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7810.0100 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following meanings will be ascribed to the phrases listed below.

Subp. 2.

Average busy season, busy hour traffic.

"Average busy season, busy hour traffic" means the average traffic volume for the busy season, busy hours.

Subp. 3.

Base rate area.

"Base rate area" means that contiguously developed portion or portions within each exchange service area as set forth in the telephone utility's tariff, maps, or descriptions. Main station service within this contiguous area is furnished at uniform rates without mileage charges.

Subp. 4.

Business service.

"Business service" means telecommunications service provided a customer where the use is primarily or substantially of a business, professional, institutional, or otherwise occupational nature.

Subp. 5.

Busy hour.

"Busy hour" means the two consecutive half-hours during which the greatest volume of traffic is handled in the office.

Subp. 6.

Busy season.

"Busy season" means that period of the year during which the greatest volume of traffic is handled in the office.

Subp. 7.

Calls.

"Calls" means customers telephone messages attempted.

Subp. 8.

Central office.

"Central office" means a switching unit, in a telecommunications system which provides service to the general public, having the necessary equipment and operating arrangements for terminating and interconnecting subscriber lines and trunks or trunks only. There may be more than one central office in a building.

Subp. 9.

Channel.

"Channel" means a path for communication between two or more stations or telephone utility offices, furnished in such a manner as the carrier may elect, whether by wire, radio, or a combination thereof and whether or not by a single physical facility or route.

Subp. 10.

Class of service.

"Class of service" means a description of telecommunications service furnished by a customer which denotes such characteristics as nature of use (business or residence) or type of rate (flat rate or message rate). Classes of service are usually subdivided in "grades," such as individual line, two-party, or four-party.

Subp. 11.

Commission.

"Commission" means the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Subp. 11a.

Complete directory.

"Complete directory" means a directory that includes the information compiled under part 7810.2900, subpart 1, whether printed, electronically published, or some combination thereof. For example, a complete directory may be comprised of a printed subset of exchanges in a local calling area relevant to customers in a particular geographic area or community of interest and publication of the remainder of the local calling area either electronically or in separate printed volumes.

Subp. 12.

Customer or subscriber.

"Customer or subscriber" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, municipality, cooperative organization, governmental agency, etc., provided with telecommunications service by any telephone utility.

Subp. 13.

Customer trouble report.

"Customer trouble report" means any oral or written report from a subscriber or user of telecommunications service relating to a physical defect or to difficulty or dissatisfaction with the operation of telecommunications facilities. One report shall be counted for each oral or written report received even though it may duplicate a previous report or merely involve an inquiry concerning progress on a previous report. Also, a separate report shall be counted for each telephone or PBX switchboard position reported in trouble when several items are reported by one customer at the same time, unless the group of troubles so reported is clearly related to a common cause.

Subp. 14.

Exchange.

"Exchange" means a unit established by a telephone utility for which a separate local rate schedule is provided. It may consist of one or more central offices together with associated plant facilities used in furnishing telecommunication services in that area.

Subp. 15.

Exchange service area.

"Exchange service area" means the geographical territory served by an exchange, usually embracing a city, town, or village and its environs.

Subp. 16.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 17.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 18.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 19.

Intercept service.

"Intercept service" means a service arrangement provided by the utility whereby calls placed to a disconnected or discontinued telephone number are intercepted and the calling party is informed that the called telephone number has been disconnected, or discontinued, or changed to another number, or that calls are being received by another telephone, etc.

Subp. 20.

Interexchange trunks.

"Interexchange trunks" means transmission paths, including the conductor or conductors and associated equipment, connecting two exchanges.

Subp. 21.

Line.

"Line" means a general term used in the communication industry in several different senses, the most important of which are:

A.

the conductor or conductors and supporting or containing structures extending between customer stations and central offices, or between central offices whether they be in the same or different communities;

B.

the conductors and circuit apparatus associated with a particular communication channel; and

C.

any communication channel between two points disregarding the method of its derivation.

Subp. 22.

Local calling area.

"Local calling area" means the area within which telecommunication service is furnished customers under a specific schedule or exchange rates. A local calling area may include one or more exchange service areas or portions of exchange service areas.

Subp. 23.

Local exchange service.

"Local exchange service" means telecommunication service provided within local exchange service areas in accordance with the tariffs. It includes the use of exchange facilities required to establish connections between stations within the exchange and between stations and the toll facilities serving the exchange.

Subp. 24.

Local message.

"Local message" means a completed call between stations located within the same local calling area.

Subp. 25.

Local message charge.

"Local message charge" means the charge that applies for a completed telephone call that is made when the calling station and the stations to which the connection is established are both within the same local calling area, and a local message charge is applicable.

Subp. 26.

Local service charge.

"Local service charge" means the charge for furnishing facilities to enable a customer to send or receive telecommunications within the local service calling area. This local service calling area may include one or more exchange service areas.

Subp. 26a.

Local service provider or LSP.

"Local service provider" or "LSP" means a telephone company or telecommunications carrier providing local service in Minnesota pursuant to a certificate of authority granted by the commission. Local service provider includes both local exchange carriers and competitive local exchange carriers.

Subp. 27.

Long distance telecommunications service.

"Long distance telecommunications service" means that part of the total communication service rendered by a utility which is furnished between customers in different local service areas in accordance with the rates and regulations specified in the utility's tariff.

Subp. 28.

Message.

"Message" means a completed customer telephone communication.

Subp. 29.

Outside plant.

"Outside plant" means the telecommunications equipment and facilities installed on, along, over, or under streets, alleys, highways, or on private rights-of-way between the central office and customers' locations or between central offices.

Subp. 30.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 31.

Public telephone service.

"Public telephone service" means an individual line customer service equipped with a coin collecting telephone instrument installed for the use of the general public in locations where the general public has access to these telephones.

Subp. 32.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 33.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 34.

Subscriber line.

"Subscriber line" means the wires or channels used to connect the telephone equipment at the subscriber's premises with the central office.

Subp. 35.

Switching service.

"Switching service" means switching performed for service station lines.

Subp. 36.

Tariff.

"Tariff" means the entire body of rates, tolls, rentals, charges, classifications, and rules, adopted and filed with the commission by a telephone utility or other carriers.

Subp. 37.

Telephone utility.

"Telephone utility" means any person, firm, partnership, cooperative organization, or corporation engaged in the furnishing of telecommunication service to the public under the jurisdiction of the commission.

Subp. 38.

Toll connecting trunks.

"Toll connecting trunks" means a general classification of trunks carrying toll traffic and ordinarily extending between a local office and a toll office, except trunks classified as tributary circuits.

Subp. 39.

[Repealed, L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1]

Subp. 40.

Traffic.

"Traffic" means a telephone call volume, based on number and duration of messages.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 237.10; 237.16

History:

L 2004 c 261 art 3 s 1; 40 SR 47

Published Electronically:

July 31, 2015

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes