|
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 gateway |
Equipment used to provide the
electronic "bridge" from the public switched telephone
network (PSTN) to an Internet protocol (IP) network. |
|
Account Codes |
Also known as Project Codes
or Bill-Back Codes. Account Codes are additional digits
dialed by the calling party that provide information about
the call. Typically used by hourly professionals
(accountants, lawyers, etc.) to track and bill clients,
projects, etc. |
|
Agent |
A person or organization that
acts on behalf of another. In the telecommunications
industry, Agents typically are independent individuals or
companies that market the services of a carrier as if they
were employees of that carrier. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
ANI |
See Automatic Number
Identification. |
|
Answer Supervision |
The off-hook indication sent
back to the originating end when the called station answers. |
|
ARI |
Automatic Room Identification
(Hotel/Motel room number) |
|
Authentication |
Process of verifying with
certainty the identity of a valid subscriber or ITSP through
the use of a unique user identification number, password or
other method (i.e., verifying that customers are who they
say they are). |
|
Authorization |
Process of allowing a
Subscriber or ITSP a certain monetary credit or time amount
of IP Telephony. Authorization is the granting of permission
to provide users the service they are requesting. |
|
Authorization Number |
same as PIN. |
|
Automatic Number Identification |
Originating Number
(1) The number associated with the telephone station(s) from
which switched calls are originated (or terminated).
(2) A software feature associated with Feature Group D (and
optional on Feature Group B) circuits. ANI provides the
originating local telephone number of the calling party.
This information is transmitted as part of the digit stream
in the signalling protocol, and included in the Call Detail
Record for billing purposes.
(3) ANI may also be used to refer to any phone number. |
|
Baby Bells |
See RBOC Backbone |
|
Ballot |
A release form that
authorizes a customer's long-distance phone service to be
switched to (another) long-distance carrier, or reseller.
Also know as a Letter Of Agency or LOA. |
|
BAN - Billing Account Number |
Used by telephone companies
to designate a billing account, i.e., a customer or customer
location that receives a bill. A customer may have any
number of BANs. |
|
Banded Rates |
Tariffed rates which may be
changed by the carrier within a specified range. Frequently,
state commissions require notice to the commission prior to
each change. Banded rates are being used less frequently
today. |
|
Bandwidth |
Amount of data that can pass
through a connection (such as a modem) in a given amount of
time. |
|
Bell Customer Code |
A three-digit numeric code,
appended to the end of the Main Billing Telephone Number,
that is used by Local Exchange Carriers to provide unique
identification of customers. |
|
Bell Operating Company - BOC |
The local (or regional)
telephone company that owns and operates lines to customer
locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. BOCs have
connections to other COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and
may connect directly to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI,
Sprint, etc. BOC may refer to the nineteen Bell Operating
Companies that are owned by the seven RHCs (Regional Holding
Companies) (not including Cincinnati Bell or Southern New
England Telephone). The BOC role was originally defined by
the 1982 Modified Final Judgement that specified the terms
of the AT&T Divestiture). For Example, the three BOCs:
Mountain Bell, Northwestern Bell and Pacific Northwest Bell
are owned by the U.S. West RHC. Each BOC may service more
than one LATA, but BOCs are generally constrained from
providing long distance service between LATAs. |
|
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. |
|
Bill-To-Room |
A billing option associated
with Operator Assisted calls that allows the calling party
to bill a call to their hotel room. With this option, the
carrier is required to notify the hotel, upon completion of
the call, of the time and charges. |
|
Bit |
The smallest data unit that a
computer can handle. |
|
Block Calls |
Prevent calls from completing
to the requested destination. May be due to network problems
(outage, overload, etc.), or by customer request (e.g. block
calls from-or-to certain NPAs, NXXs, States, LATAs, etc.). |
|
BOC |
See Bell Operating Company |
|
Bong |
An interactive signal that
prompts the originating end user to enter additional
information. For example: 1010555 Bong (Enter Destination)
Bong (Enter Billing information)
Also used to denote a surcharge particularly in the calling
card industry. |
|
BTN - Billing Telephone Number |
The phone number associated,
for billing purposes, with the Working Phone Number. |
|
Bypass |
Access an IEC other than the
customer's Equal Access carrier by dialing 10+CIC Code.(e.g.
