1. Introduction

1.1 Scope
This document is composed of terms and accompanying definitions that address the disciplines of:

  • telephony,
  • NS/EP (National Security/Emergency Preparedness),
  • NII (National Information Infrastructure),
  • spectrum sharing,
  • radar,
  • radio communications (including HF ALE radio),
  • television (including UHF, VHF, cable TV, and HDTV),
  • facsimile,
  • ·networks (e.g., intelligent networks, open network architecture, ISDN, broadband ISDN, and network management),
  • fiber optic communications,
  • communications security,
  • data processing,
  • premises wiring,
  • photonics, and
  • telegraphy.

The intent is to provide a uniform, up-to-date set of definitions for the general terminology used in telecommunications. The benefits of such a standard include:

  1. better communications among U.S. providers and users of telecommunications equipment and services,
  2. enhanced understanding of U.S.-developed telecommunications standards, technical reports, technical requirements,contributions, and other specifications in international standardization and trade, and
  3. broader public knowledge of telecommunications concepts and advancement of associated public-interest telecommunications capabilities

1.2 Purpose
The purpose of this standard is to aid interdisciplinary technical communications, and to disseminate the advances in communications technologies benefiting users, vendors, researchers, and developers. Additionally, this standard provides an authoritative source of definitions for standards developers, teachers, technical writers, and all who are active in the telecommunications field.