Glossary of Long Distance Service Related Terms

IC

Interexchange Carrier. IC - IXC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.

IEC

Interexchange Carrier. IC - IXC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.

Inside Wire

Wiring in a building that connects phone jacks to outside phone lines; it is the customer's responsibility to maintain and repair inside wire. The demarc is the point where inside wiring can be connected to the telephone company's lines.

Interconnection

Trunking connection of the LEC's network with the CLEC or other carrier networks to allow the customers of both companies to easily call each other.

Interexchange

Communication between two different LATAs.

InterLATA

Communication between Local Access Transport Areas. 1982 MFJ requires LECs to use an IEC for InterLATA services.

InterLATA Toll Service

LATA means Local Access and Transport Area. It refers to the geographic region that has more than one telephone company providing its services. An interLATA toll service is the connection between two local exchange carriers in different regions. This is the same as long distance service.

International

Between multiple nations.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Any company providing commercial access to the Internet.

Interstate

Between multiple states. Interstate communications are regulated by the FCC.

Interstate Access Charge

Aka: Federal Access Charge, Customer Line Charge, Interstate Access Charge, Interstate Single Line Charge, FCC Approved Customer Line Charge, Subscriber Line Charge or SLC. This federally ordered charge billed by your local telephone company pays part of the cost to the local telephone company of supplying a phone line into your home or business. It is designed to help local phone companies recover the cost of providing "local loops" which refers to outside telephone wires, underground conduit, telephone poles, and other equipment and facilities connecting you to the telephone network. This is NOT a tax. It is a charge that is part of the price you pay to your local telephone company. Neither the FCC nor any other government agency receives the Federal Subscriber Line Charge. The FCC places a maximum cap on this charge.

Interstate Single Line Charge

Aka: Federal Access Charge, Customer Line Charge, Interstate Access Charge, Interstate Single Line Charge, FCC Approved Customer Line Charge, Subscriber Line Charge or SLC. This federally ordered charge billed by your local telephone company pays part of the cost to the local telephone company of supplying a phone line into your home or business. It is designed to help local phone companies recover the cost of providing "local loops" which refers to outside telephone wires, underground conduit, telephone poles, and other equipment and facilities connecting you to the telephone network. This is NOT a tax. It is a charge that is part of the price you pay to your local telephone company. Neither the FCC nor any other government agency receives the Federal Subscriber Line Charge. The FCC places a maximum cap on this charge.

Interstate Tax Surcharge

Aka: Gross Receipts Tax Surcharge, Interstate Tax Surcharge, State Universal Service Fund. State and local governments assess this charge in different ways and at different rates. Proceeds go to the local governing body. It can be imposed on the revenues of local telephone companies, and long-distance companies operating within a state. Although these taxes vary by your location, they are the same for all providers serving that area. For more information about these taxes, please contact your local and state tax offices. You can find their number in the government section of your local telephone directory.

IntraLATA

Communication within a Local Access Transport Area. 1982 MFJ allows LEC to handle these calls without an IEC.

Intrastate

Communication within a single state. Intrastate communications are regulated by each state's PUC.

IXC

Interexchange Carrier. IC - IXC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.