The ten-digit number, including the area code, to which charges for a given telephone service are billed.

PBX - like service providing switching at the central office instead of at the customers premise.

Equipment that is provided to or purchase by the customer at his service location.

A generic name for a group of enhanced speed digital services provided by telephone service providers. DSL services run on twisted-pair wires; they can carry both voice and data on a single line.

Services, traffic or facilities start in one LATA and terminate in another, either InterState or IntraState (see IntraLATA, LATA).

The connection which allows you to get on the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP), of your choice. The type of connection you choose is based on a number of different factors, including cost and the communications system you have.

Services, traffic or facilities that start and terminate between two states

Services, traffic or facilities that start and terminate in the same LATA (see InterLATA, LATA).

Services, traffic or facilities that start and terminate in one state

A multiline telephone system typically used in small office environments. Users select the lines they want to use manually.

Local Number Portability allows you to change service providers and retain your existing phone numbers.

The portion of your service between your customer premise and the local central office.

In 1984 AT&T’s local operations were split into 7 baby bells or RBOC’s. • Ameritech — (acquired by SBC in 1999) • Bell Atlantic — (acquired GTE in 2000 and changed its name to Verizon) • BellSouth — (acquired by AT&T Inc. in 2006) • NYNEX — (acquired by Bell Atlantic in 1996) • Pacific Telesis — (acquired by SBC in 1997) • Southwestern Bell — (changed its name to SBC in 1995; acquired AT&T Corp. in 2005 and changed its name to AT&T Inc.) • U S West — (acquired by Qwest in 2000)

Interface between two networks that finds the best route between the two; provides network management capabilities. Required for Static DSL Service (Requires an IP address)

A service that allows a subscriber to receive messages via a voice mailbox system when an unanswered call is received on their phone or cell phone. Add on feature that is not considered a free feature.

Telephone calls (voice) bypass the typical public-switched telephone network and transmit voice calls over a private network (the same network that carries web, e-mail and data traffic).

Data communications network that extends a LAN outside its geographic area, over common carrier lines, to link other LANs (see LAN).