Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 10 - Telecommunications › Subchapter 00 - General Administration › Part 1 - Regulations and Fee Schedules for Telecommunications Providers (815-RICR-10-00-1) › Section 815-RICR-10-00-1.2 - Definitions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. As used in these rules, except as
				  otherwise required by the context:
1.
				  "Applicant" means, in proceedings involving filings for permission or
				  authorization which the Commission may give under statutory or other authority
				  delegated to it, the party on whose behalf the filings are made.
2. "Clerk" means the Commission clerk,
				  appointed by the Commission pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
											39-1-9.
3. "Commission" means the Public Utilities
				  Commission.
4. "Division" means the
				  Division of Public Utilities and Carriers described in. R.I. Gen. Laws
				  §§
											39-1-2(4) and
				  39-1-3.
5. "Telecommunications provider" means any
				  person, firm or corporation providing, inter alia, intrastate
				  telecommunications services, which is not otherwise liable for payments to the
				  Public Utilities Reserve Fund or for rate case expense reimbursements. For the
				  purpose of these regulations, telecommunications providers are subdivided into
				  six classes:
a. Class I: Competitive Access
				  Providers ("CAP"). Entry is controlled by Docket No. 2129. These carriers are
				  facilities-based, providing customers with some of the same services available
				  through the local exchange carrier.
b. Class II: Resellers doing business as
				  Certified Switchless Resellers ("CSR"). Entry is controlled by Docket No. 2262,
				  incorporating many of the requirements of Docket No. 2129. CSRs are
				  non-facilities-based carriers which purchase access at a discount from
				  facilities-based carriers and/or the local exchange carrier, and market or
				  resell their services.
c. Class
				  III: Resellers doing business through the use of debit cards ("DCS"). DCS is a
				  pre-paid calling-card service provided by a wholesale company that allows an
				  in-state outbound call to be charged to a debit card, typically through the use
				  of a "1+800" number and a personal identification number.
d. Class IV: Operator Service Providers
				  ("OSP") or Alternate Operator Services ("AOS"). These providers offer an
				  alternate to operator services provided by the local exchange carriers and
				  facilities-based interexchange carriers. OSPs furnish services to carriers who
				  do not have their own operators, and to businesses such as hotels, hospitals,
				  airports, and educational institutions. The services may include calling card,
				  collect, and third-party calls.
e.
				  Class V: Private coin telephones. This class includes Customer-Owned,
				  Coin-Operated Telephones ("COCOT") and Inmate Services. COCOTs generally secure
				  alternative operator services for calling card, collect, and third-party calls,
				  since the financial commissions are greater. Inmate Services provides
				  outbound-only coin telephones for residents of the state and federal
				  prisons.
f. Class VI: Other service
				  providers who are not covered by Classes I-V.