport Area. 1982 MFJ allows LEC to handle these calls without an IEC

Ipoc - (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier)

Initial Point of Contact

Itemized Billing

Individual call detail reporting and billing information.

Jack

A receptacle which telephone equipment can be plugged into and connected.

Land Line/Wireline

A telephone circuit that travels over terrestrial circuits, be they fiber, wire or microwave. A call may originate from a source not connected to the terrestrial network, as from a car telephone or a ship-to-shore radio, and the call be completed by land line.

Lata (Local Access Transport Area)

The geographical area within which a LEC (local exchange carrier) can provide local and long distance communication services. LATAs were created as a result of the dictates of the Modified Final Judgement

Lata Primary Intra-Exchange Carrier

(LPIC) A carrier that provides "Intralata" or local long distance. Local telephone companies automatically provide this service unless otherwise specified by the customer. Intralata Long Distance providers may also provide this additional service, but only when specifically requested by the user. LPICs can be over-ridden by dialing 1010xxx first, then long distance number.

Lcd

(Liquid Crystal Display) Flat screen used to display numbers and/or characters. Often found on wireless handsets and on pagers.

Lcsc

Local Carrier Service Center-The BellSouth's on-line, interactive system which permits subscribers to perform inquiry functions and process requests for resale of the products, features, and services unbundled products and services

Least Cost Routing

Programming that allows a telephone system to determine the least expensive long distance carrier to route traffic through.

Lec (Local Exchange Carrier)

A telephone company providing local exchange service and connection to the long distance network. A LEC can be either an independent or Bell Operating company. See also Exchange

Lec Ban - Billing Account Number

3-digit number appended to the billing phone number used as the LEC customer number. Groups all ANIs for a customer.

Lec Billing

Arrangement whereby the Local Exchange Carrier invoices the customer for some or all telecommunications services.

Lec Card

The billing arrangement which enables the caller to bill calls to an authorized calling card issued by a local exchange carrier.

Lens (Local Exchange Navigation System)

Bell South's on-line, interactive system which permits subscribers to perform inquiry functions and process requests for resale of the products, features and services offered by Bell South.

Leoig

Local Exchange Ordering Implementation Guide

Lidb

Line Information Database

Lidbe (Line Information Database Entry)

A shared database used to validate line-based calling card numbers.

Line

A channel or circuit between communications points.

Lmos (Loop Maintenance Operations System)

Computer system used to track facility data including POTS trouble reports.

Lnp

(Local Number Portability) Ability of phone service subscribers to change their local or wireless phone service provider and still retain the same phone number, as they can with long distance carriers.

Loa

1. Letter of Agency. Gives an agent or representative the authority to act on behalf of the customer to make moves, adds or changes to their communications services with the LEC, including PIC changes. Typically used by direct sales representatives. 2. Letter of Authorization. Used to authorize a PIC change.

Local Access

Telephone service that provides calling within the immediate area. This service is provided by Local Exchange Carriers.

Local Access Fee

The monthly recurring fee for the physical connection between a business and a service provider’s point of presence. This is usually provided via a digital T1 circuit that is multiplexed into 24 individual channels. The company that you are contracting with usually leases this circuit on your behalf. A business, on occasion, may choose to order a local access circuit from a local service provider directly.

Local Calling Area

Region across which a phone call is local, involving no toll or long distance charges.

Local Exchange Area

That part of the national telephone network controlled by the local telephone operating company and separate from the long distance network. The state public utility commission generally regulates local exchange areas.

Local Loop

Often called the "last mile" of telecommunications, the local loop is the connection between the home or office phone and the switching station of the local phone company.

Local Measured Service

A message rate structure in which the monthly service rental includes a specified number of calls within defined areas, plus a change for additional calls. The service is provided by local exchange companies.

Local Operating Company

A local telephone company whose central offices provide intra-Lata communications services, including dial tome, circuit switching, and call connection.

Local Reseller

A service provider that buys services from the Incumbent Local Exchange Company (ILEC) and resells them under their name. They do not have their own lines, however, they may own and collocate a switch or switches on the premises of the LEC they are reselling. Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, US WEST, GTE, and SNET are examples of ILECS.

Local Service

Telephone service within your immediate geographical area. It includes connections to the local service provider and calling plans and features.

Logical Channel

A specific band or time segment of a transmission medium, created not by physically dividing the medium but by imposing a set of rules to divide the medium into discrete units.

Long Distance

Refers to the transmission of a call between points outside of the local calling area.

Long Distance Carrier

A company that provides a network for a caller to use to make a long distance telephone call. Also called an Interexchange Carrier (IXC).