Bypass to WorldCom by dialing "1010555"). See Walkthrough,
CIC Code |
|
Call Data Record (CDR) |
Record of a placed call. A
CDR includes the time the call was placed and the duration
of the call. |
|
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). |
|
Callingcard |
Same as a phonecard or
calling card or telecard. |
|
Carrier |
A telecommunications provider
who owns switch equipment and telephone infrastructure. |
|
Carrier Identification Code - CIC |
A three digit number used
with Feature Groups B and D to access a particular IEC's
switched services from a local exchange line. One or more
CIC codes are assigned to each carrier. (i.e. there may be
multiple CICs per ACNA). See Bypass. |
|
Casual Calling |
Allow any ANI (including
undefined ANIs) to access a given carrier. For example, if
the originator is calling from a non-coin phone, they may
dial 1010555+destination number and have the call routed
through WorldCom and billed to the originating phone |
|
Casual Customer |
Any person or organization
that dials any CIC Code. (Not necessary to presubscribe to
the carrier.) |
|
Centrex |
A service that is
functionally similar to a customer-premise PBX, but provided
by means of equipment located in a Central Office. |
|
Choppiness |
Circumstance in which a
caller's words are intermittently cut off, creating a
situation of gaps in the voice transmission. Choppiness
makes it difficult or impossible to have a "normal"
conversation. |
|
CIC |
See Carrier Identification
Code (WorldCom = "555") |
|
Class of Service - COS |
A special limitation on what
numbers can and cannot be called. International, 809, 809 +
Canada, 48 contiguous states, etc. |
|
Clipping |
Situation where the system
cuts off the first part of the first word in a sentence.
(Not to be confused with choppiness -- which is a packet
loss). |
|
COCOT |
Customer Owned Coin Operated
Telephone |
|
Coin Phone |
A coin-operated pay phone
with restricted access to some services (e.g. International
calling). Coin phones have subclasses of Public, Semi
Public, and Private. |
|
Collect |
A call that is paid for by
the receiving/destination phone number. Requires
approval/authorization of the person being called. |
|
Common Carrier |
A carrier that holds itself
out as serving the public (or a segment thereof)
indifferently (i.e., without regard to the identity of the
customer and without undue discrimination). Common carriers
may vary rates based on special considerations and may in
fact serve only a small fraction of the general public. |
|
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) |
Companies that compete on a
selected basis for local exchange service, long-distance,
international Internet access, and entertainment (i.e.,
cable TV). |
|
Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) |
Extension of computer-based
intelligence and processing over the telephone network to a
telephone. CTI lets you interact with computer databases or
applications from a telephone. It also enables
computer-based applications to access the telephone network.
Computer telephony makes computer-based information readily
available over the worldwide telephone network from your
telephone. |
|
Contract |
A legally-binding agreement
between a vendor and a customer to provide Products,
Services or Features in a specified quantity and quality,
for a specified price, during a specified period of time. |
|
Contract Tariffs |
Services and rates based on
contracts negotiated with individual customers, but
theoretically available to all customers. AT&T has filed
several hundred contract tariffs. |
|
CONUS-Contiguous United States |
The 48 contiguous U.S.
states. Used primarily to designate the operating range or
authorization of a satellite or radio facility. |
|
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) |
|
Customizable PIN |
A PIN that gives you the
ability to choose the specific numbers or character
sequence. |
|
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). |
|
Cut-Through Dialing |
"10"+CIC+" #" followed by an
AuthCode for IntraLATA calls. |
|
DA - Directory Assistance |
Phone Number Lookup Service |
|
DAL - Dedicated Access Line |
A non-switched circuit from
the customer to a carrier. |
|
DDD - Direct Distance Dialing |
Any switched
telecommunication service (like 1+, 0++, etc.) that allows a
call originator to place long distance calls directly to
telephones outside the local service area without an
operator. |
|
Deactivation |
A request to terminate
service (or the process of terminating service) |
|
Dedicated Line |
A private line leased from a
telecommunications carrier. |
|
Default Carrier |
Your regular Dial-1 carrier.
