37-15-103. Definitions.
(a) As used in this chapter:
(i) "Affiliated telecommunications companies" means telecommunications companies:
(A) In which five percent (5%) or more of the voting stock is controlled or owned, directly or indirectly, by a common principal; or
(B) Whose management and policies are found by the commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing, to be controlled by a common principal.
(ii) "Commission" means the public service commission of Wyoming;
(iii) "Competitive telecommunications services" means those services found by the legislature or the commission to be competitive in accordance with W.S. 37-15-202;
(iv) "Essential telecommunications service" means a customer's access to service that is necessary for the origination or termination, or both, of two-way, switched telecommunications for both residential and business service within a local exchange area. Essential telecommunications services are limited to:
(A) Access to interexchange services provided by interexchange telecommunications companies;
(B) Single line flat-rate or single line measured residence or business voice service;
(C) Transmission service and facilities necessary for the connection between the end user's or customer's premises and local network switching facility including the necessary signaling service used by customers to access essential telecommunications services;
(D) Services necessary to connect 911 emergency services to the local network;
(E) Switched access, which for the purposes of this chapter shall mean the switching and transport necessary to connect an interexchange telecommunications company with the local exchange central office for the purpose of originating or terminating, or both, the interexchange telecommunications company's switched telecommunications service.
(v) "Interexchange telecommunications company" means a person providing telecommunications service to connect end users located in different local exchange areas, but excluding companies which also provide noncompetitive local exchange services;
(vi) Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 142, § 2.
(vii) "Local exchange area" means a geographic territorial unit established by the commission for providing telecommunications services;
(viii) "Local exchange service" means the provision of essential telecommunications service within a local exchange area;
(ix) "Noncompetitive telecommunications services" means those services which have not been found by the legislature or the commission to be competitive in accordance with W.S. 37-15-202;
(x) "Price" means any rate or charge set and published in accordance with this chapter and collected by the telecommunications company for any telecommunications service offered by it to the public or other telecommunications companies;
(xi) "Telecommunications company" means a person engaged in the furnishing of telecommunications service within this state;
(xii) "Telecommunications service" means the offering or transmitting for hire of telecommunications by means of telecommunications facilities using wire, radio, lightwave or other means;
(xiii) Repealed by Laws 2015, ch. 96, § 2.
(xiv) "Universal service" means the general availability of essential telecommunications service at an affordable and reasonable price;
(xv) Repealed by Laws 2015, ch. 96, § 2.
(xvi) "Supported services" means the services or functionalities which shall be supported by the state universal service fund pursuant to W.S. 37-15-502, as described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph:
(A) The services designated for support are:
(I) Voice grade access to the public switched network. "Voice grade access" is defined as a functionality that enables a user of telecommunications services to transmit voice communications, including signaling the network that the caller wishes to place a call, and to receive voice communications, including receiving a signal indicating there is an incoming call;
(II) Local usage. "Local usage" means an amount of minutes of use of exchange service, prescribed by the commission, provided free of charge to end users;
(III) Dual tone multi-frequency signaling or its functional equivalent. "Dual tone multi-frequency" is a method of signaling that facilitates the transportation of signaling through the network, shortening call set-up time;
(IV) Single-party service or its functional equivalent. "Single-party service" is telecommunications service that permits users to have exclusive use of a wireline subscriber loop or access line for each call placed, or, in the case of wireless telecommunications carriers, which use spectrum shared among users to provide service, a dedicated message path for the length of a user's particular transmission;
(V) Access to emergency services. "Access to emergency services" includes access to services, such as 911 and enhanced 911, provided by local governments or other public safety organizations. 911 is defined as a service that permits a telecommunications user, by dialing the three-digit code "911," to call emergency services through a public safety answering point operated by the local government. "Enhanced 911" is defined as 911 service that includes the ability to provide automatic numbering information, which enables the public safety answering point to call back if the call is disconnected, and automatic location information, which permits emergency service providers to identify the geographic location of the calling party. "Access to emergency services" includes access to 911 and enhanced 911 services in accordance with applicable governing authority;
(VI) Access to operator services. "Access to operator services" is defined as access to any automatic or live assistance to a consumer to arrange for billing or completion, or both, of a telephone call;
(VII) Access to interexchange service. "Access to interexchange service" is defined as the use of the loop, as well as that portion of the switch that is paid for by the end user, or the functional equivalent of these network elements in the case of a wireless carrier, necessary to access an interexchange carrier's network;
(VIII) Access to directory assistance. "Access to directory assistance" is defined as access to a service that includes, but is not limited to, making available to customers, upon request, information contained in directory listings; and
(IX) Toll limitation for qualifying low-income consumers.
(B) The commission may grant a company additional time to complete the network upgrades needed to provide single-party service, access to enhanced 911 service, or toll limitation. If such petition is granted, the otherwise eligible company will be permitted to receive universal service support for the duration of the period designated by the commission. The commission shall grant such a request only upon a finding that exceptional circumstances prevent an otherwise eligible company from providing single-party service, access to enhanced 911 service or toll limitation. The period should extend only as long as the commission finds that exceptional circumstances exist and shall not extend beyond the time that the commission deems necessary for that company to complete network upgrades. An otherwise eligible company that is incapable of offering one (1) or more of these three (3) specific supported services must demonstrate to the commission that exceptional circumstances exist with respect to each service for which the carrier desires a grant of additional time to complete network upgrades.
(xvii) "Landline carrier" means a telecommunications company providing local exchange service, or its functional equivalent, to retail end users by means primarily of its own fiber, copper, electric lines or coaxial cable facilities.
(b) Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 142, § 2.