BA 4850 - Telecommunications

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic workings of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
• Demonstrate an understanding of key legislation that has been passed by Congress that has affected the Telecommunications industry
• Demonstrate an understanding of the judicial decisions that have been decided by the courts and their affect on the Telecommunications industry
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of regulatory bodies (FCC, PSC) and their impact on the Telecommunications industry
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of electromagnetics and electromechanical devices, in as much as they relate to telecommunications
• Demonstrate an understanding of multiplexing and line grooming in the process of providing a telecommunications transport infrastructure
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of digital communications and communication devices used in the PSTN
• Demonstrate an understanding of multilayered network communication models and the use of TCP, IP, and Ethernet protocols in LANs and WANs
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research and write a term paper that details one aspect of telecommunications

• A fundamental understanding of computing systems and programming.

• Telegraph and telephone networks (2 classes)
• The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (6 classes)
• The legislative, judicial, and regulatory history of the telecommunications industry (3 classes)
• Introduction to electricity and magnetism (1 class)
• Multiplexing, line compression, and grooming (2 classes)
• Digital communications and devices (3 classes)
• ISDN, ADSL, and CATV standards (3 classes)
• LAN and WAN protocols (Ethernet, TCP/IP, X.25, FR, ATM, QoS) (5 classes)
• Guest lectures (PSc commissioner; Computer Center tour) (2 classes)
• Tests (3 classes)