There are many confusing and similar-sounding telecommunications
terms used to describe various types of telephone service. Not knowing the various
telephone terms, or the industry jargon, can make it difficult to understand and compare
long distance and toll free telephone plans. As a result, we have listed below definitions
to some commonly-used telecommunications terms. If you cannot find the term that you are
looking for, please email
us
Carrier - a company that owns communications
circuits and infrastructure to service long distance calls, such as AT&T, MCI and
Qwest.
Inbound Call - a phone call in which the cost is
borne by the owner of the toll free number dialed, not the caller. Also called a toll free
call.
Instate Call - originates in one state and
terminates in the same state. Also referred to as an intrastate call.
International Call - originates in one country and
terminates in another.
Interstate Call - originates in one state and
terminates in another. Also referred to as a state-to-state call.
IntraLATA - telecommunications service that
originates and terminates within the same Local Access
and Transport Area. Customer may elect to have either
the local phone company or long distance company carry these calls. Sometimes called local
long distance.
LATA - Local Access
and Transport Area. It is a geographical area that is
similar to, but not the same as, an area code.
LEC - Local Exchange
Carrier. Also known as a local phone company.
Payphone Surcharge - a fee of approximately 30
cents charged for a toll free call originating from a payphone.
Per Call Surcharge - a fee charged for each call
regardless of its length. Primarily charged by prepaid phone cards.
PIC - Presubscriber Interexchange
Carrier. Commonly referred to as a long distance carrier.
PIC Freeze - an order to prevent
"slamming" given to the local phone company by the customer not to switch the
customer's Presubscriber Interexchange Carrier
(long distance carrier) without the customer's expressed permission.
PICC - Presubscriber Interexchange
Carrier Code. A 4- or 7-digit code assign by local phone
companies to identify long distance carriers. For example, 0444 and 1010444 represents
Global Crossing.
Reseller - a company that purchases long distance
minutes in bulk at a discount from a long distance carrier to resell to customers.
Ring To Number - the phone number to which a toll
free number rings.
Slamming - the unauthorized switching of a
customer's long distance carrier. (For more information on slamming and to find out how to
file a complaint if you have been slammed, please visit the FCC.)
Telephony - the integration of transmitting voice,
data and video through the use of a computer network.
Toll Free Call - a phone call in which the cost is
borne by the owner of the toll free number dialed, not the caller. Also called an inbound
call.
Universal Service Fund - A fee charged under the
direction of the FCC designed to offset higher operational costs of some local exchange
(primarily in rural areas).