Call 1-700-555-4141 to find your default carrier. |
|
Dial |
To Place A Call On A Switched
Network. The term "dial" is obsolete - based on rotary dial
phones and electromechanical relay switches (which are
nearly non-existent in modern telephone systems.) Touch Tone
service recognizes dual tones that are generated as each
telephone key is pressed. Where Touch Tone service is not
available, telephones and switches electronically "pulse"
signals that emulate the older rotary dial telephones. The
terms "place" a call or "originate" a call are more accurate
than "dial". |
|
Dial Tone |
Ready To Place/Originate A
Call. When the off hook indication is received at a central
office, a dial tone signal is sent to the originating caller
on a switched network to indicate that the switch is ready
to accept a number. |
|
Dialer |
Equipment that pulses out a
standard dial protocol signal. |
|
Digital |
A device or method that uses
discrete variations in voltage, frequency, amplitude,
location, etc. to encode, process, or carry binary (zero or
one) signals for sound, video, computer data or other
information. For example, a digital clock displays the time
as discrete numeric values, rather than angular displacement
of analog hands. Digital communications technology generally
permits higher speeds of transmission with a lower error
rate than can be achieved with analog technology. When
analog signals are received and amplified at each repeater
station, any noise is also amplified. A digital signal,
however, is detected and regenerated (not amplified). Unlike
amplification, any noise (less than a valid signal) is
eliminated by digital regeneration. |
|
Directory Assistance - DA |
An information service
whereby operators assist customers in obtaining the
telephone number(s) they wish to call. |
|
Design Layout Record (DLR) |
Official design of an
inter-connection. |
|
Equal Access |
(AT&T Divestiture - 1982
Modified Final Judgement) The provision of one-plus
capability to interLATA competitors of AT&T. Customers
should be able to reach the carrier of their choice by
dialing 1+ the long-distance number. The MFJ and the FCC
require local exchange carriers to provide equal access
(most central offices now have this capability). Equal
Access may also refer to a more generic concept under which
the BOCs must provide access services to AT&T's competitors
that are equivalent to those provided to AT&T. |
|
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.) |
|
FCC - Federal Communications Commission |
Regulates interstate
communications: licenses, rates, tariffs, standards,
limitations, etc. Appointed by U.S. President .Web Site =
https://www.fcc.gov |
|
Gateway |
Device that connects two
different kinds of networks and performs the translations
required for them to communicate with each other. |
|
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) |
European protocol used for
encoding digital cellular phone transmissions. |
|
H.323 |
Emerging Internet telephony
standard. |
|
IC |
Interexchange Carrier - IXC -
IEC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance
phone service between LECs and LATAs. |
|
IEC - Interexchange Carrier |
IC - IXC (IEC is preferred).
A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs
and LATAs. |
|
IEC Miles |
Interexchange Carrier (Long
Distance) Miles |
|
Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) |
Automated voice response
system to guide callers through a series of routine steps.
For example, voice mail prompts you to leave a message or
the monetary balance on a pre-paid calling card. |
|
Interexchange |
Communication between two
different LATAs. |
|
InterLATA |
Communication between Local
Access Transport Areas. 1982 MFJ requires LECs to use an IEC
for InterLATA services. |
|
International |
Between multiple nations. |
|
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) |
Organization in Geneva that
evaluates and approves proposed standards for making
telecommunications products work together. |
|
Internet Protocol (IP) |
Main protocol (i.e., set of
rules that formulates the foundation of communication) that
controls data flow from one point to the another. It is
actually the low-level common denominator of the Internet. |
|
Internet Service Provider (ISP) |
Company that offers its
customers accesses to the Internet. |
|
Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP) |
Company that offers its
customers the ability to make phone calls over the public
Internet. |
|
Interstate |
Between multiple states.
Interstate communications are regulated by the FCC. |
|
IntraLATA |
Communication within a Local
Access Transport Area. 1982 MFJ allows LEC to handle these
calls without an IEC. |
|
Intrastate |
Communication within a single
state. Intrastate communications are regulated by each
state's PUC. |
|
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) |
Phone line service whose
technology offers more bandwidth more economically; it is
therefore better suited for Internet telephony and video
applications. ISDN uses multiple channels for data and
voice. |
|
IXC |
1) Interexchange Carrier (IEC
is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone
service between LECs and LATAs.
