# Residential proxy and ASN glossary

> Residential proxy and ASN glossary: 33 terms from ASN, BGP and RIPEstat to DOCSIS, CGNAT, sticky sessions and ZIP targeting, each with a US broadband example.

- URL: https://broadbandproxies.com/glossary/
- Last updated: 2026-10-18
- Publisher: Broadband Proxies (https://broadbandproxies.com)

Short definitions of the routing, broadband and proxy terms used across Broadband Proxies pages, grouped by topic.

**Quick answer — What do ASN, BGP, CGNAT and other proxy terms mean?**

This **Broadband Proxies** glossary explains 33 terms you meet when you target US residential proxies by internet provider. It covers routing terms such as ASN, BGP and prefix, and data sources such as RIPEstat, ARIN and the FCC National Broadband Map. It also covers home technologies such as DOCSIS and FTTH, and proxy terms such as sticky session and ZIP targeting.

## Networks and routing

**ASN (autonomous system number)** — The ID number of a network that runs its own routing on the internet. Comcast's main residential network is AS7922. On Broadband Proxies, `asn-7922` in the username selects exits on that network.

**Autonomous system (AS)** — A group of IP prefixes run by one operator under one routing policy. Large ISPs often run several, for example after a merger. See [ISP mergers and ASNs](https://broadbandproxies.com/guides/isp-mergers-and-asns/).

**BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)** — The protocol networks use to tell each other which IP prefixes they can reach. Public BGP data shows which ASN announces an address, and that is how an IP is tied to an ISP.

**IP prefix** — A block of consecutive IP addresses written with a slash, such as 203.0.113.0/24. A /24 holds 256 IPv4 addresses, and an ASN announces its prefixes through BGP.

**IPv4 and IPv6** — The two versions of IP addresses. An IPv4 address looks like 198.51.100.7, while an IPv6 address is longer, such as 2001:db8::1.

**Dynamic IP** — An address the ISP can change from time to time, for example after a router restart. Most US home connections receive dynamic addresses.

**CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT)** — A setup where an ISP places many customers behind one shared public IPv4 address. It is common on mobile and fixed-wireless networks, so one IP can stand for many homes.

## Registries and broadband data

**ARIN** — The American Registry for Internet Numbers. It assigns IP addresses and AS numbers in the United States, Canada and parts of the Caribbean.

**WHOIS and RDAP** — Lookup services that return the registered holder of an IP block or an ASN. RDAP is the newer, structured version that ARIN and the other registries now offer.

**RIPEstat** — A free tool from the RIPE NCC that shows routing data for any IP or ASN worldwide, including the prefixes an ASN announces. Our [ISP pages](https://broadbandproxies.com/isps/) cite it for AS numbers.

**PeeringDB** — A public database where networks list their ASNs, peering points and contacts. It helps confirm which company operates an ASN and what kind of network it is.

**FCC National Broadband Map** — The Federal Communications Commission's public map of fixed and mobile internet availability, built from provider filings. Our [city pages](https://broadbandproxies.com/cities/) use its data as of December 31, 2025.

**Broadband Data Collection (BDC)** — The FCC program under which providers report, twice a year, where they offer service. These filings feed the National Broadband Map.

**Broadband serviceable location (BSL)** — A place where fixed internet service can be installed, such as a house or an apartment building. FCC coverage percentages are shares of these locations.

**Census place** — A city, town or similar area defined by the US Census Bureau and identified by a code called a GEOID. Our city pages match FCC data to these places.

## Home-internet technologies

**DOCSIS** — The standard cable networks use to carry internet over coaxial cable. DOCSIS 3.1 is common today, and some operators have started DOCSIS 4.0 in selected markets.

**HFC (hybrid fiber-coaxial)** — A cable network design with fiber to the neighborhood and coaxial cable into the home. Comcast and Spectrum run mostly HFC networks.

**FTTH (fiber to the home)** — A connection where optical fiber runs all the way into the home. AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios are large US examples.

**DSL** — Internet carried over telephone copper lines. It is slower than cable or fiber, and many US telephone companies are retiring it.

**Fixed wireless** — Home internet delivered by radio, from a tower to an antenna or receiver at the home. In the US this includes 5G home internet and local wireless ISPs.

## Proxy products and settings

**Residential IP** — An IP address that an ISP assigns to a home subscriber, rather than to a server in a data center. Sites usually see it as ordinary household traffic.

**Residential proxy** — A proxy that sends your request out through a residential IP. Broadband Proxies sells US residential proxies billed per GB; see [residential proxies](https://broadbandproxies.com/residential-proxies/).

**ISP proxy** — A static IP registered to an ISP but hosted on a server, so it stays the same for weeks. Broadband Proxies does not sell ISP proxies; see [ISP proxies vs residential by ISP](https://broadbandproxies.com/compare/isp-proxies-vs-residential-by-isp/).

**Datacenter proxy** — A proxy on an IP owned by a hosting or cloud company. Sites can easily recognize it as server traffic rather than home traffic.

**ASN targeting** — Choosing the network of your exit IP by its AS number. ASN availability varies by network, city and time of day; the checkout shows what is online, and no IP count per ISP is published. See [how ASN targeting works](https://broadbandproxies.com/guides/how-asn-targeting-works/).

**City targeting** — Choosing the city of your exit IP, such as `city-houston` in the username. City availability varies; the checkout shows what is online.

**ZIP targeting** — Choosing an exit by US ZIP code, such as `zip-19103` for central Philadelphia. It is the narrowest location option, so fewer devices match at any moment.

**Rotating session** — A mode where your exit IP changes instead of staying fixed. Each new connection gets an IP from the pool, usually a different one; to get a new IP on every request, send one request per connection (turn off keep-alive).

**Sticky session** — A mode that keeps the same exit IP for a while, set with `session-` and `ttl-` in the username. On Broadband Proxies it lasts up to 30 minutes (the IP can change earlier, for example if the home device goes offline).

**Proxy gateway** — The single host you connect to; it forwards each request to an exit IP. For Broadband Proxies it is gw.broadbandproxies.com: use 7777 for HTTP or HTTPS and 7778 for SOCKS5.

**SOCKS5** — A protocol that relays any TCP connection, web or not. Broadband Proxies supports HTTP, HTTPS (CONNECT) and SOCKS5.

**IP allowlist** — Your own server addresses, saved in the account, that can connect without a username or password. It suits servers with fixed IPs.

**Geolocation database** — A database that maps IP addresses to places. Two databases can place the same IP in different cities, so check the ASN of an exit as well; see [how to check it](https://broadbandproxies.com/guides/check-exit-ip-asn/).

**Try ASN and city targeting** The 1 GB plan costs $2.63 and includes ASN, state, city and ZIP targeting. [See pricing](https://broadbandproxies.com/pricing/) · [Browse ISPs](https://broadbandproxies.com/isps/)

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Broadband Proxies: Broadband Proxies is a US residential proxy provider with ISP (ASN) and city targeting, paid in crypto with no ID upload: pick Comcast, Spectrum, AT&T, Verizon Fios or 30 other US networks, plus state, city and ZIP, billed per GB.