Definition 1. - 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 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 Lexington T1 line is in common use today in ISP (Internet Service Provider) connections to the Internet

Definition 3. - 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 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.

Lexington, Texas, Sep. 25 /Olamide Lieberman/ -- During the 2000 Internet bubble meltdown, the telecom industry learned the hard way that wild spending on network infrastructure was not the best approach to attracting new business and investment. Over the past 7 years the industry, particularly the CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) have been focusing on building products that offer more bang for the buck in order to compete with the Bells in their own backyards. One product that has become the flagship offering to small to medium size businesses is the dynamic integrated T1 line, which combines all the usefulness of 24 regular phone lines into a singe T-1 capable of delivering high-speed broadband on the same connection.

"Even though we have been witnessing the re-consolidation of AT&T, we will never go back to the dark ages of telecom where customers were stuck with bad customer service and high prices" commented Troy Karlson, telecom analyst for e-STAR. "The competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), all whom own their own networks and compete directly with the Bells, have created products such as dynamic T1 service that enables its customers to connect to the Internet at 1.5 MBPS and have up to 24 regular voice lines, packed with a feature-rich suite of add-ons, all for under what it costs to have 6 regular phone lines from Qwest/AT&T/Verizon.

"The real benefit I've seen since upgrading to a dynamic integrated T1 from Nuvox Communications is simplicity" commented Johan Sebastian, a small business owner in Clearwater, Florida. "My phones work great, my internet is fast, and the best part is the reliability; I haven't had a single outage since I signed up for the new service over a year ago. Before when we had DSL and POTS lines, every day was an adventure."

To see how customers are reacting to this new product, we interviewed a series of small business owners in Texas who are currently using the service. One such individual shared with us his enthusiasm for the enhanced capabilities dynamic service offers. "When I was first contacted about the dynamic integrated T1, I was deeply skeptical of what I was hearing. Over the course of my brief dealings with telephone companies, all I got was less service with more cost. Now I am happy to say that I am getting more for less, which makes for one very happy customer."

"For years I've played tug-o-war with the phone company who provided voice and data service to my toy manufacturing company" commented Troy Bergfeld of Houston Texas. "They kept trying to sell me services I didn't need, it took them months to finally send me a correct bill, and I wasn't able to recapture bandwidth from my T1 line when nobody was using the phone. Now that has all changed - my Telarus product specialist recommending I give XO Communications a try. Now I use their FLEX T1 product and I pay less and get exactly what I want. I have even add another T1 seamlessly when the time comes for my business to expand."

The Texas area is one place in particular where the analog to digital revolution is gaining traction. One business owner we interviewed about his recent decision to become a digital convert, Peter Anderson, explained that "my biggest hindrance was my ignorance. Had I known that there was a solution that would allow me to increase the number of voice lines, get a full T1 (1.5 MB) of high-speed Internet, all for less than I was paying for my POTS/DSL configuration, I would have made the move a long time ago." Many others like Mr. Anderson are coming to the same conclusion.

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. Will this train of innovation, lower prices, and services that add value to SMB's continue to roll down the tracks of progress? It's all up to our government - and which political party controls the FCC. Without the deregulation act of 1996, we would have never known just how much the CLECs were capable of.

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