An account holder is the person whose name is on the WildBlue account. This person, or their spouse, is the only person who may ask to make changes on the account.

An account owner is the person whose name appears on the debit/credit card or bank account; the person who owns the payment method. An account owner is not the same as an account holder. An unrelated account owner is someone who does not have WildBlue service (or equipment), but has received charges from WildBlue. An unrelated account owner is also known as a non-customer.

A WBRES account that malfunctions when the agent tries to carry out some task is potentially a candidate for a rebuild. The malfunction might be an error message, a missing link, or an incorrect status. Not all errors mean the account is a candidate. Agents cannot tell with 100% certainty that an account is a candidate. Agents research the error to decide whether the error affects the customer’s service or their billing. If it does, then they escalate the account to be repaired or rebuilt.

A functioning satellite that receives and transmits radio frequency to or from an earth station.

An optional feature or service offered by WildBlue, separate from a normal service level package. The customer pays an additional monthly fee for this feature or service.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A group of DSL technologies that reserve more bandwidth in one direction than the other, which is advantageous for applications that need more bandwidth in one direction (e.g. web surfing).

A device used to boost the strength of an electronic signal.

An electronic signal that varies continuously as a function of time, as opposed to digital, which has discrete numerical values. At method of signal transmission in which information is relayed by continuously altering the wave form of the RF carrier. Currently used in some of terrestrial radio and television broadcasting.

Anik F2 is WildBlue's first Ka-Band satellite. It's mission is to provide WildBlue Services across North America. The satellite operates at the orbital slot of 111.1 degrees West longitude. This satellite uses two important technologies to provide services, spot beam and bent-pipe architecture.

A device for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The slang term for antenna is "dish."

A measure of the ability of the antenna to focus signal waves in a particular direction.

0 to 90 degrees N or S.

0 to 180 degrees W or E.

The point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from the earth. Oposite - Perigee.

1917-2008 , Arthur C. Clarke was born in Minehead, Somerset, England. In 1936 he moved to London, where he joined the British Interplanetary Society. There he started to experiment with astronautic material in the BIS, write the BIS Bulletin and science fiction. During World War II, as a RAF officer, he was in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment, the Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental trials. In 1945 he published the technical paper "Extra-terrestrial Relays" laying down the principles of the satellite communication with satellites in geostationary orbits - a speculation realized 25 years later. His invention has brought him numerous honors. Today, the geostationary orbit at 42,000 kilometers is named The Clarke Orbit by the International Astronomical Union.

A decrease in the strength of a signal, which may be expressed in decibels, or in the form of a ratio; the loss in power of electromagnetic signals between transmission and reception points. The opposite of amplification.

A passive electronic device that reduces signal strength by a specified amount.

A slang term for azimuth and elevation. This type of mount is typically used in fixed dish installations. The adjustments are for east and west and up and down.

The side-to-side adjustment of an antenna. The sideways positioning of a satellite dish in degrees as indicated by a compass. The horizontal angle between true north and an antenna pointing, with true north set to 0.0 degrees and due south set to 180 degrees.

Equipment that provides connectivity for users of a distributed network and includes the entire network and infrastructure required to provide connectivity between the edge vehicles. In the context of the Internet, this term also refers to high-volume, "primary" data carriers that provide the long-haul capabilities of the network.

A balance forward is the amount due from the previous month’s recurring bill. It does not imply that the money is still owed or was paid. It is simply a re-statement of the Total amount at the bottom of the previous bill.

The range of frequencies, measured in hertz (Hz), that can pass over a given transmission channel. The bandwidth determines the rate at which information can be transmitted through the circuit; a range of frequencies used to transmit information. The greater the bandwidth, the more information can be transmitted.

An adapter with a socket at each end which allows two coaxial cables with F-connectors to be connected together.

A satellite transmission patter. It may be wide, narrow or spot beam.

A form of attenuation (signal loss) that occurs when cable is bent (for example, if the cable is bent through installation when turning corners or by concealing the cabling).

A signal relay scheme in which a terrestrial-based signal is sent to a satellite, which relays the signal back to earth with minimal processing by the satellite.

Statement of money owed for services received. WildBlue provides online billing.

The days of the month that Finance has selected for creating recurring bills are called bill cycle dates, or just cycle dates. These dates are the 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th, and 28th of every month. A customer’s provisioning date determines which of these days is assigned to their account. The bill cycle date is not the same as the charge period.

The status only reflects whether Infinys was able to create the bill successfully. It does not reflect whether a payment was taken from the authorized account. Payment information is included in the Payment History screen.

Numbers relating to a system of numeration having 2 as its base.

A bit is a binary digit, which can take a value of either 0 or 1. For example, the number 10010111 is 8 bits long, which is equal to a Byte.

The speed of a digital transmission, measured in bits per second (i.e. kbps, mbps).

Shielding material found between the outer insulation and the inner dielectric in coaxial cable.

Special high-bandwidth satellites that provide multiple channels of data over a single communications beam.

To transmit a signal over the spectrum that will be received by multiple receiving devices.

A program that accesses and displays files and other data available on the Internet and other networks (i.e. Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox).

In Infinys (only), a build is creating a customer account, selecting a service level, and establishing a payment method. In essence, a new sales order, but without any Fulfilment. Sometimes called a rebuild.

Plastic sleeves that protect the coaxial cable. These are installed when it enters in the drilled point of entry into a building. A small amount of silicone sealant is applied to the underside of the bushing to provide protection from water.

A set of “bits” that represent a single character. There are eight bits in a Byte.

A fast storage buffer in the central processing unit of a computer. Also called cache memory.

Occurs when access providers store Web page data in a temporary location on their networks to speed up access and reduce traffic.

A Carrier Wave is a radio wave that can be modulated in order to transmit a signal.

Customer Advocate Team. A WildBlue Corporate team whose role is to assist our customers with driving their reported issues to resolution. CAT's goal is to pick-up where we have failed our customers with any issue, take ownership of the issue, and develop a resolution.

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from 4 to 8 GHz.[1]. It was the first frequency band allocated for commercial ground-to-satellite communications. A typical C-band satellite uses 3.7 - 4.2 GHz for downlink, and 5.925 - 6.425 Ghz for uplink. C band is primarily used for open satellite communications, whether for full-time satellite TV networks or raw satellite feeds, although subscription programming also exists. This use contrasts with direct broadcast satellite, which is a completely closed system used to deliver subscription programming to small satellite dishes connected to proprietary receiving equipment. C band is highly associated with TVRO satellite reception systems, commonly called "big dish" systems since small receiving antennas are not optimal for C-band systems. Typical antenna sizes on C-band capable systems ranges from 7.5 to 12 feet (2.5 to 3.5 meters) on consumer satellite dishes, although larger ones also can be used.

A frequency band in which a specific broadcast signal is transmitted. The Federal Communications Commission specifies channel frequencies in the United States. Television signals require a 6 MHz frequency band to carry all the necessary picture detail.

The days, starting with the cycle date, during which recurring items are charged. The last day of the charge period is one day short of one month later. For example, a charge period goes from the 4th of July to the 3rd of August. If a service call closes on the 4th of August, the charges appear on the next recurring bill.

A chargeback is a notice from a credit card company, or from a bank, that a customer has disputed a charge made by WildBlue on the payment method. When a customer disputes a charge, they receive a temporary credit from the card company or bank. The credit card company sends the chargeback complaint to WildBlue. WildBlue then has a set amount of time (usually 3 days) from when the complaint is received to either agree to the chargeback or send information showing the charge is valid. A chargeback also provides WildBlue a secure method for investigating the dispute because the payment method numbers are not added to a Customer Ticket. Another benefit is that the card company/bank can credit the customer for interest charges, whereas WildBlue cannot. Agents recommend chargeback only when a non-customer reports charges from WildBlue. Agents cannot recommend it for any other types of billing disputes. Infinys shows a chargeback in Payment History, with a negative amount. Since not all negative payments are chargebacks, the agent must check the product description for the words “chargeback”.

