Long line (telecommunications)
Encyclopedia
In telephone
systems nomenclature, a long line is a transmission line in a long-distance communications network such as carrier system
s, microwave radio relay links, geosynchronous satellite
links, underground cables, aerial cables and open wire, and Submarine communications cable
s. In the United States
, some of this technology was spun off into the corporate entity known as AT&T Long Distance with the breakup of AT&T
in 1984. Prior to then, the AT&T Long Lines division of the Bell System
, which was what AT&T called itself when it was responsible for providing both long distance and local telephone service before the 1984 breakup
, provided maintenance and installation of long line facilities for the Bell System's long distance service.
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
systems nomenclature, a long line is a transmission line in a long-distance communications network such as carrier system
Carrier system
In telecommunication, a carrier system is a multichannel telecommunications system in which a number of individual channels are multiplexed for transmission...
s, microwave radio relay links, geosynchronous satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
links, underground cables, aerial cables and open wire, and Submarine communications cable
Submarine communications cable
A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean....
s. In the United States
Communications in the United States
The primary regulator of communications in the United States is the Federal Communications Commission. It closely regulates all of the industries mentioned below with the exception of newspapers and the Internet service provider industry.- Press :...
, some of this technology was spun off into the corporate entity known as AT&T Long Distance with the breakup of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
in 1984. Prior to then, the AT&T Long Lines division of the Bell System
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
, which was what AT&T called itself when it was responsible for providing both long distance and local telephone service before the 1984 breakup
Bell System divestiture
The Bell System divestiture, or the breakup of AT&T, was initiated by the filing in 1974 by the U.S. Department of Justice of an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T. The case, United States v...
, provided maintenance and installation of long line facilities for the Bell System's long distance service.
See also
- Long-haul communicationsLong-haul communicationsIn telecommunication, the term long-haul communications has the following meanings:1. In public switched networks, pertaining to circuits that span large distances, such as the circuits in inter-LATA, interstate, and international communications...
- Long distance calling