S
Slam
An
end user that is PICed without their permission. An RBOC Slam Fee must
be paid for each slam.
SMS
Service
Management System
SMS
Customer Record
All
information related to one 800 number, effective date and time, etc.
Speed
Dialing
A
service to abbreviate and accelerate frequently dialed numbers.
State
Tax
A
collection of tax types that each state is allowed to charge. Tax
jurisdiction (which state can charge tax for a call) is based on the
two-out-of-three rule: where it originates, where it terminates, where
it is being billed to - if two match, that state can charge the tax.
Surcharge
An
additional charge on top of a base rate for a specified reason.
Switch
A
device (like a DMS-250 or a PBX) that responds to originator signals and
dynamically connects the caller to the desired communication
destination.
Switched
Access
Nondedicated
local access between the customer's premise and the serving wire center
which is interconnected to the company's point-of-presence for
origination or termination of service.
Switched
Access Service
A
class of LEC services that provides the link from the customer's premise
to the IEC PoP for switched circuits.
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.
Switched
Services
All
dial up long-distance services including conventional residential and
WATS (most have incremental use charges). (See Message Toll Service)
Switching
Fee
A
per-line fee (usually around 5$) imposed by the LEC to reprogram their
switching system to change your default carrier. Subscribers must
usually pay this fee when switching to a reseller. Some resellers will
reimburse the subscribers for this fee.
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.
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T
T1/DS-1
(Facility)
The equivalent of 24 multiplexed voice grade channels. 1.544 million
bits per second (1.5Mbps)
T2/DS-2
(Facility)
The equivalent of 4 multiplexed T1 channels. 6.312 million bits per
second (6.3Mbps)
T3/DS-3
(Facility)
The equivalent of 28 multiplexed T1 channels. 44.736 million bits per
second (45Mbps)
T4/DS-4
(Facility)
The equivalent of 6 multiplexed T3 channels. 274.176 million bits per
second (274Mbps)
Tariff
A
public document filed with the FCC or a PUC that outlines services and
rates. Usually, all customers are offered the same rate for a specific
service, based on published constraints.
TDD
Telecommunications
Device for the Deaf
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 like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, LDDS,
etc.
Third
Party Billing
Use
of an outside service bureau for bill processing such as: call rating,
customer invoicing, collections, etc.
Time
of Day Routing
Route
calls based on the time the call originates. (e.g. direct morning calls
to East Coast operators and afternoon calls to West Coast operators,
etc.). SMS/800 supports 15 minute time intervals.
Toll
A
rated call (Contrast CDR - unrated call detail record). Tolls appear on
the Invoice Detail.
Toll
Call
A
call with incremental use (minute-by-minute) charges. (Often through a
Class 4 Toll Office).
Toll
Fraud
A
crime in which a "hacker" obtains telecommunication services
by: breaching computer security, using or selling stolen long-distance
credit-card codes, or, accessing a PBX and using its communication
facilities illegally. Toll Fraud is estimated to cost U.S. companies
$1.2 billion/year.
Two
Out Of Three Rule
When
determining state tax jurisdiction, there are three locations to
consider: originating station, destination station, and the location
that the bill is sent to. If two out of three are the same, then that
state receives the tax.
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U
USF
See
PICC and USF Fees At A Glance
V
Vanity
Number
A
specific 800 or 888 number (may spell something).
Verified
Account Codes
See
Account Codes. A finite list of carrier-verified, predefined Account
Codes.
Voice
Mail
An
automatic answering service with the ability to record a message. Unlike
simple answering machines, Voice mail uses a programmable computer
system with options such as temporary call routing, monitoring and
reporting, etc.
Voice
Mail Box
The
assignment of one user/number on a voice mail system.
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WXYZ
WATS
- Wide Area Telephone Service
Flat
rate, or special rate pay-by-the-minute (measured) billing for a
specified calling area. May be outbound or inbound (e.g. 800).
Wireless
Radio
waves, cellular, satellite, microwave, etc.
WTN
Working
Telephone Number
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