Apparatus for providing a plurality of providers of subscriber service signals with easy access to at least one subscriber premises line

• US 6,307,933 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Antec Incorporated
• Inventors: Nieves, Anthony L., Stehlin, David S., Krawiec, Stanley, Tuvy, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/934,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 379/399, 379/412, 379/413, 379/133, 379/442, 379/397, 379/326, 439/578, 439/579, 439/580, 439/498, 439/582, 439/583, 439/92, 361/601, 361/602, 361/641, 361/823-828
• US Class Current: 379/413.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0293 Terminal boxes for telephone sets

Abstract

Apparatus providing at least one subscriber with subscriber service signals, telephone line signals and/or broadband signals, from one of at least two providers of such signals, including a connector for terminating at least one subscriber premises line, connectors for terminating incoming service lines from at least two providers of subscriber service signals and for permitting either provider of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line and for permitting either provider to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the incoming service line of the other provider previously connected to the subscriber premises line and thereafter connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connecting a subscriber premises line to either a first incoming service line from a first service provider or a second incoming service line from a second service provider, comprising:

a housing having a subscriber compartment, a first provider compartment, and a second provider compartment;

a first connector in said subscriber compartment electrically connected to said subscriber premises line;

a second connector in said second provider compartment electrically connected to said subscriber premises line;

a third connector in said first provider compartment electrically connected to said first incoming service line;

a fourth connector in said second provider compartment electrically connected to said second incoming service line;

wherein either the third connector or the fourth connector can be electrically connected to said second connector at any one time to connect said first or second incoming service line, respectively, to said subscriber premises line;

wherein either the first or second service provider can disconnect the other service provider'"'"'s incoming service line from said second connector and connect its incoming service line to said second connector.

2. Apparatus for connecting a subscriber premises line to either a first incoming service line from a first service provider or a second incoming service line from a second service provider, comprising:

a housing having a subscriber compartment, an interconnecting compartment, a first provider compartment, and a second provider compartment;

a first connector in said subscriber compartment electrically connected to said subscriber premises line;

a second connector in said interconnecting compartment electrically connected to said subscriber premises line;

a third connector in said first provider compartment electrically connected to said first incoming service line;

a fourth connector in said second provider compartment electrically connected to said second incoming service line;

wherein either the third connector or the fourth connector can each be electrically connected to said second connector at any one time to connect said first or second incoming service line, respectively, to said subscriber premises line; and

wherein either the first or second service provider can disconnect the other service provider'"'"'s incoming service line from said second connector and connect its incoming service line to said second connector.

3. Apparatus for permitting either of first and second providers of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line of a subscriber, comprising:

first terminating means for terminating the subscriber premises line; and

second terminating means for terminating the incoming service lines of the first and second providers and for permitting either of the first or second providers to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line, and for permitting either of the first or second providers to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the incoming service line of the other provider previously connected to the subscriber premises line and thereafter connect its incoming) service line to the subscriber premises line.

4. Apparatus for connecting a subscriber premises line to either the incoming service line of a first provider of subscriber service signals or to the incoming service line of a second provider of incoming service signals, comprising:

first means for terminating the subscriber premises line;

second means for terminating the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals;

third means for terminating the incoming service line of a second provider of subscriber service signals; and

said second and third means permitting the subscriber premises line to be connected to the incoming service line of either the first or second provider of subscriber service signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for restricting access to said first means to the subscriber and the first and second providers of subscriber service signals, means for restricting access to said second means to said first provider of subscriber service signals and means for restricting access to said third means to said first and second providers of subscriber service signals.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises overvoltage protection means for being connected to at least one of the incoming service lines.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the apparatus further comprises overvoltage protection means for being connected to both of the incoming service lines.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises jumper connecting means for interconnecting said first means to either said second or said third means.

