Indiantown Telecom

COMING SOON! Look for the future ITS FAQ and Troubleshooting section of our website where with a few quick clicks you will get answers to the most common questions about your telecommunication services!

Common Questions or Issues

Need help with phone features, your internet service or DirecTV? Contact ITS Telecom with your questions at these phone numbers or e-mails:

Customer Service: (772) 596-2111, Toll Free 1-888-888-6242 or csr@itstelecom.net

Internet/E-mail Tech Support: (772) 597-7000 or 1-877-882-TECH (8324) How To Set Up An ITS E-mail Account (click here)

How To Set Up An ITS Online Account (click here)

Repairs

We strive to provide the most efficient service possible. We realize that service difficulties will occur despite our best efforts to avoid them. If you need repair assistance, call 611. If you are out of the Indiantown service area, call 772-597-4104. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, calls will go to our 24-hour call center.

Service Calls

If your phone or internet problem cannot be solved over the phone, a technician will be dispatched to your premises to determine whether the problem is in your equipment or in the telephone line. If the problem is with ITS equipment, there is usually no charge for the service call. If the problem is in the house wire, jack, or telephone equipment and they're not covered by an ITS Maintenance Plan you will be billed a service call charge. If inside wiring repair is needed, and you choose to have ITS repair it, you will be charged at the current hourly rate. For more information about our Inside Wire Maintenance Plan or DSL Trouble Isolation and Modem Coverage Plan, contact one of our Customer Service Representatives.

Access Charge

A fee charged to subscribers or other telephone companies for the use of local exchange facilities, especially for access to facilities to provide long-distance service.

ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line transmits data asymmetrically, meaning the bandwidth usage is much higher in one direction than the other. Typical ADSL applications transmit 8 Mbps downstream and 768Kbps upstream, depending on the length of the local loop.

All Trunks Busy

When a user tries to make an outside call through a telephone system and receives a “fast” busy signal, he/she is usually experiencing All Trunks Busy. No trunks are available to handle that call. The trunks are all being used at that time for other calls or are out of service. Many long distance companies are replacing a “fast” busy signal with a recording that might say something like, “I’m sorry. All circuits are busy. Please try your call later.”

Analog Transmission

A signaling technology in which sound waves or other information are converted into electrical impulses of varying strengths. Analog is the traditional telephone technology for voice transmission.

Area Code

A three-digit phone number prefix that designates a particular geographic area for long distance call routing purposes.

Bandwidth

The capacity of telecom line to carry signals. For analog transmission, it is measured in cycles per second; for digital transmission, it is measured in bits per second.

Basic Service

A telephone company service limited to providing only local switching and transmission.

Broadband

A term used in evolving digital technologies in which multiple signals share the bandwidth of a medium, such as fiber-optic cable. This allows the transaction of voice, data and video signals over a single medium.

Cable Pair (twisted pair)

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.

Decibel (dB)

The standard unit of measure for expressing the amount of signal power gained or lost in the course of transaction.

Demarcation Point

The point of a demarcation and/or interconnection between telephone company communications facilities and terminal equipment, protective apparatus, or wiring at a subscriber’s premises.

Deregulation

In 1984, AT&T no longer was allowed to provide local service, nor was the Bell companiesallowed to provide interLATA, long-distance information service, nor could they manufacture equipment. In 1996, the barriers preventing competitive entryinto the local exchange market were lifted, thus allowing broadcast cable,telephone, utilities, etc., to compete equally.

Detariffing

The removal of regulations requiring that a common carrier service be offered under a tariff approved by the regulatory agency. Detariffing affects direct price controls.

DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol)

A TCP/IP protocol that enables PCs and workstations to get temporary or permanent IP addresses from centrally administered servers.

Dial Tone

An audible tone sent from a central office to a customer to indicate the equipment is ready to receive dial signals.

DLC (digital loop carrier)

Network transmission equipment used to provide pair gain on a local loop.

