The Broadband Dictionary

Part 1: Infrastructure

Section 1: The Technology

Broadband Internet Access Service: A mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up Internet access service. This term also encompasses any service that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in the previous sentence or that is used to evade the protections set forth in this part. (47 CFR § 8.1)

Internet: The single, interconnected, worldwide system of commercial, governmental, educational, and other computer networks that share the protocol suite specified by the Internet Architecture Board and the name and address spaces managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Dial-Up: Internet access service over telephone lines by dialing the number of the service provider via a modem. Called “narrowband” because the bandwidth is narrow, offering slower speeds.

Copper/Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL): Internet access service from phone companies that is “on” all the time over copper wires and faster than the old dial-up technology but had limitations with speeds and wide coverage.

Cable/Always-On: Faster Internet access service from cable companies that was “on” all the time without using a phone line. The cable company used its last-mile video network to also connect customers to the Internet.

Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC): The high-speed broadband Internet access service delivery architecture used by cable operators and multi-system operators (MSOs). The architecture includes a combination of fiber optic lines over long distances and coaxial cabling for the short distances, such as directly to the customer’s location to distribute video, data, and voice content to/from end users. Scalable and capable of delivering multi-gigabit and symmetrical service to subscribers.

Fiber to the Premises/Fiber to the Home: High-speed broadband Internet access service using optical fiber to connect a user’s premises directly to an Internet service provider’s central office/hub/point of presence. Scalable and capable of delivering multi-gigabit and symmetrical service to subscribers.

Fixed Wireless: Last mile wireless Internet service method that uses wireless network to transmit data to/from end users at their fixed residential and business locations. Fixed wireless providers use licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum to transmit their services.

Mobile Broadband Services: Mobile broadband services are device-based and available throughout the service provider’s spectrum coverage area. They include 3G, 4G, and 5G services offered by mobile, or cellular, providers.

Spectrum: Electromagnetic waves that carry data through space at different radio frequencies with different frequencies having different data capacities used by mobile broadband services, fixed wireless, and satellite.

Wi-Fi: A wireless local area network that requires a wireless router or access point, which is connected physically to the primary Internet network from an Internet service provider and allows devices to connect to that network wirelessly. Wi-Fi networks generally cover small areas, such as homes or businesses.

5G: Fifth generation wireless cellular network technology.

Satellite Internet: Internet access service through radio waves beamed down from satellites to fixed end user locations.

Edge Provider: Any individual or entity that provides any content, application, or service over the Internet, and any individual or entity that provides a device used for accessing any content, application, or service over the Internet. (47 CFR § 8.1)

Over the Top (OTT): A video, audio, or other service that is provided via the Internet through an app or website and accessed by users via a broadband Internet access service on any Internet-connected device, including a connected TV (CTV) device, desktop or laptop computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Unlike cable operators, OTT providers are not subject to Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA) nor do they pay franchise fees on their video services.

Last Mile: Last-mile infrastructure is the physical part of a broadband network that serves as the final leg connecting the provider’s network to a home or building – the hookup between the larger backbone of the network to the end point. To put it more simply, the last mile is where data bridges from infrastructure to device.

Middle Mile: Any broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location. This includes leased dark fiber, interoffice transport, backhaul, carrier-neutral Internet exchange facilities, carrier-neutral submarine cable landing stations, undersea cables, transport connectivity to data centers, special access transport, and other similar services; and wired or private wireless broadband infrastructure, including microwave capacity, radio tower access, and other services or infrastructure for a private wireless broadband network, such as towers, fiber, and microwave links.

Section 2: Is Broadband Offered to a Particular Location?

Access or Availability: Where an Internet service provider has built out broadband network infrastructure and is able to provide broadband Internet access service or is capable of performing a standard broadband installation. For example, do you have the opportunity to sign up for a form of broadband, whether it is wireline, wireless, or satellite? “Access or Availability” does not refer to adoption, price, service quality, owning a connected device, or digital literacy.

Broadband Serviceable Location: A business or residential location in the United States at which fixed broadband Internet access service is, or can be, installed.

Served: A broadband-serviceable location that is shown on the FCC’s National Broadband Map as having access to speeds of at least 100 Mbps for download and 20 Mbps  for uploads with roundtrip latency less than or equal to 100 milliseconds.

Unserved: A broadband-serviceable location that the FCC’s National Broadband Map shows as having no access to broadband service or lacking access to a speed of at least 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads with roundtrip latency less than or equal to 100 milliseconds.

Underserved: A broadband-serviceable location that is not an unserved location and that the FCC’s National Broadband Map shows as lacking access to speeds of 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads with roundtrip latency less than or equal to 100 milliseconds.

Donut Holes: Colloquially used for unserved individual locations or small patches that lack service in communities that are generally well-served

Section 3: Programs to Address Deployment Gaps

California Advanced Services Fund: The CASF is allocated to several separate accounts, including the following that address infrastructure:

• Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account
• Broadband Public Housing Account
• Line Extension Pilot Program

Other programs within the CASF include: the Broadband Adoption Account, the Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Account, and the Tribal Technical  Assistance Program.

Infrastructure Grant Account: Pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 281, moneys in the CASF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account are available to the CPUC to award grants to subsidize the cost of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure to expand the broadband network within the State. Projects must connect currently unserved or underserved residential locations. (Decision (D.) 22-11-023: Attachment 1 - Revised CASF Program Guidelines for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account.

Public Housing Account: Pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 281, moneys in the CASF Broadband Public Housing Account are available for grants and loans to low-income communities including but not limited to publicly supported housing developments, and other housing developments or mobile home parks with low income residents to finance projects to connect broadband networks only when the projects offer free broadband service that meets or exceeds state standards for residents of the low-income communities. (The Broadband Public Housing Account rules and requirements are set forth in D.24-03-041, Rules and Guidelines Appendix A.)‍

Line Extension Program: AB 1665 (2017) created the Line Extension Program (LEP) as a pilot project within the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account. Under the LEP, an individual household and/or property owner can apply for an infrastructure grant to offset the costs of connecting a household or property to an existing or proposed facility-based broadband provider. The Program Rules established in Decision (D.)19-04-022.‍

Federal Funding Account: The Federal Funding Account, administered by the CPUC, is a $2 billion grant program for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved Californians in accordance with 2021’s Senate Bill 156 (Chapter 112, Statutes of 2021). The Broadband Investments Package fact sheet provides more information on SB 156 investments.

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment Program:  
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently approved California’s proposed subgrantee selection rules contained inthe CPUC’s Initial Proposal Volume 2, unlocking over $1.86 billion in Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds for last-mile deployment projects. BEAD funds may only be used to build infrastructure that connects currently unserved or underserved Californians. (D2409050 (R2302016) Attachment A - Initial Proposal Volume II.)‍

Other Federal Broadband Deployment Programs: The federal government also administers grants for broadband deployment through the NTIA (Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, Middle Mile Grant Program), the FCC (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, High Cost/Connect America Fund, 5G Fund), and the Treasury (Capital Projects Fund), and USDA (ReConnect).

Part 2: Transmission Definitions

Advertised Speeds: The potential download and upload speeds that a service plan can deliver under optimal conditions, with actual performance varying based upon network conditions, customer equipment, network load within a home Wi-Fi network, and other factors.‍

Download Speed: Rate at which user receives data from the broadband network, typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps).‍

Inside Wiring: The cables and wiring that distribute broadband service within a customer’s premises, typically running from the demarcation point (where the provider’s network meets the customer’s property) throughout the building. This wiring is usually the property owner’s responsibility to maintain.

Jitter: Time variations in arrival of information packets, measured in milliseconds. Some variability is normal in any network and most modern applications are designed to handle routine jitter without impacting service quality. ‍

Latency: The time it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination across a network, measured in milliseconds. Latency is a natural characteristic of all communications networks and varies based on factors including physical distance and network architecture. Fiber and HFC networks tend to have the lowest latency among fixed broadband networks.‍

Router: A network device that directs Internet traffic between the provider’s network and end-user devices, which typically includes transmission over unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum.

Modem: A device used to connect the Internet service provider and end-user’s network devices. Instead of a modem, a fiber connection will use a similar device called an optical network terminal (ONT).‍

Node: The junction point in a hybrid fiber coaxial cable network that links the provider’s fiber optic infrastructure to the coaxial cable serving the end users’ premises.‍

Noise: Unwanted electrical or electromagnetic energy that can affect signal quality in communications networks.
Packet: A unit of data transmitted over a communications network.‍

Packet Loss: Where data packets fail to reach their destination, requiring that they be retransmitted.

Reliable Broadband Service: Broadband service that the FCC’s National Broadband Map shows is accessible to a location via: fiber-optic technology; Cable Modem/ Hybrid fiber-coaxial technology; digital subscriber line (DSL) technology; or terrestrial fixed wireless technology utilizing entirely licensed spectrum or using a hybrid of licensed and unlicensed spectrum.

Static: Sound created by interference in communications signals that can result from various environmental and technical factors. The intensity of the static sound increases with proximity to the interference.‍

Speed Test: A measurement tool that provides an estimate of current network performance to a particular device by testing download speed, upload speed, and other metrics. Results can vary based on numerous factors including testing methodology, server location, load on a Wi-Fi network, and network conditions at the time of testing. Based on those and other variables, results do not necessarily reflect speeds delivered by a provider to the node or tap.‍

Tap: The network component that connects individual subscriber drops to the main cable line.