9. Apparatus for providing at least one subscriber with subscriber service signals from one of at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, comprising:

housing means including a base and first, second, third and fourth covers, said base including a bottom circumscribed by an outwardly extending wall and at least three separating walls extending upwardly from said bottom, said bottom, said outwardly extending wall and said separating walls providing a first compartment, a second compartment, a third compartment and a fourth compartment;

first connecting means mounted in said first compartment for being connected to at least one subscriber premises line;

second connecting means mounted in said second compartment for being connected to a first incoming service line from a first provider of subscriber service signals;

third connecting means mounted in said third compartment for being connected to a second incoming service line carrying subscriber service signals from a second provider of subscriber service signals;

fourth connecting means mounted in said fourth compartment, and upon the subscriber choosing to receive subscriber service signals from the first provider of subscriber service signals said fourth connecting means for permitting said first provider of subscriber service signals to connect the first incoming service line to the subscriber premises line to cause the subscriber to receive subscriber service signals from the first provider of subscriber service signals, and upon the subscriber choosing to discontinue the receipt of subscriber service signals from the first provider of subscriber service signals and to commence receiving subscriber service signals from the second provider of subscriber service signals, said fourth connecting means for permitting said second provider of subscriber service signals to disconnect the first incoming service line from the subscriber premises line and to connect the second incoming service line to the subscriber premises line to permit the subscriber to receive subscriber service signals from the second provider of subscriber service signals;

said first cover mounted pivotally to said base, a second cover mounted pivotally to said base and for being fastened to said base and closed over said second compartment and for restricting access to said second connecting means to the first provider of subscriber service signals, said third cover mounted pivotally to said base and for being fastened to said base and closed over said third compartment and for restricting access to said third compartment to the second provider of subscriber service signals, said fourth cover mounted pivotally to said base and for being closed and fastened over said fourth compartment and for restricting access to said fourth compartment to the first provider of subscriber service signals and the second provider of subscriber service signals, and said first cover for being fastened to said base and closed over said first compartment and said second, third and fourth covers and for restricting access to said first compartment to the subscriber, the first provider of subscriber service signals and the second provider of subscriber service signals.

10. Apparatus for providing at least a first subscriber with subscriber service signals available from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, the first subscriber having a first subscriber premises line, the first provider of subscriber service signals having a first incoming service line and the second provider of subscriber service signals having a second incoming service line, comprising:

housing means providing at least a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment and including a first cover for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment, a second cover for being fastened closed over said second compartment, and a third cover for being fastened closed over said third compartment;

first connecting means residing in said first compartment for being connected to the first subscriber premises line;

second connecting means residing in said second compartment for being connected to the first incoming service line;

third connecting means residing in said third compartment for being connected to the second incoming service line;

said first connecting means for interconnecting the first subscriber premises line to the first incoming service line to provide the first subscriber with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals; and

upon the first subscriber premises line being disconnected from the first incoming service line said first connecting means for interconnecting the first subscriber premises line to the second incoming service line to provide the first subscriber with subscriber service signals available from the second provider of subscriber service signals.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said housing means includes base means providing said compartments, wherein said first cover is mounted pivotally to said base means and is for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment, said first cover provided with first fastening means for fastening to said base means and said first fastening means for being unfastened only by the first and second providers of subscriber service signals, wherein said second cover is mounted pivotally to said base means and is provided with second fastening means for being fastened to said base means, said second fastening means for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals, and wherein said third cover is mounted pivotally to said base means and is provided with third fastening means for being fastened to said base means and said third fastening means for being unfastened only by the second provider of subscriber service signals.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said apparatus is for providing at least first and second subscribers with subscriber service signals available from at least the first and second providers of subscriber service signals, wherein the second subscriber has a second subscriber premises line, wherein said first connecting means is for being connected to the second subscriber premises line, wherein said first connecting means is for interconnecting the second subscriber premises line to the second incoming service line to provide the second subscriber with subscriber service signals available from the second provider of incoming subscriber signals and wherein upon the second subscriber premises line being disconnected from the second incoming service line said first connecting means for interconnecting the second subscriber premises line to the first incoming service line to provide the second subscriber with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the subscriber service signals are broadband signals, wherein the first and second providers of subscriber service signals are first and second providers of broadband signals, wherein the first and second subscriber premises lines are subscriber coaxial cables, wherein the first and second incoming service lines are first and second incoming coaxial cables, wherein said first, said second, and said third connecting means each comprise coaxial cable connector means.

