§11-50B-2. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY. Without regard to any transmission media or technology, high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology.

(2) ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. Without regard to any transmission media or technology, the provision of high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology.

(3) ALARM MONITORING SERVICE. A service that uses a device located at a residence, place of business, or other fixed premises for both of the following purposes:

a. To receive signals from other devices located at or about such premises regarding a possible threat at the premises to life, safety, or property, from burglary, fire, vandalism, bodily injury, or other emergency.

b. To transmit a signal regarding any threat by means of transmission facilities of a public provider, local exchange carrier, or one of its affiliates to a remote monitoring center to alert a person at the center of the need to inform the customer or another person or police, fire, rescue, security, or public safety personnel of the threat, but does not include a service that uses a medical monitoring device attached to an individual for the automatic surveillance of an ongoing medical condition.

(4) BROADBAND. Having the capability of supporting, in both the provider-to-consumer (downstream) and the consumer-to-provider (upstream) directions, a speed (in technical terms, "bandwidth") in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in the last mile.

(5) CABLE SERVICE. A service that provides both of the following:

a. The one-way or bi-directional transmission to subscribers of video programming or other programming service; and

b. Subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service; and shall include, without limitation, digital services, utilization of fiber optics, broadband services, use of data packets, and use of wireless methods to provide cable service.

(6) CABLE SYSTEM. A facility, consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception, and control equipment that is designed to provide cable service which includes video programming and which is provided to multiple subscribers within a community, but the term does not include any of the following:

a. A facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals of one or more television broadcast stations.

b. A facility of a common carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 47, U.S.C., as the provisions thereof read on August 1, 2000, except that such facility shall be considered a cable system to the extent the facility is used in the transmission of video programming directly to subscribers, unless the extent of the use is solely to provide interactive on-demand services.

c. An open video system that complies with the provisions of 47 U.S.C. §573, as the provisions thereof read on August 1, 2000.

d. Any facilities of any electric utility used for operating its electric utility system.

(7) CAPITAL COSTS. All costs of providing a service which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted governmental accounting principles.

(8) CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT. Equipment employed on the premises of a person, other than a telecommunications service provider, to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications.

(9) DIRECT COSTS. Those expenses of a public provider which are directly attributable to the provision of a service that would be eliminated if the provision of the service were discontinued.

(10) FRANCHISING AUTHORITY. Any municipality or municipal instrumentality empowered by law to grant a franchise.

(11) GENERALLY ACCEPTED GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. The accounting standards promulgated from time to time by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

(12) INDIRECT COSTS. Any costs identified with two or more services or other public provider functions and which are not directly identified with a single service. Indirect costs may include, but are not limited to, administration, accounting, personnel, purchasing, electric power supply, legal, and other staff or departmental support. Indirect costs shall be allocated to two or more services in proportion to the relative burden each respective service places upon the cost category.

(13) INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE. Any information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the Internet and the systems operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions.

(14) INTERNET. The international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks.

(15) MUNICIPAL INSTRUMENTALITY or INSTRUMENTALITY OF A MUNICIPALITY. Any one or more public corporations incorporated pursuant to the provisions of any of the following:

a. Article 9 of Chapter 50 of this title, as amended.

b. Article 15 of Chapter 50 of this title, as amended.

c. Chapter 7, Title 39, as amended.

d. A local act providing that the governing body of the public corporation is to be appointed by the governing body of a municipality and that the public corporation is authorized to furnish electric service to consumers for ultimate consumption.

e. Chapter 50A of this title, as amended, respectively.

(16) MUNICIPALITY. Any incorporated city or town in this state.

(17) PRIVATE PROVIDER. Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association offering service, other than a municipality or municipal instrumentality.

(18) PUBLIC PROVIDER. Any municipality or municipal instrumentality.

(19) SUBSCRIBER. Any person or entity lawfully receiving cable service provided by a private provider or public provider by means of or in connection with a cable system.

(20) TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.

(21) TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER. Any provider of telecommunications services, except that such term does not include aggregators of telecommunications services as defined in the provisions of 47 U.S.C. §226 as the provisions thereof read on August 1, 2000.

(22) TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. Equipment, other than customer premises equipment, used by a provider of telecommunications to provide telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such equipment, including upgrades.

(23) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. The offering of telecommunications, including servicing and repairing related equipment, for a fee regardless of the facilities used, including, but not limited to, voice, data, imaging, and video transmissions.

(Act 2000-614, p. 1235, §2.)