Upload Speed: Rate at which the user can transmit data to the  broadband network, typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Part 3: Affordability

Section 1: Pricing

Broadband Consumer Label: All Internet service providers are required to create and display an accurate broadband consumer label, modeled after the food nutrition label, for each stand-alone broadband Internet access service it currently offers for purchase. The label must be prominently displayed, publicly available, and easily accessible to consumers, at the point of sale with the content and in the format prescribed by the FCC.‍

Bundles: Providers may offer packages or bundles of services, such as combining Internet with paid TV. Packages or bundles may have a higher overall monthly cost than the standalone Internet service and may include benefits such as free or reduced cost devices, access to streaming platforms, or cloud services.

Introductory Rate: A limited time price that providers may offer to customers. If the monthly price is an introductory rate, the label will include either the number of months the rate is in effect or the date on which the introductory period will end, as well as what the monthly price will be once the introductory rate expires.

Monthly Price: The cost of the plan before additional charges and monthly fees such as modem rentals and taxes are added. Some providers may offer an all-inclusive price that represents the total cost inclusive of all taxes and fees.

One-Time Fees: Fees that are assessed once, often when service is installed or begins, such as a “connection” or an “installation” fee.

“Pass Through” Fees: Fees related to government programs that providers may choose to “pass through” to consumers, such as fees related to universal service or regulatory fees.‍

Promotional Price: A discounted price offered for a specific term as part of a promotion, often to entice new customers (i.e., introductory offer) or to retain existing customers.

Provider Monthly Fees: Fees that a service provider adds to a customer’s bill every month such as a modem rental, online security services, wiring or device insurance, or other equipment related fees. Each fee must be listed out and described on the label. Some providers may include all monthly fees and government taxes in their base monthly price.

Nationwide Pricing: A company decision to create standardized packages nationwide and apply standardized non-promotional pricing to those packages available to customers anywhere within the company’s service area. Prices are consistent across all communities and so reflect the competitive pressures from urban areas with multiple providers in the pricing and packages available in rural areas as well.

Non-Promotional Price: The price of service without a promotion or after the term of the promotional price ends. Must be clearly disclosed on the broadband consumer label.

Section 2: Assistance for Low-Income Individuals

Subsidy: A benefit or sum of money provided by the government either to a business or to an individual purchasing service. Government subsidies for broadband service can take various forms. In the case of low-income programs, subsidies are often applied to the cost of service to a customer to reduce the price paid by the customer.

‍Surcharge: A line-item fee on top of the base cost of service charged to recover a specific cost. In California, the CPUC requires a telecommunications surcharge to fund the State’s Universal Service programs among other surcharges.

California LifeLine: Provides a discount (up to $19/month) on basic home phone or wireless mobile service for qualifying households. Households apply to the service provider, who determines eligibility. California LifeLine is funded through the State’s Universal Service surcharge.‍

Lifeline (Federal): A non-transferable retail voice or broadband service offering provided directly to qualifying low-income consumers at reduced charges as a result of application of the Lifeline support amount (currently, $5.25/month for voice or $9.25/month for broadband). The California Lifeline Administrator administers the federal Lifeline program in California.‍

Affordable Connectivity Program Benefit: ACP provided reimbursement to a participating provider for the monthly affordable connectivity benefit on the customer’s choice of broadband Internet access service (including associated equipment necessary to provide such service) it provides to an eligible household plus any amount the participating provider is entitled to receive for providing a connected device to such a household. $30/month for eligible non-Tribal households; $75/month for eligible households on Tribal lands. The Affordable Connectivity Program sunset on June 1, 2024.

Low-Income Broadband Programs: Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) voluntarily offer their own low-priced broadband programs available to qualifying low-income households. During ACP, the cost of ACP could be applied to these programs leading to many low-income households receiving free broadband service.

Part 4: Digital Literacy

Adoption of Broadband: The process by which an individual obtains broadband.

Adoption Account: Pursuant to Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code section 281, moneys in the CASF Adoption Account are available to the CPUC to award grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption. The CPUC is required to give preference to programs and projects in communities with demonstrated low broadband access, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.

Digital Equity: The condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in society  
and the economy.

State Digital Equity Plan: The California State Digital Equity Plan describes how the State will pair its existing Broadband for All investments and efforts with new federal funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This draft Digital Equity Plan follows the requirements for NTIA’s Digital Equity Planning Grant and California Assembly Bill 2750 (Chapter 597, Statutes of 2022).

Digital Learning Integration & Standards Guidance: Guidance developed by the State of California to support schools to effectively implement technology to support learning and to address critical areas of instructional focus.
Digital Literacy: The skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information.