Digital Transmission

A system using discrete numbers to represent data. Digital transmission provides sharper, clearer, faster transmission than analog transmission.

DNS (domain naming system)

Mechanism used in the Internet and on private Intranets for translating names of host computers into addresses. The DNS also allows host computers not directly on the Internet to have registered names in the same style

Drop wire

A telephone cable that runs from a pole or pedestal to a customers home or business.

DSL (digital subscriber line)

The generic name for a group of enhanced-speed digital services provided by telephone companies. DSL services run on twisted-pair wires and carry voice and data.

DSLAM -digital subscriber line access multiplexer

Serves as the point of interface between a number of subscriber premises and the carrier network. At each subscriber premises is a splitter or a standalone premises and the carrier network. EAS (extended area service) A local telephone service tariff that is put into effect as a replacement for short-haul toll tariffs.

ELS (extended local service)

Provides for the addition of one or more exchanges to the local calling area of an exchange.

E-mail (electronic mail)

Refers to messages sent over the Internet. E-mail also can be sent and received via some newer wireless phones.

Ethernet

A popular local area data communications network, which accepts transmission from computers and terminals. Ethernet operates on 10 Mbps base band transmission over shielded coaxial cable or over shielded twisted pair telephone wire.

Exchange

Sometimes used to refer to a telephone switching center--a physical room or building. F Connector A 75-ohm coaxial cable connector commonly found on consumer television and video equipment.

FAX

FAX machines are telephone equipment, which lets you send a copy of written or drawn material over the telephone to a receiving FAX machine.

FCC (Federal Communications Commission)

The federal agency empowered by law to regulate all interstate and foreign wire and radio communications services originating in the United States, including radio, television, facsimile, telegraph and telephone systems. The agency was established under the Communications Act of 1934.

Fiber Optics

Communications technology that uses thin filaments of glass or other transparent materials. Fiber optic technology offers extremely high transmission speeds, allowing for data-intensive services such as video on-demand.

Firewall

A set of security procedures that separates and protects data on a LAN from hackers who might access the LAN from the Internet. A firewall is a method of protecting one network from another network, yet allowing restricted access of desired users.

Flat Rate

A type of service with pricing charged per month (or other stated billing period) that does not vary according to usage.

Frame Relay

A telecommunications service that provides cost-efficient data transmission for sporadic traffic between local area networks (LANs) and end-points in a wide area network (WAN).

Freeze Frame

The transmission of discrete video picture frames at a data rate, which is too slow to provide the perception of natural motion.

FTTH (fiber to the home)

The fiber deployment architecture in which optical fiber is carried all the way to the customer’s home.

FX (foreign exchange)

An exchange service that uses a private line to connect a subscriber’s local calling office with a distant central office (CO) in a community outside the subscriber’s local calling area. With FX service, a phone number in the distant CO is made a part of the subscriber’s local service. FX service is used by customers who place and receive large numbers of calls to and froma particular distant location.

Gas or Solid State Protector

A method of protecting phone lines and phone equipment from high voltage caused by lightning strikes HDTV (high definition television) An improved television system that provides approximately twice the vertical and horizontal resolutions of existing television standards. It also provides audio quality approaching that of compact disks. ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) The historic local telephone service provider in a market. In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, an ILEC is defined as the local exchange carrier that, on the date of the act’s enactment, provided telephone service in a specified area.

Inside Wiring

The wiring within the home between telephone equipment and the NID (network interface device).

Inter-LATA

Telecommunication between a point located in a local access and transport area (LATA) and a point located outside such area.

Intra-LATA

Telecommunication between two points located within the same local access and transport area (LATA).

ISDN (integrate services digital network)

A widely available, high bandwidth switched network service, providing end-to-end digital connectivity over standard phone lines for simultaneous transmission of voice and data.

ISP (internet service provider)

A vendor providing direct access to the Internet, and services such as e-mail. The user accesses the ISP by dialing up through a personal computer and modem or though a dedicated line.

