GENERAL

This standard establishes requirements for the telephony aspects of packet-based user premises equipment. This document fills a recognized need in the telecommunications industry of those who specify, design, purchase, and use this equipment. This need was brought about by the connection of packet-based user premises terminal adapters (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP terminal adapters) to existing analog telephony equipment. Packet-based user premises terminal adapters with analog telephone ports are referred to as analog terminal adapters (ATA), or terminal adapters, in this standard.

The interface on the terminal adapter for connecting user equipment is referred to as the analog telephone port, and the user equipment connected to the terminal adapter's analog telephone port is referred to as the analog telephony equipment in this standard. The requirements in this standard are specified for the interface between the analog telephone port of the terminal adapter and the customer premises cabling and analog telephony equipment connected to the analog telephone port. The requirements are formulated to assure compatibility of the existing customer premises cabling and analog telephony equipment with the analog telephone port of the terminal adapter.