ange traffic. bit error rate The percentage of bits received in error in a transmission. blade Circuit boards are often referred to as "blades" when they are dense, such as when they have many ports (connections) or software for a specialized application such as security. Bluetooth A set of standards for special software on low-cost, low- powered radio chips that enables devices to communicate with one another over a short-range wireless link. Bluetooth eliminates cable clutter between www.TechnicalPDF.com computers and peripherals in offices and supports wireless headsets for mobile handsets. BOC (Bell Operating Company) One of the 22 local Bell telephone companies owned by AT&T Corporation prior to 1984. Examples of Bell Operating Companies are Michigan Bell, Illinois Bell, and Pac Bell. Bell Operating Companies are now part of AT&T Inc., CenturyLink, and Verizon Communications. border elements Another name for media gateways. See also media gateways. bps (bits per second) The number of bits sent or received in one second. BRI (Basic Rate Interface) The ISDN interface made up of two B channels at 64 kilobits each and a signaling channel with a speed of 16 kilobits. bridge A device that connects local or remote networks together. Bridges are used to connect small numbers of networks. Bridges do not have routing intelligence. Organizations that want to connect more than four or five networks use routers. broadband A data transmission scheme in which multiple transmissions share a communications path. Cable television uses broadband transmission techniques. broadcast A message from one person or device forwarded to multiple destinations. Video and e-mail services have broadcast features whereby the same message can be sent to multiple recipients or locations. www.TechnicalPDF.com BTA (Basic Trading Area) A relatively small area in which the FCC allocates spectrum. There are 491 basic trading areas in the United States. CAP (Competitive Access Provider) Originally provided midsize and large organizations with conne