Telephone Glossary

Business Phone Terms: DA - IXC Miles

Part 1: Abbreviated Dialing - Cut-Through Dialing
Part 3: LATA - PUC
Part 4: Rate Element to WTN

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 The term "dial" is obsolete - based on rotary dial phones and electromechanical relay switches (which are nearly non-existent in modern telephone systems.)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.

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 is www.fcc.gov

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

IXC Miles

On a Price Quote, the coordinates of Location A and Location B are used to calculate mileage-dependent line charges.

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.

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.

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

Interexchange Carrier (Long Distance) Miles
On a Price Quote, the coordinates of Location A and Location B are used to calculate mileage-dependent line charges.

Part 1: Abbreviated Dialing - Cut-Through Dialing
Part 3: LATA - PUC
Part 4: Rate Element to WTN

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CompStar Technologies is a leading Indiana-based provider of networking, technology, and communications services. With offices in Mishawaka (serving South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Niles, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan) and Indianapolis, CompStar provides network design / support, network security, wireless networking, business telephone systems, VoIP (voice over IP), and cctv / video surveillance systems. CompStar is the Technology Division of Direct Line Communications, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.