14. Apparatus for providing at least first and second subscribers with subscriber service signals available from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, the first and second subscribers having respectively first and second subscriber premises lines, the first provider of subscriber service signals having a first incoming service line and the second provider of subscriber service signals having a second incoming service line, comprising:

housing means providing at least a first compartment, a second compartment and a third compartment and including a first cover for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment and said first cover for being unfastened only by the first and second providers of subscriber service signals, a second cover for being fastened closed over said second compartment and said second cover for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals and a third cover for being fastened closed over said third compartment and said third cover for being unfastened only by the second provider of subscriber service signals;

first connecting means residing in said first compartment for being interconnected to the first and second subscriber premises lines;

second connecting means residing in said second compartment for being connected to the first incoming service line;

third connecting means residing in said third compartment and for being connected to the second incoming service line;

said first connecting means for connecting either or both of the first and second subscriber premises lines to the first incoming service line to provide either or both of the first and second subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals and for connecting either or both of the first and second subscriber premises lines to the second incoming service line to provide either or both of the first and second subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the second provider of subscriber service signals; and

upon either the first or the second subscriber premises lines being first connected and then disconnected from one of the first or the second incoming service lines permitting either the first or the second subscriber premises lines to be connected to the other of the first and second incoming service lines to provide either the first or the second subscriber with subscriber service signals from the other of the first and second providers of subscriber service signals.

15. Apparatus for providing a plurality of subscribers with subscriber service signals available from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, the plurality of subscribers having a plurality of subscriber premises lines each associated with one of the subscribers, the first provider of subscriber service signals having a first incoming service line and a second provider of subscriber service signals having a second incoming service line, comprising:

housing means providing at least a first compartment, a second compartment and a third compartment and including a first cover for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment, a second cover for being fastened closed over said second compartment and a third cover for being fastened closed over said third compartment, said first cover for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals and the second provider of subscriber service signals, said second cover for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals and said third cover for being unfastened only by the second provider of subscriber service signals;

first connecting means residing in said first compartment for being connected to the plurality of subscriber premises lines;

second connecting means residing in said second compartment for being connected to the first incoming service line;

third connecting means residing in said third compartment for being connected to the second incoming service line;

said first and second connecting means for connecting the plurality of subscriber premises lines to the first incoming service line to provide all of the subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals;

said first and third connecting means for interconnecting the plurality of subscriber premises lines to the second incoming service line to provide all of the subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals; and

said first, said second and said third connecting means for connecting any one of the plurality of subscriber premises lines to either the first or the second incoming service line to provide the one subscriber with subscriber service signals available from either the first or the second provider of subscriber service signals; and

upon any one of the subscriber service lines being connected to and thereafter disconnected from one of the first or the second incoming service lines said first, said second and said third connecting means for connecting the one subscriber premises line to the other of the first and second incoming service lines.

16. Apparatus for connecting one of at least first and second incoming service lines to at least one subscriber premises line, the first incoming service line carrying subscriber service signals from a first provider of subscriber service signals and the second incoming service line carrying subscriber service signals from a second provider of subscriber service signals, comprising:

means for terminating the subscriber premises line;

means for terminating the first incoming service line;

means for terminating the second incoming service line and for connecting the subscriber premises line to either the first or the second incoming service line; and

means providing overvoltage protection to at least the first incoming service line and for diverting voltage surges on the first incoming service line to ground.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said apparatus further includes means providing overvoltage protection to the second incoming service line and for diverting overvoltage surges on the second incoming service line to ground.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means providing overvoltage protection to at least a first incoming service line and for diverting voltage surges on the first incoming service line to ground and said means providing overvoltage protection to the second incoming service line and for diverting overvoltage surges on the second incoming service line to ground are connected in common to ground.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus further includes means for denying access to the means for terminating the subscriber premises line except to a subscriber associated with the subscriber premises line and to the first and second providers of subscriber service signals, means for denying access to the means for terminating the first incoming service line except to the first provider of the subscriber service signals, and means for denying access to the means for terminating the second incoming service line except to the first and second providers of subscriber service signals.

20. Apparatus for providing at least a first subscriber with subscriber service signals available from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, the first subscriber having a first subscriber premises line, the first provider of subscriber service signals having a first incoming service line and the second provider of subscriber service signals having a second incoming service line, comprising:

housing means providing at least a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment and including a first cover for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment, a second cover for being fastened closed over said second compartment, and a third cover for being fastened closed over said third compartment;

first connecting means mounted in said first compartment for being connected to the first subscriber premises line;

second connecting means mounted in said second compartment for being connected to the first incoming service line;

overvoltage protection means and grounding means mounted in said housing, said overvoltage protection means connected to at least said second connecting means, and said overvoltage protection means for diverting voltage surges on at least the first incoming service line to said grounding means;

third connecting means mounted in said third compartment and for interconnecting the first subscriber premises line to the first incoming service line to provide the first subscriber with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of incoming subscriber service signals; and

