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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. |
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Access |
| The means by which an end user’s call is connected to a long distance carrier; local line, dedicated/private line. |
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Access Fees |
| A fee levied for access to a provider's network. This includes the Customer Access Line Charge or CALC and the Carrier Access Charge or CAC. The first is charged of the consumer by the LEC for access to the local loop. The second is charged of the IXC for access to the local network and thus potential long distance customers. |
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Access Fees |
| A fee levied for access to a provider's network. This includes the Customer Access Line Charge or CALC and the Carrier Access Charge or CAC. The first is charged of the consumer by the LEC for access to the local loop. The second is charged of the IXC for access to the local network and thus potential long distance customers. |
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Access Line |
| A circuit between a subscriber and a switching center. |
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Access Tandem / Toll Tandem |
| A switch that relays the long distance call from the customer's local exchange central office to the long distance switch/POP. |
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Account Code |
| A code using up to four digits, controlled by the customer from pre-determined table sets. The customer enters the number while dialing. The bill is sorted/summarized by code. |
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Activation |
| The programming of a wireless phone so that it can be used to transmit and receive calls on the wireless network. |
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Additional Listing |
| Another or cross-reference of a listing in the subscriber’s home directory. |
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Agent |
| A company or individual commissioned to market wireless services provided by a carrier or reseller. 2. The telephony term for each member of an ACD call group. |
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Aggregated Billing |
| Combining separate ANIs and/or separate types of long distance usage together for billing purposes. By doing this, customers can increase their volume discount. For example, customers on certain CLD outbound plans can combine this usage with their CenturyTel card and 800 usage for additional discounts. |
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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. |
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Ain (Advanced Intelligent Network) |
| Bellcore's switching concept that centralizes a significant amount of intelligence rather than constantly placing more and more information in the central office switch. The AIN infrastructure makes possible a great number of long distance services, such as a national 800 number service and virtual access to private networks. Also called Intelligent Network (IN). |
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Airtime |
| Actual time spent talking on the cellular telephone. Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime they use each month. Airtime charges during peak periods of the day vary from about 20 cents to more than 40 cents per minute, depending on the service plan selected. Most carriers offer reduced rates for off-peak usage. |
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Alt (Alternative Local Transport) |
| An alternative to the established local telephone company for carrying local traffic. Usually, alternative companies construct a fiber ring in an urban area to attract businesses to use their services in addition to, or in place of, local telephone company services. |
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Alternate Access |
| A form of local access where the provider is not the LEC, but is authorized or permitted to provide such service. |
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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 |
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Alternative Operator Services |
| Operator services provided by a company other than a LECRBOC or AT&T that is authorized to provide such service |
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Amplifier |
| A device that boosts analog transmission signals as they travel over voice-grade facilities to the central office. |
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Analog |
| The traditional method of modulating radio signals so that they can carry information. |
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Aos (Alternate Operator Services) - |
| An operator service provider not owned by the Bell Telephone companies. |
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Appearance |
| If a key set can access one of the key lines that come into the system's key service unit, that key set is said to have an appearance of that key line. Also called a line appearance |
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Area Code |
| The first three digits of a phone number (the middle one of which is always 0 or 1) that identify the part of the country in which it is serviced. The local calling area of a cellular service may include more than one area code. With wireless phones, it is not necessary to dial 1 before entering the area code. |
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Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line |
| (ADSL) High speed transmission technology that uses existing copper facilities and has a greater bandwidth in one direction than the other (asymmetrical). It provides slower upstream flow and faster downstream flow. |
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Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line |
| (ADSL) High speed transmission technology that uses existing copper facilities and has a greater bandwidth in one direction than the other (asymmetrical). It provides slower upstream flow and faster downstream flow. |
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At&t (American Telephone And Telegraph Company) |
| One of the first telephone companies. Once the largest company in the world, it is now 75% smaller due to divestiture of its Bell Operating companies in 1983. |
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Attendant |
| In a PBX system, the person responsible for greeting callers and switching calls to the appropriate station; In older PBX systems, the attendant also switched all outgoing calls. |
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Authot (Authorization Code Hotline) - |
| A table that references the POTS or DNIS number in the switch. |
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Automatic Call Distributor |
| A sophisticated feature of telephone systems used for handling incoming calls. Provides distribution of incoming calls evenly to a designated group, and is designed to provide reporting to management on the handling and disposition of calls. |
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Automatic Number Identification |
| This is a fixed amount charge for you to have a toll-free personal 800 number or numbers. (ANI) ANI transmits the billing number of the calling party rather than just the originating number. Telephone service that allows a consumer to call outside the local calling area without the assistance of an operator. |
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Automatic Ring-Down Service |
| A direct path signaling circuit to a distant phone. Signaling happens automatically when the handset is lifted on either end of the circuit. |
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