Bandwidth: Represents the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second).  This kind of bandwidth is usually expressed in bits of data per second (bps).

Broadband:  Telecommunication, in which a wide band of frequencies is available to transmit information, that allows more information to be transmitted in a given amount of time (much as more lanes on a highway allow more cars to travel on it at the same time).  

Download: The act of transferring data to a nearby computer or device from a distant computer or device.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): A technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines at rates between 128Kbps and 6Mbps.

Ethernet: A widely-installed local area network (LAN) technology, usually called 10BASE-T, which provides for data transmission speeds of up to 10Mbps.

Fast Ethernet: 100BASE-T LAN technology that provides for data transmission speeds of up to 100Mbps.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): Technology used for delivering internet over normal copper telephone lines, usually at a rate of up to 128Kbps.   

Kbps: Refers to a data transfer rate in terms of Kilobits (1,000 bits) per second.

LAN: A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link.

Mbps: Refers to a data transfer rate in terms of Megabits (1,000,000 bits) per second.

Network: A series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths.

Packet:  The unit of data routed between an origin and a destination on the internet or any other packet-switched network.

Router:  A device, in some cases software, in a computer that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination.

Satellite:  A specialized wireless receiver/transmitter launched by a rocket and placed in orbit around the earth.

Upload: The act of transferring data from a nearby computer or device to a distant computer or device.

WAN: A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically-dispersed telecommunications network.

Wireless: Telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or the entire communication path.