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A
Access - The process used for communication between your computer and the Internet.
Access Lines - A telephone line running from the telephone company’s central office to a point on your property.
Access Line Equivalents - A representation of the number of access lines that a system could hold.
Adobe Acrobat Reader - A software program developed by Adobe Systems, Inc., used to view files in PDF format. The software displays documents with the same layout and design as the original.
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) - A new modem technology that allows existing twisted pair telephone lines to access the Internet at T-1 speeds.
ASCII (pronounced: ask-ee) - American Standard Code for Information Interchange.A code in which each alphanumeric character is represented as a number from 0 to 127, translated into a 7-bit binary code for the computer.ASCII is used by most microcomputers and printers, and because of this, text-only files can be transferred easily between different kinds of computers.ASCII code also includes characters to indicate backspace, carriage return, etc., but does not include accents and special letters not used in English
B top
Backbone - A series of high-speed network connections through which other networks connect.
Bandwidth - The realtive range of frequencies that can be passed without distortion by transmission meduim. Greater bandwidth means a higher information carrying capacity of the transmission circuit. Bandwidth, usually measured in Hertz, is assessed as the number of bits that can be transferred per second.
Bit - The smallest unit of digital information utilized by electronic or optical information processing, storage, or transmission systems. Bit is short for binary digit. Binary technology is based on the representation of data with 0's and 1's, whose combination form a protocal medium for all data transmission.
Browser - A software program that allows you to view HTML documents and navigate on the WWW.
Business Systems - The set of voice, data, and Internet products that provide communication solutions and services to business customers. The products usually reside within the customer's place of business.
Byte - The smallest unit of information that a computer system can locate within its data storage or memory. A byte consists of eight bits and represents an amount of information roughly equivalent to a single printed or typewritten character.
C top
Chat Room
A virtual room where a chat session takes place. Technically, a chat room is really a channel, but the term room is used to promote the chat metaphor.
Client - A program or computer that is used to contact and obtain data from another program or computer, referred to as the server.
CLEC - Competitive Local Exchange Carrier. Deregulated local telephone companies resulting from the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that are competing for local exchange service, as well as for long distance and Internet service.
CO - (Central Office) A facility of a telecommunications common carrier where calls are switched. In local area exchanges, central offices switch calls within and between the 10,000-line exchange groups that can be addressed uniquely by the area code and first thee digits of a phone number.
Cookie - A small data file sent to a Web browser by a Web server that is used to record a user's activities on a Web site. For instance, when you buy items from a site and place them in a "shopping cart," that information is stored in a cookie. When the browser requests additional files, the cookie information is sent back to the server. Cookies can remember other types of information, such as your password, so you don't have to re-enter it every time you visit a site. They also retain your preferences, so when return to a site, you can enjoy customized information. Cookies cannot read any other information stored in your computer.
Conferencing Service
The Conferencing Service is a mechanism supported on the RADVISION MCU which defines the qualities, compatibilities and management policies of a conference.
Connectivity - The technical communications link between a computer system and the Internet.
Cramming – An illegal practice in which customers are billed for additional telephone features they didn't’t order.
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Dedicated Service - A connection to the Internet using a leased line that provides for very fast, high bandwidth connections. Also called permanent direct service.
Desktop Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing on a personal computer - Most appropriate for small groups or individuals. Many desktop videoconferencing systems support document sharing.
Digital - An advanced type of radio transmission that broadcasts voice or data intact via radio waves, which allows for greater call clarity, advanced wireless features and improved voice capacity. The industry uses three types of digital technology: TDMA, CDMA and GSM.
Digital Media
Refers to any type of information in digital format including computer-generated text, graphics and animations, as well as photographs, animation, sound and video.
Dialup Service - A connection that allows you to access the Internet by dialing into a computer through a modem and telephone line.
Directory - While there is no single source or official Internet directory, there are several search vehicles available to research or access information on the WWW. Directories categorize and list information in specific headings or categories.
Distance Learning
Incorporation of video and audio technologies so that students can "attend" classes and training sessions presented at a remote location.
Document Sharing
A videoconferencing feature that enables multiple participants to view and edit the same computer document.
Domain Name - A unique name that identifies an Internet site; the Domain Name will always have at least two parts separated by dots (for example: tds.net or tdsnet.com). These names are granted and controlled by a centralized Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC), administered by the National Science Foundation.