Long Distance Switch

A computer used to connect a call to the long distance network

Long-Distance Billing Increments

The time periods at which long distance calls are billed

Long-Distance Billing Increments

how a carrier bills the calls (60 seconds means the calls are rounded to the nearest minute, i.e. a call for 1 minute, 2 seconds will be billed for 2 minutes, whereas the same call on a 6 second-billed program would be billed for 1 minute, 6 seconds

Long-Distance Reseller

A service provider that buys services from one or more long distance carriers such as AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint then resells them under their name.

Loop

The physical wires that run from the subscriber's telephone set or PBX or key telephone system to the telephone company central office.

Loopback

Diagnostic procedure used to send a test message which is then sent back to the originator and compared to the original message.

Los

Local Optional Services (ex: Calling Zones)

Lsr (Local Service Request) Form

Contains all information required for administrative, billing, and contact details which are necessary for the provisioning of the request for service

Martens

Mechanized Assignment Records and Telephone Equipment Numbering System. This is a system that maintains plant records and provides a current inventory of all inside and outside plant facilities for local exchange offices. MARTENS is an address-driven system that maintains customer name and address records, and inventories telephone numbers, line equipment, station equipment and cable access points.

Matched Nodes

A capability of SONET rings to ensure traffic can be re-routed around a failed site.

Mdf (Main Distribution Frame)

A wiring arrangement where the local exchange central office lines terminate on the customer's premises, usually in the equipment room

Measured-Rate Service

A plan that charges for each completed outgoing local call. Charges are made based on the call duration and distance between calling points. There may also charges for local calls based on the time, duration and distance of the calls

Memory Dialing

Feature on some wireless phones that allows multiple phone numbers to be stored in the phone itself for quick dialing by pressing one or two buttons.

A list of options that appears on the terminal screen and requires that a selection be made

Message

A loose term identifying a complete transmission. It is sometimes used synonymously with block, and sometimes to mean a group of blocks representing one transmission period. Control information at the beginning is usually referred to as a header; the data portion is normally referred to as the text.

Message Toll Service - Mts

Pay-by-the-minute switched long distance services. Includes conventional long distance and measured WATS.

Microcells

Low-power, low-cost cell sites designed to provide coverage in enclosed spaces, such as offices, subway stations, etc.

Microcellular

A technology that directs the cellular signal into an isolated spot, leaving broader coverage to conventional cell sites.

Microwave

Radio waves from 1 to 60 GHz used for point-to-point communications

Min

(Mobile Identification Number) Uniquely identifies a mobile unit within a wireless carrier's network. The MIN often can be dialed from other wireless or wireline networks. The number differs from the electronic serial number, which is the unit number assigned by a phone manufacturer. MINs and ESNs can be electronically checked to help prevent fraud.

Minutes Of Use

Duration of a phone call, from start to finish, in minutes.

Mobile Telephone Service

Transmission over the public switched network of a voice signal that originates an/or terminates at a mobile site. The process involves radio signals transmitted to a centrally located antenna attached to a mobile telephone switch.

Modulation

The entire process of changing sound into fluctuating electrical current, and fluctuating electrical current back into sound.

Monthly Business Line Charge

Your phone company may or may not charge this for every business line a subscriber has.

Monthly Fee

A fixed rate fee charged monthly by your long distance carrier to remain with them irrespective of your call history for that month.

Monthly Minimum

A minimum of dollar usage of your long distance per month with certain call plans.

Mr. B. Cut 28 Report (Mrbcut28)

Contains all the service orders and MARTENS orders that were automatically programmed the night before. Checked by service reps and customer service reps each day to make sure all new orders have been processed correctly.

Msa

(Metropolitan Statistical Area) U.S. Census Bureau term referring to the coverage area of a city as in a wireless phone network. MSAs are the largest metro areas in the U.S. There are 306 MSA in the United States.

Multi-Channel Multi-Point Distribution Service

MMDS utilizes wireless frequencies licensed by the FCC to transmit data via a wireless network. MMDS enables providers to deploy a fixed wireless network providing broadband Internet and other data services. Customers receive the MMDS signal using a small, digital transceiver placed on their roof with line of sight to the transmitter. The transceiver is pointed toward a radio transmission tower to send and receive a signal.

Multi-Line Set

Any telephone set that can originate or receive calls on more than one central office line. These lines are accessed by depressing a button or dialing an access code, depending on the system.

Multi-Location Billing

A service option offered to businesses with multiple locations so that the billing for all locations appears on a single invoice with details and totals per location.

Multiplexer

A device that combines several communication channels into a single circuit.

Multipoint

Three or more stations connected to the same facility. It implies that the facility physically goes from one station to another until all are connected.

Naber

National Association of Business and Educational Radio. Merged with Telocator in 1994 to create the Personal Communications Industry Association.

Naf (National Access Fee)

An FCC-approved local exchange carrier fee charged to long distance companies for access to their local networks, and in turn, passed on to the end-user at the carrier's option. (End-user charges may be up to the predetermined FCC monthly per-line maximum for the service type.)

