(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) 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;
- (xx) 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;
- (xxi) 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;
- (xxii) 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;
- (xxiii) 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;
- (xxiv) Telecommunications Services: telecommunications services as defined by Wyoming Statutes §§ 37-15-103(a)(xii), 37-15-104 and 37-15-105;
- (xxv) 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.