Includes bibliographical references and index.

This guide to telecommunications and data communications for non-engineers is aimed at professionals in the end-user, carrier, content or service provider, manufacturing, regulatory, or financial communities. Horak provides an overview of a wide range of communications systems and networks, including voice, data, video, and multimedia, presenting a basis for understanding system and network technologies, their origins and evolutions, and applications, as well as standards and regulatory issues. He also explains the vocabulary used and how networks work and why. An appendix lists standards bodies and special interest groups and their contact information. Horak, a former manager and executive manager, is an independent consultant and speaker, trainer, author, and columnist.