A mode of radio frequency transmission in which the signals are broadcast in a rotating spiral pattern. The polarization can be left-hand (counter-clockwise) or right-hand (clockwise). When circular polarization is used, two separate signals can be broadcast on a single carrier frequency without interfering with each other.

The name given in honor of Arthur C. Clarke to the orbit in space 22,237 miles from the Earth's equator where satellites maintain a stationary orbit position in relation to the earth. Also known as geostationary or geosynchronous orbit.

Cable composed of an inner conductor and a cylindrical outer conductor or shield; also referred to as coax, 75-ohm,and radio-frequency cable. Coaxial cable is designed for transmitting high frequncy signals with low loss.

The ability of multiple satellites to share the same approximate geostationary orbital assignment (due to the face that different frequency bands are being used).

A man-made device stationed in a geosynchronous orbit around the Earth. It is designed to receive signals from the Earth and broadcast them back to the Earth to a larger geographic area.

A pipe, usually made of metal, ceramic or plastic, that protects buried cables.

A device designed to allow electrical flow from one wire or cable to a device or another cable while keeping the conductor and shielding seperate.

An uninterrupted connection. On a multimeter, this will read 0 ohms.

Contiguous United States. The 48 contiguous states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

A cosmetic move relocates the dish, at the same service address, at the customer’s request. A customer may request this because the current location is unacceptable.

A payment made by WildBlue to a customer to compensate for an error. This is not the same as a credit on the account, or a refund. The only situation where WildBlue uses a courtsey payment is when a customer proves a WildBlue billing error caused overdrafts on their account.

Customer Provided Equipment - In the context of WildBlue, this is the customer's computer.

A credit reduces the amount of the customer's next bill. Money is not sent back to the customer

A Card Verification Code is a security feature for credit and debit card transactions, providing increased protection against fraud. This code helps merchants to secure a “card not present” transaction, such as those that happen over the phone or the Internet. There are several types of codes, which are known by various names. Some common codes are:

1. CSC – Credit Security Code
2. CVV – Card Verification Value
3. CVV2 – Card Verification Value 2, which is visible on the card’s signature strip
4. CVC1 – Card Verification Code 1, which is encoded on the card’s magnetic strip
5. CVC2 – Card Verification Code 2, which is visible on the card’s signature strip

All codes are 3 or 4 digits, and are not the same as the embossed account number shown on the front of the card.

A self-contained, independent entity of data carrying sufficient information to be routed from the source to the destination computer without reliance on earlier exchanges between the source and destination computer and the transporting network.

Decibel. A logarithmic method of expressing large differences in voltage or power levels. Named in honor of Alexander Graham Bell.

Direct Broadcast Satellite. A high-powered satellite that transmits or retransmits signals with are intended for direct reception by the public. The signal is transmitted to a small antenna (or dish) usually the size of an 18-inch pizza pan mounted on homes or other buildings.

Direct Current. Electic current flowing continuoulsy in one direction only, with a reported frequency of 0 Hz.

In Astronomy, declination is the angular distance to a point on a celestial object, measured north or south from the celestial equator. Declination is measured in degrees along a great circle drawn through the object being measured and the north and south celestial poles. Positive values lie north of the celestial equator and negative values lie south of it, so that the equator itself is 0 and the north and south celestial poles are +90 and -90 respectively.

The Default Gateway in a computer is a particular setting assigns the gateway or Router that will be used to access the Internet or WAN unless canceled or overridden by the operator.

The time it takes for a signal to go from the sending station through the satellite to the receiving station. See “latency”

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A protocol that provides a means to dynamically allocate IP addresses to computers on a local area network. The system administrator assigns a range of IP addresses to DHCP and each client computer on the LAN has its TCP/IP software configured to request an IP address from the DHCP server. The request and grant process uses a lease concept with a controllable time period.

A data communication link that is established when the communications equipment dials a phone number and establishes a connection with the equipment on the other end over a phone line.

Any type of information that can be output, transmitted and interpreted as individual bits of binary information (the use of the number 0 and 1), using electrical or electromagnetic signals that can be modulated to convey their specific content. Often referred to as digitized.

Slang for 'Antenna'. A parabolic antenna that is used to collect and focus downlinked and uplinked satellite signals.

Domain Name Service/System (DNS) DNS translates host names to IP addresses. In very simple terms, it can be compared to a phone book. Preeminently, DNS makes it possible to assign Internet names to organizations, independently of the physical routing hierarchy represented by numerical IP Addresses. Because of this hyperlinks and internet contact information can remain the same, whatever the current IP routing arrangements may be, and can take a human readable form (i.e. widlblue.net which is easier to remember than an IP address).

Data Over Cable System Interface Specification. A worldwide protocol standard used by cable modems to communicate over Coaxial cable networks. This protocol provides compatibility between modems made by different major modem manufacturers.

A downgrade is a change in the service level from Select to Value, Pro to Select, or Pro to Value. The monthly charge decreases. The Thresholds also decrease, and the number of email addresses decreases from Pro to either Select or Value.

The earthbound transmission path between a satellite and the receiving antenna or earth station.

To receive a file, such as an email, a photo, a movie or a song, from a remote server. Email is downloaded from the email server; photos, movies, or songs may be downloaded from web sites. When you download, a new file appears on your computer's hard drive, and stays there until you delete it.

The data path from Internet Service Provider (ISP) gateway to the subscriber terminal.

A loop in a cable that provides protection from water entry into a building by placing a portion of the cable lower than the entry point, thus allowing water to drip off the bottom of the loop rather than run into the penetration point. Also used at switches and ground blocks if they are exposed to the weather.

Digital Subscriber Line. A data communications technology that transmits information over copper wires that make up the local loop of the public switched telephone network. It bypasses the circuit-switched lines that make up that network and yields much faster data transmission rates than analog modem technologies. This is the point of connectivity for the Internet using equipment in a Telco Central Office to connect to the Internet.

Direct To Home. Used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception (same as DBS).

Dunning is a pressing demand for payment, usually in writing. It is often used to describe Collections.

The simultaneous 2-way and independent transmission in which equipment may transmit and receive at the same time.

More than one WBRES account number that have the same service address, billing address, customer name, or payment authorization. Usually duplicate accounts are for the same customer name, but an agent might mistakenly enter information into the wrong or multiple accounts.

Customers may perceive that they were billed more than once for a variety of reasons. It is very rare that the back office systems actually create a duplicate bill – a bill covering the same charges for the same billing cycle. A customer may state he is receiving duplicate bills if his credit card number appears on two separate accounts. This happens if an agent adds a payment method correctly to one account, but then adds the same payment method to another account where it does not belong. Another example, a customer orders service from WBDirect, and then cancels. WBDirect charges a $50 restocking fee, and bills the customer. Then the customer goes to their local dealer, orders service, and is installed by the dealer. The Dealer Direct account becomes the account for the monthly service, but the customer may perceive he was billed twice because of the restocking fee.