2) Interexchange Circuit. A circuit that connects PoPs. |
|
IXC Miles |
On a Price Quote, the
coordinates of Location A and Location B are used to
calculate mileage-dependent line charges. |
|
IXC MilesInterexchange Carrier (Long Distance) Miles |
On a Price Quote, the
coordinates of Location A and Location B are used to
calculate mileage-dependent line charges. |
|
Jitter |
Difference in arrival time of
packets sent at the same time but traveling different
routes. |
|
LATA |
Local Access Transport Areas
(200 in the U.S.). A geographic service area defined in the
AT&T Modified Final Judgement. The RBOCs (baby Bells) and
GTE are restricted to operations within, but not between,
LATAs. Long distance service within a LATA is provided by
the LEC. Service between LATAs is provided by an IEC. LATAs
are represented by a 3-character code, and there are 164 of
them across the country. |
|
Latency |
Extent of delay that network
components inflict on packets traveling through the network. |
|
LEC |
See Local Exchange Carrier |
|
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. |
|
LEC Charges |
Charges that are the
responsibility of the local exchange carrier. |
|
Letter Of Agency - LOA |
A document that authorizes
changing the service provider. (See RespOrg, 800
Portability) |
|
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) |
An Internet standard for
Internet telephony products that access directory servers. |
|
Local Access |
Local Loop. The connection
from a subscriber to the Central Office. The portion of a
circuit connecting the LEC's CO with the customer's premise
equipment across the local network. |
|
Local Access Provider |
Any organization that is
authorized to provide local access. (May or may not be the
LEC.) |
|
Local Area Network (LAN) |
Number of computers connected
together to form one network. |
|
Local Exchange Carrier - LEC |
The local or regional
telephone company that owns and operates lines to customer
locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. LECs have
connections to other COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and
may connect directly to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI,
Sprint, etc. |
|
Local Exchange Service |
Local phone calls. |
|
Local Loop Provider (LLP) |
Company that offers other
companies accesses to a telephone switch. |
|
Long Distance Carrier |
A company providing
long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs. |
|
Message Toll Service - MTS |
Pay-by-the-minute switched
long distance services. Includes conventional long distance
and measured WATS. |
|
NASC - 800 Number Administration and Service Center |
The organization that
administers the SMS/800 system for the reservation,
registration and administration of all North American 800
numbers for all carriers. (See 800 Portability, RespOrg and
SMS/800) |
|
Network Access Points (NAP) |
Connection points between
different networks. |
|
NPA - Numbering Plan Areas |
North American "Area Codes."
(3 digits: 2-to-9, 0-or-1, 0-to-9. Middle digit to expand
soon) |
|
NPA Area Codes, NXX Exchanges and XXXX Line Numbers |
The process for assigning
10-digit (3+3+4) North American telephone numbers |
|
NPA-NXX Routing |
Area Code / Exchange Routing.
Route calls based on the originating ANI NPA-NXX. |
|
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. |
|
NUS |
NASC SMS/800 Number Search.
SMS application used to find available 800 numbers and
reserve them for up to 60 days. |
|
NXX |
Exchanges (First 3 digits of
a 7-digit phone number). (2-to-9, 0-to-9, 0-to-9) (Digits 4,
5 and 6 in a 10 digit NANP telephone number - NPA-NXX-XXXX). |
|
OCC - Other Common Carrier |
Not part of the original AT&T
system. |
|
Off Hook |
The signal that the telephone
receiver has been lifted (activated). Originating off hook
activates a dial tone on switched networks. Destination off
hook completes a call (and activates minute-by-minute
billing for long distance calls). |
|
One Plus - 1+ |
Customer ability to access
the long distance service provider of their choice by first
dialing 1, then the long distance number. Equal Access
guaranteed by the 1982 AT&T MFJ. 1+ is an outbound service
where the calling station pays the charges. |
|
Operator Service Call - OSC |
A call that is placed through
a human or automated operator (0+). |
|
Operator Service Provider - OSP - OS Provider |
The vendor that supplies
operator service. |
|
Outbound |
Outward Sending - Call
Originating - Dialing Out |
|
Packet loss |
Loss of parts of the
packetized data that comprises the whole communication. |
|
Packetization |
Breaking down of data that a
computer sends into smaller pieces (known as packets). Each
packet has a header that identifies the packet and its
destination. The packet travels through routers to its
destination computer, which reassembles all the packets that
belong together and then sends this reconstituted data to
the appropriate program. |
|
Payphone |
A public (or private)
telephone that accepts coins or encoded credit cards. |
|
Payphone Charge |
The charge per unit to make a
phone call. Also used as the additional charge per call for
a calling card or dialaround system if call is made using a