upon the first subscriber premises line being disconnected from the first incoming service line said third connecting means for interconnecting the first subscriber premises line to the second incoming service line to provide the first subscriber with incoming subscriber service signals available from the second provider of incoming subscriber service signals.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said housing means includes base means providing said compartments, wherein said first cover is mounted pivotally to said base means and is for being fastened closed over said first compartment and said first cover and said second cover, said first cover provided with first fastening means for fastening to said base means and said first fastening means for being unfastened only by the first subscriber and the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals, wherein said second cover is mounted pivotally to said base means and is provided with second fastening means for being fastened to said base means, said second fastening means for being unfastened only by the first provider of incoming subscriber service signals, and wherein said third cover is mounted pivotally to said second cover and is provided with third fastening means for being fastened to said second cover and said third fastening means for being unfastened only by the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said overvoltage protection means and said grounding means are mounted in said second compartment and wherein said overvoltage protection means are for diverting voltage surges on the first incoming service line to said grounding means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said overvoltage protection means comprise first overvoltage protection means and second overvoltage protection means and wherein said grounding means comprise first grounding means and second grounding means, said first grounding means and said second grounding means connected in common to earth ground, wherein said first overvoltage protection means and said first grounding means are mounted in said second compartment and wherein said first overvoltage protection means are connected to said second connecting means, and wherein said first overvoltage protection means are for diverting voltage surges on the first incoming service line to said first grounding means, wherein said second overvoltage protection means and said second grounding means are mounted in said third compartment and wherein said second overvoltage protection means are connected to said third connecting means, and wherein said second overvoltage protection means are for diverting voltage surges on the second incoming service line to said second grounding means.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the incoming subscriber service signals are incoming telephone line signals, wherein the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals are first and second providers of incoming telephone line signals, wherein the first and said second incoming service lines are first and second incoming telephone lines, wherein said first connecting means comprise at least one individual subscriber line module, and wherein said second and third connecting means each comprise at least one pair of telephone terminals.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the incoming subscriber service signals are incoming broadband signals, wherein the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals are first and second providers of broadband signals, wherein the first subscriber premises line is a coaxial cable, wherein the first and second incoming service lines are first and second incoming coaxial cables, wherein said first, said second, and said third connecting means each comprise coaxial cable connector mean.

26. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said incoming subscriber service signals comprise incoming telephone line signals and incoming broadband signals, wherein the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals comprise first and second providers of incoming telephone line signals and broadband signals, wherein the first subscriber premises line comprises a telephone subscriber premises line and a coaxial cable, wherein the first and said second incoming service lines comprise first and second incoming telephone lines and first and second incoming coaxial cables, wherein said first connecting means comprise at least one individual subscriber line module and at least one coaxial cable connector;

wherein said second connecting means comprise at least one pair of telephone terminals and a coaxial cable connector, and wherein said third connecting means comprise a pair of telephone terminals and a coaxial cable connector.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said first fastening means comprise override fastening means permitting the subscriber to lock the first cover to the override means to limit access to said first compartment to only the subscriber and the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals and said override means permitting the first and second providers of incoming subscriber service signals to unfasten said first cover from said base means while said first cover remains locked to said override means.

28. Apparatus for providing at least one subscriber with subscriber service signals from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, comprising:

first connecting means for being connected to at least one subscriber premises line;

second connecting means for being connected to a first incoming service line carrying subscriber signals provided by a first provider of subscriber service signals;

third connecting means for being connected to a second incoming service line carrying subscriber service signals from a second provider of subscriber service signals; and

fourth connecting means for permitting the first provider of subscriber service signals to connect the first incoming service line to the subscriber premises line to provide subscriber service signals to the subscriber upon the subscriber choosing to receive subscriber service signals from the first provider of subscriber service signals, and said fourth connecting means for permitting the second provider of subscriber service signals to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the first incoming service line and to thereafter connect the second incoming service line to the subscriber premises line to permit the subscriber to receive subscriber service signals from the second provider of subscriber service signals upon the subscriber choosing to discontinue receipt of subscriber service signals from the first provider of subscriber service signals and to commence the receipt of subscriber service signals from the second provider of subscriber service signals.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said apparatus further comprises first overvoltage protection means and first ground connecting means connected to the first incoming service line to divert overvoltage surges on the first incoming service line to earth ground.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising second overvoltage protection means and second ground connecting means for diverting overvoltage surges on the second incoming service line to earth ground, and wherein said first and second ground connecting means are connected in common to earth ground.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising housing means providing a first compartment in which said first connecting means are mounted, a second compartment in which said second connecting means are mounted, a third compartment in which said third connecting means are mounted, and a fourth compartment in which said fourth connecting means are mounted, said housing further comprising first access restriction means for restricting access to said first compartment to the subscriber, the first provider of subscriber service signals and the second provider of subscriber service signals, second access restricting means for restricting access to said second compartment to said first provider of subscriber service signals;