Duplicate charges are multiple entries for the same item within one bill. This billing error usually happens because an agent made one of these errors: Took a one-time payment within 72 hours before or after the bill cycle date; Clicked any Submit button more than once; Changed the quantity on a product order

Dynamic assignment of IP address is implemented using a protocol called, logically enough, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). When DHCP is active, it typically works in conjunction with a Domain Name System (DNS) to allow users to find an element's address. Surfing the World Wide Web makes extensive use of these two protocols. When you dialup to your Internet service provider (ISP), DHCP is used to assign an IP address to your connection. When you enter a WWW address in your browser address bar or select a human-readable link on a web page, a DNS is used to turn your URL request into an IP address for transmission. These services can also be used in a directly connected network and in either case are typically administered by the information services (IS) department.

Equipment on earth that can transmit or receive satellite communications.

The edge of a roof. Eaves usually project beyond the side of the building, generally to provide weather protection. This can also refer to the part of a sloping roof that overhangs the wall or the soffit, the lower edge of the part of a roof that overhangs a wall. This is one of the preferred locations for mounting a dish.

Electronic Funds Transfer. The use of telecommunications networks to transfer funds from one financial institution, as a bank, to another, or to withdraw funds from one's own account to deposit in a creditor's.

Extremely High Frequency. is the highest radio frequency band. EHF runs the range of frequencies from 30 to 300 gigahertz. The lower part of radio frequency range from 3 to 30 gigahertz used primarily in Ka-band frequencies.

The range of electric signal frequencies from 0 Hz to 10 Hz. This includes electric currents, audible frequencies, radio frequencies, microwaves, heat, light and radiation such as X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays.

Up and down positioning of a satellite dish. The angle between the satellite signal beam and the horizontal plane.

An email client is a program on a computer that connects to an email server to retrieve messages. Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, Mac Mail and Safari are examples of email clients.

Ethernet is the physical medium for carrying communications; much like air is the medium that carries your voice. Ethernet cards, Ethernet cables, and Ethernet hubs are used to create the physical network that connect computers together. Although Ethernet can be run on coaxial cable, the current standard is CAT-5, and most current devices only support this cable type. Data signals can be transferred on Ethernet at either 10 million bits per second (Mbps) or 100 Mbps. Most current Ethernet devices support both speeds, but some older equipment will only operate at 10 Mbps.

Any efforts by an outside agency contracted by WildBlue to obtain monies owed on past due accounts.

The extension of a company's intranet out onto the Internet, example - to allow selected customers, suppliers and mobile workers to access the company's private data and applications via the World-Wide Web. This is in contrast to, and usually in addition to, the company's public website which is accessible to everyone. The difference can be somewhat blurred but generally an extranet implies real-time access through a firewall of some kind. Such facilities require very careful attention to security but are becoming an increasingly important means of delivering services and communicating efficiently.

WildBlue Finance refunds money into the same payment method as we draw from. If that account is unavailable or incorrect, the refund fails.

A payment fails if the request to the authorized payment method does not result in WildBlue receiving the money.

WildBlue’s Fair Access Policy ensures that all WildBlue customers get a fair amount of access to the Internet over the WildBlue network. For more detailed information you can go to www.wildblue.com/legal and click on Fair Access Policy.

The facing material that covers the exposed lower ends of the roof rafters. A preferred mounting location for a dish antenna.

Federal Communications Commission. Federal department appointed by the President. Oversees and regulates communications technologies and companies.

The standard connector used with coaxial cable for connecting to RF inputs and outputs.

This term has at least two key meanings within the field of satellite communications. 1. It is used to describe the transmission of video programming from a distribution center. 2. It is also used to describe the feed system of an antenna.

The downstream data-path portion of the feeder-link. It is used by bent-pipe technology to form half of the complete upstream data-path.

The up/down communication links between the Gateway Terminal and the satellite.

The upstream data-path portion of the feeder-link. It is used by bent-pipe technology to form half of the complete downstream data-path.

The part of the satellite antenna that collects the signals focused on it by the dish reflector.

A method for the transmission of information (sound, video, data) in which light is modulated and transmitted over high-purity, hair-thin filaments of glass.

The fiber optic network wherein data is passed sequentially between nodes, each node in turn examining or copying the data, and finally returning it to the originating node. Typically, fiber rings are used to connect clustered groups or communities to the main fiber network.

Determines how aggressive the filters are in capturing suspect Email. The settings are Lenient, Moderate, and Aggressive. Lenient will capture less suspect Email, while aggressive is likely to capture more.

A Firewall is a security measure designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.

Radio-communications service between specified fixed points.

The area of the earth's surface that is able to receive the signal from a particular satellite.

Fragmentation is the breaking an arbitrary size packet into smaller pieces at the transmitter. This may be necessary because of restrictions in the communications channel or to reduce latency. The pieces are joined back together in the right order at the receiver ("reassembly"). Segmentation may be performed by a router when routing a packet to a network with a smaller maximum packet size.

The rate of repetition of a recurring event; also the number of times per second that an electrical signal oscillates. The international unit of frequency is the Hertz (Hz). One cycle of oscillation per second equals one Hertz. One thousand hertz equals 1 Kilohertz (KHz). One million hertz equals 1 Megahertz (MHz). One billion hertz equals 1 Gigahertz (GHz). Example - Television is broadcast in frequencies ranging from 54 MHz to 316 MHz (VHF) and 470 MHz to 806 MHz (UHF).

When soil expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This process can cause cracks in pavement, and damage the foundations of buildings, even below the frost line. Frost heave can cause an improperly installed pole mount to shift. Installers need to be aware of the frost line for their area and ensure a pole is mounted below the frost line.

The depth to which frost penetrates the earth.

Fixed Satellite Service. A satellite service in which the ground station is at a fixed location.

A portion of the KU-band (10.95-11.70 GHz) which is primarily used for the satellite TV band.

File Transfer Protocol. A software protocol for exchanging information between computers over a network.

Completion. For example, DSI is WildBlue’s fulfillment partner, so they complete all retail sales orders by shipping equipment. All of the installers come from DSI as well.

The triangular portion of a building's end wall formed where the wall intersects a peaked roof. A preferred location for mounting a dish antenna.

Gain is an increase in signal power by amplification, expressed as the ratio of output to input. Antenna gain is a measure of the ability of the antenna to focus signal waves in a particular direction.

Gigabyte. On billion bytes.

A satellite whose circular and direct orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator and which remains fixed relative to the Earth.

Also called geostationary, the orbit of a communications satellite, stationed 22,300 miles above the equator that orbits the Earth at the same rate of rotation, thereby maintaing the same geographic position at all times. A stationary antenna located on Earth can remain pointed at the satellite at all times.

Gateway Earth Station. Gateways provide a single source through which users can locate and gain access to a wide variety of communications services. An integral part of each WildBlue GES is the SMTS. See SMTS for more details.

A Goodwill credit is used as a gesture to sustain a positive relationship with a customer. It may be applied when no other business justification (such as wrongdoing by WildBlue) for credit appeared during the investigation. All agents may use a goodwill credit when they find that it is in the best interests of the customer to do so, within the guidelines and limits given below.

The force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface; the more remote the body the less the gravity.

In power circuits, a connection to ground is done for safety purposes to protect people from the effects of faulty insulation on electrically powered equipment. A connection to ground helps limit the voltage built up between power circuits and the earth, protecting circuit insulation from damage due to excessive voltage. Connections to ground may be used to limit the build-up of static electricity when handling flammable products or when repairing electronic devices. An example of a grounding method: a metal rod, typically 8 feet long, driven into the ground to provide an electrical path for discharging static electricity.

A communication system for sending continuous radio messages to a satellite for control and operating instructions.

a document or item printed on paper that can be read without the help of a computer.

