Analog :::
A method of transmitting information over wave-lengths.
The data is converted into waves and transmitted via radio
or light frequencies.
Bandwidth
:::
The range between the highest and lowest frequencies
on a channel; more commonly, the amount of data that can
flow through a channel at the same time. In either case,
the capacity of a telecommunications channel is measured
by its bandwidth.
Bottleneck :::
Any point in a network where traffic gets backed up because
of insufficient bandwidth. Broadcast Transmission to two
or more receivers via a single signal. Also called point-to-multipoint
transmission. Examples of broadcast are television, radio,
and cable programming.
Cable Modem :::
A device that allows a computer to send data via the cable
network, where such service is available. Cable modems are
capable of providing greatly increased bandwidth over dial-up
connections; however, the bandwidth available to each cable
modem user is determined by the number of users on the system
at the time.
Cellular Radio :::
Low-power radio transmissions that convey messages to specific
receivers. These transmissions are analog, and can only
be received within the transmission range of the radio emitter
or tower. This is the basic technology behind cellular telephones.
CLEC :::
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier. A company which is trying
to compete with the existing telephone company to provide
local telephone service.
D-G
Dial-up :::
Using a computer, modem and a standard telephone line to
connect to another computer, network, or internet service
provider.
Digital :::
process by which all information (data, sound, etc.) is
converted into a series of zeros and ones. This sequence
can be represented by light, sound, or magnetic coding.
Digital transmissions provide a greater clarity of signal,
and allow greater amounts of information to be passed through
a channel.
Digital Cellular :::
Using cellular radio technology to transmit information
which has been converted into digital format.
Divestiture :::
The court-ordered break-up of AT&T in 1984. AT&T
was split off from the local telephone providers, who became
the RBOCs.
Ethernet :::
A process which allows the transmission of 10 megabytes
per second over copper wires. Ethernet is generally used
only in local area networks (LANs) for connecting computers
that are separated by a short physical distance. A network
that uses Ethernet may or may not be connected to the internet;
Ethernet links do not automatically imply internet connection.
Exchange :::
The switch in the local telephone company's central office
that routes traffic to and from individual phone lines.
Fiber Optic :::
A transmission technology where light signals (sequenced
to carry information in a digital format) are send down
compressed optical fibers. These fibers, made of glass,
allow light to be transmitted without interference from
other channels.
Franchising :::
A franchise is a license, or contract, between municipalities
and telecommunications providers for use of the public rights-of-way.
In Texas, municipalities award franchises to incumbent local
exchange carriers (LECs), competitive local exchange carriers
(CLECs), and cable television systems. The franchise fees
collected in the agreement are compensation for use of the
public right-of-way.
GSM :::
Global System for Mobile communication service. GSM is the
European standard for cellular telephones, and is currently
in place throughout most of the world outside of North America.
GSM phones do not function on US cellular telephone networks.
H-L
Hosting :::
A "host" is a machine that houses data or software
for another entity. For instance, the computer on which
a web page is available is called the "host"
or "web host" for that page.
ILEC :::
Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier. The company that currently
provides local telephone service to a region, generally
an RBOC.
Internet Telephony :::
The transmission of two-way voice messages over the internet
in real time. The internet can be used for voice communications
between people who are connected to the internet, or one
person may use the internet to dial up the other person's
regular phone.
ISDN :::
Integrated Services Digital Network A system which allows
for high-speed data transmission (128 kilobytes per second).
ISDN lines require special digital modems, but are capable
of providing twice the bandwidth of current analog modems
(modems which use regular telephone lines).
ISP :::
Internet Service Provider. A company that provides access
to the internet for companies and/or individuals.
IXC :::
Inter-eXchange Carrier. A telephone company that carries
transmissions that cross LATA boundaries. Generally referred
to as a "Long Distance Carrier."
LAN :::
Local Area Network. A technique by which many computers
in the same physical location can be linked together to
communicate or share common resources. LANs may be linked
to the internet, or they may be self-contained.
LATA :::
Local Access and Transport Area. The geographical area
served by a local exchange carrier. The local exchange
carrier may provide service only within a LATA; calls
that cross LATA boundaries must be carried by an Inter-eXchange
Carrier (IXC).
Local Loop :::
The network of individual telephone lines that connect
to businesses and residences in a particular area. Also
includes the exchanges and switches used to route the
calls to and from the individual lines.
M-Q
Network :::
A telecommunications network comprised of physical wires
laid in the ground. As opposed to a wireless or mobile
network.
Packet Switching :::
When information is in digital form, it may be broken
up into small portions, called "packets." These
packets may be individually encoded so that they may travel
independently along the communication channel. Transmitting
information via a packet-switched system does not require
that a single circuit be maintained throughout transmission.
Personal Communications
Service (PCS) :::
A cellular telephone that can provide many functions,
such as fax, voice mail, and paging as well as voice telephone
service.
Protocol :::
The rules governing the transmission of messages. When
the appropriate protocols are used, computers are able
to process messages of that certain type. Popular protocols
today are TCP/IP (for packet switching), HTTP (for web
pages) and FTP (for file transfers).
Public network :::
A public network is operated by communications companies
that serve the general public. Private networks are owned
and utilized by a single entity.
PUC :::
The Public Utility Commission of Texas. The PUC is the
regulatory agency which oversees local, fixed voice telephony.
R-Z
RBOC :::
Regional Bell Operating Company. After the Divestiture
of AT&T, the local Bell companies (also known as "Baby
Bells") were those former portions of AT&T that
continued to provide local telephone service. Southwestern
Bell is the RBOC in Texas.
Rights-of-Way :::
Under federal and state law, municipalities have the authority
to collect fees in return for the private use of public
rights-of-way. Rights-of-way refers to the physical premises
or facilities used by both telecommunications and utility
companies to deliver services from their office to customer's
homes. Rights-of-ways include the public streets, poles,
ducts, conduits, trenches, vaults, risers, equipment rooms
managed by local government.
Switching :::
Routing calls or packets to the intended destination.
Voice calls are switched in telephone exchanges; data
is switched by a device called a router.
T1 :::
Using two copper wire pairs, a T1 line can provide data
transmission at 1.544 megabytes per second.
Tariff :::
The published prices that telephone companies charge to
their customers. These rates are filed with the appropriate
regulatory agencies and in many cases may be subject to
the review and approval of that agency.
TCP/IP :::
Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. TCP/IP is
the basic protocol that allows computers over the internet
to communicate via switched packets.
Telco :::
Telephone company. Generally, this refers to the company
providing local telephone service.
Tower Siting :::
The physical location of the microwave and radio towers
used to provide wireless communication. This term also
applies to the process by which these tower locations
are selected and approved.
Trunk :::
The high bandwidth connections between the central offices
and exchanges in a telecommunications network. Trunks
are generally made of fiber optic cable.
Virtual Private Network
:::
A network of computers that is actually on a public network,
but has been designed so that it has all of the security
and functionality of a private network.
