Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - Digital data switching technology that transmits uniform-size "cells" (53 bytes) rather than irregular packets, as used by other technologies, including IP.

Automatic Location Identification (ALI) - Technology that allows public safety personnel to automatically determine the geographic location of an emergency phone call placed on a wireless handset. ALI readings may be based on network overlay technologies that triangulate from multiple terrestrial towers, on Global Positioning System (satellite) readings or a system that combines both technologies. The FCC has set a goal of Oct. 1, 2000, for all U.S. mobile phone providers to deploy ALI systems that are accurate to within 300 meters for overlay systems and to within 150 meters for satellite systems.

Basic Trading Area (BTA) - Geographic division of U.S. markets into 493 regions, developed by the mapmaking company Rand McNally. The FCC sets the geographic boundaries of C/D/E/F-block PCS, LMDS and other wireless service areas according to BTAs.

Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast (BMDDP)  (formerly Blooston, Mordkofsky, Jackson & Dickens (BMJD) - Telecommunications law firm with international and domestic clients operating local telephone companies, a wide variety of wireless services -- cellular, personal communications service, specialized mobile radio, paging, private radio and multipoint distribution service -- and cable TV systems. The firm traces its roots back to 1946 and is one of the oldest firms in the United States that has focused solely on telecommunications.

Broadband - A transmission facility providing bandwidth greater than 45 Mbps (T3).  Broadband systems generally are fiber optic in nature.

Cable Modem - Devise used to support two-way, high-speed Internet access over cable TV facilities. See "Hybrid Fiber Coaxial Network."

CALEA - Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act 1994.

Cellular Telephony - A mobile or fixed wireless telephone service based on a network of cell sites over a given geographic area. Many cellular carriers currently are in the process of converting their analog-based cellular networks in the 800 MHz band to digital technologies, including CDMA and TDMA. Some digital cellular technologies are designed for WLL architectures.

Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) - Washington-based industry organization that represents cellular and personal communications service carriers. The group sponsors a national "Wireless" convention each February.

Central Office (CO) - Location where telecommunications subscribers are connected to the local exchange carrier to complete the "local loop."

Circuit Switching - Telecommunications routing system in which a signal travels along a dedicated path. It is the opposite of "packet switching," in which digital information travels along multiple paths.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) - A direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) digital transmission technology that spreads that encodes a wireless channel and spreads the information in the channel over a wider band before modulation. The technique is used to improve the capacity of the shared bandwidth while improving call security, signal robustness and other features. Many U.S. cellular and PCS carriers have deployed the cdmaOne (IS-95) CDMA standard. Many expect that future 3G PCS standards will be based on next-generation CDMA technology.

Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) - FCC designation for a number of wireless technologies developed for portable or mobile operation, including cellular, paging, PCS and SMR services.

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) - Law enacted by Congress in 1994 that requires telecommunications carriers to provide law enforcement agencies access and tools to intercept communications of suspected criminals.

Community Network - The concept of connecting similar interests within a community (e.g. schools and libraries; hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities; small town merchants, local government services) with a community-wide computer network, similar to a LAN.

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) - Telecommunications carrier that provides local telephone service in competition with established incumbent local exchange carrier.

Cramming - The practice of adding charges for services not authorized by the consumer to the consumers' monthly telephone bill.

Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) - Information about subscribers gathered by telecommunications companies in the course of providing service. FCC rules set limits on the use of such information for marketing purposes.

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) - Electronic device designed to send and receive signals over broadband networks from the home or business.

Digital Electronic Messaging Service (DEMS) - Name sometimes used for broadband data transmission service in the 24 GHz band. Teligent Inc. currently is using the 24 GHz band to provide voice and data CLEC services with the same RF technologies that WinStar Inc. is using at 38 GHz and that the LMDS carriers are planning for their frequencies. The FCC plans to hold future auctions for 24 GHz DEMS licenses.

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) - Technology designed to dramatically increase the number of signals traveling over strands of glass fiber. Several companies are developing the technology to increase the speed and capacity of backbone networks that can support faster Internet access. The gross data rates of DWDM systems eventually could reach terabits per second.

Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) - Generic term used to describe a family of technologies designed to transmit high-speed data service over current copper infrastructures. The most commonly deployed xDSL technology is asymmetrical DSL (ADSL), which is mainly used for accessing the World Wide Web and for similar applications that require fast downstream data. ADSL can perform downstream at up to about 10 Mbps, but usually is marketed at slower speeds. Symmetrical DSL (SDSL) transmits at the same speed in both directions for applications such as video conferencing. High-speed DSL (HDSL) provides the equivalent of TI service (1.544 Mbps) and very high-speed DSL (VDSL) can deliver analog video and other high data transmissions at speeds beyond 50 Mbps, but only over distances of less than 1,000 feet from the central office.

Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) - Key device used to enable digital subscriber line services. The device links the DSL customer to the high-speed backbone network, including ATM and frame-relay networks and the Internet.

Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) - One-way satellite transmission system for providing multichannel video service, including service to rural areas that do not have access to cable TV. DBS also can support high-speed downstream Internet service, although subscribers must access Internet service providers at slower upstream speeds using POTS lines.

Economic Area (EA) - Geographic division of the United States into 175 markets, developed by the FCC. The Commission uses EAs to set the geographic boundaries of 220 MHz, Wireless Communications Service and other licenses.

Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) - Carriers authorized by state utility commission to receive universal service high-cost or low-income subsidies.

Enhanced 911 (E911) - FCC program to gradually upgrade communications between telecommunications service providers and public safety access points. Automatic location identification capability is among key E911 provision FCC will require wireless carriers to deploy by 2002.

Education Rate (E-Rate) - Commonly used term to describe fee charged to telecommunications carriers to pay for universal service subsidies to schools and libraries.

Extranet - An IP-based virtual network linking separate organizations with close business ties (e.g. large government contractor linked to a smaller company that manufactures a system component). Such networks tend to include sophisticated security measures designed to limit information sharing to the level authorized for each specific user.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - National regulatory agency that manages licensing of the electromagnetic airwaves and enforces telecommunications statutes. A chairman and four commissioners lead the Commission.

Federal State Joint Board on Universal Service - Group formed by Congress to recommend universal service distribution policies to the FCC. The group is made up of four commissioners from state utility commissions, three FCC commissioners and a consumer advocate.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - U.S. agency charged with enforcing federal anti-trust and consumer protection laws.

Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) - Fiber optic networks that extend from the telco central office or cable headend into the community and interface with "last mile" infrastructure, such as wireless (e.g. LMDS, DEMS), coaxial cable or xDSL networks.

Fiber to the Home (FTTH) - Fiber optic network is extended directly to the residence without being distributed through the last mile. Many believe that such networks will not be widely available for many years due to the challenge of designing affordable customer premises equipment (CPE) and low demand for fiber optic digital capacity to most households. There have been FTTH trials over the years, including some current trials in rural areas.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) - Wireless service on the 3400-3700 MHz band being developed worldwide for WLL and wireless high-speed Internet. Due to spectrum congestion in the 3 GHz band in the United States, the FCC has proposed limiting FWA to the 3650-3700 MHz band.

FNPRM - Further Notice of Public Rule Making

Frame Relay Service - Packet-switched data distribution technology that can operate at a top speed of 44.736 Mbps, depending on the number of available permanent virtual connection (PVC) ports.

General Wireless Communications Service (GWCS) - A 25 MHz wireless service in the 4660-4685 MHz band. The FCC had planned to auction GWCS in five 5 MHz blocks over the 175 U.S. Economic Areas, but was forced to postpone the auction due to lack of the interest in the telecommunications industry. Service seems to have limited use for telecommunications applications, including WLL, although there may be increased interest in GWCS should the FCC abandon the 5 MHz blocks and auction in the band in one 25 MHz block.

Gigabits per second (Gbps) - The bandwidth of a digital signal measured by billions of bits transmitted per second.

Gigahertz (GHz) - The bandwidth of a wireless signal or position on the electromagnetic spectrum measured by billions of cycles (hertz) per second.

G.Lite - A low-end ADSL variation designed for rapid deployment in the residential markets. The system performs downstream at up to 1.5 Mbps and upstream at significantly lower speeds. Manufacturers likely will begin widespread distribution of G.Lite modems in 1999 as stand-alone units or built into new personal computers. Unlike installations of full ADSL service, G.Lite modems can be plugged directly into current telephone wall outlets and do not require a service call.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) - TDMA-based digital cellular technology that is used throughout Europe and is used on the PCS bands in the United States.

Global Positioning System (GPS) - A system of 24 satellites launched by the U.S. military for exact geographic location and navigation. Several companies manufacture and market commercial GPS receivers for consumer and private business users.