High Definition Television. Technology which significantly increases the resolution of video signals offering vastly improved picture quality over the current NTSC standard. Three elements commonly define HDTV: 1. Picture shape - a screen aspect ratio of 16:9, as compared with 'regular' TV screens which have a screen ratio of 4:3. 2. Resolution - defined either by lines of resolution (720p or 1080i) or by number of pixels (picture elements). The 1080i format is over two million pixels; 480p television resolution is approximately 360,000 pixels. 3. Dolby Digital - high-end audio accompanies all HDTV programming.

The electronic control center of a cable system. This is the site of the receiving antenna and the signal processing equipment essential to proper functioning of a cable system.

Hybrid Fiber/Coax. A type of network that includes coaxial cables to distribute signals to a group of individual locations (typically 500 or more), and a fiber optic backbone to connect these groups.

A Host is a computer containing data or programs that another computer can access by means of a network or modem.

A Host ID is the trailing part of an IP Address assigned to any device connected to the network, not just computers, by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The Host ID is the network number for a network device.

Home Satellite Dish. A home receiver that permits the consumer to receive existing satellite transmissions.

The Hub is a hardware device that is connected to several other devices, usually computers. A hub is used to connect several computers together and provide a local message handling service.

Hertz. A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second (cps); a measure of electromagnetic frequency that represents the number of complete electrical waves in a second. One kiloHertz (KHz) is one thousand cycles per second; one megaHertz (MHz) is one million; one gigaHertz (GHz) is one billion.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. A nonprofit organization that has assumed the responsibility for IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management and root server system management functions previously performed under U.S. Government contract by the InterNIC.

The angle between the orbital plane of a satellite and the equatorial plane of the Earth.

An instrument for measuring angles of elevation, slope, or incline, as of an embankment relative to the earth's horizon.

Any undesired signal that tends to interfere with the reception of radio waves. It can be caused by transmissions within the same satellite system, by transmissions within other satellite systems that use the same frequencies, or from ground-based sources such as point-to-point radio links, car ignition noise, radar signals, etc.

Any efforts by WildBlue employees (or their vendors) to obtain monies owed on past due accounts. These efforts last from between 20–100 days after the first failed payment on an account.

A computer network with restricted access, as within a company, that uses software and protocols developed for the Internet.

As soon as you have two computers with private address, you have a LAN. As soon as you have a LAN, in the strictest sense you have created an intranet. More typically, you would be considered to have an intranet once you have joined two or more LANs together across the Internet to form a WAN, or you have a Web server operating on your LAN providing internet services to local computers.

Invoice is another name for the recurring bill.

The ionosphere is the charged layers of the atmosphere that surround the Earth.

Internet Protocol. The standard signaling method used for all communication over the Internet.

An IP address is the name of a computer, and so it must be unique on a network if communications are to occur unambiguously. The address is actually a 32 bit binary number such as: “00001010000001010000010100001010”. We interpret the address in four pieces (octets – meaning 8 bits each) separated with periods; the address above is represented as: “10.5.5.10”.

IPSec is short for IP Security, a set of protocols developed by the IETF to support the secure exchange of packets at the IP layer of the OSI model. IPSec is widely used in the implementation of Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs. IPSec support two modes of encryption: Tunnel and Transport. The Transport mode encrypts only the data portion, (or payload), of each packet, but does not encrypt the packet header. Tunnel mode encrypts the header and the payload, and is consider the most secure. IPSec devices share public keys that use the Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol/Oakley, (ISAKMP/Oakley). The ISAKMP protocol allows the receiving side to obtain a public key and authenticate the sending side using a digital certificate.

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a system where a digital television service is delivered by using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks.

Internet Relay Chat. A worldwide "party line" network that allows one to converse with others in real time. IRC is structured as a network of Internet servers, each of which accepts connections from client programs, one per user.

Integrated Services Digital Network. A method of providing voice and highspeed internt access simultaneously over conventional twisted-pair copper telephone lines.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the organization that sets standards in many businesses and technologies, including computing and communications.

Identical in all directions; invariant with respect to direction.

Internet Service Provider. An organization providing Internet access to the public using computer servers connected directly to the Internet (i.e. WIldBlue, AOL, Yahoo).

The horizontal wooden structural members in a floor or ceiling.

The frequency range from 27.0 to 40.0 GHz. WildBlue is licensed to operate from 17.7 to 20.2 GHz and 27.5 to 30.0 GHz and is seeking additional spectrum from 17.3 to 17.8 GHz and 24.75 to 25.25 GHz

Kilohertz. 1,000 Hertz.

The frequency range from 12.0 to 18.0 GHz

A hex-head screw with a broad thread pattern that is typically used to mount the dish mast plate to a stud or rafter of a home.

A Local Area Network. A system that links together electronic office equipment, such as computers and word processors, and forms a network within an office or building.

Refers to the local loop and is the difference between a local telephone company office and the service user. it is a distance of approximately 2 to 3 miles (3 to 4 kilometers).

Customers joining WildBlue after August 2008 lease their equipment. They have options to pay a monthly or prepaid lease fee. If they disconnect their service, they must return their satellite modem and TRIA, or be charged a fee. Note: Customers who joined WildBlue prior to August 2008 purchased their equipment, but this is not an option for new customers.

Low Earth Orbit. Orbits up to 1,600 miles above the Earth.

The angular distance on the earth's surface, measured east or west from the prime meridian at Greenwich, England, to the meridian passing through a position, expressed in degrees (or hours), minutes, and seconds.

Line of Sight. In Satellite technology this is the physical unobstructed path between the sending and receiving antennas.

A transmission medium or material in which a significant amount of the energy of an electromagnetic wave is absorbed.

The hardware address of a physical device connected to a shared network medium.

A manual offset credit is used to adjust a disconnected customer account, or when an account goes to Collections.

Medium Earth Orbit. Orbits between 6,000 and 12,000 miles

The Meridian is an imaginary great circle on the earth's surface passing through the North and South geographic poles. All points on the same meridian have the same longitude. The western and eastern meridians are half of such a great circle from pole to pole.

An abbreviated term for “modulator-demodulator”. A modem converts digital signals into analog signals (and vice versa), enabling computers to send and receive data over analog links like telephone networks and satellite transmissions.

The structure that supports and anchors the dish antenna.

Minumum Point of Entry. The minimum point of entry for a Network Interface Device.

The combination of various forms of media (texts, graphics, animation, audio, etc.) to communicate information. The term also refers to information products that include text, audio, and visual content.

A customer might have more than one WBRES account number; however, each will have different service addresses. Customers with service at two homes, or who have moved their service will have multiple accounts. Only one account may be active.

Network Address Translation. An Internet standard that enables a local-area network (LAN) to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic (usually Private IP Addresses) and a second set of addresses (usually Public IP Addresses) for external traffic. A NAT box located where the LAN meets the Internet makes all necessary IP address translations.

No call, no show.

National electrical Code. The publication of the National Fire Protection Association that defines requirements for electrical wiring and building protection.

Netware is a propriety operating system, owned by Novell, Inc., for the IBM PC. NetWare uses the IPX/SPX, NetBEUI or TCP/IP network protocols. NetWare 2.2 is a 16-bit operating system, versions 4.x and 3.x are 32-bit operating systems.

A Network Class is the groups of IP Addresses assigned to group classified by the number of Network ID and Host IDs available to the class.

The leading part of an IP Address assigned to an organization by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It defines the Network number for a given network.

The Network Interface Card. This is sometimes called the Network Interface Controller. It is an adapter circuit board installed in a computer, or other networking device, to provide a physical connection to a data network.

The Network Operations Center. A location from which the operation of a network or internet is monitored. Additionally, this center usually serves as a clearinghouse for connectivity problems and efforts to resolve those problems.

