Wide Area Telephone Service
- (WATS) A toll service offering for customer dial-type telecommunications between a given customer [user] station and stations within specified geographic rate areas employing a single access line between the customer [user] location and the serving central office. Each access line may be arranged for either outward (OUT-WATS) or inward (IN-WATS) service, or both. (CFR 47) Note: The offering is for fixed-rate inter- and intra-LATA services measured by zones and hours. See also local access and transport area.