• Telecommunication. Any domestic or international transmission of information by wire, radio waves, optical media or other electromagnetic systems, between or among points of the user's choosing. • Telecommunication service. Any service provided by means of a telecommunication system • Telecommunication system. Any system or series of telecommunication facilities or radio, optical or other electromagnetic apparatus or any similar technical system used for the purpose of telecommunications, whether or not such telecommunication is subject to rearrangement, composition or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission, emission or reception. • Universal Access. The level of deployment at which everyone in the country can gain access to a publicly available telecommunications service at reasonable distances, although not necessarily in their home. • Universal Service. The level of deployment at which every household in the country has basic telecommunications service. • UPU: Universal Postal Union • USF: Universal Service Fund, also USFC: Universal Service Fund Committee • VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol. The process of sending packetised voice content over the Internet. The voice content can originate or terminate on a personal computer using VoIP software, or on a traditional telephone handset attached to a broadband connection using an adaptor that converts the voice signal to the Internet Protocol. • WiMAX. A telecommunications technology based on the IEEE 802.16 standard. The name WiMAX was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL." • WTO: World Trade Organization