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Access in telecommunications is the process by which an effort to communicate through an electronic communications system is carried out.

The process begins with an access attempt, in which one or more users interact with a communications system to enable initiation of user information transfer. An access attempt itself begins with an issuance of an access request by an access originator.

An access attempt ends either in successful access or in access failure - an unsuccessful access that results in termination of the attempt in any manner other than initiation of user information transfer between the intended source and destination (sink) within the specified maximum access time.

Access failure can be the result of access outage, user blocking, incorrect access, or access denial. Access denial (system blocking) can include:

• Access failure caused by the issuing of a system blocking signal by a communications system that does not have a call-originator camp-on feature.
• Access failure caused by exceeding the maximum access time and nominal system access time fraction during an access attempt.

Charging for access

An access charge is a charge made by a local exchange carrier for use of its local exchange facilities for a purpose such as the origination or termination of traffic that is carried to or from a distant exchange by an interexchange carrier.

Although some access charges are billed directly to local end users, a very large part of all access charges is paid by interexchange carriers.

Source

From Federal Standard 1037C, entitled Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms is a United States Federal Standard, issued by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended.