Acronyms in Telecom Industry

1. Alternative local transport carrier (ALT): Smaller local landline company that provided bypass of the ILEC network. These companies later became known as CLECs.
2. Code division multiple access (CDMA): A 2G wireless standard that uses complex algorithms to compress the digital signal.
3. Competitive access provider (CAP): Smaller local landline company that provided bypass of the ILEC network. These companies later became known as CLECs.
4. Competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC): Smaller, upstart company that competes with ILECs for local landline voice customers.
5. Central Office (CO):
6. Customer Premises Equipment (CPE):
7. Carrier Common Line (CCL): Local exchange carriers may recover a per-minute carrier common line charge from interexchange carriers, collected on originating access minutes.
8. Digital subscriber line (DSL): A broadband Internet access service provided by LECs.
9. Direct broadcast satellite (DBS): Wireless video providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network that compete with cable TV companies.
10. Evolution data optimized (or only) (EvDO): A third generation wireless standard that enables broadband data speeds on wireless networks.
11. Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The federal agency created by the Communication Act of 1934, which regulates interstate telecommunications.
12. Fiber to the premises (FTTP): The use of fiber optic cable directly to the home that replaces copper or coaxial cable.
13. Incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC): Traditionally regulated monopoly providers of local voice landline services.
14. Independent Local Exchange Carrier (Independent LEC). Independent local exchange carriers are local exchange carriers, including GTE, other than the BOCs.
15. Internet protocol television (IPTV): Delivers video (television) programming to homes using Internet protocols.
16. Internet service provider (ISP): Company that provides Internet access to end users.
17. Inter Carrier Compensation (ICC):
18. Inter Exchange Carrier (IXC):
19. Local Exchange Carrier (LEC): The term local exchange carrier means any person that is engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access. 
20. Multiple system operators (MSO): Cable TV companies that provide video programming via many different local systems.
21. National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): Umbrella organization representing state and federal regulatory commissions.
22. Non Traffic Sensitive (NTS) Cost:
23. Presubscribed interexchange carrier charge (PICC): New charge as a result of TA96 instituted by the FCC to lower switched access fees. Charged by local companies to long-distance companies.
24. Public switched telephone network (PSTN): The traditional voice network operated by ILECs and long distance voice companies.
25. Point of Presence (POP):
26. Regional Bell operating company (RBOC): Any of seven local telephone companies created from the divestiture of AT&T in 1984.
27. Subscriber line charge (SLC): Per-line prices charged to end users that started around the time of divestiture.
28. Telecommunications Act of 1996 (TA96): The most recent, wide-ranging telecommunication law; technically, a rewrite of the Communications Act of 1934.
29. Third generation (3G): Wireless network standards that provide faster data transmission and include UMTS and WCDMA.
30. Time division multiple access (TDMA): A 2G wireless network standard that uses time-slicing techniques.
31. Traffic Sensitive (TS) Cost
32. Universal mobile telephone service (UMTS): A 3G wireless standard also known as WCDMA.
33. Unbundled Network Element (UNE):
34. Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP): Using Internet protocols to transmit voice conversations over data networks.
35. Wireless fidelity (WiFi): The popular name given to 802.11 standards for transmitting data wirelessly.
36. Wireless Internet service provider (WISP): Company that provides Internet access to end users using wireless technology, usually over an unlicensed spectrum.
37. Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX): A newer wireless standard that allows higher speed and longer ranges than WiFi.