IXC (interexchange carrier)

A common carrier that provides services to the public between local exchanges on an intra or inter-LATA basis in compliance with local or federal regulatory requirements and that is not end user of the services provided.

Key System

A local telephone system in a small office complex or home providing immediate access to all users by pressing one or two keys. All users may obtain access to lines on the public network and may communicate with each other without the service of an operator.

LAN (local area network)

A group of computers at a single location (usually an office or home) that are connected by phone lines, network cables of various configurations or coaxial cable.

LATA (local access and transport area)

An area designated by a specified telecommunication tariff within the United States.

LEC (local exchange carrier)

An LEC is a company thatprovides intra-LATA (local exchange carrier) telecommunications services.

Lifeline Service

Basic local exchange telephone service, provided at a discount, to low-income and elderly people. Lifeline service is subsidized by other telephone services or by state and local taxes.

Line Circuit

A circuit in the central office that provides dial tone to the subscriber lines.

Local Call

Any call to a destination within the local service area of the calling station.

Loop

Channel between a customer’s terminal and a central office. The most common form of loop, a pair of wires, is also called a line.

Loop Extender

Device in the central office that supplies augmented voltage out to subscribers who are at considerable distances. It provides satisfactory signaling and speech for such subscribers.

Maintenance Center

The call center that receives and dispatches telephone service related calls.

Modular Plug

Connecting devices adopted by the FCC as the standard interface for telephone and data experiment to the public network. NECA (National Exchange Carrier Association) NECA was established by the Commission to prepare common tariffs and administer the revenue pools. That decision required that all exchange carriers participate in a common tariff arrangement for the carrier common line element. Voluntary common tariff arrangements were provided for end user access element, traffic sensitive access elements other than billing and collection, and billing and collective elements.

Network

A connection of two or more computers that enables them to communicate. Networks may include transmission devices, servers, cables, routers, and satellites. The phone network is the total infrastructure for transmitting phone messages.

NID (network interface device)

A device wired between a telephone protector and the inside wiring to isolate the customer’s equipment from the network.

Noise

Noise or static on a phone line that can interfere with voice or data communications. Line noise is not always audible and can be inside or outside of your facility.

Nonrecurring Charge

This term refers to one-timecharges for a service, such as a service order charge or a premise visit.

Nuisance Call

There are two types of nuisance calls. Sometimes calls are made accidentally, for instance by misdialing a number or when a misprint occurs on a publication. Then again there are those malicious calls, which are caused deliberately, mostly of an anonymous nature.

Number Portability

Sometimes referred to as a local number portability (LNP), a term used to describe the ability of individuals, businesses and organizations to maintain their existing telephone number(s), and the same quality service, when switching to a new local service provider.

NXX Code

A code normally used as a central office code. It also may be used as a numbering plan area (NPA) code or special NPA code.

Outside Plant

The part of the telephone system that is physically located outside of telephone company buildings. This includes cable, supporting structures, and certain equipment items such as load coils.

PBX (private branch exchange)

A private switchboard or switching system – usually on the premises of large business offices, apartment building, hotels, etc. – in which a common group of lines from the central office can receive calls, place outgoing calls and interconnect intraoffice extensions.

PIC (Preferred/Primary Inter-exchange Carrier)

Your telephone line’s pre-set Long Distance Carrier

Post Pay Calling Card

A card that allows you to place calls from any location and have them billed back to your telephone account.

POTS (plain old telephone service)

Basic telephone service used solely for voice transmission.

Prepaid Calling Card

A credit card size card that you buy at your local store. Each card comes with information that allows you to use a certain dollar amount of local or long distance phone service.

PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point)

The dispatch office that receives 911 calls from the public. A PSAP may be a local fire or police department, an ambulance service or a regional office covering all services.

Receiver Off Hook Tone (ROH)

Receiver off-hook tone is a loud tone applied to a line to alert the customer that the telephone receiver is off-hook.

