Automatic Number Identification
Originating Number
(1) The number associated with the telephone station(s) from which switched calls are originated (or terminated).
(2) A software feature associated with Feature Group D (and optional on Feature Group B) circuits. ANI provides the originating local telephone number of the calling party. This information is transmitted as part of the digit stream in the signalling protocol, and included in the Call Detail Record for billing purposes.
(3) ANI may also be used to refer to any phone number.
Alternate provider of long distance services
A company, other than a telephone company, that provides telecommunications
services between exchanges that are not in the same toll-free calling area.
See interexchange carrier.
ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line)
ADSL allows very high speed data movement over your regular copper telephone line.
It's called "asymmetric" because the speeds going INTO your house or business are
much greater than the speeds sent from you back up the line. Operating in this
"unbalanced" way makes sense because the large files requiring a lot of speed and
bandwidth are coming TO your computer screen, while all that's being sent back
from you is a relatively small amount of data -- the signal you send back down the
line when you click your mouse or type on your keyboard.
Alternate access
A form of local access where the provider is not the local exchange carrier
(LEC) but is authorized or permitted to provide local access service.
Agent
A person or organization that acts on behalf of another.
In the telecommunications industry, agents typically are independent
individuals or companies that market the services of a carrier as if they were
employees of that carrier.
Billed telephone number (BTN)
billed telephone number (BTN) - The "main number" of a customer's service that the
LEC uses as a customer's account number. It is usually also an actual ANI.
Will generally have WTNs associated with it. Every separate, distinct phone bill
a customer gets will generally have a separate BTN.
Billing cycle
billing cycle - A recurring period of time between traffic cut-off dates which
precedes customer billing. Cycles are typically 30 days.
Call detail record (CDR)
Computer record containing data unique to a specific call.
[This information is processed as a unit and contains such details as originating
switch, terminating switch, call length and time of day.] (2) Processing of
call-specific information - start time, elapsed time, number dialed, date,
and other pertinent customer data.
Calling Card
A telecommunication credit card with an AuthCode for using a long distance
carrier when the customer is away from their home or office (ANI).
Carrier
A telecommunications provider which owns switch equipment.
Carrier Identification Code - CIC
A three digit number used with Feature Groups B and D to access a particular
IEC's switched services from a local exchange line. One or more CIC codes are
assigned to each carrier. (i.e. there may be multiple CICs per ACNA).
See Bypass.
Collect
A call that is paid for by the receiving/destination phone number.
Requires approval/authorization of the person being called.
Country Code
Two or three digit codes used for International calls outside of the
North American Numbering Plan area codes. Dial: 011 + country code + city code +
local phone number) (e.g. "011 + 91 + 22 + 123- 4567" 91 =
India, 22 = Bombay)
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 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.
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.)
IEC - Interexchange Carrier IC - IXC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone service between
LECs and LATAs.
High speed
Refers to data communications systems operating at speeds above 9,600 bits per
second. (See low speed; medium speed)
Inbound telemarketing
Any incoming sales or service function in an organization.
[Inbound telemarketing is found in the following departments:
customer service, order entry, reservation sales, technical hotlines or
sales support.]
Line
A communications channel. Also called a circuit, trunk or facility.
It often refers to access to the public switched telephone network
(e.g., residence line, individual business line).
Local exchange carrier
Your local telephone company -- the one that provides you with access lines.
Letter Of Agency - LOA
A document that authorizes changing the service provider
Local Access
Local Loop. The connection from a subscriber to the Central Office.
The portion of a circuit connecting the LEC's CO with the customer's premise
equipment across the local network.
Local Access Provider
Any organization that is authorized to provide local access.
(May or may not be the LEC.)
Local Exchange Carrier - LEC
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
Local Exchange Service
Local phone calls.
Long Distance Carrier
A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.
NPA - Numbering Plan Areas
North American "Area Codes." (3 digits: 2-to-9, 0-or-1, 0-to-9. Middle digit to
expand soon)
NPA Split
Subdividing an area code, with the creation of a new area code.
This is necessary when the number of telephones in an area code (NPA) grows to an
excessive number.
NUMBER PORTABILITY
A term used to describe the capability of individuals, businesses and organizations
to retain their existing telephone number(s) -- and the same quality of service --
when switching to a new local service provider.
One Plus - 1+
Customer ability to access the long distance service provider of their choice by
first dialing 1, then the long distance number.
PIC - Primary Interexchange Carrier
The IEC that 1+ calls are routed to. Specified by ANI.
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.
PIC Request
A request record sent to a LEC asking for an ANI to be activated, deactivated or
changed in some way.
Provisioning
The process by which a requested (ordered) service is designed, implemented and
tracked (providing the subcomponent parts).
Residential Customer
An individual (non-business) telephone system subscriber.
Responsible Organization - R/O
With 800 Portability,the Number Administration Service Center (NASC) allows the
RespOrg to make changes such as carrier, termination, 800 call routing
(by time of day, location.) A Letter Of Agency (LOA) must be on file to change
the RespOrg for each customer/account.
Switched Resellers
Resellers that utilize their own switching hardware (and sometimes their own lines)
and the lines of other IXCs to provide long-distance service to its subscribers.
They provide their own billing and service.
Switchless Reseller
A reseller of long-distance services that does not utilize any of its own lines,
or (switching) equipment. All actual service and equipment is handled by the IXC.
Billing is usually done, by the reseller themselves, to the customer.
Telco - Telephone Company
The local or regional telephone company that owns and operates lines to customer
locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. Telcos have connections to other
COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and may connect directly to IECs
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.
Vanity Number
A specific 800 or 888 number (may spell something).
