What should a technician verify before installing telephone service?

Before installing telephone service, a technician needs to ensure that the MAC address and serial numbers match the EMTA (Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter). This is crucial because the EMTA serves as the central device that connects telephone lines to the internet, enabling VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. If the MAC address and serial numbers do not match, the device may not be properly authenticated on the network, leading to service disruptions or failure to connect altogether. Verifying this information is an essential step to ensure that the installed service will operate correctly and reliably for the customer.

In contrast, while aspects such as network data type, telephone model, and the condition of the telephone lines are important considerations in the process of service installation, they do not directly relate to the immediate essential checks necessary for the proper functioning of the EMTA. These other elements might affect performance or compatibility but do not supersede the need for ensuring the EMTA's configuration is correct and aligned with network standards.