Domain Name System (DNS) - A system by which one Internet host can find another. DNS translates words (Domain Names) into numbers that Internet computers can understand.
Download - To transfer of a file or information from another computer to yours.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) – A DSL line transmits simultaneous voice and high-speed data over existing copper telephone wires without the need of additional phone lines.
E top
E911 Taxes/Surcharges - This tax is set and imposed by local governments to help pay for the cost of an emergency response communications system that identifies both the caller and the location of the call.
EAS - Extended Area Service. Customers usually pay a larger flat rate to increase their local calling area if an area gets EAS. It can decrease a customer’s monthly bill if the customer makes a certain number of calls to the expanded area.
E-mail - Electronic mail - Electronic mail is a generic term for non-interactive communication of text, data, image or voice
<!-- Copyright Intec Telecom Systems -->messages between a sender and designated recipients using telecommunications.
E-mail Address - A computer mailing address to which electronic mail is sent.
Encryption - A way of making transmitted data, such as e-mails, unreadable to everyone except the receiver. If the data is intercepted by anyone as it travels over a network, it cannot be read. Only those persons that have the right type of decoding software can unscramble the message. Encryption is used to protect e-commerce and financial transactions such as those on TDS ePay.
Ethernet - A popular local area data communication network, originally developed by Xerox Corp., which accepts transmissions from computers and terminals.
Exchange - A geographic area established by a telephone company for specifying the local telephone service area.
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FAQ - An acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. FAQs are online documents that list and answer the most common questions on a particular subject.
Federal Excise Tax - A 3% tax mandated by the federal government imposed on all telecommunications services including local, long distance and wireless bills.
Federal Subscriber Line Charge - This is a charge paid by consumers implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is intended to recover some of the costs associated with a customer's local telephone line to access the interstate long distance network. It helps keep interstate long distance rates low. You pay this charge whether or not you actually make long distance calls.
Federal Universal Service Charge – See "Universal Service Fund Surcharge"
FCC - The FCC is a board of commissioners empowered by the U.S. Congress to regulate all interstate
and international communications, as well as use of the radio frequency media. www.fcc.gov
Fiber Optics
A communications medium utilizing laser or "light" transmission. Uses a glass or plastic fiber carrying light to transmit voice, data and video signals. Each fiber can carry from 90 to 150Mb/s.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - A common method for sending and/or receiving files between Internet sites using a login system. Publicly accessed FTP sites are often called anonymous FTPs.
Firewall - A combination of hardware and software used to separate a LAN into two separate parts for security reasons.
Frequency - A certain "size" of radio wave: The rate at which the electric and magnetic fields of a radio wave vibrate per second.
FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) - A fiber-optic network that connects directly from the carrier network to the user premises. Another fiber-optic network is FTTC (Fiber to the Curb) that connects from the carrier network to the curb, and from there to the premises by copper wire or coaxial cable.
G top
Gateway - A network element interconnecting two otherwise incompatible networks, network nodes, subnetworks or devices.
Gopher - A system of clients and servers, in menu format, that allows for navigation on the Internet.
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HDTV
Higher than normal definition TV. HDTV is generally defined as a system that offers double the horizontal and vertical resolution compared to existing systems and provides compact disc quality sound.
Home Page - The Web document that your browser displays when you access a site - typically the main page of a Web site.
Host - A computer directly connected to the Internet. Also refers to a computer on a network that provides services to other computers on the network.
HTML - See HyperText Markup Language
HyperText Link - A connection between two Web documents; usually underlined text or a graphic that you click on to display another Web document.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) - The basic coding language used to create WWW documents.
HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) - The protocol for moving HyperText files across the Internet
HTTP - See HyperText Transport Protocol
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ILEC - Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier. The existing local exchange carrier in any given area, as opposed to CLECs.
Instant Messaging (IM)
A communications service that enables you to create a private chat room with another individual in order to communicate in real time over the Internet.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - ISDN consists of a set of standards being developed by the CCITT and various U.S. standards
<!-- Copyright Intec Telecom Systems -->setting organizations. The CCITT formal recommendations, adopted in October, 1984, first defined ISDN as ". . . a network, in general evolving from a telephony integrated digital network, that provides end-to-end digital connectivity to support a wide range of services, including voice and non-voice, to which users will have access by a limited set of standard multipurpose user-network interfaces." The concept of user access to an existing integrated digital network (IDN) underlies the ISDN.