Nam

(Number Assignment Module) Component of a wireless phone that contains the telephone number and ESN of the phone.

Namps

(Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone System) Combines cellular voice processing with digital signaling to increase the capacity of AMPS systems and add functionality.

Nanc

(North American Numbering Council) The FCC advisory group formerly responsible for administering the North American Numbering Plan that oversees assignment of area codes, central office codes and other numbering issues in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and part of the Caribbean. NANP administration responsibility was transferred to Lockheed Martin.

Neca

National Exchange Carrier Association

Network Address

The unique identity of a subscriber that the network recognizes during a call within the system. The network address is the caller's 10-digit telephone number, consisting of area code, exchange code, and station code.

Network Services

Any service that a local operating company provides by giving the customer access to its equipment and transmission facilities.

No Answer Transfer

Like Call Forwarding, however the calls are transferred to another number only if not answered after a predetermined number of rings.

No Service Indicator

Wireless phone feature that tells the user that wireless service is unavailable in a certain location.

Non-Facilities Based Carrier

A carrier that does not own its long distance switches/POPs. A non-facilities-based carrier has an agreement with another carrier to switch and carry their customer calls. (See also Facilities Based Carrier.)

Non-Published Number

An unlisted telephone number that is neither printed in the directory nor available from directory assistance.

Non-Squared System

In telephone systems like key or the hybrid, any arrangement where the configuration of a central office line is not uniform to all station sets. Groups of lines may or may not appear on all station sets.

Npa (Numbering Plan Area)

Same as area code. The 3-digit NPA makes up the first part of every phone number in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

Npa Routing

Area Code Routing. Route calls based on the originating ANI NPA (area code.)

Npa Split

Subdividing an area code, with the creation of a new area code. This is necessary when the number of telephones in an area code (NPA) grows to an excessive number.

Npa-Nxx

Generic term for area code (NPA) and exchange (NXX).

Nrc (Non-Recurring Charge)

A one-time charge, usually for establishing service, time and material charges, or a fee for adding a service.

Number Pooling

Tactic for conserving phone numbers. Numbers are returned by the carriers to a central authority, which puts them in a pool, from which the carriers then receive numbers in lots of 1,000, instead of 10,000, as was originally done. Number pooling relies on Number Portability.

Nxx (Exchange Number)

The three-digit number identifying the local central office or LEC serving area for a specific city, town or location.

Oan

Operator Assisted Network. The name of a billing agent used by many long distance companies to put messages on the LEC bill.

Ocn (Operation Company Number)

A unique number to identify each CLEC.(Competitive Local Exchange Carrier)

Ocp (Optional Calling Plan)

A discount calling plan intended to save money for a customer, based on their calling pattern and volume of calling.

Off-Hook

The condition existing when the handset of a telephone is lifted. Lifting the handset signals the central office that the user is ready to make a call.

Off-Peak

Time of day, as determined by a wireless carrier, when traffic on the network is light. Typically, carriers charge less for calls made during off-peak hours.

Olsp (On-Line Service Provisioning)

Allows a carrier to process requests and service orders on-line.

On-Hook

The condition that exists when the handset of a telephone is resting in its cradle. This condition signals the central office that the set is ready to receive a call.

Ona

Open Network Architecture

One-Way Service

A line or trunk that is engineered such that traffic over that channel is one-way; only incoming or only outgoing.

Oni

Operator Number Identification

Operator Assisted

Calls connected by an operator after the consumer has dialed zero and then the number; collect, person to person, third party billed, etc.

Operator Assisted Text Messages

Text messages posted on a users wireless handset by an operator to whom the message was dictated.

Optical Fiber

A transmission medium in which modulated lightwave signals are transmitted through glass and demodulated into electrical signals by a light-sensitive receiver.

Opx (Off-Premises Extension)

A telephone set located in a different office, a building across the street, or across the country, from the main telephone equipment.

Originating End

The telephone or station from which the call is placed.

Operator Services. Any telephone service using the assistance of an operator or an automated operator. Includes collect calls, third-party billed calls and person-to-person calls.

Osp (Operator Services Provider)

A telephone company that provides operator services

Other Common Carrier

A generic term for providers of long distance telephone service in competition with AT&T. Today, all long distance carriers are called Interexchange Carriers.

Out Collect

A long distance company's use of a third-party firm to put messages on the LEC bill on their behalf.

Out-Of-Territory Service Area

A service area in which CenturyTel is a long distance carrier, but CenturyTel is not the local exchange carrier.

Outbound

Outward Sending - Call Originating - Dialing Out

Outside Plant

Portion of communications systems extending from the main distribution frame outward to the telephone instrument.

Pair

Two wires of a circuit.

Payphone

A public (or private) telephone that accepts coins or encoded credit cards.