An antenna mount designed to be used where no holed can be drilled or bolts driven into a roof or wall structure.

Type of dish antenna with the focus and feed horn below the center of the dish antenna.

Unit of measurement to determine electrical resistance. By definition, one ohm resistance allows one amp of current flow with a one volt supply.

The mathematical relationship of voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit. Expressed by the formula: V=I*R, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.

Omni-directional is not directional; "omni-directional antenna"

Ortho Mode Transducer. The OMT sits directly behind the antenna feedhorn and has several important functions relating to reception and transmission of satellite signals. The main function of the OMT is to transfer RF to individual transmit and receive ports and to provide a 90 degree opposed (orthogonal)isolation between them using vertical and Horizontal polarization.

These charges happen once. For example, the activation fee is a one-time charge the customer pays on the day they order service, or the prepaid lease fee.

A one-time move relocates the service to a new street address. If the customer purchased equipment, they leave the dish in place, and the take the modem (and power supply) and Ethernet cable to the new location. A new dish is sent to the new location. If the customer leases their equipment, they must remove the TRIA from the dish, and send it and the modem (with powers supply) back to WildBlue. A new dish and new modem are sent to the new location. The one-time move process is also used when the service address has a zip code error.

A single payment made with a debit/credit card or an electronic funds transfer (EFT.) The account used for a one-time payment can be the same or different as the account used by the payment authorization on file.

Software designed to handle basic elements of computer operation, such as sending instructions to hardware devices like disk drives and computer screens, and allocating system resources such as memory to different software applications being run. Given uniformly designed operating systems that run on many different computers, developers of software do not need to concern themselves with these problems, and are provided with a standard platform for new programs.

The path of a celestial body or an artificial satellite as it revolves around another body.

The separation, in degrees of longitude, between satellites using the same frequency and covering overlapping areas.

Position of geostationary satellites measured in degrees east or west from the Greenwich meridian; the longitudinal position in the geosynchronus orbit for which a communication satellite is "parked."

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A branch of the U.S. Department of Labor responsible for establishing and enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace.

The Open Systems Interconnection (Reference Model). A model of network architecture that defines a suite of protocols (a protocol stack) to implement it. The International Standards Organization (ISO) developed it in 1978 as a framework for international standards in heterogeneous computer network architecture. The OSI architecture is split between seven layers, from lowest to highest: 1 physical layer, 2 data link layer, 3 network layer, 4 transport layer, 5 session layer, 6 presentation layer, 7 application layer. Each layer uses the layer immediately below it and provides a service to the layer above. In some implementations, a layer may itself be composed of sub-layers.

Occurs when the quality of a telecommunication service or communications link falls belwo a secified minimum value for acceptable communications performance.

A short block of data transmitted in a packet switching network.

A network that allows a message to be broken into small “packets” of data that are sent separately by a source to the destination. The packets may travel different paths and arrive at different times, with the destination sites reassembling them into the original message.

If a customer in Collections pays a portion of what they owe, they make a partial payment. If a customer pays the total amount of what they owe, they make a full payment. Both payments are allowed; however, any account in Collection cannot be resumed or reconnected until the account is paid in full. Only full payments are taken from payment methods for normal, active accounts.

Port Address Translation. A function provided by routers, which allows hosts on a LAN to communicate with the rest of a network (such as the Internet) without revealing their own private IP address. All outbound packets have their IP address translated to the routers external IP address. Replies come back to the router, which then translates them back into the private IP address of the original host for final delivery.

Money taken from the authorized payment method, either bank or credit card, to pay the bill.

A payment authorization is the account a customer allows WildBlue to charge for monthly services. This can be a debit or credit card, or a checking or savings account (called an EFT.) Every customer must give an account as a payment authorization because WildBlue does not send printed invoices, and it does not accept checks. All payments are made electronically.

An end date is the last day that WildBlue is authorized to use a credit card or bank account for monthly bills. The end date for a credit card is usually the credit card expiration date. EFT accounts do not show an end date unless it was stop dated.

Infinys identifies whether a payment is successful or failed by the Status shown on the View Payment screen. A successful payment reads Created; a failed payment reads Failed.

Peaking an antenna allows it to align with the highest point on a transmission wave and attain maximum antenna gain.

the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of an artificial satellite at which it is nearest to the earth. Opposite - Apogee.

An attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging, and often directs users to enter details at a website, although phone contact has also been used. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users.

P(acket) in(formation) g(roper). PING is a protocol that sends a message to another computer and waits for acknowledgment, often used to check if another computer on a network is reachable.

Orientation of a waveform in either a horizontal (left-right) or vertical (up-down direction. Also can refer to the positive and negative terminals of a DC supply, or to the connection of an electronic device such as a diode or an electrolytic capacitor.

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is a standard protocol for receiving email in which email is received and held for you by your Internet server. Periodically, you (or your email client) check the mail-box on the server and download any mail. This protocol is used by many clients such as Eudora and Outlook Express.

To make an entry in a system. For example, an agent posts an adjustment to the customer account when they enter a credit. Systems can post to each other as well. For example, Infinys posts to DSI OneStop when it sends a service call or installation order to DSI.

Postini helps stop spam, phishing, viruses, directory harvest attacks, with patented, multi-layer technology that delivers unmatched intrusion prevention and protection for WildBlue Email Subscribers.

Plain Old Telephone Service. Also referred to as plain old telephone lines. The traidiontional analog telephone system originally designed for voice transmission.

Although all WildBlue services are paid month-in-advance, some customers wish to pay the full amount of the agreement in one payment. This is allowed, but WildBlue recommends that the customer call after the first bill cycle so that taxes are computed correctly. If the customer makes changes to the account during the term of the agreement, such as an upgrade or downgrade, they may use their pre-pay balance slower or faster than originally planned.

This section of the bill lists the service package charges (and adjustments if a transitional bill), equipment charges, and activation charges. Early termination fees also appear in this section of a final bill.

A prorated charge is a portion of the normal charge, calculated on a per-day basis. Monthly service charges are prorated whenever a customer transitions their account (upgrade/downgrade, suspend/resume, disconnect), or if they change their bill cycle date.

A set of formal rules describing how to transmit data, especially across a network. Low-level protocols define the electrical and physical standards to be observed, bit- and byte-ordering and the transmission and error detection and correction of the bit stream. High-level protocols deal with the data formatting, including the syntax of messages, the terminal to computer dialogue, character sets, sequencing of messages etc. Many protocols are defined by Request For Comment (RFC)s or by Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) published by international standards committees.

Provisioning connects a customer's equipment to their account. A provisioned account has the following parts: a WBRES account number with an activation date, a satellite modem, and a connection to the Internet. An installer provisions the account when he installs the dish. This adds the modem’s registration number (MAC address) and the activation date into the WBRES account. Once this information is in the WBRES account, the modem is able to connect to the Internet. When a business specialist rebuilds an account, the new WBRES account is re-provisioned.

In computer networks, a proxy server is a server (a computer system or an application program) that acts as a go-between for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource, available from a different server. The proxy server evaluates the request according to its filtering rules. For example, it may filter traffic by IP address or protocol. If the request is validated by the filter, the proxy provides the resource by connecting to the relevant server and requesting the service on behalf of the client. A proxy server may optionally alter the client's request or the server's response, and sometimes it may serve the request without contacting the specified server. In this case, it 'caches' responses from the remote server, and returns subsequent requests for the same content directly. A proxy server has two purposes: * To keep machines behind it anonymous (mainly for security). * To speed up access to a resource (via caching). It is commonly used to cache web pages from a web server. This is how the WildBlue network uses proxy servers as part of the Optimizer.