and third access restriction means for restricting access to said third compartment to the second provider of subscriber service signals, and fourth access restriction means for restricting access to said fourth compartment to said first provider of subscriber service signals and to said second provider of subscriber service signals.

32. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the subscriber service signals are telephone line signals, wherein the first and second providers of subscriber service signals are first and second providers of telephone line signals, wherein the at least one subscriber premises line is at least one telephone subscriber premises line, wherein said first connecting means comprise a first pair of subscriber terminals for being connected to the telephone subscriber premises line, wherein the first incoming service line is a first incoming telephone line, wherein the second connecting means comprise a first pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the first incoming telephone line, wherein the second incoming service line is a second incoming telephone line, wherein the third connecting means comprise a third pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the second incoming telephone line, and wherein said fourth connecting means comprise a fourth pair of telephone terminals.

33. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the subscriber service signals are broadband signals, wherein the first and second providers of subscriber service signals are first and second providers of broadband signals, wherein the at least one subscriber premises line is a subscriber coaxial cable, wherein said first connecting means is a first coaxial cable connector, wherein the first incoming service line is a first incoming coaxial cable, wherein said second connecting means comprise a second coaxial cable connector, wherein the second incoming service line is a second incoming coaxial cable, wherein said third connecting means comprise a third coaxial cable connector, and wherein said fourth connecting means comprise a fourth coaxial cable connector.

34. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the subscriber service signals are telephone line signals and broadband signals, wherein the at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals are at least first and second providers of telephone line signals and broadband signals, wherein the at least one subscriber premises line comprises at least one telephone subscriber premises line and at least one subscriber coaxial cable, wherein the first incoming service line comprises a first incoming telephone line and a first incoming coaxial cable, wherein said second connecting means comprise a second pair of telephone terminals and a second coaxial cable connector, wherein the second incoming service line comprises a second incoming telephone line and a second incoming coaxial cable, wherein said third connecting means comprise a third pair of telephone terminals and a third coaxial cable connector, and wherein said fourth connecting means comprise a fourth pair of telephone terminals and a fourth coaxial cable connector.

35. Apparatus for providing a plurality of subscribers with subscriber service signals available from at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals, the plurality of subscribers having a plurality of subscriber premises lines each associated with one of the subscribers, the first provider of subscriber service signals having a first incoming service line and a second provider of subscriber service signals having a second incoming service line, comprising:

housing means providing at least a first compartment, a second compartment and a third compartment and including a first cover for being fastened closed over at least said first compartment, a second cover for being fastened closed over said second compartment and a third cover for being fastened closed over said third compartment, said first cover for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals and the second provider of subscriber service signals, said second cover for being unfastened only by the first provider of subscriber service signals and said third cover for being unfastened only by the second provider of subscriber service signals;

first connecting means residing in said first compartment and including a first plurality of connectors equal in number to the plurality of subscriber premises lines and for being connected to the plurality of subscriber premises lines;

second connecting means residing in said second compartment and provided with a second plurality of connectors equal in number to said first plurality of connectors;

third connecting means residing in said third compartment and providing a third plurality of connectors equal in number to said first plurality of connectors;

said first connecting means and said second connecting means for permitting one or more jumper lines to interconnect one or all of said plurality of subscriber premises lines to the first incoming service line to provide one or all of the plurality of subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the first provider of subscriber service signals;

said first connecting means and said third connecting means for permitting one or more jumper lines to interconnect one or all of the plurality of subscriber premises lines to the second incoming service line to provide one or all of the plurality of subscribers with subscriber service signals available from the second provider of subscriber service signals; and

upon any one of the plurality of subscriber premises lines being first connected to and then disconnected from one of the first and second incoming service lines by one of the jumper lines, said first, said second and said third connecting means permitting the one subscriber premises line to be connected to the other of the first and second incoming service lines.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the subscriber service signals are broadband signals, wherein the first and second providers of subscriber service signals are first and second providers of broadband signals, wherein the plurality of subscriber premises lines are a plurality of subscriber coaxial cables, wherein the first and second incoming service lines are first and second incoming coaxial cables and wherein said second and third connecting means are respective first and second tap means for respectively tapping the first and second incoming coaxial cables to provide from each of the first and second incoming coaxial cables a plurality of broadband signal outputs equal in number to the plurality of subscriber premises lines.

