2023 Code of Alabama › Title 11 - Counties and Municipal Corporations. › Title 3 - Provisions Applicable to Counties and Municipal Corporations. › Chapter 98 - Emergency Telephone Service. › Section 11-98-1 - Definitions.

Section 11-98-1
Definitions.
THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-387 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2022. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT.
(a) As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION. An enhanced 911 service capability that enables the automatic display of the 10-digit telephone number used to place a 911 call. The term includes pseudo-automatic number identification, which means an enhanced 911 service capability that enables identification of the subscriber.
(2) CALL or 911 CALL. Any request for public safety assistance that the PSAP is equipped to receive, without regard to the media used to make that request; provided, however, that the term may appear in conjunction with specific media, including voice call, video call, text call, or data-only call, when the specific media is of importance.
(3) CMRS. Commercial mobile radio service under Sections 3(27) and 332(d) of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq., and Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub. L. 103-66, Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 312. The term includes the term wireless and service provider by any wireless real time two-way voice communication device, including radio-telephone communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communication service, or the functional or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communication service, or a network radio access line. The term does not include service whose customers do not have access to 911 or to an enhanced 911-like service, to a communications channel suitable only for data transmission, to a wireless roaming service or other non-local radio access line service, or to a private telecommunications system.
(4) CMRS CONNECTION. Each mobile telephone number assigned to a CMRS subscriber with a place of primary use in Alabama.
(5) CMRS PROVIDER. An individual or entity that provides CMRS.
(6) CREATING AUTHORITY. The municipal governing body of any municipality or the governing body of any county which, by passage of a resolution or ordinance, creates a district within its respective jurisdiction in accordance with this chapter.
(7) DISTRIBUTION FORMULA. The percentage of the total state population residing in a district, compared to the total state population residing in all districts statewide, based upon the latest census data or estimates compiled by or for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
(8) DISTRICT. A communication district created pursuant to this chapter.
(9) EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDER. An agency of the State of Alabama, or a political subdivision thereof, that provides fire fighting, rescue, natural or man-caused disaster, or major emergency response, public safety telecommunication and dispatch, law enforcement, ambulance, or emergency medical services. The term also includes private ambulance services.
(10) ENHANCED 911, E-911, or E-911 SYSTEM. An emergency telephone system that directs 911 calls to appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing based on the geographical location from which the call originated, which provides the capability for automatic number identification, and the features that the Federal Communications Commission may require in the future. Such system may include lines, facilities, and equipment necessary for answering, transferring, and dispatching public emergency telephone calls originated by persons within the service area who dial 911, but does not include dial tone first which may be made available by the service provider based on the ability to recover the costs associated with its implementation and, to the extent required by law, consistent with tariffs with and approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission.
(11) FCC ORDER. The order of the Federal Communications Commission, FCC Docket No. 94-102, adopted on June 12, 1996, and released on July 26, 1996.
(12) FIRST RESPONDER. An individual who rapidly receives and responds to emergency situations to protect life and property. The term includes law enforcement officers, fire fighters, rescue squads, emergency medical service providers, public safety telecommunicators, and any other emergency management providers responding to an emergency situation.
(13) OTHER ORIGINATING SERVICE PROVIDER. An entity other than a voice communication service provider that delivers real-time communication between a person needing assistance and an E-911 system.
(14) PHASE II ENHANCED 911. An enhanced 911 system that identifies the location of all 911 calls by longitude and latitude in conformance with accuracy requirements established by the Federal Communications Commission.
(15) PLACE OF PRIMARY USE. The street address representative of where the customer's use of the mobile telecommunications service primarily occurs, which must be:
a. The residential street address or the primary business street address of the customer.
b. Within the licensed service areas of the CMRS provider.
(16) PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT or PSAP. An entity responsible for receiving 911 calls and processing those calls according to a specific operational policy.
(17) PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR. An individual employed by a public safety answering point or emergency service provider as a public safety dispatcher or 911 operator whose duties and responsibilities include both of the following:
a. Answering, receiving, transferring, and dispatching functions related to 911 calls and texts.
b. Dispatching first responders to the scene of an emergency.
(18) STATEWIDE 911 BOARD or 911 BOARD. The statewide 911 Board established pursuant to Section 11-98-4.1.
(19) STATEWIDE 911 CHARGE. The statewide 911 charge created pursuant to Section 11-98-5.
(20) SUBSCRIBER. A person who purchases or subscribes to a voice communications service and is able to receive it or use it periodically over time; provided, however, that for purposes of the imposition and collection of the statewide 911 charge the term "subscriber" shall not include the State of Alabama, the counties within the state, incorporated municipalities of the State of Alabama, county and city school boards, independent school boards, and all educational institutions and agencies of the State of Alabama, the counties within the state, or any incorporated municipalities of the State of Alabama.
(21) TECHNICAL PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Technology descriptions, technical information, or trade secrets, including the term "trade secrets" as defined by the Alabama Trade Secrets Act of 1987, Chapter 27 of Title 8, and the actual or developmental costs thereof which are developed, produced, or received internally by a voice communications service provider or by its employees, directors, officers, or agents.
(22) VOICE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. Any of the following:
a. The transmission, conveyance, or routing of real-time, two-way voice communications to a point or between or among points by or through any electronic, radio, satellite, cable, optical, microwave, wireline, wireless, or other medium or method, regardless of the protocol used.
b. The ability to receive and terminate voice calls to and from the public switched telephone network.
c. Interconnected VoIP service, as that term is defined by 47 C.F.R. § 9.3.
d. Such other services to which the statewide 911 charge is applied pursuant to Section 11-98-4.1(e)(8).
(23) VOICE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER. An entity that provides voice communications service to a subscriber in the State of Alabama.
(b) The terms "department," "prepaid retail transaction," "prepaid wireless telephone service," and "prepaid wireless consumer" shall have those meanings ascribed to them in Section 11-98-5.3.
(Acts 1984, No. 84-369, p. 854, §3; Acts 1992, No. 92-562, p. 1165, §1; Acts 1992, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 92-706, p. 181, §1; Act 2000-693, p. 1411, §1; Act 2012-293, p. 592, §1; Act 2014-431, p. 1582, §1; Act 2022-387, §1.)