Broadband Terms to Know:

AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) – A wireless telecommunications spectrum band used for mobile voice and data services, video, and  messaging.

Backbone  – The part of the communications network that acts like the central nervous system; a central hub from which all parts of the network extend. 

B andwidth  – Amount of data that can flow in a given amount of time.

Broadband – As defined by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, broadband describes always-on, high-speed Internet access that moves data at a rate of at least 768 Kbps downstream and 200 Kbps upstream.

BPL (Broadband over PowerLine) – Delivery of broadband over the existing low and medium voltage electric power distribution network at speeds that are comparable to DSL and cable modem speeds. BPL is an emerging technology with significant potential as power lines are installed virtually everywhere.

Cable Modem – Enables cable operators to provide broadband using the same coaxial cables that deliver pictures and sound to a TV set. Most are external devices with two connections: one to the cable wall outlet, the other to a computer. They provide transmission speeds of 1.5Mbps or more.

Community Anchor Institutions – Schools, libraries, medical/healthcare providers, public safety institutions and other community support organizations and agencies that provide outreach, access, equipment and support services. They work to facilitate increased use of broadband service by underserved populations.

Dial-up Connection – A data transmission link that is established when the communications equipment dials a phone number and negotiates a connection with the equipment on the other end of the link. It provides the ability to dial-up the Internet, at speeds up to 56 Kilobits per second (Kbps), via modem over standard telephone lines.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) – Wireline transmission technology that transmits data faster than dial-up over traditional copper technology to homes and businesses. DSL-based broadband provides transmission speeds ranging from several hundred Kbps to Mbps.

Fiber Optic – A technology that converts electrical signals carrying data to light and sends the light through transparent glass fibers about the diameter of a human hair. Fiber optic transmit data at speeds far exceeding current DSL or cable modem speeds, typically by tens or even hundreds of Mbps.

Last Mile – Portion of network that provides broadband service to end users and end user devices (including households, businesses, community anchor institutions, public safety entities and critical community facilities).

LTE (Long Term Evolution) – A new radio platform technology that will allow operators to achieve even higher data peak rates than previous networks in higher spectrum bandwidth.

Middle Mile – Network infrastructure not delivering services to end users. May include interoffice transport, backhaul, internet connectivity or special access.

Satellite – Another form of wireless broadband that is also useful for serving remote or sparsely populated area. Speeds may be slower than DSL or cable modem, but can be 10 times faster than the download speeds of dial-up internet.

Served Area – Service area where more than half of households meet minimum access and speed requirements and adoption/subscription rates exceed 40%.

Underserved Area – Service area, consisting of one or more contiguous census blocks, where half the households lack access to minimum broadband service, or an area where no land or mobile service offers broadband with at least 3 Mbps, or area where less than 40% of households subscribe to any service.

Unserved Area – Service area, consisting of one or more contiguous census blocks, where at least 90% of households lack access to facilities-based minimum broadband service, either fixed or mobile.

Wireless – Connects a home or business to the Internet using an over-the-air radio link between the customer’s location and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be either mobile or fixed.

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) – A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected) access points — called hotspots when offering public access — generally comprises an area the size of a few rooms but may be expanded to cover many square miles, depending on the number of access points with overlapping coverage.

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) – is a telecommunications protocol that provides fixed and mobile Internet access

2G, 3G, 4G – Wireless telephony is the overall name for telephones that use a no wires. Various evolutions have emerged and each new wireless technology is a new generation. The “G” stands for generation. The differences between the generations is the higher generation’s move data faster and allow the user to do more with wireless data and applications.