Payphone Surcharge

Long-distance companies are required to reimburse payphone operators $.24 for each toll-free and calling card call originating from a payphone. In turn, long distance companies may charge that or an additional fee to their customers for such calls.

Pbx (Private Branch Exchange)

The PBX is a private switching system located on the customer's premises for the exclusive use of that business

Pcs

(Personal Communications Services) Two-way, 1900 MHz digital voice, messaging and data service designed as the second generation of cellular. The FCC allocated the PCS spectrum in 1993 to increase competition in the mobile phone industry. The introduction of PCS added six possible new PCS players in most markets, which had previously been limited to 2 cellular companies.

Peak

The hours of heaviest use of a switch (system). Usually, peak rates are available between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Peak Rate

Maximum rate, in kilobits per second, at which a virtual circuit can transmit.

Peak-Rate

The time between 7am and 7pm in the U.S. on weekdays. (6am and 6pm in some countries).

Pedestal

Base on which a roadside cable terminal box is mounted.

Person-To-Person

Operator assisted phone call - only billed if the specified person is available.

Physical Medium

A transmission medium such as wire, cable, or optical fiber-used as the conduit for sending communications to their destinations.

Pic (Primary Interexchange Carrier)

The subscriber's long distance company of choice, where 1+ traffic or long distance calls are routed by the local exchange carrier to the Interexchange Carrier in equal access areas.

Pic Charges

A LEC charge for changing the PIC. Often paid by the new IEC. If a LEC sends a PIC charge to a customer, the new IEC will typically credit the customer's account.

Pic Freeze

A PIC Freeze prevents the long distance from being switched for the specified ANIs. Useful to prevent slamming, or the unauthorized switching of long distance services.

Pic Request

A request record sent to a LEC asking for an ANI to be activated, deactivated or changed in some way

Pic Response

A response record sent by a LEC (corresponding to a previous PIC Request) with a response code that indicates whether the request was performed. (Some LECs return non-standard PIC Response codes.)

Plain Old Telephone Service

(POTS) Refers to a single business or residential dial-tone line.

Plant

General term for all equipment used by a telephone company in providing telecommunications services.

Poi

Point of Interconnection

Point-To-Point

Non-switched, dedicated communication circuit

Pop

Part of Population. One pop equals one person. In the cellular industry, systems are valued financially based on the population of the market served.

Port

To move a telephone number or telephone service from one provider to another. Used here as a verb - To port the number over...

Pot (Point Of Termination)

Demarcation point within a customer-designated premises at which the telephone company's responsibility for the provision of access service ends

Pre Paid Cellular

Refers to a service offered by wireless carriers that allows subscribers to pay in advance for wireless service.

Pre-Paid Calling Card

A calling card that allows users to pre-pay for long distance calls placed from any telephone. An allotted number of minutes may be purchased and usage for each call is deducted from the total amount until the total allotment on the card is used.

Pre-Subscribed Line Charge

Refers to a monthly fee that may be applied to route calls to a long distance company. Different long distance companies give various names to this charge, such as Carrier Line Charge, National Access Fee and Presubscribed Line Charge. Such charges are not mandated, but imposed at the discretion of each carrier.

Pri (Primary Rate Interface)

An ISDN trunk interface often used by long distance carriers for dedicated access lines. The ISDN equivalent of a T- 1 circuit.

Private Line

A private or dedicated line that has a constant transmission path from one location to another. A private line may be leased or owned

Private Line Service

A direct channel dedicated to the exclusive use of the customer from point A to point B.

Private Network

A communications network with restricted (controlled) access. Usually made up of private lines

Provisioning

Providing telecommunications service

Pstn - Public Switched Telephone Network

An interexchange network set of connections created by a combination of equipment, transmission media and the people who maintain them. This ensures a call can travel from point A to point B. It is referred to as public because it is available to anyone making a call, as long as the caller is willing to pay.

Public Network

A switched communications network with unrestricted access

Public Service Commission

State body charged with regulating intra-state telecommunications services (also called the PUC).

Puc (Public Utility Commission)

State body charged with regulating intra-state telecommunications services (also called the PSC).

Pushbutton Dialing

Also called Touch-tone dialing, it uses standard tone combinations to indicate numbers being entered.

Pvc

(Permanent Virtual Circuit) A feature of frame relay that increases the flexibility of the network technology. This software-defined logical connection allows users to define the logical connections and required bandwidths between end points. This allows the frame relay network technology to determine how the physical network will achieve the defined connections and manage traffic.

R1 Line

single-party residential line.

Radio Common Carrier

(RCC) Independent radio paging and mobile telecommunications companies that provide FCC approved communications services through transmission of radio signals.

