Wireless Glossary of Terms

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Rating System: A system for classifying and providing information about specific content such as games, music, TV, movies and apps. Wireless carriers and manufacturers may rate content or utilize existing rating system to help parents filter content available to children. (See CTIA Wireless Content Guidelines Classification Criteria). 

Repeater: Devices that receive a radio signal, amplify it and re-transmit it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals and to expand coverage.  Repeaters are typically used in buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain. 

Roaming: When traveling outside their carrier's local service area, roaming allows users to continue to make and receive calls when operating in another carrier’s service coverage area. 
 
RSA (Rural Service Area): One of the 428 rural markets across the United States, as designated by the FCC for the delivery of cellular service outside of the initial 306 MSAs.

Smart Antenna: A wireless antenna with technology that focuses its signal in a specific direction. Wireless networks use smart antennas to reduce the number of dropped calls, and to improve call quality and channel capacity.
 
Smart Phone: Wireless phones with advanced data features and often keyboards. What makes the phone "smart" is its ability to better manage data and Internet access.
 
SMS: Short Messaging Service enables users to send and receive short text messages (usually about 140-160 characters) on wireless handsets. Usually referred to as “text messaging” or “texting.”
 
SPAM: Unsolicited and unwanted emails or text messages sent to wireless devices. While carriers are constantly filtering their networks to stop SPAM text messages, spammers are evolving and changing their methods to try to get through. If you receive a SPAM email on your mobile device, file a complaint with the FCC . The FCC's CAN-SPAM ban only applies to “messages sent to cell phones and pagers, if the message uses an Internet address that includes an Internet domain name (usually the part of the address after the individual or electronic mailbox name and the “@” symbol)”. The FCC’s ban does not cover “short messages,” typically sent from one mobile phone to another, that do not use an Internet address.
 
Spectrum: The radio frequencies that are designated for specific uses, such as personal communications services and public safety.
 
Spectrum Allocation: Process whereby the federal government designates frequencies for specific uses, such as personal communications services and public safety. Allocation is typically accomplished through lengthy FCC proceedings, which attempt to adapt allocations to accommodate changes in spectrum demand and usage.   
 
Spectrum Assignment: Federal government authorization for the use of specific frequencies within a given spectrum allocation, usually in a specific geographic location. Mobile communications assignments are granted to both private users such as businesses, and commercial providers such as wireless and paging operators. Spectrum auctions and/or frequency coordination processes, which consider potential interference to existing users, may apply.
 
Spread Spectrum: A method of transmitting a radio signal by spreading it over a wide range of frequencies. This reduces interference and can increase the number of simultaneous users on one radio frequency band.
 
SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Card: A small card that fits inside some cell phones and communicates with a wireless network using a unique code. A SIM card can be removed and transferred to another wireless device.

Last Updated: September 2010