ansmission Conversion: Codecs and Modems Multiplexing Intelligent Multiplexing Inverse Multiplexing WDM, DWDM, and CWDM Political and Regulatory Forces in Telecommunications Regulatory Background The Policy and Regulatory Players The Main Regulatory Issues Internet Governance Standards Organizations Chapter 2 Traditional Transmission Media Twisted-Pair Characteristics of Twisted-Pair Categories of Twisted-Pair Applications of Twisted-Pair Analog and Digital Twisted-Pair Advantages and Disadvantages of Twisted-Pair Coaxial Cable Characteristics of Coaxial Cable Applications of Coaxial Cable Advantages and Disadvantages of Coaxial Cable Microwave Characteristics of Microwave Traditional Applications of Microwave Advantages and Disadvantages of Microwave The New Era of Microwave: Wireless Broadband Satellite Frequency Allocations of Satellite Satellite Network Segments Satellite Orbits Applications of Satellite Advantages and Disadvantages of Satellite Fiber Optics Characteristics of Fiber Optics Components of Fiber Optics How Fiber-Optic Transmission Works Innovations in Fiber Optics: EDFAs and WDM Applications of Fiber Optics Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiber Optics Contents Chapter 3 Establishing Communications Channels Establishing Connections: Networking Modes and Switching Modes Networking Modes Switching Modes The PSTN Versus the Internet PSTN Characteristics Internet Characteristics Converging Networks: Next-Generation Networks Chapter 4 The PSTN The PSTN Infrastructure Service Providers Network Access Access Services Transport Services PSTN Architecture The Transport Network Infrastructure The PDH Infrastructure The SDH/SONET Infrastructure Signaling Systems SS7 Architecture Intelligent Networks SS7 and Next-Generation Networks Next-Generation Networks and the PSTN Part II Data Networking and the Internet Chapter 5 Data Communications Basics The Evolution of Data Communications Data Communications Architectures Data Communications Traffic Data Flow The DTE, the DCE, the Transmission Channel, and the Phy