Radio Frequency Fingerprinting

Also known as Fingerprinting. An electronic fraud preventing process that identifies each wireless handset by examining its unique radio transmission characteristics. Fraudulent or "cloned" phones cannot duplicate a legal phone’s fingerprint.

Rate Center

The geographic area used by local exchange carriers to set rate boundaries for billing and for issuing phone numbers.

Rate Element

A recurring fixed charge for IEC or LEC service at the lowest level. A local loop may have multiple rate elements associated with it, which make up the fixed portion of the monthly bill. For example: Local Access, Local Mileage, Entrance facilities, Channel Termination, Interexchange, etc.

Rate Plan

A billing system structured to different subscriber's needs and specification.

Rates And Tariffs

Rates and Tariffs

Rboc

(Regional Bell Operating Company) Companies that were divested from AT&T in 1984. These companies are also known as "Baby Bell" companies. Today they include Pacific Bell, Verizon, Bell South, Ameritech, Qwest, and SBC. They provide local telephone services to the majority of users in most states.

Rds (Report Distribution System)

An on-line report viewing system

Re-Biller

Also known as a switchless reseller, resells the services of ILECs, CLECs, RBOCs and IXCs. They do not have their own lines and equipment. Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, US WEST, GTE, and SNET are examples of ILECS. A Long Distance Re-Biller is a service provider that buys services from one or more long distance carriers such as AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint and then resells them under their own name

Reallocation Of Spectrum

The FCC regularly reallocates broadcast spectrum to provide for new innovations in communications, which have included cellular, PCS, advanced paging services and others. Sometimes called Spectrum Reframing.

Receiver

The electromagnetic device in the telephone handset that receives electrical impulses and translates them back into intelligible sound waves.

Redundancy

Duplicate equipment in place for rerouting of signals in case of failure on the primary system.

Regulation

The process of allowing government bodies, such as the FCC and PUC, to set rates and product offerings of private industries, such as telecommunication companies, public utilities (electric, gas, water/sewer), and transportation.

Regulators

Governmental agencies that administer rules and regulations governing telecommunications services.

Remote Call Forwardin

A feature of Call Forwarding that is accessible from remote telephones. This feature may be available through your local telephone company

Repeater

Devices that receive a radio signal, amplify it and re transmit it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals, thereby expanding coverage, within limits, more economically than by building additional base stations. Repeaters typically are used for buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain.

Resale

the act of an ILEC selling service for wholesale prices to companies (CLEC's) for resale to end users.

Residential Line

A circuit that connects the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) central office to telephones for residential dial tone service.

Resp Org

Responsible organization. A company who interacts with the shared 800 database to activate, remove or port 800 numbers. Includes all 800 routing and other activity

Restrictions

Features provided by your local telephone company that prevent undesired or unauthorized calling and charges.

Rhcd (Rural Health Care Division)

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 established a fund of up to $400 million to rural health care providers in an effort to create a national policy to bring high quality health care to rural Americans through the power of communications technology. For more information, view the RHCD website at www.rhc.universalservice.org

Ring-Down Circuit

A point-to-point communications system in which the second locations telephone automatically rings when the first location's telephone goes off-hook

Ring-To Number

The number selected by the customer to which their 800 number is to ring.

Ringback

The sound you hear when you call someone else's phone

Ringer Circuit

A circuit between the switch and the individual telephone used by the switch to activate the ringer on the telephone when a call is coming through on the circuit.

Roaming

Traveling outside a wireless carrier’s or subscriber’s local or home coverage area. There is usually an additional charge for roaming

Roaming Agreement

An agreement between wireless carriers that allows subscribers to use their phones on systems other than their home systems.

Rollover

A feature that allows incoming calls to ring to one or more numbers in succession until an open line is identified or all lines in that specified sequence have been accessed.

Rotary (Pulse) Dialing

This is done with the circular dial on a telephone set. The signal tells the central office the number dialed by opening and closing electrical loops, thus generating pulses for each digit dialed.

Rotary Dial

The circular telephone dial. When the dial returns to its normal position (after being turned), it opens and closes an electrical loop sent by the central office. It generates pulses for each digit dialed (the clicks you hear). You can dial on a rotary phone without using the rotary dial by depressing the switch hook quickly, allowing pulses in between to signify that you're about to send a new digit.

Rotary Hunt

Allows calls directed to a busy number to be automatically routed to the next available sequential subscriber line. Rotary Hunting is used in Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and Centrex Systems and is programmed at the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) central office and cannot be readily changed by the user.

Rsa

(Rural Service Area) 1) One of 428 non-metropolitan areas in the United States covered by a cellular or PCS license.

Rsag

Regional Street and Address Guide

Satellite Phone

A wireless phone that uses mobile satellite service to send voice and data.