Repeater

A device that automatically retransmits received signals on an outbound circuit, generally in an amplified or reshaped form. It restores signals that are distorted because of attenuation.

Revertive Call

A telephone call between two telephone stations on the same line.

Ring Voltage

A telephony term for a 20 Hz AC voltage super imposed on the phone line to ring bells, faxes, modems, and other telecom devices.

RUS (Rural Utilities Service)

A rural lending system made up of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and other similar programs. Service Area The geographic area serviced by a telecommunication provider.

Slamming

The unauthorized switching of a customer’s long-distance phone service from one carrier to another without the customer’s permission. Slamming violates Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.

SLC (subscriber line charge)

A monthly access charge paid by telephone subscribers that is used to compensate the local telephone company for a portion of its costs to install and maintain telephone wires, poles, and all other facilities.

SMTP

Short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a protocol for sending E-Mail messages between servers. Most E-Mail systems that send mail over the Internet use SMTP to send messages from one server to another.

Station Wire

The twisted wire used to connect telephone or computer stations.

Subscriber Line

The telephone line connecting the end office to the subscriber’s station.

Surge Arrestor

A device that protects your computer or telephone equipment from being damaged by power surges. It protects from surges on the electrical input and from surges on the phone line.

T1

A particular designation for a fast form of connection, by phone line, to the Internet. T1 bandwidth is roughly 1.5 mbps per user. It can alternatively handle 24 voice channels.

Tandem Office

A major Telco-switching center for the switched telephone network, which interconnects two or more central offices that cannot directly be connected; a major switching center linking several end offices, especially to high-density areas.

Tariffs

The schedule of rates and regulations set by communications common carriers and filed with the appropriate federal and state regulatory agencies; the published official list of charges, terms and conditions governing provision of a specific communications service or facility, which functions in lieu of a contract between the subscriber or user and the supplier or carrier.

TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

The method by which most Internet activity takes place. Members with access to TCP/IP through a SLIP or PPP connection can connect to many ISP services in this manner. As the name implies, it is a protocol for network activity.

Telephone Exchange

A unit of a telephone communications system for the provisions of communication service in a specified area that usually includes a city, town, or village.

Toll Center

A class 4 telephone switching facility that connects end offices to long distance (toll) circuits and can make connections with other central offices to increase routing options.

Traffic

A flow of attempts, calls, and messages. A generic term that includes any and all calls, messages and data sent and received by means of telecommunications.

Transmitter

The device in the telephone handset, which converts speech into electrical impulses for transmission.

Trunk

A communications channel between two points. It usually refers to large-bandwidth telephone channels between centers that handle many simultaneous voice and data signals.

Trunk Circuit

An interface circuit between a trunk and a switching system or an unswitched line between telephone or long-distance company offices, used to carry voice, data, or billing information.

Universal Service

The government’s aim, as stated in the Communications Act of 1934, of providing phone service to everyone, regardless of their distance from the switch or ability to pay. Expanded under the Telecommunication Act of 1996, universal service also encompasses a subsidy to public schools, libraries and rural health care facilities for telecom services.

USB Port

This is the popular term and acronym for Universal Serial Bus. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, modems, speakers, cameras, scanners, printers and keyboards.

VDSL

Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line. An extension of HDSL and the fastest XDSL technology. VDSL supports data rates up to 52 Mbps downstream and 1.5 Mbps upstream over short distances of 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Ideal for video services, VDSL also supports the same services as ADSL.

Video On Demand

(VoD) A planned system using video compression to supply programs to viewers when requested, via ISDN or cable.

VOIP

A term used in IP telephony for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol (IP). In general, this means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Wire Center

The building in which one or more local switching systems are installed and where the outside lines, or wires, leading to customer premises are connected to the central office equipment; also know as a serving wire center (SWC).

Wireless

The term wireless refers to telecommunication, which uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio or television, (rather than some form of point to point wiring) to carry any communications signal from one section of a communications path to another.