High Definition Television (HDTV) - Next-generation TV program-distribution technology that doubles standard color TV picture resolution to more than 1,000 vertical lines. HDTV also incorporates compact disk-quality digital sound and changes the proportions of TV pictures from the nearly square dimensions of current TV screens to the wide-screen shape of movies on 35-millimeter film. The gross digital data rate required to transmit the HDTV digital studio standard is about 1.3 gigabits per second (Gbps). The FCC has adopted a family of digital television (DTV) standards that either compress HDTV to transmit over cable systems and standard 6 MHz broadcast channels or provide for transmission of multiple standard-definition signals over 6 MHz channels. The same DTV transmissions can distribute high-speed downstream data. The FCC is requiring all broadcasters to begin airing DTV by May 1, 2003.

Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) Network - A wireline broadband network that integrates fiber optic and coaxial cable networks to provide video, telephony and broadband Internet access. Many cable TV operators have reconfigured their existing coaxial cable service to provide HFC, which is an early leader in broadband service to residential customers.

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) - Local telephone service providers that, in most cases, existed before the break-up of AT&T in 1984 and before passage of provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that encouraged the establishment of CLECs.

Industrial/Scientific/Medical (ISM) Unlicensed Bands - Frequencies located in the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands where companies or individuals may operate RF devices at low power without obtaining a license, as explained in Part 15 of the FCC rules. Microwave ovens, medical telemetry devices and several other types of equipment share the bands. Such devices must obtain FCC certification that that they operate at low power and do not transmit out-of-band emissions before they may be sold to end-users. A number of different communications systems, including wireless LANs, PBXs and wireless Internet access devices also operate on the ISM bands.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - International standard-setting organization that reviews technologies in several different industries, including telecommunications.

Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) - See MMDS.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - Data transmission technology designed for transmission over circuit-switched telephone networks at 128 kbps.

Interexchange Carriers (IXCs) - Long distance carriers.

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - Standards setting organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that facilitates communication between governments and industries to plan telecommunications networks on an international basis.

Internet Protocol (IP) - Industry standard packet-switching system developed by Defense Department to support the Arpanet. Transport control protocol (TCP) working on top of IP is the most basic element of commonality for all Internet-based communications.

Intranet - An IP-based virtual network that links several different branch offices within the same organization. Such networks tend to include sophisticated firewalls and other security measures designed to limit the level of information sharing within the company. Intranets are major factors enabling the growth of telecommuting.

Kilobits per second (kbps) - The bandwidth of a digital signal measured by thousands of bits transmitted per second.

Kilohertz (kHz) - The bandwidth of a wireless signal or position on the electromagnetic spectrum measured by thousands of cycles (hertz) per second.

Local Area Network (LAN) - A group of personal computers linked together in an office or campus setting that operates through a central on-premises server. Broadband CPEs interacting with the server can support high-speed communications to all points on the LAN. Some wireless companies are working on systems to integrate the operation of mobile phones and data devices over public networks seamlessly with wireless LANs and PBXs when devices are used on-premises.

Line Sharing - The practice of offering two services from two different carriers over the same access line. For example, if a customer wishes to retain ILEC POTS service and order xDSL service from a CLEC, it usually requires the installation of a second access line. With a line-sharing architecture, customers could receive both services on their existing POTS line. The FCC has proposed that ILECs be required to provide shared lines as unbundled network elements.

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) - A 1.3 GHz-wide wireless service that the FCC auctioned in 1998 in two blocks in the 28 GHz and 31 GHz bands. The A-Block (1. 15 GHz wide) is expected to be used for very high-speed data and telephony service aimed mainly at business customers due to the high cost of LMDS CPEs. Many licensees appear to be preparing the narrower B-Block (150 MHz) for more conventional WLL services to the home. Due to the poor wireless propagation characteristics of the 28 GHz and 31 GHz bands, A and B Blocks both are likely to be used as "last-mile" alternatives relaying fiber-fed communications.

Major Trading Area (MTA) - Geographic division of the United States into 51 markets. FCC uses MTAs to license A/B-block PCS and 900 MHz SMR.

Megabits per second (Mbps) - The bandwidth of a digital signal measured by millions of bits transmitted per second.

Megahertz (MHz) - The bandwidth of a wireless signal or position on the electromagnetic spectrum measured by millions of cycles (hertz) per second.

Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) - Low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite networks that are designed to emulate broadband PCS services over a worldwide service area. MSS systems (Iridium, which launched in late 1998, is the first such system to offer commercial service) eventually could provide stiff competition to mobile phone and WLL providers in rural areas due to their ability to serve even the most remote areas. However, the price of the service still is prohibitive for most customers with handsets that cost hundreds of dollars and service charges of about $8 a minute.

Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) - International organization that develops standards for digital television picture encoding. Devices based on the MPEG-11 standard went on sale in late 1997 and still are costly. Many, however, believe that MPEG-II costs could drop, which would enable broadband networks to build digital headends. Such facilities could distribute video programming to the home over the Internet, challenging current cable and DBS services.

Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) - Two separate services in the 2 GHz band - Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) - make up the overall MMDS service, which sometimes is called "wireless cable." In the past, operators have been able to emulate cable TV service by piecing together enough 6 MHz MDS and ITFS licenses to provide multichannel video service. Most such operations, however, were not competitive with cable TV operators that were able to upgrade their services more easily. The FCC in late 1998 approved use of MDS and ITFS frequencies for two-way communications, which could enable MMDS operators to provide broadband services including WLL and high-speed Internet access.

NII - National Information Infrastructure  Band - An expansion of the 5 GHz ISM band approved by the FCC in 1997. The added frequencies will support broadband applications, including possible Internet access, over unlicensed frequencies. Community networks were among the primary applications that the Commission envisioned with it approved the service. However, so far there have been a limited number of systems developed for operation on the NII band.

NATOA - National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors  - Industry association that represents the interests of local governments that regulate telecommunications services.

NECA - National Exchange Carriers Association  - A non-profit group governed through a board of directors made up of local exchange carrier managers and owners. The FCC has appointed NECA to administrate its access charge and TRS plans. A NECA subsidiary, USAC, administrates the FCC's universal service program.

NRTC - National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative  - Trade organization representing about electric and telecommunications cooperatives and related companies. NRTC provides discounted DBS, 200 MHz voice dispatch and Internet access services to its members.

NTIA - National Telecommunications and Information Administration  - Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that acts as the chief presidential advisory body on telecommunications issues, manages telecommunications-related grants and manages federal government-controlled spectrum use.

NXX Codes - The first three digits in a seven-digit telephone number, used to determine thousand-number blocks.

OPASTCO - Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies  - Trade association of about 500 rural telephone companies, as well as their wireless, based in Washington.

Packets - Segments of data bundled together for efficient digital transmission.

PCIA - Personal Communications Industry Association - Alexandria, Va.-based wireless industry association that represents PCS, SMR, paging, broadband wireless and other wireless industries.

PCS - Personal Communications Service - The term is used to describe several different types of mobile communications services. Narrowband PCS in the 900 MHz band supports high-speed paging and messaging services. Unlicensed PCS at 1910-1930 MHz supports wireless LANs and PBXs; similar to systems developed for the ISM bands. Most references to PCS, however, refer to broadband PCS mobile and fixed telephony systems. Broadband PCS is located on the 1900 MHz band in the United States (on 1800 MHz in much of the rest of the world) and used mainly to operate digital cellular technologies, including IS-95 CDMA, IS-136 TDMA and GSM. Some variations on these digital systems have been developed for fixed WLL services. Broadband PCS has been assigned over six blocks. The A- and B-Block licenses are 30 MHz wide and cover the 51 Major Trading Areas. The C-Block licenses are 30 MHz wide and cover the 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). The D, E and F Block licenses are 10 MHz each and cover the BTAs. The FCC provided "small business" and "very small business" discounts for qualified bidders in the C- and F-Block auctions.

PICC - Pre-subscribed Interexchange Carrier Charge  - Per-line flat rate fee that local telephone companies recover from interexchange carriers for access to their lines.

PSAPs - Public Safety Access Points - State-run telecommunications facilities that coordinate emergency service operations.

PUC - Public Utilities Commission - Generic name for many state agencies that regulate telecommunications and gas/electric/oil utilities.

RBOCs - Regional Bell Operating Companies - Seven large local exchange carriers created by the 1984 break-up of the Bell System. There currently are five RBOCs following the mergers of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX as well as SBC Communications with Pacific Telesis. A merger of SBC and Ameritech is pending. U S West is in the process of merging with an IXC/CLEC, Qwest Communications. The remaining RBOC, BellSouth, has not been involved in any major mergers.

RTF - Rural Task Force - Subgroup of Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service formed to develop recommendations for eventual rural support mechanism. RTF is scheduled to complete its recommendations by September 2000, in time for final FCC approval of a rural support mechanism sometime after Jan. 1, 2001.

