Tandem Switch
US: A switch that
serves as a concentration node in the local exchange, gathering switched traffic
from two or more central office switches for sorting and then routing to other
central offices, or to and from switches of other carriers.
Tandem-Switched Transport Services
US: Transport service
is the component of interstate switched access service offered to interexchange
carriers (IXCs) by local
exchange carriers (LECs) corresponding
to the transmission and switching of traffic between the LEC's end (switching)
offices and the LEC's serving wire center
(SWC) to which the IXC's point
of presence (POP) is connected by entrance
facilities. Incumbent LECs currently offer two types of interstate switched
transport service, direct-trunked service and tandem-switched transport. Tandem-switched
transport routes calls from the SWC to the end office through a tandem switch
located between the SWC and the end office. Traffic travels over a dedicated
circuit from the SWC to the tandem switch, and then, over a shared circuit
that carries the calls of many different IXCs, from the tandem switch to the
incumbent LEC end office. For tandem-switched transport, the FCC's Part 69
access charge rules prescribe a per-minute tandem-switching charge and a per-minute
transmission charge assessed on IXCs.
Tandem-Switched Transport-Switch rate (TST-S)
US: A component
of switched access charges. When the FCC
established "interim" transport rates in 1992, it ruled that rates for the
use of tandem-switching facilities should recover only 20% of the tandem-switching
revenue requirement, with the rest of the costs assigned to TST-S to be recovered
through the RIC (residual interconnection charge).
The RIC is assessed to all interexchange carriers
(IXCs) on a per-minute basis, regardless
of the carrier's use of tandem switching
facilities.
Telecommunications
US: As defined in
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the term
`telecommunications' means the transmission, between or among points specified
by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the
form or content of the information as sent and received. [See also CI '96
Act Reference 0(3)(a)(48)]
Telecommunications Act of 1996 ('96 Act )
US: The law enacted
in February of 1996 that revised many of the underlying principles upon which
U.S. telecommunications regulation had been based. Among the many changes
to be ushered in by the '96
Act is the removal of barriers that had inhibited market entry into the
local telephone business and of restrictions that had prevented the bell operating
companies from providing interexchange (long distance) services. The '96 Act
amends, but does not replace, the Communications
Act of 1934.
Telecommunications Carrier
US: A telecommunications
carrier is any provider of telecommunications services. Under the terms of
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a telecommunications
carrier is considered a 'common carrier'
only to the extent that it is engaged in providing telecommunications services.
[See also CI '96 Act Reference 0(3)(a)(49)]
Telecommunications Carrier Contribution
The '96
Act also requires that every telecommunications carrier that provides
intrastate telecommunications services make a carrier contribution in a
manner determined by the State for the preservation and advancement of
universal service in that State. [See also CI '96 Act Reference I(101)(254)(f)]
Telecommunications Equipment
Telecommunications Industry
US: As defined in
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the term
'telecommunications industry' means communications businesses using regulated
or unregulated facilities or services and includes broadcasting, telecommunications,
cable, computer, data transmission, software, programming, advanced messaging,
and electronics businesses. [See also CI '96 Act Reference VII(707)(b)(714)(
k)(3)]
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
US: A 650-member
trade association representing the interests of telecommunications
equipment manufacturers and others companies in the communications and
information sector. TIA, e.g., advocates public policy positions and sponsors
trade shows and trade missions, standards setting activities, and educational
programs. Member companies provide communications products, equipment, systems,
distribution services and professional services.
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)
US: A telephone transmission
service designed to give persons with hearing or speech disabilities 'functionally
equivalent' access to the telephone network. TRS facilities have specialized
staff and equipment who relay conversations between persons using text telephones
(TTYs) and persons using conventional telephones. To access TRS, a caller
connects the text telephone through an acoustic coupling device to the telephone
line (or directly to the telephone line with some text telephones) and dials
a pre-assigned 800 numberto reach the local TRS center. The caller communicates
with one of the center's communications assistants by typing into the text
telephone; the communications assistant places a voice call to the called
party. Communications assistants serve as links in the conversation in a similar
manner when a person without a hearing or speech impairment initiates the
call.
Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 requires the FCC to ensure that telecommunications
relay services are available, to the extent possible and in the most
efficient manner, to persons with hearing or speech disabilities in the
United States. It also requires that "users of telecommunications relay
services pay rates no greater than the rates paid for functionally equivalent
voice communication services." To implement the law, the FCC established
a TRS Fund administered by the National Exchange
Carrier Association. All interstate telecommunications companies, data
as well as voice (including LECs,
IXCs, resellers, 900 services providers,
and satellite, video, and paging providers), contribute to the TRS Fund
inproportion to their gross interstate revenues. As of 1996, approximately
2,850carriers contributed .03 percent
of their gross interstate revenues to fund TRSat approximately $30 million
per year. TRS has been available on a uniform,nationwide basis since July
26, 1993. [See also
Speech-to-Speech RelayServices;
Text Telephone (TTY).]
Telecommunications Service
Europe:Definition according to (90/388/EEC)
AS AMENDED:
"telecommunications services" means services, whose provision
consists wholly or partly in the transmission and/or routing of signals
on a telecommunications network;
Definition according to
(97/33/EC):
"telecommunications services" means services
whose provision consists wholly or partly in the transmission and routing
of signals on telecommunications networks, with the exception of radio and
television broadcasting
Definition according to
(90/387/EEC)
'telecommunications services' means services whose provision
consists wholly or partly in the transmission and routing of signals on
a telecommunications network by means of telecommunications processes, with
the exception of radio broadcasting and television
US: As defined by the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, the term `telecommunications service' means the offering
of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes
of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless
of the facilities used. A telecommunications
carrier that provides 'telecommunications service' is considered a 'common
carrier.' [See also CI '96 Act Reference
0(3)(a)(51)]
Telemessaging Service
Telephone Exchange Service
US: Local telephone
service. The term 'exchange' is derived from 'exchange switch,' and by convention
is used to designate both the switch itself and the local telephone facility
in which the switch is located and to which individual customer premises are
connected.
As defined in the Communications
Act of 1934 (Title I, Section 3, para. 47), the term telephone exchange
service means (A) service within a telephone exchange, or within a connected
system of telephone exchanges within the same exchange area operated to
furnish to subscribers intercommunicating service of the character ordinarily
furnished by a single exchange, and which is covered by the exchange service
charge, or (B) comparable service provided through a system of switches,
transmission equipment, or other facilities (or combination thereof) by
which a subscriber can originate and terminate a telecommunications
service.
Telephone Number Portability
Telephone Toll Service
US: Telephone service
between subscribers in different local telephone exchanges for which there
is a separate charge not included in the contract with subscribers for local
exchange service.
Text Telephone (TTY)
US: A machine attached
to a telephone line for use with special services, called telecommunications
relay services (TRS), that give persons with hearing or speech disabilities
'functionally equivalent' access to the telephone network.The machine employs
graphic communications in the transmission of codedsignals through a wire
or radio communication system.
A caller connects the TTY through an
acoustic coupling device to the telephone line (or directly to the telephone
line with some text telephones) anddials a pre-assigned 800 number to reach
the local TRS center. The callercommunicates with one of the center's communications
assistants by typinginto the text telephone; the communications assistant
places a voice call to thecalled party. Communications assistants serve
as links in the conversation ina similar manner when a person without a
hearing or speech impairment
initiates the call. [See also telecommunications
relay services (TRS); 47 C.F.R. § 64.601(8) and §
64.604(b)(1).]
Tier
1 local exchange carrier (Tier 1 LEC)
US: In traditional
FCC terminology, a local exchange carrier
having annual revenues from regulated operations of $100 million or more.
For accounting purposes, the FCC now uses the terms 'Class A' and 'Class B'
companies to differentiate large and small carriers.
Under a provision of the Telecommunications Act
of 1996, the revenue threshold for qualifying as a Class A LEC has been
indexed to inflation beginning (retroactively) in 1993. (see also 47 C.F.R.
