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Industry Terms

Access Charge

A fee charged subscribers or other telephone companies by a local exchange carrier for the use of its local exchange networks.

API (Application Programming Interface)

An interface that defines the ways by which an application program may request services from libraries and/or operating systems. An API determines the vocabulary and calling conventions the programmer should employ to use the services. It may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and protocols used to communicate between the requesting software and the library.

CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier)

An organization offering local telephone service that is not one of the traditional telephone companies. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed competition to the incumbent telcos (ILECs), enabling new companies (CLECs) to offer voice and data services via both landline and wireless delivery.

CNP (Card Not Present)

A credit card transaction that does not require the cardholder and card to be physically present. All Internet transactions are CNP transactions.

Cramming

A practice in which customers are billed for enhanced features such as voicemail, caller ID and call-waiting that they have not ordered.

Dial Around

Long distance services that require consumers to dial a long distance provider’s access code (or "10-10-XXX” number) before dialing a long distance number to bypass or "dial around" the consumer’s chosen long distance carrier in order to get a better rate.

Enhanced Service Providers

A business that offers to transmit voice and data messages and simultaneously adds value to the messages it transmits. Examples include telephone answering services, alarm/security companies and transaction processing companies.

ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier)

A local telephone company in the U.S. that was in existence at the time of the break-up of AT&T into the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), also known as the "Baby Bells." The ILEC is a former Bell System or Independent Telephone Company responsible for providing local telephone exchange (LEC) services in a specified geographic area.

ISO (Independent Sales Organization)

The name for merchant service providers who are registered with VISA and member banks to provide services on behalf of VISA and the sponsoring banks. BSG is a registered ISO/MSP provider, which means we can provide a convenient and competitive gateway for your credit card processing needs.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

A business or organization that provides access to the Internet.

LEC (Local Exchange Carrier aka telco)

These are public telephone companies that provide local service. There are ILECs such as Verizon, AT&T and Qwest. And CLECs such as XO and Frontier. Together, there are more than 1,000 LECs in the U.S.

OSP (Operator Service Provider )

A common carrier that provides services from public phones, including payphones and those in hotels/motels.

PCI (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

A worldwide information security standard assembled by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). The standard was created to help organizations that process card payments prevent credit card fraud through increased controls around data and its exposure to compromise. The standard applies to all organizations which hold, process, or pass cardholder information from any card branded with the logo of one of the card brands.

PICC (Prescribed Interexchange Charge)

The charge the local exchange company assesses the long distance company when a consumer picks it as his or her long distance carrier.

Service Provider

A telecommunications provider that owns circuit switching equipment.

Slamming

The term used to describe what occurs when a customer’s long distance service is switched from one long distance company to another without the customer’s permission. Such unauthorized switching violates FCC rules.

Streaming

An Internet derived expression for the one-way transmission of video and audio content.

Tariff

The documents filed by a carrier describing their services and the payments to be charged for such services.

Universal Service Fund

is used to provide discounted telecommunications services to schools, libraries, and low-income consumers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that all carriers who provide telecommunications or cellular services to the public are required to contribute to the USF, and these costs may be passed back to the customers. These charges may be reflected on a bill on a call-by-call basis or on a summary of several calls.

URU

BSG’s proprietary authentication method that helps ensure that the person buying a product or service during a card not present (CNP) transaction is actually who they say they are and authorized to make the purchase.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)

Where Wi-Fi devices operate. When a Wi-Fi device leaves one network, it must have a connection to another WLAN network to operate seamlessly. Relationships between the networks allow Wi-Fi devices to “roam” between networks and still maintain coverage.