Primary Interexchange Carrier Freeze

PIC, or Primary Interexchange Carrier

These numbers identify the long distance carrier that transmits your call beyond your local calling area.

These identifying numbers are four digits long and start with a zero. When you wish to use a long distance carrier other than your normal carrier you prefix the number with 101 and the carrier's PIC number. Hence all the ads for 1010-xxx where xxx is the last three digits of the long distance company's PIC code.

When you change your long distance provider, it's your local phone company that actually makes the switch. In telecom lingo, they "PIC to 0xxx". That is, they switch to a long distance carrier identified by PIC code 0xxx.

You can request that your local phone company not switch your long distance provide without your permission. This is known as a "PIC Freeze". When you wish to switch your long distance company you must call to have the PIC Freeze lifted or tell them to specifically "PIC to 0xxx", where "0xxx" is the PIC code of the long distance fiber provider used by your long distance service provider.

Note that the PIC code that identifies your long distance fiber provider may not identify your long distance service provider. To understand why, please see Resellers and Excess Network Capacity

A T1 line can provide voice, data, as well as integrated voice and data communications. Many small businesses find this saves money compared to individual phone lines.

A T1 line is a digital line connecting your site to another site, such as the junction switch to the national phone network.

We can provide full T1, fractional T1, multiple T1, or T3 connections at the lowest price available.