Sce (Service Creation Environment)

A set of tools and activities required to create new services for subscribers in the AIN arena

Scp (Service Control Point)

The centralized network element in the AIN architecture that individual switches call on to obtain information and commands necessary for completing an AIN call

Sdsl

(Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) Provides for the same transmission speeds both upstream and downstream. The transmission rate is generally greater than the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) upstream rate and less than the ADSL downstream rate.

Service Area

Geographic area served by a wireless carrier or system. See also Coverage Area.

Service Plan

A description provided by a wireless carrier to a wireless subscriber that details the terms of the service, including activation fees, access rates, roaming charges, peak and off-peak rates, etc.

Service Switching Point

The node of the intelligent network (IN) normally associated with an end office. The entrance to the IN.

Signal

Information transferred over a communications system by electrical or optical means.

Single-Line Set

The telephone set that accommodates one central office line.

Six-Second Billing

A billing increment that rounds up to the nearest six seconds, six seconds is 0.1 minute.

Slamming

The unauthorized switching of a customer's phone service to another carrier.

Sleep Mode

Wireless phone feature that conserves battery power by automatically turning off the phone if the phone has not been used for a specified period of time. The phone is reactivated when the keypad is touched.

Smart Antenna

An antenna assembly whose able to focus its beam on a desired signal to reduce interference. Wireless networks are employing smart antennas at their base stations in an effort to reduce the number of dropped calls and improve call quality.

Smart Card

Also referred to as a SIM Card. A plastic card containing important data about a person's identity. This information allows that person access to a network or premises. Also, a card containing subscriber information, often inserted into GSM phones for roaming to different countries.

Smart Phone

A class of wireless phones, typically handsets with many features and often an enhanced keypad. What makes the phone "smart" is its ability to handle data and not only voice calls.

Sms (Service Management System)

The operations support system for Advanced Intelligent Networking. Provides the mechanism for downloading new features and monitoring the AIN network.

Sms Customer Record

All information related to one 800 number, effective date and time, etc.

So (Service Order)

An order for telephone and/or other communications services processed by communications company representatives

So Exchange List (Service Order Exchange List)

A list identifying all out-of-territory locations served by CenturyTel Long Distance-a report of these exchanges can be found on RDS-report name is SOPEXCH

Soft Handoff

Procedure in which two base stations, one in the cell site where the phone is located and the other in the cell site to which the conversation is being passed, hold onto the call until the handoff is completed. The first cell site does not cut off the conversation until it receives information that the second is maintaining the call.

Soho: Small Office-Home Office

Segment of small businesses with 1-4 lines and businesses operating out of homes.

Special Access

Flat, monthly rate access billing, same as dedicated access. Call bypasses local telephone company switching.

Speed Dialing

A service to abbreviate and accelerate frequently dialed numbers

Squared System

A telephone system where a user may access all central office lines from each telephone set, usually in reference to a key or hybrid key system.

Ss7 (Signaling System 7)

Provides fast call setup via high-speed, circuit-switched connections, and integrates remote database interactions such as Caller ID, with business computer applications. An international telecommunications standard used in landline and wireless communications to provide call processing information to a circuit-switched network. A transmission protocol signaling method. Extends full PBX and Centrex-based services - like call forwarding, transfer, screening and waiting - outside the switch to the full international network. An integral part of the ISDN system

Standby Time

The amount of time a subscriber can leave a fully charged handset turned on to receive incoming calls before the phone will discharge the batteries.

State Tax

A collection of tax types that each state is allowed to charge. Tax jurisdiction (which state can charge tax for a call) is based on the two-out-of-three rule: where it originates, where it terminates, where it is being billed to - if two match, that state can charge the tax.

Station [main]

Telephone instrument connected directly to a central office and having its own telephone number.

Station Code

The four-digit code identifying the precise location of an individual telephone's serving wire in the central office.

Station Message Detail Recording

Allows the telephone system to collect and record information on outgoing telephone calls. This information is messaged into management reports. Also known as Call Detail Recording (CDR).

Step-By-Step Switch

The first automatic switching technology that did not require an operator, in which calls go through a switch one digit, or step, at a time. The switch was invented in the 1920s and replaced the Cord Board switch.

Stp (Signal Transfer Point)

In a common channel signaling system each STP examines each received signaling message to determine its destination and routes the message to the appropriate outgoing link. A packet switch in the SS7 network that enables cost-effective routing of SS7 signals between other network elements.

Strongest Signal

The concept that a wireless 911 call should be routed to the cell site with the strongest link to the phone, regardless of which carrier holds the caller as a customer. The strength of the call's setup link isn't always equal to that of the link the cell assigns for voice traffic; the latter can be weaker.

Subscriber

Individual with a subscription or contract for wireless service with a carrier.

Subscriber Number

Part of the national numbering plan, the subscriber number is the last four digits of a telephone number.

