Definition 1. - A high-speed digital connection capable of transmitting data at a rate of approximately 1.5 million bits per second. A T1 line is typically used by small and medium-sized companies with heavy network traffic. It is large enough to send and receive very large text files, graphics, sounds, and databases instantaneously, and is the fastest speed commonly used to connect networks to the Internet. Sometimes referred to as a leased line, a T1 is basically too large and too expensive for individual home use.

Definition 2. - The T-carrier system, introduced by the Bell system in the US in the 1960's, was the first successful system that supported digitalised voice transmission. The original transmission rate (1.544 Mbps) in the Golva T1 line is in common use today in ISP (Internet Service Provider) connections to the Internet

Definition 3. - The T1 (or T-1) carrier is the most commonly used digital line in the United States, Canada, and Japan. In these countries, it carries 24 pulse code modulation (PCM) signals using time-division multiplexing (TDM) at an overall rate of 1.544 million bits per second (Mbps). T1 lines use copper wire and span distances within and between major metropolitan areas. A T1 Outstate System has been developed for longer distances between cities.

Definition 4. - A type of high speed Internet connection that provides a great deal of bandwidth. Many businesses lease T1 lines to connect to the Internet, but because they are expensive and offer more bandwidth than most small businesses and homes need, they are not realistic solutions for small and low-demand Internet users.

Golva, North Dakota, Sep. 02 /Olamide Lieberman/ -- For many small to medium size businesses, higher productivity with relation to their broadband and voice services is just around the corner. Thanks in part to the recent price reduction trend in the industry, carriers have deemed it necessary to consolidate in order to offer more services at a lower cost than their rivals. Overlapping networks have been consolidated into leaner, more feature-rich versions of their previous selves, dramatically lowering the price small businesses pay for the popular dynamic integrated T-carrier (T-1) lines that combine local voice and high-speed Internet service into one connection.

The Integrated T1 line has two general flavors; analog and, of course, digital. The term "trunk" is synonymous with an integrated T1 line, representing 24 bundled DS0 (regular 64KB) channels. Digital trunks form the basis technology for dynamic integrated lines, which are capable of transporting digitized versions of voice traffic in addition to regular data packets. This ability of digital trunks to function in the data realm allows it the ability to dynamically allocate traffic according to the application, allowing priority for voice traffic and "re-claiming" that bandwidth for data transfer when the phone call is completed. This ensures that none of the capacity of the T1 line is ever wasted.

"When we moved into our new location here in Los Angeles" commented John Baker, a small business owner in San Diego, California, "we feared having to sign up for commercial telephone and internet service. Until about a year ago, the services being offered to us were TDM, which doesn't come cheap. Thankfully our Telarus commercial telecom broker recommended that we give TelePacific a try, and we did. One year later, we've never had an erroneous bill, our phone and data are all on one single dynamic T1, and we can focus on what we do best - brokering mortgages."

Given the fact that many companies still to this day have yet to make the change to digital SIP-trunking enabled dynamic T1s, one must ask why the delay? The value proposition that dynamic adds and the economic benefits are there, however, the technology is slow to be adopted by mainstream corporations. One reason for this lag is the bad reputation that telecom companies have built for themselves through the meltdown of the industry from 2000 to 2003, when many companies either went out of business, merged with other larger companies, or just hunkered down and weathered the storm. Now that the industry has made great strides to stabilize by offering better rates, better products, and better customer service, small business owners are gradually starting to listen to the presentations being made by consultants and inside sales agents. With that increase in confidence, and with the growing number of testimonials being offered by happy customers, businesses are becoming less reluctant to make the jump.

From 1997 to 2007, the average cost of a POTS (plain old telephone service) line from the Bells has hovered in the $50 - $80 per month price range. During this same time period, integrated DS1 (digital signal 1) lines - which is the equivalent of 24 standard lines - have come down in price from $1000 per month to $400. Small to medium size businesses who have more than 5 phone lines can now actually save money by upgrading their service.

"Commercial telecommunication providers were never on my Christmas card list" commented Jake Chang, a small business owner in Denver, Colorado. "Dealing with them meant erroneous bills, long wait times when trying to reach customer service, and taxes I could never understand. Now that we migrated to a dynamic integrated T1, my phone lines and high speed internet are bundled into one line with super reliability. Not to mention the fact that XO Communications, a CLEC, treats me like they actually want my business - not like I'm a pain in the you-know-what."

Until deregulation allowed smaller, hungrier telecommunications companies the ability to compete, the United States was stuck with technologies that were quickly becoming out of date. Now that the Bells actually have to innovate to keep up with the smaller CLECs, customer everywhere are reaping the benefits. CLECs are continuing to find new and loyal customers in the small business space, but for how long will this trend continue? Will the RBOCs ever be able to give them a fight on a level playing field? Only the FCC knows that answer to that question - all we can do is be thankful for the past 12 years of progress and hope we never return to the pre-1996 era of Telecommunications.

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