(A) As used in this chapter:
(1) "Basic local exchange service" means residential-end-user access to and usage of telephone-company-provided services over a single line or small-business-end-user access to and usage of telephone-company-provided services over the primary access line of service, which in the case of residential and small-business access and usage is not part of a bundle or package of services, that does both of the following:
(a) Enables a customer to originate or receive voice communications within a local service area as that area exists on September 13, 2010, or as that area is changed with the approval of the public utilities commission;
(b) Consists of all of the following services:
(i) Local dial tone service;
(ii) For residential end users, flat-rate telephone exchange service;
(iii) Touch tone dialing service;
(iv) Access to and usage of 9-1-1 services, where such services are available;
(v) Access to operator services and directory assistance;
(vi) Provision of a telephone directory in any reasonable format, which includes, at the telephone company's option, an internet-accessible database of directory listings, for no additional charge and a listing in that directory, with reasonable accommodations made for private listings, and for a telephone company that no longer offers a printed directory, provision of reasonable customer notice of the available options to obtain directory information;
(vii) Per call, caller identification blocking services;
(viii) Access to telecommunications relay service; and
(ix) Access to toll presubscription, interexchange or toll providers or both, and networks of other telephone companies.
"Basic local exchange service" excludes any voice service to which customers are transitioned following a withdrawal of basic local exchange service under section4927.10of the Revised Code.
(2) "Bundle or package of services" means one or more telecommunications services or other services offered together as one service option at a single price.
(3) "Carrier access" means access to and usage of telephone company-provided facilities that enable end user customers originating or receiving voice grade, data, or image communications, over a local exchange telephone company network operated within a local service area, to access interexchange or other networks and includes special access.
(4) "Federal poverty level" means the income level represented by the poverty guidelines as revised annually by the United States department of health and human services in accordance with section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C. 9902, as amended, for a family size equal to the size of the family of the person whose income is being determined.
(5) "Incumbent local exchange carrier" means, with respect to an area, the local exchange carrier that:
(a) On February 8, 1996, provided telephone exchange service in such area; and
(b)(i) On February 8, 1996, was deemed to be a member of the exchange carrier association pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 69.601(b); or
(ii) Is a person or entity that, on or after February 8, 1996, became a successor or assign of a member described in division (A)(5)(b)(i) of this section.
(6) "Internet protocol-enabled services" means any services, capabilities, functionalities, or applications that are provided using internet protocol or a successor protocol to enable an end user to send or receive communications in internet protocol format or a successor format, regardless of how any particular such service is classified by the federal communications commission, and includes voice over internet protocol service.
(7) "Interstate-access component" means the portion of carrier access that is within the jurisdiction of the federal communications commission.
(8) "Local exchange carrier" means any person engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service, or the offering of access to telephone exchange service or facilities for the purpose of originating or terminating telephone toll service.
(9) "Local service area" means the geographic area that may encompass more than one exchange area and within which a telephone customer, by paying the rate for basic local exchange service, may complete calls to other telephone customers without being assessed long distance toll charges.
(10) "Small business" means a nonresidential service customer with three or fewer service access lines.
(11) "Telecommunications" means 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.
(12) "Telecommunications carrier" has the same meaning as in the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 60, 47 U.S.C. 153.
(13) "Telecommunications service" means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used.
(14) "Telephone company" means a company described in division (A) of section4905.03of the Revised Code that is a public utility under section4905.02of the Revised Code.
(15) "Telephone exchange service" means telecommunications service that is within a telephone exchange, or within a connected system of telephone exchanges within the same exchange area operated to furnish to subscribers intercommunicating service of the character ordinarily furnished by a single exchange, and that is covered by the exchange service charge; or comparable service provided through a system of switches, transmission equipment, or other facilities, or combination thereof, by which a customer can originate and terminate a telecommunications service.
(16) "Telephone toll service" means telephone service between stations in different exchange areas for which there is made a separate charge not included in contracts with customers for exchange service.
(17) "Voice over internet protocol service" means a service that enables real-time, two-way, voice communications that originate or terminate from the user's location using internet protocol or a successor protocol, including, but not limited to, any such service that permits an end user to receive calls from and terminate calls to the public switched network.
(18) "Voice service" includes all of the applicable functionalities described in 47 C.F.R. 54.101(a). "Voice service" is not the same as basic local exchange service.
(19) "Wireless service" means federally licensed commercial mobile service as defined in the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 61, 151, 153, 47 U.S.C. 332(d) and further defined as commercial mobile radio service in 47 C.F.R. 20.3. Under division (A)(19) of this section, commercial mobile radio service is specifically limited to mobile telephone, mobile cellular telephone, paging, personal communications services, and specialized mobile radio service provided by a common carrier in this state and excludes fixed wireless service.
(20) "Wireless service provider" means a facilities-based provider of wireless service to one or more end users in this state.
(21) "Broadband internet access service" has the same meaning as in 47 C.F.R. 8.1.
(B) The definitions of this section shall be applied consistent with the definitions in the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 56, 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq., as amended, and with federal decisions interpreting those definitions.
Last updated August 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM