ACCESS CHARGE

Long distance companies pay local phone companies access charges to use their network for originating and terminating long distance calls. The charges are based on minutes of use. The fees are commonly passed through to customers. Since 1985, the PUC has approved intrastate access pricing on an individual company basis.

AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION (ANI)

A service that provides the receiver of a telephone call with the number of the calling phone. This is what makes caller ID work. The telephone service provider determines whether and how this information is transferred. The service is often provided by sending the digital tone multi frequency (dual tone multi frequency) tones along with the call.

BANDWIDTH

The capacity of a telecom line to carry signals. The necessary bandwidth is the amount of spectrum required to transmit the signal without distortion or loss of information. FCC rules require suppression of the signal outside the band to prevent interference.

BILLING INCREMENT

The time increment used to determine the length of a call. Providers may charge per minute or per 6-seconds or some other time increment.

BOC - Bell Operating Company (Baby Bell)

One of the 19 companies carved out of the AT&T monopoly by the 1983 Consent Decree to provide local phone service or IntraLATA Services.

BROADBAND

Broadband is a descriptive term for evolving digital technologies that provide consumers a signal switched facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-demand services, and interactive delivery services.

BTN - Billing Telephone Number

The phone number associated, for billing purposes, with the Working Phone Number.

CALLING PARTY PAYS

A billing method in which a wireless phone caller pays only for making calls and not for receiving them. The standard American billing system requires wireless phone customers to pay for all calls made and received on a wireless phone.

CARRIER

A telecommunications provider which owns switch equipment.

CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY

This term, often used for all wireless phones regardless of the technology they use, derives from cellular base stations that receive and transmit calls. Both cellular and PCS phones use cellular technology.

CHAPTER 30

The chapter from the Public Utility Code (Title 66) dealing with Alternative Form of Regulation of Telecommunications Services.

COMMON CARRIER

In the telecommunications arena, the term used to describe a telephone company.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

A person who facilitates telephone conversation between text telephone users, users of sign language or individuals with speech disabilities through a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). This service allows a person with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate with anyone else via telephone at no additional cost.

CRAMMING

A practice in which customers are billed for enhanced features such as voice mail, caller-ID and call-waiting that they have not ordered.

DEFAULT CARRIER

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

DIAL AROUND

Long distance services that require consumers to dial a long-distance provider’s access code (or "10-10" number) before dialing a long-distance number to bypass or "dial around" the consumer’s chosen long-distance carrier in order to get a better rate.

E-MAIL

Electronic mail, refers to messages sent over the Internet. E-mail can be sent and received via newer types of wireless phones, but you generally need to have a specific e-mail account.

ENHANCED SERVICE PROVIDERS

A for-profit business that offers to transmit voice and data messages and simultaneously adds value to the messages it transmits. Examples include telephone answering services, alarm/security companies and transaction processing companies.

FCC 

Federal Communications Commission has the authority to regulate all interstate communications originating in the United States. The FCC is run by a five member board appointed by the President.

FEDERAL TAX - Federal Excise Tax

This tax appears on both your local and long distance phone bills. It is charged as a set percentage regardless of which telephone service provider you use. Little known fact is that it started as a temporary luxury tax in 1898 on telephone service to pay for the Spanish-American War. Now the proceeds go to the U.S. Treasury as general revenue, since the war is over. For more details on this tax, you can contact the Internal Revenue Service Excise Tax Branch.

FEDERAL SUBSCRIBER LINE CHARGE

This federally ordered charge billed by your local telephone company pays part of the cost to the local telephone company of supplying a phone line into your home or business. It is designed to help local phone companies recover the cost of providing "local loops" which refers to outside telephone wires, underground conduit, telephone poles, and other equipment and facilities connecting you to the telephone network. This is NOT a tax. It is a charge that is part of the price you pay to your local telephone company. Neither the FCC nor any other government agency receives the Federal Subscriber Line Charge. The FCC places a maximum cap on this charge.

INTERLATA

Communication between Local Access Transport Areas.

INTERSTATE

Between multiple states. Interstate communications are regulated by the FCC.

INTRALATA

Communication within a Local Access Transport Area.

LANDLINE

Traditional wired phone service.

LAND MOBILE SERVICE

A public or private radio service providing two-way communication, paging and radio signaling on land.

LEC - Local Exchange Carrier

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.

LOA - Letter Of Agency

A document that authorizes changing the service provider. (See RespOrg, 800 Portability)

LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY

This fee started to appear on many local telephone bills in February 1999. This fee allows local telephone companies to recover costs associated with supporting the technical capability to allow a consumer or business to retain their existing telephone number when switching to another local provider. 

LONG DISTANCE CARRIER

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

NUMBER PORTABILITY

A term used to describe the capability of individuals, businesses and organizations to retain their existing telephone number) –– and the same quality of service –– when switching to a new local service provider.