37. Apparatus for permitting either of at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line of at least a first subscriber of subscriber service signals, comprising:

first terminating means for terminating the subscriber premises line; and

second terminating means for terminating the incoming service lines of the at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals and for permitting either of the at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line and for permitting either of the at least first and second providers of subscriber service signals to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the incoming service line of the other provider of subscriber service signals previously connected to the subscriber premises line and thereafter connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said second terminating means comprise first connecting means for being connected to the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals and second connecting means for permitting the first provider of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line, and wherein said second connecting means are for terminating the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals and for permitting the second provider of subscriber service signals to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals and thereafter to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein the subscriber service signals are telephone line signals, wherein the subscriber premises line is a telephone subscriber premises line, wherein the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals is a first incoming telephone line, and wherein said first connecting means comprise a first pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the first incoming telephone line, wherein the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals is a second incoming telephone line and wherein said second connecting means comprise a second pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the second incoming telephone line.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said first terminating means comprise an individual subscriber line module providing a pair of subscriber terminals for being connected to the telephone subscriber premises line.

41. The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein the subscriber premises line comprises a telephone subscriber premises line for receiving telephone line signals and a subscriber coaxial cable for receiving broadband signals, wherein the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals comprises a first incoming telephone line for carrying telephone line signals and a first incoming coaxial cable for carrying broadband signals, and wherein said first connecting means comprise a first pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the first incoming telephone line and a first coaxial cable connector for being connected to the first incoming coaxial cable, wherein the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals comprises a second incoming telephone line for carrying telephone line signals and a second incoming coaxial cable for carrying broadband signals, and wherein the second connecting means comprise a pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the second incoming telephone line and a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the second incoming coaxial cable.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein the first terminating means comprise an individual subscriber module providing a first pair of subscriber terminals for being connected to the telephone subscriber premises line and a third coaxial cable connector for being connected to the subscriber coaxial cable.

43. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said second terminating means comprise first connecting means for being connected to the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals, second connecting means for being connected to the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals and third connecting means for permitting either the first provider or the second provider of subscriber service signals to connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line and for permitting either of the first or second provider of subscriber service signals to disconnect from the subscriber premises line the incoming service line of the other provider of subscriber service signals previously connected to the subscriber premises line and thereafter connect its incoming service line to the subscriber premises line.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein the subsciber service signals are telephone line signals, wherein the subscriber premises line is a telephone subscriber premises line, wherein said first terminating means comprise a pair of subscriber terminals for being connected to the telephone subscriber premises line, wherein the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals is a first incoming telephone line and wherein said first connecting means comprise a pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the first incoming telephone line, wherein the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals is a second incoming telephone line and wherein said second connecting means comprise a second pair of telephone terminals for being connected to the second incoming telephone line, and wherein said third connecting means comprise a pair of telephone terminals for connecting the telephone subscriber premises line with either the first or second incoming telephone line.

45. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein the subscriber service signals are broadband signals, wherein the subscriber premises line is a subscriber coaxial cable, wherein said first terminating means comprise a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the subscriber coaxial cable, wherein the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals is a first incoming coaxial cable and wherein said first connecting means comprise a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the first incoming coaxial cable, wherein the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals is a second incoming coaxial cable and wherein said second connecting means comprise a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the second incoming coaxial cable, and wherein said third connecting means comprise a coaxial cable connector for connecting the subscriber coaxial cable with either the first or second incoming coaxial cable.

46. The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein the subscriber services signals are broadband signals, wherein the subscriber premises line is a subscriber coaxial cable, wherein the incoming service line of the first provider of subscriber service signals is a first incoming coaxial cable, and wherein said first connecting means comprise a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the first incoming coaxial cable, wherein the incoming service line of the second provider of subscriber service signals is a second incoming coaxial cable, and wherein the second connecting means comprise a coaxial cable connector for being connected to the second incoming coaxial cable.