§ 32.11(a)(1) and (2); CI '96 Act Reference IV(402)(c))
Total Element Long Run Incremental Cost (TELRIC)
The FCC uses "total element" LRIC instead
of "total service" because the incumbent local
exchange carrier offerings to be priced using this methodology generally
will be "network elements," rather than "telecommunications services."
Network elements as specified by the
FCC in its Interconnection Order issued August 8, 1996 include local loops,
switching capability, interoffice transmission facilities, databases and
signaling systems, operation support systems, and operator
services and directory assistance.
The term "long run," in the context of
"long run incremental cost," refers to a period long enough so that all
of a firm's costs become variable or avoidable.
Incremental costs are the additional
costs (usually expressed as a cost per unit) that a firm will incur as
a result of expanding the output of a good or service by producing an additional
quantity of the good or service.
The increment that forms the basis of
a TELRIC calculation is the entire quantity of the network element provided.
All costs associated with providing the element are to be included in the
incremental cost. TELRIC also includes a reasonable allocation of forward-looking
joint and common costs.
Total Factor Productivity (TFP)
US: The ratio of
a firm's or industry's or nation's total output to its total input. In TFP
calculations, output and input are represented by indices. The output index
represents the quantities of goods or services produced, and the input index
represents the quantities of capital, labor, and materials used in the production
of those goods and services.
Total Service Long Run Incremental Cost (TSLRIC)
US: TSLRIC is the
general method of calculating the costs upon which prices for interconnection
and unbundled elements are to be based under the FCC's "Interconnection" rules
established to implement the Telecommunications
Act of 1996. (See also TELRIC,
the specific form of TSLRIC that the FCC adopted in its Interconnection decision.)
These costs are calculated based on forward-looking costs rather that on historical
costs already incurred.
The term "total service," in TSLRIC,
indicates that the relevant increment is the entire quantity of the service
that a firm produces, rather than just a marginal increment over and above
a given level of production.
The term "long run," in the context of
"long run Incremental costs," refers to
a period long enough so that all of a firm's costs become variable or avoidable.
Incremental costs are the additional
costs (usually expressed as a cost per unit) that a firm will incur as
a result of expanding the output of a good or service by producing an additional
quantity of the good or service.
TSLRIC may be calculated for a single
service or a class of similar services and includes the incremental costs
of dedicated facilities and operations that are used by only the service
in question. TSLRIC also includes the incremental
costs of shared facilities and operations
that are used by that service as well as other services.
Transport and Termination of Local Telecommunications
Traffic
US: As used in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, transport
and termination of telecommunications is the process whereby a call that is
initiated by a customer of one telecommunications
carrier is routed to a customer of a different telecommunications carrier
and completed by that carrier. The telecommunications
carrier that "terminates" or completes the call to its customer typically
charges the other telecommunications carrier for the cost of terminating the
call. The '96 Act imposes a duty on all local
exchange carriers (incumbents and new entrants) to establish reciprocal
compensation arrangements for such transport and termination of phone calls.
Transport Interconnection Charge (TIC)
US: A per-minute
access charge imposed on all switched access customers (carriers), including
those of competitors that interconnect with the LEC switched access network
through expanded interconnection. Approximately 70 percent of incumbent LEC
transport revenues were generated through TIC charges, or approximately $2.9
billion out of $4.0 billion in transport revenues (circa 1996).
Transport Services
US: Transport services,
also referred to as interoffice transmission services, are tariffed access
services provided to interexchange carriers
(IXCs) by local
exchange carriers that carry interstate switched access traffic between
the IXC's point of presence (POP)
in the local exchange and the end office that serves the end user customer.
Trap and Trace Device
US: A device used
in law enforcement that capture call-identifying information for numbers received
by the facility that is the subject of lawful interception (i.e. incoming
calls), much like caller-ID systems. Pen register devices captures call-identifying
information for numbers dialed from the facility that is the subject of lawful
interception (i.e. outgoing calls).