Call Waiting

Call Waiting lets you put a caller on hold to answer a second call. It keeps callers from getting busy signals, and allows important calls through even when someone is on the line. For added convenience, you can temporarily deactivate this feature to allow for uninterrupted data and fax transmissions. 

Caller ID

Feature that displays information about the incoming call on your telephone.  The basic display shows the number that is calling you. 

CALLING PARTY PAYS

A billing method in which a wireless phone caller pays only for making calls and not for receiving them. The standard American billing system requires wireless phone customers to pay for all calls made and received on a wireless phone. 

Carrier

Long distance and Local Toll companies. 

Carrier Freeze

A service obtained from your local telephone company that prohibits a third party from changing your long distance service provider without your express permission. This is sometimes also known as "PIC Freeze".  

Carrier Line Charge

The Carrier Line Charge covers the cost of connections to the local telephone network, allowing you to make local and long distance calls. This fee covers the cost of telephone wires, poles and other facilities that connect long-distance carriers to local telephone companies. Customers are charged a monthly Carrier Line Charge for each phone line they use. May also appear on your bill as the interstate access surcharge or network access. 

Casual Calls

Long distance calls that are made through a long distance company other than the one selected for your billing account. Typically, the 10-10 dialing calls. When you dial 10-10 and the carrier code to place a call, or when you place an operator assisted call from a number that has selected a long distance company different than yours, you may see casual calls on your phone bill. The term generally refers to calls placed outside 1+ dialing using your selected long distance carrier.

Charges billed on behalf of

Many companies provide billing services for smaller long distance companies. Carriers that use these billing clearinghouses will show a "Billed on behalf of" heading before their section summary and detail of charges. The customer service number for the billing provider is also listed in this section. 

CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY

This term, often used for all wireless phones regardless of the technology they use, derives from cellular base stations that receive and transmit calls. Both cellular and PCS phones use cellular technology. 

COMMON CARRIER

In the telecommunications arena, the term used to describe a telephone company. 

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

A person who facilitates telephone conversation between text telephone users, users of sign language or individuals with speech disabilities through a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). This service allows a person with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate with anyone else via telephone at no additional cost. 

CRAMMING

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