ss hard).' The first was, of course, when the item or items were ordered. Now its time to see if what was ordered has been delivered. As a milestone in a project, it formally signifies transfer of ownership or right to use the item being accepted. Acceptance can also trigger other internal accounting and operational processes. Acceptance can also initiate warranty coverage, the end of an instal- lation process, and the beginning of maintenance procedures. The acceptance process can be organized, simple, straightforward, and relatively risk-free, or if not approached properly, result in chaos, confusion, and lead to a disaster on some level in the future. Accept- ance of equipment and services is but one step in an overall project. The project might be simple or it might be complex. Obviously instal- lation of a telephone or local area network (LAN) access is far simpler than installation of a telephone system or LAN facility. Both examples require acceptance of one or more types of telephone in- struments and wall jacks. But a telephone that plugs into a LAN is not the same as a telephone that plugs into a private branch exchange, Practical IP and Telecom for Broadcast Engineering and Operations Copyright © 2004 by Fred Huffman. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS even though they may both use an RJ45 connector and enable the equivalent and acceptable service. More than one acceptance process will likely be required depending on the size of the endeavor, project, or organization. Accepting a shipment of 50 boxes containing 10 telephones each without remov- ing enough of them to be convinced that all the boxes have exactly what their outside labels claim can derail telephone service instal- lation and turn up problems in the future if there happens to be the wrong type telephone in one or more of the boxes. Sure, this all sounds like common sense, but the point is to have a process that essentially ensures that what is ordered is receiv