Crittenden Connection Telecommunications Glossary P: Packet loss, Packetization, Payphone, Payphone Charge, Payphone Fee, Payphone Surcharge, PBX, Personal Identification Number (PIN), Person-to-Person, Phone card, PIC, PIC Charges, PIC Freeze, PIC Request, PIC Response, PIN, Point Of Presence, Point-to-Point Protocol, POP, POTS, PPP, Primary Interexchange Carrier, Private Line, Provisioning, Public Switched Telephone Network, PSTN, Public Utilities Commission, PUC

Packet loss
Loss of parts of the packetized data that comprises the whole communication. See also Jitter, Packetization, Latency

Packetization
Breaking down of data into smaller pieces (known as packets) that a computer sends over a network. Each packet has a header that identifies the packet and its destination. ( Analogous to addressing an envelope. ) The packet travels through routers to its destination computer, which reassembles all the packets that belong together and then sends this reconstituted data to the appropriate program / application. See also Jitter, Packet Loss, Latency

Payphone
A public (or private) telephone that accepts coins or encoded credit cards. See also: Coin Phone, COCOT

Payphone Charge
The charge per unit to place a phone call. Also used as the additional charge per call for a calling card, dial-around service, Toll Free Number, etc. if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the owner of the payphone.

Payphone Fee
Additional charge per call if if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the owner of the payphone.

Payphone Surcharge
Additional charge per call if if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the owner of the payphone. See also: Surcharge

PBX ( Private Branch Exchange )
Abbreviation for Private Branch Exchange, Much like a Centrex System which is responsible for switching calls at the central office, A PBX System is located at the Customer Premise Location, and does its switching internally within a business or organization. PBX users generally have access to a number of outside lines and typically must dial 9 from a PBX system extension to reach an outside line, and to place an outbound call through the LEC.
	PBX Phone Systems

Personal Identification Number ( PIN )
Also referred to as a PIN or PIN number. Personal unique security codes that callers use to access their accounts. ( Private Password )

Person-to-Person
Operator assisted phone call - only billed if the specified person is available. See also: Collect Call, Operator Service Call, Directory Assistance

Phone Card
See Calling Card, TeleCard
	Phone Cards / Calling Cards

PIC ( Primary Interexchange Carrier )
The IEC that 1+ calls are routed to. Specified by ANI.

PIC Charges
A LEC charge for changing the PIC. Often paid by the new IEC. If a LEC sends a PIC charge to a customer, the new IEC will typically credit the customer's account.

PIC Freeze
A PIC Freeze prevents the long distance carrier from being switched for the specified ANIs. Useful to prevent slamming, ( unauthorized switching of long distance services.)

PIC Request
A request record sent to a LEC asking for an ANI to be activated, deactivated or changed in some way.

PIC Response
A response record sent by a LEC (corresponding to a previous PIC Request) with response code that indicates whether the request was performed. (Some LECs return non-standard PIC Response codes.)

PIN
Abbreviation for Personal Identification Number. A personal unique security code that callers use to access their accounts. ( Private Password )

Point Of Presence ( POP )
The physical access location interface between a local exchange carrier and an Interexchange Carrier fiber-optic network. The point to which the telephone company terminates a subscriber's circuit for long distance telephone service or leased line communications.

Point-to-Point Protocol
Protocol to access the Internet using dial-up connections.

POP ( Point of Presence )
The physical access location interface between a local exchange carrier and an Interexchange Carrier fiber-optic network. The point to which the telephone company terminates a subscriber's circuit for long distance telephone service or leased line communications.

POTS
Abbreviation: Plain Old Telephone Service

PPP ( Point to Point Protocol )
Protocol to access the Internet using dial-up connections.

Prefix (NXX)
Also known as Exchanges, or Office Codes) (First 3 digits of a 7-digit phone number). (2-to-9, 0-to-9, 0-to-9) (Digits 4, 5 and 6 in a 10 digit NANP telephone number - NPA-NXX-XXXX).NXX is the 3 digits following the Area Code ( NPA )

Primary Interexchange Carrier ( PIC )
The IEC that 1+ calls are routed to. Specified by ANI. See Default Carrier

Private Branch Exchange ( PBX )
Also known as PBX, Much like a Centrex System which is responsible for switching calls at the central office, A PBX System is located at the Customer Premise Location, and does its switching internally within a business or organization. PBX users generally have access to a number of outside lines and typically must dial 9 from a PBX system extension to reach an outside line, and to place an outbound call through the LEC.

Private Line
Uses dedicated circuits to connect customer's equipment at both ends of the line. Does not provide any switching capability (unless supported by customer premise equipment). Usually consists of two local loops and an IEC circuit.

Provisioning
The process by which a requested (ordered) service is designed, implemented and tracked ( providing the subcomponent parts ).

Public Switched Telephone Network ( PSTN )
The regular, "old-fashioned" telephone network. See also POTS

PSTN ( Public Switched Telephone Network )
See Public Switched Telephone Network

Public Utilities Commission ( PUC )
The State Agency regulating intrastate telephone service. See also: FCC, Regulators
	Directory of State Public Utilities Commissions

PUC ( Public Utilities Commission )
The State Agency regulating intrastate telephone service. See also: FCC, Regulators
	Directory of State Public Utilities Commissions

Packet loss, Packetization, Payphone, Payphone Charge, Payphone Fee, Payphone Surcharge, Personal Identification Number , Person-to-Person, Phone Card, PIC, PIC Charges, PIC Freeze, PIC Request, PIC Response, PIN, Point Of Presence, Point-to-Point Protocol, POP, POTS, PPP, Primary Interexchange Carrier, Private Line, Provisioning, Public Switched Telephone Network, PSTN, Public Utilities Commission, PUC