Subscription Features

Optional calling features that can be subscribed to through a carrier

Surcharge

An additional charge on top of a base rate for a specified reason.

Swac (Switch Access)

A method of updating the central office switch after changes in customer services have been made. This updating is done automatically as a batch process from MARTENS.

Switch

Devices that allow end users to connect phone equipment to central offices and central offices to IXCs.

Switched Access

Nondedicated local access between the customer's premise and the serving wire center which is interconnected to the company's point-of-presence for origination or termination of service.

Switched Access Service

A class of LEC services that provides the link from the customer's premise to the IEC PoP for switched circuits.

Switched Call

A call that goes through the local exchange central office at either the origin end, the termination end, or both.

Switched Resellers

Resellers that utilize their own switching hardware (and sometimes their own lines) and the lines of other IXCs to provide long-distance service to its subscribers. They provide their own billing and service.

Switching Fee

A per-line fee (usually around 5$) imposed by the LEC to reprogram their switching system to change your default carrier. Subscribers must usually pay this fee when switching to a reseller. Some resellers will reimburse the subscribers for this fee

Switchless Reseller

Non-facilities based long distance provider

A high-speed digital line that can carry up to the equivalent of 24 telephone lines. It transfers digital signals at 1.544 megabits per second. T1 is synonymous with DS1.

A term for a system that transfers digital signals at 44.736 megabits per second. T3 is synonymous with DS3.

Tafi

(Trouble Administrations and Facilitation Interface) A system used by BST (Bell South Telecommunications) to process POTS trouble reports.

Talk Time

1) The time that a wireless phone is on and transmitting or receiving a call. 2) The amount of time a wireless phone battery provides for transmitting and receiving calls.

Tandem

The connection of networks or circuits in series. The connection of the output of one circuit to the input of another

Tandem Switch

A tandem switch connects one trunk to another

Tariff

A public document filed by a Carrier with the FCC or a Public Utility Commission that outlines services, fees, equipment and rates available to consumers for that carrier's service offerings.

Tariff Tables

Tables where rates are entered for air calls, local calls (interstate, interstate interlata, intrastate interlata, and overseas).

Tdma

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) divides frequency bands available to the network into time slots, with each user having access to one time slot at regular intervals. TDMA thereby makes more efficient use of available bandwidth than the previous generation AMPS technology, and is available in either 800 or 1900 MHz frequencies

Telco - Telephone Company

The local or regional telephone company that owns and operates lines to customer locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. Telcos have connections to other COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and may connect directly to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, LDDS, etc.

Telecommunications

Any communication process that allows the transmission of information from a sender to a receiver by means of an electromagnetic or lightwave medium.

Telecommunications Act Of 1996

Legislation created to stimulate competition in telecommunication services, especially between wireless and wireline carriers. Among other things, the Act gave RBOCs the right to offer wireless long distance service to their local wireless customers.

Telematics

The integration of wireless communications, vehicle monitoring systems and location devices.

Termination Charges

Fees that a phone company must pay to complete or terminate calls on another telecommunications company’s phone networks. For instance, wireless phone companies must pay to terminate a wireless phone call on another carrier’s wireless or landline network.

Third Party Billing

Use of an outside service bureau for bill processing such as: call rating, customer invoicing, collections, etc.

Third Party Verification

The use of an independent outside source to validate service order requests.

Three-Way Calling -

A cellular system feature that provides the ability to have a conference call from the cellular phone. The cellular user may connect with two other phone numbers for a three-way conversation. Also, a wireline feature

Tie Line

Ties switching equipment together at two locations via a dedicated line for the exclusive use of the customer.

Time Of Day Routing

Route calls based on the time the call originates. (e.g. direct morning calls to East Coast operators and afternoon calls to West Coast operators, etc.). SMS/800 supports 15 minute time intervals.

Time Sensitive

Cost of telephone service varies with certain times of day or week. For example, calls would cost during the day on Monday than on Sunday evening.

Toll Call

A call outside the local exchange service area whereby charges are incurred in specific billing increments.

Toll Fraud

A crime in which a "hacker" obtains telecommunication services by: breaching computer security, using or selling stolen long-distance credit-card codes, or, accessing a PBX and using its communication facilities illegally. Toll Fraud is estimated to cost U.S. companies $1.2 billion/year.

Toll Tandem Switch

A switch that relays a long distance call from the customer's local exchange central office to the long distance switch/POP

Toll-Free Service

This service uses area codes such as 800, 888 and 877. The receiving party sets up the service and incurs per-minute charges for the calls.

Tone: All Trunks Busy

Low tone interrupted twice per second which indicates that switching paths or equipments are busy.

Touch-Tone

Also called push-button dialing, it uses standard tone combinations to indicate numbers being entered.

Traffic

The amount of activity during a given period of time over a circuit, line or group of lines, or the number of messages handled by a communications switch.

