A term used for the cable between the Central Office Switching Center and the customers house. The insulated wires, twisted around each other in pairs but electrically not contacting each other, help to reduce unwanted signals by creating aninduction current.
CALEA - Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act
A U. S. law granting enforcement agencies the ability to wiretap new digital networks. The act also requires both wireline and wireless carriers to enable such wiretapping equipment.
CAT 5 Cable
Category 5 cable is the current standard for Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks. It works well for telephone and other low voltage installations that need good noise rejection.
CATV
Cable Television. This term originally stood for “community antenna television,” reflecting the fact that the original cable systems carried only broadcast stations received off the air; however, as cable systems began to originate their own programming, the term evolved to become Cable Television.
Central Office
Local switching system that connect lines and trunks.
Centrex
A service for customers with many stations, that permits station-to-station dialing. The switching functions are performed in a central office.
Class of Service
Refers to residential, business or any other type of telephone service.
CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier)
A new company or person authorized to provide local exchange services in competition with an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). The CLEC provides similar or identical telecommunications services to the ILEC.
Coax Cable
A widely used type of cable that consists of a central metal conductor surrounded by an insulating material that is in turn wrapped by a second conductor, the whole encased in an insulating sheath.
Connecting Block
A plastic block containing metal wiring terminals to establish connections from one group of wires to another.
Construction Charge
A construction charge is applicable to recover the cost in excess of what would be reasonably expected to provide telephone service to a location.
CPE (customer premises equipment)
Telecommunications equipment that is located at the customer’s residence or place of business.
CPU (central processor unit)
The part of a computer system containing the logic, computational and control circuitry that interprets and executes the instructions contained in a program.
Cross Talk
A condition in which an electrical signal on one telephone circuit or channel creates an unintended, undesirable side effect in another circuit or channel. Cross talk frequently can be a problem with unshielded twisted-pair phone wire.
Custom Calling Feature
A group of special services available from the central office switching system, which the telco can offer its subscribers without the need for any special terminal equipment on their premises.
All rates exclude applicable taxes, surcharges and franchise fees and all programming and rates are subject to change without notice. Offers and services are subject to prior credit approval. Activation, installation and/or first month payment may be required. Other restrictions may apply. Paks require one-year commitment. Price assumes use of electronic billing, auto payment from bank or credit card account. If online services are not used and printed invoice is requested, a $1.50 will be added to bill; $1.50 will be added to bill if auto payment option is not used. All services may not be available in all areas.