OPERATOR SERVICE PROVIDER (OSP)

A common carrier that provides services from public phones, including payphones and those in hotels/motels.

PAGING SYSTEM

A one-way mobile radio service where a user carries a small, lightweight miniature radio receiver capable of responding to coded signals. These devices, called "pagers," emit an audible signal, vibrate or do both when activated by an incoming message.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE (PCS)

Any of several types of wireless, voice and/or data communications systems, typically incorporating digital technology. PCS licenses are most often used to provide services similar to advanced cellular mobile or paging services. However, PCS can also be used to provide other wireless communications services, including services that allow people to place and receive communications while away from their home or office, as well as wireless communications to homes, office buildings and other fixed locations.

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 CODE

A unique identifying number assigned to each long distance provider. Your local telephone company uses this code to indicate who your long distance service provider is.

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.  

PICC

Pronounced "pixie." This charge started on January 1, 1998 as part of the FCC overhaul of telephone fees. Long distance companies pay a flat fee to the local telephone company when you pre-subscribe your telephone line to their long distance service. (Sometimes referred to "Dial 1" or "Plus 1" service) The charge is designed to compensate the local telephone companies for the costs associated with providing "local loop" service. If a consumer or business has not selected a long distance company for its telephone lines, the local telephone company may bill for the PICC. Although every long distance company is charged the same flat rate per line, long distance companies are allowed to recharge you for this in any way they see fit, and each company uses a different method to charge this carrier specific fee. It is normally not presented to you in such a way that you would think it is a competitive pricing issue. But it is! Some companies do not charge this fee at all, and some charge a carrier specific flat fee. We offer full details of the amazing differences in this rate on the Fees Comparison page. This is NOT a tax. Please note that on July 1, 2000 the FCC ruled that long distance companies no longer will have to pay this fee to local companies for residential lines, or single line businesses. The charge continues for multiple line businesses. Many long distance companies are still charging you for this, even though they aren't paying it anymore!

PRESCRIBED INTEREXCHANGE CHARGE (PICC)

The charge the local exchange company assesses the long distance company when a consumer picks it as his or her long distance carrier.

PROVISIONING

The process by which a requested (ordered) service is designed, implemented and tracked (providing the subcomponent parts).

RBOC Regional Bell Operating CompanyOne of the seven "Baby Bell" Companies created by the 1982 Modified Final Judgment 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).

RECIPROCAL COMPENSATION
Telephone companies pay each other to terminate local telephone calls.

ROAMING

The use of a wireless phone outside of the "home" service area defined by a service provider. Higher per-minute rates are usually charged for calls made or received while roaming. Long distance rates and a daily access fee may also apply.

SERVICE FEE - 911 

A fee that is charged in some localities to support the emergency 911 telephone service. It normally appears on the local telephone bill.

SERVICE PLAN

The rate plan you select when choosing a wireless phone service. A service plan typically consists of a monthly base rate for access to the system and a fixed amount of minutes per month.

SERVICE PROVIDER

A telecommunications provider that owns circuit switching equipment.

SLAMMING

The term used to describe what occurs when a customer’s long distance service is switched from one long distance company to another without the customer’s permission. Such unauthorized switching violates FCC rules.

SUBSCRIBER LINE CHARGE (SLC)

A monthly fee paid by telephone subscribers that is used to compensate the local telephone company for part of the cost of installation and maintenance of the telephone wire, poles and other facilities that link your home to the telephone network. These wires, poles and other facilities are referred to as the "local loop." The SLC is one component of access charges.

TARIFF

The documents filed by a carrier describing their services and the payments to be charged for such services.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE (TRS)

A free service that enables persons with TTYs, individuals who use sign language and people who have speech disabilities to use telephone services by having a third party transmit and translate the call.

TELEPHONY

The word used to describe the science of transmitting voice over a telecommunications network.

TTY

A type of machine that allows people with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate over the phone using a keyboard and a viewing screen. It is sometimes called a TDD.

UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENTS  (UNE)

The term 'network element' means a facility or equipment used in the provision of a telecommunications service. Such term also includes features, functions, and capabilities that are provided by means of such facility or equipment, including subscriber numbers, databases, signaling systems, and information sufficient for billing and collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other provision of a telecommunications service. Unbundling means that CLECs may lease individual parts of the network.

UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENT PLATFORM  (UNE-P)

A combination of elements including the local loop and switching.

UNBUNDLING

The term used to describe the access provided by local exchange carriers so that other service providers can buy or lease portions of its network elements, such as interconnection loops, to serve subscribers.

UNIVERSAL SERVICE

A financial mechanism which helps compensate telephone companies or other communications entities for providing access to telecommunications services at reasonable and affordable rates throughout the country, including rural, insular and high costs areas, and to public institutions. Companies, not consumers, are required by law to contribute to this fund. The law does not prohibit companies from passing this charge on to customers.

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