Transmission

The sending and receiving of telecommunications messages through appropriate channels.

Triple Band

A network infrastructure or wireless phone designed to operate in three frequency bands.

Trs (Telecommunications Relay Service)

Special service for the hearing impaired, required of all local and long distance carriers providing voice transmission

Trunk Group

A group of essentially like trunks that go between the same two geographical points

Trunk(S)

Special central office switching line(s) which connect the subscriber's PBX to the CO switching equipment.

Twisted Pair

Two insulated copper wires twisted around each other to reduce induction (interference from one wire to another).

Two-Pic Exchange

An IntraLATA and InterLATA equal access area. It is possible to select two different carriers (one for intraLATA long distance and one for interLATA long distance) for each telephone number.

Two-Way Service

A line or trunk that is engineered to handle both incoming and outgoing calls.

Two-Wire Line

An electrically balanced circuit in which one wire is used to send and the other to receive.

Uls

(Universal Licensing System) The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau program under which electronic filing of license applications and reports of changes to licenses creates a database that can be accessed remotely for searches. Using ULS, for example, the user can learn all the specialized mobile radio licenses in a given region.

Underlying Carrier

A common carrier providing facilities to another common carrier which then provides services to end users.

Universal Service Fund

customers who live in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high; schools and libraries; and rural health care providers. For many years universal service support mechanisms have helped make telephone service affordable for low-income consumers and consumers who live in areas where the cost of providing service is high. Congress mandated in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that universal service mechanisms should also include support for schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. The FCC has adopted rules to implement this requirement

Unlisted Number

A telephone number that is not printed in the telephone directory, but is available from directory assistance.

Unvalidated Phone

A wireless phone lacking a service contract. Also called an unregistered phone.

Usac (Universal Service Administration Company)

Responsible for the collections and disbursement of funds in the Universal Service Fund.

Usage Rate

The rate or price charged for telephone service based on usage rather than a flat (fixed) monthly fee

User

Subscriber who utilizes a particular telecommunications procedure or service.

Usf

Universal Service Fund Charge or Universal Service Charge, Carrier Universal Service Charge, Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge

Usoc (Uniform Or Universal Service Order Codes)

In the service and equipment section of an order, the USOC is an alphanumeric code of three to five characters indicating services and products.

Vapn (Virtual Access To Private Networks)

A networking scheme that uses public network facilities to extend private network calling to remote sites

Vdsl

(Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line) A Very, high-speed, digital telephone line that provides for 50 mbps transmission rate in both directions.

Vendor

Seller of telecommunications services and or equipment.

Virtual Network

A network programmed, not fixed in facilities, to meet customers' specifications. These networks are the public switched networks provided by the interexchange carriers.

Vlr

(Visitor Location Registry) A network database that holds information about roaming customers

Voice Mail

An automatic answering service with the ability to record a message. Unlike simple answering machines, Voice mail uses a programmable computer system with options such as temporary call routing, monitoring and reporting, etc.

Voice Mail Box

The assignment of one user/number on a voice mail system.

Voice Mail Or Voice Messaging

A computerized, highly sophisticated answering service that automatically answers a call, plays a greeting in the customer's own voice and records a message. Depending on the sophistication of the service, it also can notify the customer via a pager that he has received a call. After the customer have retrieved his messages, he can delete them, save them, reply to them or forward them to someone else on the voice mail system. CenturyTel offers this service as an enhancement to its cellular and paging products.

Voice Recognition

The capability for cellular phones, PCs and other communications devices to be activated or controlled by voice commands.

Voice-Activated Dialing

A feature that permits the customer to dial a number by calling the digits out to his cellular phone, instead of punching them in himself. The technology has advanced to the point that several models of mobile phones are now offered with the feature, which contributes to convenience as well as driving safety.

Wan

(Wide Area Network) A geographically dispersed telecommunications network. The term distinguishes a broader telecommunication structure from a Local Area Network (LAN). A wide area network may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of public or shared-user networks.

Wats

(Wide Area Telephone Service) A pricing structure whereby the duration of all calls is accumulated and appropriate rates are applied to the total time.

Wcs

(Wireless Communications Services) Frequencies in the 2.3 GHz band designated for general fixed wireless use.

Wireless Local Loop

(WiLL or WLL) WiLL is a means through which local loop facilities are provisioned without wires.

Wireless Pbx

Equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless handsets connected to an office's private branch exchange system.

Wireline

Refers to a carrier owned by an existing phone company

Wirewatch

Service where the company will maintain the inside wire for the customer.

Wtn

Working Telephone Number

Xdsl

Refers to the general class of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology.

Zpdi

Zero Plus Dialing, Inc.: An operator and services billing agent used by many long distance companies to put messages on the LEC bill.

ia-long-distance-glossary

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Long distance glossary

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