Data access arrangement

In telecommunication, the term data access arrangement has the following meanings:

1. In public switched telephone networks, a single item or group of items at the customer side of the network interface for data transmission purposes, including all equipment that may affect the characteristics of the interface.

2. A data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) supplied or approved by a common carrier that permits a DCE or data terminal equipment (DTE) to be attached to the common carrier network.

Note: Data access arrangements are an integral part of all modems built for the public telephone network.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C