1998 Minnesota Statutes

     237.50 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Scope.  The terms used in sections 
 237.50 to 237.56 have the meanings given them in this section.  

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1995 c 190 s 17 

    Subd. 3.    Communication impaired.  "Communication 
 impaired" means certified as deaf, severely hearing impaired, 
 hard-of-hearing, speech impaired, deaf and blind, or mobility 
 impaired if the mobility impairment significantly impedes the 
 ability to use standard customer premises equipment. 

    Subd. 4.    Communication device.  "Communication device"
 means a device that when connected to a telephone enables a 
 communication-impaired person to communicate with another person 
 utilizing the telephone system.  A "communication device" 
 includes a ring signaler, an amplification device, a telephone 
 device for the deaf, a Brailling device for use with a 
 telephone, and any other device the department of human services 
 deems necessary. 

    Subd. 4a.    Deaf.  "Deaf" means a hearing impairment of 
 such severity that the individual must depend primarily upon 
 visual communication such as writing, lip reading, manual 
 communication, and gestures. 

    Subd. 5.    Exchange.  "Exchange" means a unit area 
 established and described by the tariff of a telephone company 
 for the administration of telephone service in a specified 
 geographical area, usually embracing a city, town, or village 
 and its environs, and served by one or more central offices, 
 together with associated facilities used in providing service 
 within that area. 

    Subd. 6.    Fund.  "Fund" means the telecommunication 
 access for communication-impaired persons fund established in 
 section 237.52. 

    Subd. 6a.    Hard-of-hearing.  "Hard-of-hearing" means a 
 hearing impairment resulting in a functional loss, but not to 
 the extent that the individual must depend primarily upon visual 
 communication. 

    Subd. 7.    Interexchange service.  "Interexchange 
 service" means telephone service between points in two or more 
 exchanges. 

    Subd. 8.    Inter-LATA interexchange service.  
 "Inter-LATA interexchange service" means interexchange service 
 originating and terminating in different LATAs. 

    Subd. 9.    Local access and transport area.  "Local 
 access and transport area (LATA)" means a geographical area 
 designated by the Modification of Final Judgment in U.S. v. 
 Western Electric Co., Inc., 552 F. Supp. 131 (D.D.C. 1982), 
 including modifications in effect on the effective date of 
 sections 237.51 to 237.54. 

    Subd. 10.    Local exchange service.  "Local exchange 
 service" means telephone service between points within an 
 exchange. 

    Subd. 11.    Telecommunication relay service.  
 "Telecommunication relay service" means a central statewide 
 service through which a communication-impaired person, using a 
 communication device, may send and receive messages to and from 
 a non-communication-impaired person whose telephone is not 
 equipped with a communication device and through which a 
 non-communication-impaired person may, by using voice 
 communication, send and receive messages to and from a 
 communication-impaired person.  

    HIST: 1987 c 308 s 1,8; 1988 c 621 s 2; 1993 c 272 s 2-6,17; 
 1995 c 190 s 1