The number of bits that can be transported over the media is determined by the type of _____ scheme used in a system.

The correct choice relates to the concept of encoding schemes in data transmission. Encoding schemes are critical because they define how data is represented in binary form for transmission over various media. This representation influences not just the integrity of the data as it travels but also the bandwidth efficiency, which ultimately determines how many bits can be successfully sent at a time without errors.

Encoding techniques can include different methods such as NRZ (Non-Return to Zero), Manchester encoding, and more complex schemes like line coding or block coding. Each of these methods utilizes different rules for converting data into signal patterns, impacting the number of bits that can be effectively transmitted. For example, certain encoding methods may include additional bits for error checking or synchronization, thus limiting the number of bits that can be used for actual data transfer.

In contrast, while transmission, carrier, and modulation also play crucial roles in communication systems, they do not directly determine the number of bits that can be transmitted per unit time as encoding does. Transmission refers to the method of sending the information through a medium, the carrier pertains to the frequency or signal used to convey the information, and modulation involves altering a carrier signal to encode data for transmission. Although all of these factors are interrelated and necessary for the communication process, the