Internet - The internet is a large collection of connected networks, primarily in the United States, running
the Internet suite of protocols. Sometimes referred to as the DARPA Internet, NSF/DARPA In
<!-- Copyright Intec Telecom Systems -->ternet, or the Federal Research Network.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) - A popular program that allows users all around the world to communicate live, or chat, with other users.
InterLata Carrier - The carrier that provides your telecommunications service between your LATA and another LATA. Generally called "Long Distance Carriers."
InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center) - The centralized organization run by the National Science Foundation that provides various administrative services for the Internet, including Domain Name registration.
IntraLATA - Telephone services within the boundaries of a local access area. See LATA. Generally known as "Local Telephone Companies."
IP Address - The unique address of a computer attached to a TCP/IP network. IP addresses are 32 bits long. Each octet is represented in decimal and is separated by dots.
ISP - Internet Service Provider. A company that provides connection to the Internet.
J/K top
JPEG
Joint Photographic Expert Group. JPEG is an industry standard for still image compression that has moved into full motion video. JPEG is a compression technique based upon intraframe encoding technology. It allows for the full restoration of symmetrically compressed images.
Kbps - Kilobytes per second. A kilobyte equals a thousand bytes.
L top
LAN - (Local Area Network) Atransmission network encompassing a limited area, such as a single building or several builidngs in close proximity; widely used to link personal computers so that they can share inforamtion and peripheral devices.
Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) - LATA is a geographic area (called an "exchange" or "exchange area" in the MFJ) within each
BOC's franchised area that has been established by a BOC in accordance with the provisions of <!-- Copyright Intec Telecom Systems -->the MFJ for the purpose of defining the territory within which a BOC may offer its telecommunications services. In 1989, there were 198 LATAs, also referred to as market service
areas (MSAs), in the United States.
Leased Line - A term used to describe the leased or rented use of dedicated lines between two points.
Lifeline/Link-Up Program - A Federal program designed to provide telephone service to the poor and elderly at a reduced cost to assure they can be reached in case of an emergency.
Link - See Hypertext Link
LISTSERV - Mailing lists that act as newsgroups.
Local Number Portability Charge (LNP) - Allows a customer to keep the same phone number and "port" it over to another service provider. This is new to wireless. The terms number portability (NP) and local number portability (LNP) are often used interchangeably.
Local Number Portability Charge (LNP) - This charge may appear on the local portion of a phone bill if you live in an area where local number portability is provided. This fixed monthly charge allows local telephone companies to recover certain costs for providing “portability” to its customers. Local telephone companies may continue to assess this charge on their customers’ telephone bills for five years from the date the local telephone company first began itemizing the charge on the bill. This is not a tax.
Login Name - The unique account name used to access a computer system. Also called user ID or user name, it is a way people identify themselves to their online service or Internet access provider.
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Major Trading Area (MTA) – An area defined by the U.S. government and used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to designate personal communications services market areas.
Mbps - Megabytes per second (MB is also used as an abbreviation for Megabyte).
Megabyte (MB)- A million bytes or a thousand kilobytes.
Miscellaneous Taxes - Like many other consumer goods and services, certain telephone services are taxed by federal, state, and local governments. These charges may appear as a “gross receipts” tax.
Modem - (Modulator-Demodulator) - An electronic device that allows computers to communicate over standard telephone lines. It transforms digital signal into analog signal and transmits to another modem which then reconstructs the digital signal from analog signal.
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Navigate - To move through various documents on the WWW using a browser.
Network - A group of stations (computers, telephones, or other devices) connected by communications facilities for exchanging information. Connection can be permanent, via cable, or temporary, through telephone or other communication links. The transmission medium can be physical (fiber optic cable) or wireless (satellite).
Network Access Point (NAP) - A centralized point where Internet traffic is exchanged or shared.
Network Operation Center (NOC) - A round-the-clock operation where Network engineers monitor and troubleshoot technical equipment and connections.
Newsgroup - A discussion group in which you can leave messages for others to read on UseNet.
NID - Network Interface Device - A device used within a local area network, which allows a number of independent devices (computers, modems, etc.) to communicate with one another. Also, a device usually mounted on the outside of the customer's home that connects the customer's inside wiring to the telephone company's wiring and protects the customer's phone equipment from lightning and any large rise or fall in electricity.
O/P top
Partner’s Program - An indirect sales channel that offers smaller businesses in the TDS Telecom service areas an opportunity to promote and sell TDS Telecom products and services.
