Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 39 - UTILITIES › Part 3 - RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE › Subpart 3 - SPECIAL RULES - TELEPHONE COMPANIES › Chapter 30 - DEFINITIONS › Rule 39-3-3-30

Current through June 25, 2024
100. In the
				  interpretation of these rules, any word, term, or phrase used herein shall be
				  taken to mean:
1. AREA OUTSIDE OF BASE RATE
				  AREA - That area within the exchange service area which does not have
				  continuous development and lies beyond the base rate area. Generally, rural
				  multi-party service is furnished within this area. However, primary service may
				  be furnished at base rate plus a charge based on mileage or zone
				  differentials.
2. BASE RATE AREA -
				  A continuous, closely built-up section of the exchange area in which the base
				  rate applies without mileage charge.
3. CARRIER CIRCUITS - A circuit provided by
				  the use of electronic carrier equipment whereby more than one conversation can
				  be transmitted over one metallic circuit or radio path at the same
				  time.
4. CENTRAL OFFICE - The
				  inside equipment of the telephone company as an operating unit, where
				  connections are made between subscriber's lines and trunk and toll
				  lines.
5. COMMUTED MILEAGE AREA OR
				  LOCALITY RATE AREA - A definite area outside the base rate area where service
				  is furnished at base rates plus additional charge based on a uniform mileage
				  measurement.
6. EXCHANGE - The
				  telephone company system providing service within exchange service
				  area.
7. EXCHANGE AREA - An area in
				  which is located a telephone central office or offices within which area the
				  telephone company holds itself to provide service.
8. EXTENDED AREA SERVICE - The type of
				  telephone service that furnishes toll free local service between closely
				  situated exchanges having a common community of interest.
9. EXTENSION OF SERVICE - Extension of
				  existing facilities to serve a customer, customers or a new area not presently
				  served.
10. FOREIGN CENTRAL OFFICE
				  SERVICE - Exchange service furnished by means of a circuit connecting a
				  customer's telephone with a central office of the same exchange but outside of
				  the central office district in which the telephone is located.
11. FOREIGN EXCHANGE SERVICE - Exchange
				  service furnished by means of a circuit connecting a customer's telephone with
				  a central office outside of the exchange area in which the telephone is
				  located.
12. GROUND RETURN CIRCUITS
				  - That type of circuit that utilizes, in place of one of the two wires required
				  for a metallic circuit, the ground as a returned circuit.
13. JOINT USER - The person, firm or
				  corporation who shares a customer's service under a specific contract and in
				  accordance with tariff provisions, but 17 would not otherwise be entitled to
				  such joint use.
14. METALLIC
				  CIRCUITS - That type of circuit that utilizes more than one wire.
15. OUTSIDE PLANT - The telephone company
				  equipment installed on, along, or under streets, alleys, highways, or on
				  private rights-of-way between the central office and subscribers' locations, or
				  between central offices.
16.
				  PRIMARY SERVICE - Generally considered to be 1, 2, or 4-party
				  service.
17. RURAL SERVICE AREA -
				  That area within the exchange service area which is sparsely developed and lies
				  outside the base rate area. See definition for "Outside Base Rate
				  Area."
18. SERVICE CONNECTION
				  CHARGE - A charge made to a customer for the purpose of reimbursing or
				  partially reimbursing the telephone company for the cost involved in connecting
				  telephone facilities upon customer's premises.
19. SERVICE LINES - Those lines which are
				  owned and maintained by the subscriber.
20. STATION - The telephone instruments and
				  associated equipment installed for the use of a subscriber on his
				  premises.
21. SUBSCRIBER - Same as
				  "customer".
22. SWITCHING SERVICE -
				  That service performed when calls are switched from a service line to another
				  line terminated in the company's board.
23. TELEPHONE COMPANY - Any person, firm,
				  partnership, or corporation engaged in furnishing telephone service to the
				  public under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. Each telephone
				  company shall file with the Commission regulations enumerating and
				  comprehensively defining the classification of service available to subscribers
				  in its exchange or exchanges.