Definition
Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) is a term used in U.S telecommunications. It refers to a geographic area within the U.S that a telephone company is allowed to handle calls within, according to the rules of the breakup of the Bell System in 1984. For calls going from one LATA to another, a long-distance carrier handles the call.
Phonetic
The phonetics for the keyword “Local Access and Transport Area” would be:- Local: /ˈloʊ.kəl/- Access: /ˈæk.ses/- and: /ænd/ or /ənd/- Transport: /trænˈspɔːrt/- Area: /ˈer.i.ə/
Key Takeaways
Main takeaways about Local Access and Transport Area (LATA):
- LATAs helps to distinguish between types of calls: The concept of LATA was introduced to define the area that local telephone carriers could operate within. It basically helps to differentiate between local, intraLATA, and interLATA calls, each having different operating rules and tariff arrangements.
- Restrictions on telecommunications services: Post the breakup of Bell System, local telephone companies, also known as Baby Bells, were allowed to provide services only within their LATA. This was to prevent monopoly power from being concentrated with the local companies. To provide services outside their LATA, they had to work with interexchange carriers.
- Importance in Telecommunications industry: Understanding the concept of LATA is crucial in the telecom industry as it affects billing processes, tariffs, regulations, and the overall structure of the telecommunication services network. It also has a crucial role in long-distance phone service regulation.
Importance
Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) is a crucial term in telecommunication sector as it defines the geographical area where a phone company is legally allowed to offer services, specifically under the regulations set forth in the United States after the breakup of the AT&T monopoly. LATA boundaries not only determine the parameters for local and long-distance services, but they also influence billing rates, contract scopes and carrier interconnections. Understanding LATA is key for telecommunication providers to operate within legal parameters, to set competitive pricing, and also crucial for consumers as it impacts their service availability and costs.
Explanation
The Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) is a crucial term in telecommunications that refers to a geographical region determined by legal and regulatory criteria. Established in the United States post the AT&T divestiture in 1984, these areas were created to facilitate the transition from a single, company-owned telephone service to an enmeshed system of regional carriers, ensuring a higher level of competition and reducing monopolistic control. LATA boundaries were defined with the aim to limit the scope of the new Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), prohibiting them from providing long-distance services and leaving this field open for competitive ventures.One major purpose of LATA is to govern the way calls are routed and handled, particularly for long-distance calls. Within the LATA boundary, the local exchange carriers (often the new RBOCs) carry out both local and long-distance call services. For calls that cross LATA boundaries (interLATA), long distance companies (Interexchange Carriers, IXCs), such as AT&T, MCI, and later on, Sprint come into play. These companies carry the call to the LATA that contains the call’s final destination where the local company then completes the connection. Without LATAs, the complex organization and routing management in telecommunication systems would not be possible.
Examples
1. Telecommunication Sector: One of the earliest examples of LATA can be seen in the telecommunications sector. After AT&T was split up in 1984, its regions were divided into areas known as LATAs. Telecommunication companies like Verizon or AT&T provide local telephone services within these regions and for any call to be made out of these regions, the help of interexchange carriers (long-distance carriers) must be taken.2. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Local ISPs provide internet services primarily within a specified LATA. For instance, a local ISP might service a metropolitan area, and all connections within that area would be defined by the LATA boundaries. If a user wants to connect to a server outside their LATA, the connection has to be handed over to another, larger ISP that handles broader service areas or international connections.3. Mobile Network Operators: In the cellular communication realm, LATA can also be seen. For example, a mobile network operator provides services within a given LATA and should they need to provide service beyond those boundaries, they would need to interface with other networks. This also plays a part in determining roaming charges where calls or data use outside of a user’s home LATA may be billed at a different rate.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Q: What is Local Access and Transport Area (LATA)?A: LATA is a telecommunication term referring to a geographical area that a local telephone company serves. It was established to delineate the national telephone network into distinct regions in order to create competition.Q: How were LATAs created and why are they important?A: LATAs were created by the Modified Final Judgment (MFJ) during the breakup of AT&T into regional “Baby Bells” in 1984. They are important because they define where one telephone company’s service ends and another’s begins.Q: What are the restrictions in the LATA system?A: In the LATA system, local exchange carriers (LECs) were allowed to handle calls within a LATA, while calls crossing LATA boundaries were handled by interexchange carriers (IXCs) like AT&T, also known as long-distance providers.Q: How many LATAs are there in the United States?A: As of now, there are more than 200 LATAs in the United States. Each LATA can cover a large metropolitan area, a whole state, or even, in some cases, parts of multiple states.Q: Does the LATA system have any implication for consumers?A: Yes, LATAs can potentially impact consumers in regards to long-distance calling. Calls made within the same LATA are considered local while calls made to a different LATA, even if within the same state, are billed as long-distance. Q: Can a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) provide services beyond their designated LATA?A: Generally, an LEC is restricted from providing services beyond its defined LATA. However, there are exceptions in which an LEC can petition to expand their service area.Q: Can mobile phone carriers be considered as LATAs?A: No, the concept of LATAs applies mainly to landline telephony. However, mobile phone carriers do have similar geographical boundaries for their own operational and billing purposes.Q: Does the concept of LATA still exist in today’s VoIP era?A: Yes, even in the Voice over IP (VoIP) era, LATA still plays a role as it still affects traditional landline calls and can play a part in determining how VoIP calls are routed and billed.
Related Tech Terms
- Local Exchange Carrier (LEC)
- Interexchange Carrier (IXC)
- Telecommunications Act of 1996
- Service Access Point (SAP)
- Area Code