Password - A code or word used to gain access to restricted data on a computer network. While passwords provide security against unauthorized users, the security system can only confirm that the password is legitimate, not whether the user is authorized to use the password. That's why it is important to safeguard passwords by:
- Never disclosing your password to anyone.
- Creating a password that consists of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Changing your password frequently.
PCS (Personal Communications Services) – Originally meant to describe digital service offered at a higher frequency (1900 MHz) than wireless, it is now used as a generic term for all digital (versus analog) wireless.
PDF - An acronym for Portable Document Format, PDF is a file type created by Adobe Systems, Inc. that allows fully formatted, high-resolution documents to be easily transmitted across the Internet and viewed on any computer that has Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
Peering - The arrangement of information sharing between Internet Service Providers at various NAPs.
PIC Freeze – Pre-subscribed Interexchange Carrier Freeze. An agreement between a customer and their local telephone company to prevent “slamming” on their long distance telephone bill.
Pipeline - An extremely high-speed, large capacity bandwidth connection.
Pixel
The smallest controllable element that can be illuminated on a display screen. Related to resolution
Point of Presence (POP) - A location where a you can connect to a network through local telephone
lines.
Point-to-Point Protocol - A program that allows a computer to use a telephone line and modem to make TCP/IP connections.
PON (Passive Optical Network) - a fiber-based network built without active electronics. Because a PON network uses optical splitters rather than costly active electronics, it is less expensive to build and maintain than a network that uses active electronics. PONs are still more expensive than copper-based networks. A PON network is usually used in a local loop to connect customers to the central office. BPON (Broadband Passive Optical Network) is a broadband PON.
Post Office Protocol (POP) - A system that allows hosts to get e-mail from a server.
POPs (Population equivalents) – The population of a market multiplied by the percentage ownership of that market.
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Real-Time
The processing of information that returns a result so rapidly that the interaction appears to be instantaneous. Videoconferencing is an example of a real-time application.
Real-Time Streaming
Delivery of a real-time stream of a live videoconference while the conference is in progress.
Router - A device or setup that finds the best route between any two networks, even if there are several networks to traverse. Like bridges, remote sites cab be connected using routers over dedicated or switched lines to create WANs.
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Search Vehicles - Sources that offer a variety of methods to obtain information on the WWW (e.g. catalogs, directories, search engines, spiders).
Secure Internet Protocols - A set of security rules or standards that determines how computers talk to each other on a network.
Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) - See Dialup Service
Shell Access - Basic Dialup Access to the Internet offering e-mail and mail forwarding, telnet, FTP and IRC.
Single Bill Fee - Many long distance companies are now adding a fee to the phone bills of customers who are billed for long distance service through their local phone companies. TDS Long Distance does not charge this fee.
Slamming - When a telephone customer’s long distance service has been switched from one long distance company to another without the customer’s permission. This is illegal.
SLC - Subscriber Line Charge. A monthly fee paid by telephone customers. The money is used to compensate the local telephone company for part of the cost of maintenance and installation of the telephone wire, poles, and other facilities that link a customer’s home to the telephone network.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) - A method of transferring e-mails between computers on a network.
SLIP - See Serial Line Internet Protocol or Dialup Access
SLiPPP (Serial Line Internet Point to Point Protocol) - A popular Dialup Access service that comes with a Shell Account, a dedicated IP address, a unique Domain Address and high-speed 28.8 modems.
Spectrum - Federal government designation of a range of frequencies for a category of use or uses. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated the 1900 MHz band for personal communications services. Allocation, typically accomplished in years-long FCC proceedings, tracks new technology development. However, the FCC can shift existing allocations to accommodate changes in spectrum demand. As an example, some UHF television channels were recently reallocated to public safety.
State Subscriber Line Charge - A charge mandated by some state public service or utility commissions to compensate the local phone company for part of the cost of providing local telephone lines associated with state services, i.e. intrastate long distance and local exchange services.
SSL - The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a common protocol for managing the security of data transmission over the Internet. You can tell if a Web page is encrypted by looking for the "lock" graphic within your browser window. Sites that need to transfer sensitive information such as passwords and credit card information from the browser to the server must have SSL enabled. TDS uses SSL for your protection.
Subscriber - The party identified in the account records of a common carrier as responsible for payment of the telephone bill. (1.) Any adult person authorized by such party to change telecommunications services or to charge services to the accounts; or (2.) any person contractually or otherwise lawfully authorized to represent such party.
