Wyoming Administrative Code › Agency 023 - Public Service Commission › Sub-Agency 0002 - Public Service Commission Rules › Chapter 4 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES › Section 4-1 - Definitions

Current through July 13, 2024
(a) All definitions
				contained within Wyoming Statute §§
									
										37-15-103
				through 105, Commission Rules Chapter 1, Section
				2, and Chapter 5, apply to Chapter 4, as
				applicable. In addition:
(i)
ANSI:
American National Standards Institute.
(ii)
Application for telecommunications
				service:
where a construction agreement is not required, an application
				for telecommunications service shall be considered made when the customer
				either verbally or in writing requests service utilizing the Company's
				designated service request procedures. Where a construction agreement is
				required, an application shall be considered as made when the customer accepts
				the Company's cost estimate as evidenced by the Company's receipt of the
				applicable construction agreement signed by the customer, and the customer
				makes any required advance payment to the Company and complies with any other
				requirements in the Company's approved price schedules;
(iii)
Central office:
the inside
				plant of the Company as an operating unit, including the switch or remote
				switching terminal or module, or other central offices within the same or at
				other local exchange areas providing telecommunications services to the general
				public for terminating and interconnecting lines and trunks, for both local and
				long distance;
(iv)
CFR:
the Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the
				general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the
				departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(v)
Channel:
a transmission path
				for telecommunications between two points. Channel may refer to a one-way path
				or, when paths in the two directions are always associated, a two-way path. A
				channel is the smallest subdivision of a transmission system by means of which
				a single type of telecommunications service is provided;
(vi)
Class of service:
a
				subgrouping of customers for the purpose of rate distinctions, such as nature
				of use (business or residence) or type of rate (flat or measured);
(vii)
Community of interest:
an
				area consisting of one or more local exchange areas in which the general
				population has similar governmental, health, public safety, business or
				educational interests, or a geographic area determined by the
				Commission;
(viii)
Company or
				companies:
means "telecommunications company" as defined in Wyoming
				Statute §
										
											37-15-103(a)(xi);
(ix)
Customer:
any person, firm,
				partnership, corporation, municipality, cooperative, organization, governmental
				agency or other legal entity which has applied for, been accepted and is
				currently receiving telecommunications service. This definition does not apply
				to those telecommunications services provided pursuant to an interconnection
				and/or wholesale agreement;
(x)
Customer trouble report:
any customer report to a Company's repair
				telephone number or written report to the Company relating to physical defects
				or operational deficiencies in the Company's facilities. All reports received
				about a specific physical defect or operational deficiency shall be counted as
				one trouble report until the defect or deficiency is corrected;
(xi)
Eligible Telecommunications
				Carrier (ETC):
a common carrier that is authorized by the Commission to
				receive federal universal service support as required by
				47
				U.S.C. 214(e)(2).
(xii)
Facility or facilities:
equipment, other than customer premises equipment, used by a carrier to provide
				telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such equipment
				(including upgrades). Also referred to as "telecommunications
				equipment";
(xiii)
FCC:
the Federal Communications Commission is the federal agency
				that regulates interstate and international communications by radio,
				television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of
				Columbia and U.S. territories;
(xiv)
Interconnection:
the
				linking of two networks for the mutual exchange of traffic;
(xv)
Local access line:
the
				transmission telecommunications service and facilities necessary for the
				connection between the customer's premises and local network switching
				facility, including the necessary signaling service used by customers to access
				essential telecommunications services;
(xvi)
Local calling area:
the
				geographic area approved by the Commission as a community of interest in which
				customers may make calls without payment of a toll charge. The local calling
				area may include other local exchange areas in addition to the serving local
				exchange area;
(xvii)
Local
				exchange area:
a designated geographical area established by a Company
				for telecommunications services approved by the Commission;
(xviii)
NESC:
the National
				Electrical Safety Code is published by the Institute of Electrical and
				Electronics Engineers. The NESC sets ground rules for installation, operation
				or maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and associated
				equipment;
(xix)
New
				Entrant:
A telecommunications company that began providing
				telecommunication service within an existing local exchange area after July 1,
				2007. A telecommunications company that acquires local exchange facilities or
				other assets from another telecommunications company for the provision of
				noncompetitive telecommunications services or a non-affiliated
				telecommunications company that begins providing noncompetitive
				telecommunications services in a new local exchange area after July 1, 2007 is
				not a "new entrant."
(xx)
Out-of-service:
when the customer's telecommunications service
				quality is such that the customer cannot effectively originate or receive
				calls, or otherwise use the telecommunications service;
(xxi)
Price schedule or tariff:
the schedule of prices, tolls, rentals, policies, charges, classifications,
				practices and rules and regulations which a Company files with the Commission
				or maintains on its website;
(xxii)
Service interruption:
the inability of an end user to establish or
				maintain a channel of telecommunications service as a result of failure or
				degradation of a Company's network;
(xxiii)
Single party service:
a
				grade of local exchange area telecommunications service which provides that
				only one customer shall be served by a single channel connecting the customer's
				telecommunications service location with the serving central office;
(xxiv)
Station equipment:
a
				device and any other necessary equipment at the customer's premises which
				allows the customer to establish and continue telecommunications service and
				which conforms to and does not exceed the requirements and specifications for
				the specific telecommunications service ordered as described by price schedule,
				contract or tariff;
(xxv)
Telecommunications Services:
telecommunications services as
				defined by Wyoming Statutes §§
										
											37-15-103(a)(xii),
				37-15-104
				and
				37-15-105;
(xxvi)
USAC:
The Universal
				Service Administrative Company is an independent, not-for-profit corporation
				designated by the FCC as the administrator of the universal service fund. USAC
				collects contributions from telecommunications carriers and administers support
				programs designed to help communities across the country secure access to
				affordable telecommunications services.