Telephone and Cable TV Networks: Residential Connection to the Internet

Chapter 8Telephone and CableTV Networks: Residential Connection to the InternetUnderstand the structure of the telephone network.Understand the services provided by the telephone networkand how these services allow us to connect to the Internet. Understand the structure of the cable TV networkUnderstand the services provided by the cable TV network and how these services allow us to connect to the Internet.After reading this chapter, the reader should be able to:OBJECTIVESTELEPHNONESYSTEM8.1Figure 8-1A telephone systemFigure 8-2Switching offices in a LATAIntra-LATA services are provided by local exchange carriers (LECs). Since 1996, there are two types of LECs: incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs).Note:Figure 8-3POPsFigure 8-4Rotary and touch-tone dialingVoice communication used analog signals in the past, but is now moving to digital signals. On the other hand, dialing started with digital signals (rotary) and is now moving to analog signals (touch-tone)Note:Business Focus: History of Common Carriers in the U.S.AThe history of common carriers in the United States can be divided into three eras: Before 1984Before 1984, almost all local and long-distance services were provided by the AT&T Bell System. Between 1984 and 1996The divestiture divided the country into more than 200 LATAs.After 1996The Telecommunications Act of 1996 combined the different services provided by different companies under the umbrella of telecommunication services. Business Focus: Analog Voice ServicesLocal Call Services: Normally a flat monthly rate.Toll Calls : The user is normally charged for each call.800/888 Calls : The recipient pays for the inbound call. WATS: The organization pays for the outbound calls.The charges are less expensive than toll calls.900 Services : These are inbound calls like 800/888, butthe call is paid by the caller and is normally much moreexpensive than toll calls. The carrier charges two fees: thelong distance fee and a fee that is paid to the callee. INTERNET ACCESSVIATELEPHONE8.2Figure 8-5Internet access via the local loopModem stands for modulator/demodulator.Note:A modulator converts a digital signal to an analog signal. A demodulator converts an analog signal to a digital signal. Note:Figure 8-6Modem conceptFigure 8-756K modemFigure 8-8Bands for ADSLFigure 8-9ADSL modemCABLE TVNETWORK8.3Figure 8-10Cable TV networkFigure 8-11Cable modemBusiness Focus: Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996The Telecommunications Reform Act, passed on February 8, 1996, gave telephone and cable companies permission to provide both telephone services (local and long distance) and video services.The purpose of the act was to allow competition between companies and thus lower the price and improve the quality of telecommunication services for consumers. The act is still relatively new and it is too soon to judge its effect on prices and quality of services. A provision in the act provides low-cost access to the Internet for educational and nonprofit organizations