Switch -A mechanical or solid state device that opens and closes circuits, changes operating parameters or selects paths for circuits on a space or time division basis.
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) - A new standard for extremely high-speed data transfer (up to 34 Mbps).
T top
T-1 - A leased line connection that can carry 1,544,000 bits per second.
T-3 - A leased line connection that can carry 44,736,000 bits per second.
Tariff - Documents filed by a regulated telephone company with a state public utility commission (PUC) or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Document details services, equipment and pricing publicly offered by the telephone company.
Telecommunications
Communicating over a distance. Use of wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic channels to transmit and receive signals for voice, data and video communications.
Telecommunications Relay Center Fee/Charge/Surcharge - This state fee helps pay for the relay center that transmits and translates calls for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech disabled. Mandated nationally by Congress with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it may also be called “Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf Tax.”
Telephone Network - The system of wires, fiber-optic cables, satellites and transmission towers that transmit telephone messages from caller to receiver.
Telnet - A program that allows Internet users to login to computers other than their host. Telnet also refers to the act of doing so.
Text Format vs. HTML Format - Some Web applications, such as e-mail or Web pages, can either be viewed in Text or HTML formats. Text formats generally display only the words (text) in an e-mail or on a Web page and not graphics, such as artwork or photos. HTML format allows display of both text and graphics.
Toll Call - A call to any location outside the local service area. Otherwise known as a long distance call.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - A set of communications protocols or software necessary to access the Internet.
Trunk - A communication line between two switching systems. In other words, a telephone line.
TTY/TDD - Telephone Typewriter and Telephone Device for the Deaf. A telecommunication device for the hearing impaired using teletypewriter principals. The users call a special operator number and third-party translation.
U top
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) - The standard for giving an WWW Internet address (e.g. http://www.tds.net)
Universal Service Fund Surcharge - Telephone customers also may see charges on their local and long distance bills for universal service. Companies are required by the FCC to contribute to a federal universal service fund (USF). The USF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including those with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. These fees vary by amount and by company. USF surcharges may also be assessed at the state level.
UNIX - The most common multi-user operating system for servers on the Internet.
Upload - To transfer a file or information from your computer to another.
URL - See Uniform Resource Locator
User Name - Your user name, also called user ID or account name, is the same as your login name. This is the name by which you and your electronic mailbox are identified online.
USF - Universal Service Fund. The National Exchange Carrier Association administers the USF. This is a mechanism designed to keep local exchange rates at reasonable levels, especially in high-cost, rural areas. The fund gets money from a surcharge on phone lines and uses those funds to offset telecommunication expenses in the high-cost areas.
UseNet Newsfeed - A huge, world wide "Users Network" of discussion groups, or newsgroups, connecting and sharing information from hundreds of thousands of machines.
UUCP Service (UNIX to UNIX Copy Program) - A method of transferring files between UNIX computers that includes Electronic mail.
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Videoconferencing
The use of digital video transmission systems to communicate between sites using video and voice. Digital video transmission systems typically consist of camera, codec, network access equipment, video and audio system.
Video on Demand Streaming
Delivery of a Video on Demand stream to a viewer upon request at any given time. Contrast this to a real-time stream that is delivered when the conference is in progress.
Virtual Host - A Web site that includes a customized Domain Name and unique IP address to your home page, giving the appearance that you have your own server directly connected to the Internet.
VoIP – (Voice over Internet Protocol) – A technology used to transmit voice over a data network using Internet Protocol, such as the Internet or intranet networks.
W/X/Y/Z top
WAN - (Wide Area Network) A network that extends Lans to other Lan's, typically over a wide geographical area using communicatons lines provided by a common-carrier.
Web Site - A collection of Web documents that Internet users can access to learn information about a particular subject or company.
Webmaster - The person responsible for the production and maintenance of a Web site.
Wi-Fi – A technology that provides short-range, high-speed data connections between mobile data devices (such as laptops) and nearby Wi-Fi access points (hardware connected to a wired network).
Wireless – Voice and data telecommunications technology that uses the radio-frequency spectrum rather than wires for transmitting and receiving voice, data and video signals.
Wireline – A conventional (wired) telephone network versus a wireless network.
World Wide Web (WWW) - A HyperText system that allows users to navigate, or look through, linked documents and resources.
WWW - See World Wide Web
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