A plastic which is frequently used as insulation and protection on electrical conductors and cables.

Although the RF spectrum is formally defined in terms of a range from 0 to 3000 GHz, the FCC exposure guidelines range of interest is from 300 KHz to 100 GHz.

The wooden structural member that supports the roof of a building.

Remote Access Service. A service provided by Windows NT, which allows most of the services which would be available on a network to be accessed over a modem link. The service includes support for dialup and logon, and then presents the same network interface as the normal network drivers.

If a back office business specialist decides that an account requires rebuilding, they do so. This involves creating a new WBRES number, and provisioning the modem to the account. Service agents do not rebuild accounts; business specialists handle this after determining that an account is truly malfunctioning.

confirmation in writing that a particular amount of money was recieved, usually as payment for a bill. WildBlue does not send receipts to customers as this can be provided by the customer's bank or credit card company.

A charge that reverses a refund given on the previous month’s bill.

Re-establish the customer in the WildBlue business systems, and connect their modem back to the network. No changes happen to the equipment.

A recurring bill is the same as the monthly bill. Recurring means “returning, frequent, and habitual”. It includes all of the charges the customer had for service calls, equipment changes, etc. during the past 30 days, as well as the upcoming month’s charge for service.

These charges appear on the customer’s bill every month. For example, the service package fee, and the monthly equipment lease fee.

A refund is when WildBlue returns money to a customer, either to the account the money came from, or by paper check.

Selling directly to the person who will use the service. WB Direct, Dealer Direct and Dealer SO are some of the retail channels because WildBlue collects money for the service directly from the customer.

Radio Frequency. Radio signals classified in bands: all radio, VHF/UHF TV and CB radio transmissions consist of RF waves above 15 KHz. low power consumer radio transmission bands assigned to cordless or wireless radios, telephones, headphones and speaker technology either in Citizen's Band 27 MHz, low band 46-49 MHz range or a high band 900 MHz range. Radio frequency waves can be transmitted and received without regard to physical obstructions although other local RF waves and bright light can sometimes cause interference. RF differs from infrared technology which requires a clea line-of-sight between transmitter and receiver.

The type of coaxial cable that must be used from the satellite dish to the modem.

Equipment placed between networks that relays data to those networks based upon a destination address contained in the data packets being routed.

Remote Procedure Call. A protocol which allows a program running on one host to cause code to be executed on another host without the programmer needing to explicitly code for this. RPC is an easy and popular paradigm for implementing the client-server model of distributed computing. An RPC is initiated by the caller (client) sending request message to a remote system (the server) to execute a certain procedure using arguments supplied. A result message is returned to the caller. There are many variations and subtleties in various implementations, resulting in a variety of different (incompatible) RPC protocols.

WildBlue sales channel that only sells the WildBlue service then passes the order to WildBlue and the existing fulfillment channels install the WildBlue service.

A radio relay station that orbits the Earth. A complete satellite communications system also includes earth stations, which communicate with each other via satellite. The satellite receives a signal transmitted by an originating earth station and retransmits that signal to the destination earth station(s).

An entity that owns or leases the facilities of a satellite or satellite service to establish and operate a channel of communications for point-to-multipoint distribution of television station signals.

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A DSL technology that provides a maximum bandwidth of 1.5 megabits per second using one phone line, with a downstream transmission rate that equals the upstream transmission rate.

A customer with service at two locations may ask to suspend the service at one address during the time they are not living there. This is called a seasonal suspend. Two separate accounts are required. The customer is required to fulfill their original customer agreement before asking for a seasonal suspension.

This is the password used to validate the customer when they call WildBlue. We recommend the mother’s maiden name, but it can be any word. If a security password is not configured, the customer will be required to provide the last 4 digits of the payment method on file.

The Self Care Portal (SCP) is a web site where customers can view their electronic bills. They use a special user name and password to access this web page, selected when they ordered their service. This logon is not the same as what they use for their email, nor it is the security information on their account.

The Service Availability Tool (sometimes called SAT) tells an agent whether WildBlue provides service in a caller’s zip code. SAT is part of the Support Portal, available on the Tools tab. The agent enters the zip code, and the results include some technical specifications about the service, as well as the promotions available in that area. If service is not available, the results will state this.

A loop of extra cable at least 4 inches in radius, left in specific locations during installation to allow for connector replacement, troubleshooting disconnections, and dish adjustments. Service loops allow work to be done and adjustments made to the system without having to replace complete cable runs due to cable lengths being left too short.

Super High Frequency. The upper part of the radio frequency range from 30 to 300 gigahertz encompassed in Ka-band frequencies.

A conductive material that is located between the PVC jacket and the dielectric in RG-6 cable to prevent signal leakage or interference.

When entering an order in Order Services, the Shipping Contact designates the address where the customer wants to receive his equipment. This can be different from the Site/Installation address. The Shipping Contact address is recorded as the Shipping Address when the order moves into Infinys.Note: The Mailing and Customer Contacts listed in Order Services do not move into Infinys.

A low-resistance connection between two points in an electric circuit that forms an alternative path for a portion of the current.

The evaluation of a property where a satellite system is to be installed. The survey and the required forms are used to gather detailed information about the structure and its surroundings to determine Line of Sight (LOS) and the equipment requirements for receiving and distributing programming in a commercial installation.

The Antenna skew setting positions the dish in a slanted direction, aligning it with the satellite's orbit. This maximizes the reception from the satellite.

See Orbital Position/Location.

Satellite modem-to-customer Interface. The hardware and software that allows a subscriber PC to communicate through the ODU through the satellite to the ISP gateway.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A protocol used to transfer electronic mail between computers, usually over Ethernet. It is a server to server protocol, so other protocols are used to access the messages. The SMTP dialog usually happens in the background under the control of the message transfer agent, e.g. send mail but it is possible to interact with an SMTP server using telnet to connect to the normal SMTP port, 25.

Satellite Modem Termination System - Network-Side Interface; commonly referred to as SMTS or SMTS-NSI. An interface specification that describes the process of converting TCP/IP Ethernet protocol to TDMA protocols using DOCSIS packets. This interface describes the communications between a Service Provider Ground Station computing device and the satellite network. In basic terms, SMTS receives and transmits data to the satellite.

Simple network Management Protocol. The Internet standard protocol developed to manage nodes on an IP network. SNMP is not limited to TCP/IP. It can be used to manage and monitor all sorts of equipment including computers, routers, wiring hubs, toasters and jukeboxes.

A Socket is a term used to describe "an end point for TCP/IP communication." A TCP/IP Socket consists of the IP Address followed by the TCP port number separated by a colon.

The underside of the eave, usually covered with a thin decorative material. This can be a preferred mounting location when using the proper mounting hardware.

document or item stored and displayed on a computer.

Small Office/Home Office. So-called SOHO products are specifically designed to meet the needs of professionals who work at home or in small offices.

A solar flare is an explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Flares produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and gamma-rays.

Also called Solar Conjuntion. When the sun passes behind a satellite in relation to the earth and the sun's energy momentarily overpowers the satellite signals. This happens two times each year during the spring and fall equinox. An outage is temporary and service is restored when satellite and sun are no longer aligned with the earth.

The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in the transmission of sound, data, and television.

When a computer within a private network is communicating with a remote computer that has been authenticated once, the two-way communication is called a session, and authentication does not need to be repeated until the session ends. However, if the remote computer uses an “access on demand” connection to the Internet, it is unable to maintain a “session”, and would need to authenticate for each message. Spoofing is a function provided by routers to maintain the session. To do this the router responds to “keep session alive?” messages on behalf of the remote computer.

