Telecommunications - Glossary of Telecommunications Terms

Analog: Transmission method that uses electrical or physical analogies to produce a continuous signal.

Bundles: Multiple services sold as a package; a bundle of services can not be broken down into several parts.

Centrex: A coordinated phone service which can be leased from the local telephone company and which requires no special on-site equipment; it often includes enhanced services such as 4-digit extension dialing, call waiting, three-way calling and off-site transfer.

Collocation: The process in which telecommunications service providers locate equipment in the same space. Collocation allows service providers to easily interconnect equipment and/or networks.

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC): Any provider of local, point-to-point telecommunications services (private lines, special access lines) other than the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (e.g. Bell Atlantic, Ameritech), such as Advanced Radio Telecom (ART), MCI WorldCom, NextLink, Teligent, WinStar.

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE): Devices at the customer location for interfacing between public transmission facilities and other equipment, such as telephones, terminals, multiplexors, and computers.

Debit Card: A telephone calling card with a limit set prior to purchase.

Demarcation Point: The point where the public network ends and the building or tenant network begins.

Direct Inward Dial: A feature that allows outside callers to dial an extension directly, without local operator assistance.

DS-1: Capacity of 24 voice circuits communicating at 64 Kbps and at a physical transmission rate of 1.544 megabits per second; it can be configured for a variety of uses such as video conferencing, trunking, private data networks, etc.

Easement: A right of use over the property of another.

End-User Switch: A device controlling tenants' telecommunications system.

Fractional T-1: A range of services that provide varying bandwidth, typically for needs that are more encompassing than standard ISDN and T-1 connections.

Frame Relay: A standard "packet switched" protocol for transmission of voice and data; it creates "virtual" dedicated circuits that are much less expensive than true dedicated circuits.

High-Definition Television (HDTV): Any of a variety of video formats offering higher resolution than current television broadcast standards.

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC): The monopoly (or former monopoly) provider of local exchange services in any given area. Includes the Regional Bell Operating Companies and other independent local exchange carriers.

Interexchange Carrier (IXC): Any provider of interLATA (long distance) telecommunications services. Examples include: AT&T, Sprint, MCI WorldCom, Frontier, LCI, Cable & Wireless, etc.

Inter-Floor Cabling: Wiring used by tenants to connect operations on multiple floors that is not part of the public telephone network.

Internet Connections:

• Dial UP: Access to the Internet through a high-speed modem by use of a (typically local) dialed number.

• ISDN: Digital connection from a computer to the Internet which has four to six times the capacity of a connection through a standard telephone line; may be dialed up or dedicated.

• T-1: High capacity dedicated circuits for connecting LANS to the Internet.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): Any provider of Internet connectivity services (See Internet Connections above). Examples include: UUNET, NETCOM, BBN Planet, TIAC, etc.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): A protocol for digital signal transmission over existing twisted pair copper wiring; in each direction, this provides two 64 Kbps voice, video, and data channels, as well as one 16 Kbps data-and-signaling channel over a single pair of twisted copper conductors.

Key System: Multi-line telephone that allows the user to view and select any line serving the premises.

LAN (Local Area Network): A network of computers and peripheral equipment that interact mainly with one another within a relatively small area.

License Agreement: A privilege to do some act or series of acts without possessing any estate or interest; it is usually revocable at the will of the licensor and is not assignable.

Local Loop: The distribution wiring between the central office and the end user.

Minimum Point of Entry (MPOE): Point at the property line or 12" inside the foundation for telecommunications services and 12" inside the tenant space for cable television.

Personal Communications Services (PCS): Digital wireless technology such as portable phones, pagers, faxes and computers. Such mobile technology promises to allow each consumer to use the same telephone number wherever he or she goes.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX): A system that allows for switching and routing of multiple lines without specific user knowledge or intervention.