payphone, normally collected for the owner of the payphone. |
|
Payphone Fee |
Additional charge per call if
if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the
owner of the payphone. |
|
Payphone Surcharge |
Additional charge per call if
if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the
owner of the payphone. |
|
Personal Identification Number (PIN) |
Personal unique security
codes that callers use to access their accounts. |
|
Person-to-Person |
Operator assisted phone call
- only billed if the specified person is available. |
|
Phone card |
Same as a calling card or
telecard. |
|
Phonecard |
Same as a calling card or
telecard. |
|
PIC - Primary Interexchange Carrier |
The IEC that 1+ calls are
routed to. Specified by ANI. |
|
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 response
code that indicates whether the request was performed. (Some
LECs return non-standard PIC Response codes.) |
|
Point Of Presence - POP |
The physical access location
interface between a local exchange carrier and an
Interexchange Carrier fiber network. The point to which the
telephone company terminates a subscriber's circuit for long
distance service or leased line communications. |
|
Point-To-Point |
Non-switched, dedicated
communication circuit. |
|
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) |
Protocol to access the
Internet using dial-up connections. |
|
POP |
See Point Of Presence |
|
POTS |
Plain Old Telephone Service |
|
Primary Interexchange Carrier |
The long distance company
that is automatically accessed when a customer dials 1+. |
|
Private Line |
Uses dedicated circuits to
connect customer's equipment at both ends of the line. Does
not provide any switching capability (unless supported by
customer premise equipment). Usually includes two local
loops and an IEC circuit. |
|
Provisioning |
The process by which a
requested (ordered) service is designed, implemented and
tracked (providing the subcomponent parts). |
|
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) |
The regular, "old-fashioned"
telephone network. |
|
PUC - Public Utilities Commission |
The agency regulating
intrastate phone service. |
|
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. |
|
Rates and Tariffs |
Standards published by AT&T,
OCCs,LECs, and IECs that define service availability, cost
and provisioning procedures. |
|
Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) |
Protocol that improves
Internet telephone calls by adding special information to
the voice data packets to help programs reassemble them more
efficiently. |
|
Recharge Code |
A set of numbers on a calling
card used to add additional funds, usually the last several
digits of a PIN. |
|
Rechargeable Phone Card |
A calling card used which can
be refilled with units by the addition of funds to the
calling card account without the purchase of a new card or a
new PIN. |
|
Reuseable Phone Card |
A calling card used which can
be refilled with units by the addition of funds to the
calling card account without the purchase of a new card or a
new PIN. |
|
RBOC |
Regional Bell Operating
Company. Bell operating companies set up after the AT&T
divestiture. |
|
Rebiller |
See Reseller |
|
Regional Bell Operating Companies - RBOC |
One of the seven "Baby Bell"
Companies created by the 1982 Modified Final Judgement that
specified the terms of the AT&T Divestiture. The seven RHCs
include: NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, Southwestern
Bell, U.S. West, Pacific Telesis, and Ameritech. "RBOC" is
sometimes used informally to refer to the Regional Holding
Companies defined in the 1982 MFJ. (See Bell Operating
Companies - There are 19 BOCs). |
|
Regulators |
FCC, PUC, Federal Courts
(e.g. MFJ), etc. |
|
Reseller - Also known as Rebiller |
A long-distance carrier (IEC)
that does not own a network, but leases bulk capacity and
resells portions of it at a higher rate. |
|
Residential Customer |
An individual (non-business)
telephone system subscriber. |
|
Responsible Organization - R/O - Resporg |
With 800 Portability, the
Number Administration Service Center (NASC) allows the
RespOrg to make changes such as carrier, termination, 800
call routing (by time of day, location.) A Letter Of Agency
(LOA) must be on file to change the RespOrg for each
customer/account. |
|
Router |
Switching device that that
directs traffic through the Internet. |
|
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) |
Encrypted communications path
between two computers. Theoretically protects customer
information. |
|
Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP) |
Protocol to access the
Internet using dial-up connections. |
|
Slam |
An end user that is PICed
without their permission. An RBOC Slam Fee must be paid for
each slam. |
|
SMS |
Service Management System
Simple Message System |
|
SMS Customer Record |
All information related to
one 800 number, effective date and time, etc. |
|
Smart Card |
A plastic phone-card with a
stored cash value in a micro-chip inside the card. |
|
Speed Dialing |
A service to abbreviate and
accelerate frequently dialed numbers. |
|
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. |
|
Surcharge |
An additional charge on top
of a base rate for a specified reason.
