Editing Distribution frame (section)

{{Short description|Place at which telecommunications cables interconnect}}
{{primary sources|date=July 2008}}
[[File:Distribution-frame-0a-messy.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Unshielded twisted pair (copper) and optical fiber distribution frame]]
[[File:Optical-fiber-distribution-frame-0a.jpg|thumb|right|150px|An optical fiber distribution frame]]
In [[telecommunications]], a '''distribution frame''' is a passive device which terminates cables, allowing arbitrary interconnections to be made.

For example, the '''Main Distribution Frame''' (MDF) located at a [[telephone exchange|telephone central office]] terminates the cables leading to [[subscribers]] on the one hand, and cables leading to active equipment (such as DSLAMs and [[telephone switch]]es) on the other. Service is provided to a [[subscriber]] by manually wiring a [[twisted pair]] (called a jumper wire) between the telephone line and the relevant [[DSL]] or [[Plain old telephone service|POTS]] line circuit.

In [[broadcast engineering]], a '''distribution frame''' is a location within an apparatus room through which all signals ([[Sound|audio]], video, or data) pass, with the ability to arbitrarily route and connect sources and destinations between studios and other internal and external points. Connections can either be [[Solder|soldered]], or made using terminal blocks. Because the frame may carry live broadcast signals, it may be considered part of the [[airchain]].

In [[data communication]], a '''building distribution frame''' (BDF) houses data switches, etc.