A signal from an orbiting satellite that is specially concentrated in power, typically by a high-gain antenna, so that it will cover only a limited geographic area on earth. Spot beams are used so that only earth stations in the intended spot beam reception area can receive the satellite signal.

The Secure Sockets Layer protocol is an application layer security protocol developed for the purpose of sending documents securely over the Internet. SSL uses private keys to encrypt data that is transmitted over the SSL connection. Netscape, Internet Explorer, and most web browsers used today support the SSL protocol. Many web sites use this protocol to secure user’s private data, such as Internet banking sites and sites that provide credit card transactions.

An SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer virtual private network) is a form of VPN that can be used with a standard Web browser. In contrast to the traditional IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN, an SSL VPN does not require the installation of specialized client software on end users' computers. The SSL VPN can be a good choice where trust can be an issue but easy access is also important. Applications include Web-based e-mail, business and government directories, databases for educational institutions, file sharing, remote backup, remote system management and consumer-level e-commerce. SSL is a protocol for managing the security of message transmission on the Internet. SSL is included as part of both the Microsoft and Netscape browsers and most Web server products. It employs the public-and-private key encryption system from RSA. As TLS (Transport Layer Security), a refinement of SSL, replaces the earlier protocol, an SSL VPN is sometimes referred to as a TLS VPN.

An order is stalled when it does not reach a Completed status within 24 hours. Stalled orders have a Pending or Dispatched status after 24 hours.

Static IP address Every computer connected to a network (either a company network, or the Internet) is assigned an IP address. This address is how the network finds the computer in order to communicate with it. Normally, on most networks and the Internet, the IP address is assigned to the computer for a short period (called a dynamic IP address.) If the IP address is permanently assigned, it is called a static IP address. Note: Technically speaking, the IP address is assigned to the Network card on the computer. In the case of WildBlue, the network assigns the IP address to the satellite modem.

A request to stop using a payment authorization is called stop dating. When a customer changes payment authorizations, the original account is automatically stop dated with the current date. An authorization may be stop dated for other reasons, such as the card is on the wrong account or WildBlue is notified that an account was closed.

A technique for transferring data such that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. Watching a movie is streaming data. Parts of the movie download to your computer, and when you've watched that part, a message is sent to the server to send more parts. It happens very rapidly, so usually there is no break while you are viewing.

The vertical wooden or metal structural member in a wall usually placed 12,16,or 24 inches from each other’s center.

A bit mask used to identify which bits in an IP address correspond to the network address (Network ID) and subnet portions (Host ID) of the address. This mask is often referred to as the subnet mask because the network portion of the address can be determined by the class inherent in an IP Address. The address mask has ones in positions corresponding to the network and subnet numbers and zeros in the host number positions

Subordinate system that is a part of a larger system of interconnected data components or circuits.

A suspended account is “on hold.” The equipment is still provisioned; however, the satellite modem does not receive Internet services (browsing and email). The account is not billed, however in the case of suspended for non-pay, the customer still owes money to WildBlue. The customer is still obligated to fulfill their contract.

A beam may be suspended for new customers when it reaches a certain capacity. This helps preserve the best service possible for all of the existing customers. Advances in the network technology may allow a suspended beam to reopen to new customers.

A change in circumstances means being deployed by the military or suffering a devastating event. Customers in the military may suspend their service when they receive deployment orders. They must send a copy of their orders to WildBlue. Customers who suffer a devastating event, such as a house fire, may also suspend their service. They must send a statement of loss to WildBlue. These customers are allowed to suspend their service even during the original customer agreement.

The Abuse Management Team may suspend a customer’s account when they detect a virus or spam attack, or for other violations of the Acceptable Use Policy. After the customer cleans their computers, the service may be resumed.

If a customer has a past due account (30 days), Finance suspends the service. Most of the time, the customer did not realize their authorized payment method had expired. The first time the account is suspended for non-payment, an agent can resume it after taking a one-time payment for the full amount.

The rate in MHz in which segments of digital data are transmitted and received.

Objects moving or operating at the same rate, having identical periods.

A type of data circuit that provides 1.533 Mbps of bandwidth between two points. It can be provided through dedicated circuits or frame relay.

Some organizations, usually non-profits or charitable, may have permission to not pay certain types of taxes. This permission is called a tax exemption. These organizations must provide documents from the appropriate state or federal agencies before WildBlue stops charging the tax.

Transmission Control Protocol. The most common transport layer protocol used on Ethernet and the Internet. TCP is the connection-oriented protocol built on top of Internet Protocol (IP) and is nearly always seen in the combination TCP/IP (TCP over IP). It adds reliable communication and flow-control and provides full-duplex, process-to-process connections.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A protocol for communication between computers, used as a standard for transmitting data over networks and as the basis for standard Internet protocols.

The TCP/IP Protocol Stack. A subset of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) Reference Model. The TCP/IP stack includes the Data Link, Network, Transport, and Application layer. It defines how data is transported across a data network.

A local exchange telephone carrier.

TELecommuniations NETwork. An Internet communications protocol that enables a computer to function as a terminal working from a remote computer.

A person or company that is indirectly involved with WildBlue.

A third-party software utility that allows computers to remotely connect to and control other computers.

A TCP/IP utility which allows the user to determine the route packets are taking to a particular host. Traceroute works by increasing the "time to live" value of packets and seeing how far they get, until they reach the given destination; thus, a lengthening trail of hosts passed through is built up.

The volume of transmitted signals on a communications network or channel.

A transceiver is a combination transmitter/receiver in a single package. Some transceivers are designed to allow reception of signals during transmission periods. This mode is known as full duplex, and requires that the transmitter and receiver operate on substantially different frequencies so the transmitted signal does not interfere with reception. Satellite communications networks often employ full-duplex transceivers at the surface-based subscriber points. The transmitted signal (transceiver-to-satellite) is called the uplink, and the received signal (satellite-to-transceiver) is called the downlink

This monthly bill covers the change in the service level. Since customers pay a month in advance, a pro-rated credit appears for the old service level. A pro-rated charge also appears for the new service level, plus the month-in-advance charge. This bill may be larger than a regular bill at the new service level, depending on circumstances. See KB article, Reading a Transitional Bill, for a detailed explanation.

A device in an orbiting communications satellite that receives signals from the Earth, translates and amplifies them on different frequency, and then retransmits them back to Earth.

Transmit Receive Integrated Assembly. It transmits and receives data to and from the WildBlue satellite. It's located on the bottom of the arm of your satellite dish.

A piece of software which appears to perform a certain action, but in fact, performs another. Contrary to popular belief, this action, usually encoded in a hidden payload, may or may not be acutely malicious, but Trojan horses are notorious today for their use in the installation of backdoor programs. Simply put, a Trojan horse is not a computer virus. Unlike such badware, it does not propagate by self-replication but relies heavily on the exploitation of an end-user. It is instead a categorical attribute which can encompass many different forms of codes.

This is the term used to describe the traditional copper cable that is used for short distance communications.

User Datagram Protocol. Using UDP, programs on networked computers can send short messages sometimes known as datagram’s (using Datagram Sockets) to one another. UDP does not guarantee reliability or ordering in the way that TCP does. Datagram’s may arrive out of order, appear duplicated, or go missing without notice. Avoiding the overhead of checking whether every packet actually arrived makes UDP faster and more efficient, at least for applications that do not need guaranteed delivery. Time-sensitive applications often use UDP because dropped packets are preferable to delayed packets. UDP's stateless nature is also useful for servers that answer small queries from huge numbers of clients. Unlike TCP, UDP is compatible with packet broadcast (sending to all on local network) and multicasting (send to all subscribers). Common network applications that use UDP include the Domain Name System (DNS), streaming media applications such as IPTV, Voice over IP (VoIP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and online games.