A fee charged against a calling card usually to cover the
phone card company's costs. |
|
Switch |
A device (like a DMS-250 or a
PBX) that responds to originator signals and dynamically
connects the caller to the desired communication
destination. |
|
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 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. |
|
Switched Services |
All dial up long-distance
services including conventional residential and WATS (most
have incremental use charges). (See Message Toll 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. |
|
Switchless Reseller |
A reseller of long-distance
services that does not utilize any of its own lines, or
(switching) equipment. All actual service and equipment is
handled by the IXC. Billing is usually done, by the reseller
themselves, to the customer. |
|
System Management Network Protocol (SMNP) |
Piece of equipment's ability
to be remotely monitored. |
|
T1/DS-1 |
(Facility) The equivalent of
24 multiplexed voice grade channels. 1.544 million bits per
second (1.5Mbps) |
|
T2/DS-2 |
(Facility) The equivalent of
4 multiplexed T1 channels. 6.312 million bits per second
(6.3Mbps) |
|
T3/DS-3 |
(Facility) The equivalent of
28 multiplexed T1 channels. 44.736 million bits per second
(45Mbps) |
|
T4/DS-4 |
(Facility) The equivalent of
6 multiplexed T3 channels. 274.176 million bits per second
(274Mbps) |
|
Tariff |
A public document filed with
the FCC or a PUC that outlines services and rates. Usually,
all customers are offered the same rate for a specific
service, based on published constraints. |
|
TDD |
Telecommunications Device for
the Deaf |
|
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. |
|
Telecard |
Same as a phone card or
calling card. |
|
Termination gateway |
The computer equipment
configured with certain hardware and software, which
provides the electronic "bridge" from an IP network to the
PSTN to connect to the destination telephone. |
|
Third Party Billing |
Use of an outside service
bureau for bill processing such as: call rating, customer
invoicing, collections, etc. |
|
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. |
|
Toll |
A rated call (Contrast CDR -
unrated call detail record). Tolls appear on the Invoice
Detail. |
|
Toll Call |
A call with incremental use
(minute-by-minute) charges. (Often through a Class 4 Toll
Office). |
|
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 $1.6 billion/year. |
|
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) |
More reliable protocol for
monitoring the control of data -- because it checks data at
the destination to ensure that all packets are received. If
any are missing, TCP resends them. |
|
Trunk, trunk group |
Number of phone lines grouped
together going to the same place. |
|
Two Out Of Three Rule |
When determining state tax
jurisdiction, there are three locations to consider:
originating station, destination station, and the location
that the bill is sent to. If two out of three are the same,
then that state receives the tax. |
|
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) |
Chip that controls the serial
port in a computer. |
|
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) |
A protocol similar to TCP;
however, it does not check data at the receiving end to
ensure that all the packets have arrived, and doesn't
re-send missing data. |
|
Value Added Reseller (VAR) |
Company offering services
other than the core service. For example, a company who
sells computers and offers training, service, and on-going
maintenance is considered a VAR. |
|
Vanity Number |
A specific 800 or 888 number
(may spell something). |
|
Verified Account Codes |
See Account Codes. A finite
list of carrier-verified, predefined Account Codes. |
|
Vocoder |
Compresses a digital signal
and then decompresses it. (Also known as coder.) |
|
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. |
|
WATS - Wide Area Telephone Service |
Flat rate, or special rate
pay-by-the-minute (measured) billing for a specified calling
area. May be outbound or inbound (e.g. 800). |
|
Wide Area Network (WAN) |
Number of computers connected
together to form one network over several locations. Could
be made up of several LANS all connected together across the
world for example. |
|
Wireless |
Radio waves, cellular,
satellite, microwave, etc. |
|
WNP |
Wireless Number Portability. |
|
WTN |
Working Telephone Number. |