Slamming - The practice of changing an end-user's pre-subscribed telecommunications carrier without authorization.

SMR - Specialized Mobile Radio - Series of 800 MHz and 900 MHz channels that commonly are used for voice dispatch and low-speed data applications. Nextel Communications Inc., which holds several 800 MHz licenses nationwide and is seeking approval to acquire several more 900 MHz licenses, has marketed its service as a consumer mobile phone alternative and has emerged as a national competitor to large cellular and broadband PCS carriers.

SLC - Subscriber Line Charge - Per-line fees that local telephone companies charge end users. The FCC regulates the SLC amounts carriers charge, which generally are listed as line items on subscribers' monthly bills.

SONET - Synchronous Optical Network - U.S. standard for fiber optic transmission that is designed to interface with conventional telco infrastructure as well as various international standards. ATM commonly is run as a layer on top of SONET. SONET data rates can reach as much as 20 Gbps.

TIA - Telecommunications Industry Association - National trade organization of 900 telecommunications equipment manufacturers, based in Arlington, Va.

TRS - Telecommunications Relay Service - Program that allows individuals with hearing and speech impairments to use telecommunications services. The caller, equipped with a TRS receiver, contacts a call center, which connects the caller to the desired number. The call center relays text messages in near real time. TRS is operated with fees the FCC collects from all of its licensees.

Teledesic (pronounced tel-eh-DEH-sic) - One of a number of companies planning to launch two-way, LEO-based satellite system, similar to Iridium, but that will support fixed, broadband communications up to 64 Mbps, rather than mobile service. The company plans to begin offering service as soon as 2003.

Third Generation (3G) PCS - International project being coordinated through the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to upgrade current digital cellular/PCS technologies. Key goal of 3G developers is to increase potential data rate of systems operating over current allotments to 2 Mbps. ITU is supporting the allocation of additional spectrum near the PCS bands to enable faster data rates of up to 10 Mbps by 2010. Another goal of 3G proponents, to develop a common worldwide mobile phone standard to enable international roaming, has been more difficult to attain. Manufacturers appear to moving toward handsets that can operate with several different digital standards rather than developing a single worldwide standard.

TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) - A wireless digital transmission technology that divides available frequencies into time slots for the purpose of spectrum sharing among many different wireless channels. It differs from CDMA in which all calls traveling over the network use the entire available bandwidth during modulation. Many digital cellular and PCS networks are based on GSM and IS-136 TDMA-based networks.

TIB (Truth in Billing) - FCC rule designed to detect or prevent cases of slamming, cramming and other fraudulent billing practices by regulating the information provided on monthly consumer bills. TIB rules are scheduled to go into effect on April 15, 2000.

UNE (Unbundled Network Element) - Subsystems within a local loop which, under federal law, ILECs must offer to competing carriers on a wholesale basis.

Universal Service - FCC subsidy program created by Congress in the 1930s to ensure that telecommunications services are available at affordable rates in rural and other high-cost areas. In recent years, the universal service program has been expanded to include subsidies for telephone service in low-income areas as well as for Internet access to schools, libraries and rural health care facilities.

USAC - Universal Service Administrative Company  - NECA subsidiary designated by the FCC to administer the four universal service subsidy programs.

USTA - United States Telephone Association  - Washington based trade association representing 1,200 local exchange carriers.

UWB - Ultra-Wideband - A system that transmits binary information based on the timing of rapid radio pulse transmissions rather than carrying "1s" and "0s" on continuous RF carrier waves. System can be configured to operate at very low powers over ISM bands. UWB developers expect to be able to configure Internet access systems reaching 1 Gbps.

VoIP - Voice Over Internet Protocol - Technology used to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol.

VSAT - Very Small Aperture Terminal  - Satellite system that can relay voice, data and video signals. Businesses often use VSAT for rapid data transactions, such as credit card authorizations. Some VSAT carriers offer residential Internet service. Architecture links end-users with system-wide "hub" server via dedicated satellite transponders.

WCS - Wireless Communications Service - Licenses auctioned by the FCC in the 2.3 GHz band in spring 1997. The auction attracted very low bids, mainly due to the lack of available applications for the band. One possible application will be to augment two-way broadband MMDS services.

Wireline - Another name for a telephone company that uses cables instead of radio.

WLL - Wireless Local Loop - The use of wireless networks to provide services equivalent to those offered by local exchange carriers, including POTS and some intelligent network services. The definition of WLL is evolving, however, as customer expectations grow with the development of broadband networks.