Ultra High Frequency. The part of the radio spectrum from 300 to 3000 megahertz, which includes TV channels 4-83, as well as many land mobile and satellite services.

An unauthorized payment method happens any time a WildBlue account has the wrong information for charging the monthly bill. This can happen when: an agent enters the numbers on the wrong customer account; an agent makes a typo error entering the numbers; a customer ‘borrows’ a payment method (from a friend/relative), and later forgets to update WildBlue with their own account authorization. “Unrelated account owner” and “non-customer” are related terms.

Operating or moving or allowing movement in one direction only; "a unidirectional flow"; "a unidirectional antenna"

An interactive time-sharing operating system invented in 1969 by Ken Thompson of Bell Labs. Dennis Ritchie, the inventor of {C}, is considered a co-author of the system. I was the first source-portable Operating System. By 1991, Unix had become the most widely used multi-user general-purpose operating system with built-in TCP/IP in the world. Unix is now offered by many manufacturers and is the subject of an international standardization effort. Unix-like operating systems include AIX, A/UX, BSD, Debian, FreeBSD, GNU, HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, NEXTSTEP, OpenBSD, OPENSTEP, OSF, POSIX, RISCiX, Solaris, SunOS, System V, Ultrix, USG Unix, Version 7, Xenix. "UNIX" is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

A WBRES account number that is waiting for the activation date and the modem’s registration number (MAC address) to be added.

This is the portion of the month between the disconnect date and the next bill cycle date. Recall that WildBlue service is paid a month in advance.

An upgrade is a change in the service level from Value to Select, or Select to Pro. The monthly charge increases; the Thresholds also increase. The number of email accounts also increases with the Pro service level.

The signal path from an earth station to a satellite.

To send a file to a server where it will be stored. When you send an email, it is uploaded to the email server, which then sends it on to the recipient (the person you wrote to.) The email program leaves it on the server until the recipient downloads the email. Sharing a photo, or a video file, to a website is the same as uploading. It stays on the website's server until you delete it.

The process of selling customer's additional services.

The data path from the subscriber terminal to the Internet Service Provider gateway.

This SVT field displays the power used by the modem to communicate with the satellite on the upstread data path. If this value is too high (shown as a lower negative number), the modem is working too hard to communicate.

Usenet groups are also known as newsgroups, or discussion groups. Users exchange information generally provided in a “chat room”.

The downstream data-path portion of the user-link. It is used by bent-pipe technology to form half of the complete downstream data-path.

The link (either uplink or downlink) between the user terminal and the satellite.

The upstream data-path portion of the user-link. It is used by bent-pipe technology to form half of the complete upstream data-path.

Confirming the truthfulness of the caller’s claim as the account holder, or as a certified installer.

The frequency range from 50.0 to 75.0 GHz. The V band is not heavily used, except for millimeter wave radar research and other kinds of scientific research. The V band is also used for high capacity terrestrial millimeter wave communications systems. All communications links in the V band require unobstructed line of sight between the transmit and receive point.

The part of the radio spectrum from 30 to 300 megahertz, which includes TV channels 2-13, the FM broadcast band, and some marine, aviation and land mobile services.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the most secure way to provide communication between computers on your private network and trusted computers across the Internet. There are three ways that your firewall can secure your VPN communication to the remote computer. First, the firewall can be configured to only trust communications received from certain addresses. Second, a special code can be used to encrypt all communications. The code uses a “key” to encrypt and decrypt the messages. Once the same key is provided to the firewall and remote computer user, the computers can communicate. The encryption key is generally unique in the world, and very difficult to determine by trial and error. This is the main feature of VPNs that make them highly secure. Third and finally, there is: the username and password. When a remote computer meets all three requirements, a VPN is established between the remote computer and the firewall. The remote computer then appears to all computers to be sitting on the local private network. It is “virtually” there. Keep in mind that if the remote computer is a firewall or router, then you are connecting two private networks together so that they appear to be one single private network. This configuration is called a Wide Area Network (WAN), and each private network is called a Local Area Network (LAN). Any number of LANs can be connected together through VPNs to form a single WAN.

A computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. However, the term "virus" is commonly used, albeit erroneously, to refer to many different types of malware programs. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or the Internet, or by carrying it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses. A worm can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a file that appears harmless until executed.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a protocol optimized for transmission of voice through the Internet or other packet switched networks. VoIP is often used abstractly to refer to the actual transmission of voice.

The unit of measurement of electrical potential or pressure.

After a customer fulfils their original customer agreement, they may ask to suspend their account. There is no minimum or maximum period; however, WildBlue may change this, or may decide to charge a small monthly fee to maintain the account while suspended. One account must always be active.

Very small aperture terminal. Refers to small earth stations, usually in the 1.2 to 2.4 meter range.

The process of running coaxial cable through a building wall by drilling holes either from the top in an attic or service space, and/or from the bottom in a basement or crawl space, then using a special road, chain, or metal tape to draw the coax along the desire route. To have cable concealed, Wall Fishing is typically an additional cost.

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a communications network that uses such devices as telephone lines, satellite dishes, or radio waves to span a larger geographic area than can be covered by a LAN.

A measured unit of electrical power. By definition, one watt is the power consumed in a circuit with one volt applied and one amp of current flow.

The distance between repeating units of a propagating wave of a given frequency. It is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (?). Examples of wave-like phenonomena are light, water waves, and sound waves. Generally measured from crest to crest. The job of any modem is to convert the digital signal from a computer into a different kind of signal, usually proprietary, that can be transmitted long distances and then be converted back to the original format. Ethernet is a medium for carrying network traffic, just as air carries your voice. The maximum length for an Ethernet cable segment is 300ft or 100m. All Ethernet network communications are converted to some other medium for long distance transmission using a modem.

The Infinys account created for the customer when they order WildBlue service. Every account begins with these letters.

Selling the service to another company who then sells to the person who uses the service. DISH Network, DirecTV are wholesale partners because they bill their customers for the service; they pay WildBlue a fee for each of their customers.

The job of any modem is to convert the digital signal from a computer into a different kind of signal, usually proprietary, that can be transmitted long distances and then be converted back to the original format. Ethernet is a medium for carrying network traffic, just as air carries your voice. The maximum length for an Ethernet cable segment is 300ft or 100m. All Ethernet network communications are converted to some other medium for long distance transmission using a modem.

The WildBlue Optimizer is a software tool designed to enhance the web surfing experience of computers connected to the WildBlue network.

AT&T, Sales-Only Dealer, WildBlue Direct, and Self-Installing Dealer accounts are all considered WildBlue Retail.

WildBlue Security Center is a virus protection software that is provided to all customers free of charge for one year. Provided by F-Secure.

Any broadcast or transmission, which can be received through microwave or radio frequencies without the use of a cable connection for reception.

A self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computer terminals on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms almost always cause harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a targeted computer.

An accounting term used to describe removing a past-due amount from an account. When a write-off is applied to the past-due amount, the account balance goes to zero. For example, an account is past due $-234.00. A write-off of $234.00 is applied, so the account balance is zero.Infinys shows Write-off balances in the Adjustment history. A write-off is not the same as a credit, refund, or other adjustment. The customer still owes WildBlue the past-due amount. The write-off is used only as an accounting procedure.

Another way of referring generically to any of the DSL (Digital subscriber line variants: ADSL, SDSL, RADSL, IDSL, VDSL.