Jack and connector

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having a cord shield terminating contact includes a housing formed of plurality of jack parts adapted to interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the connector. One of the jack parts constitutes a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member. Each of the walls has a longitudinally extending inner surface at least a substantial portion of which bounds the plug receptacle so that a substantial portion of the receptacle is bounded on all of its sides by the electrically conductive material of the grounding and shielding part. The top, bottom and side walls of the grounding and shielding parts substantially surround the plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length. A modular plug connector adapted for insertion into the receptacle of the jack includes a housing which is surrounded by a conductive collar which terminates the cord shield through the side of the connector housing. The conductive collar is adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the grounding and shielding part of the jack which itself is grounded to thereby ground the shield.