§ 39-21.1-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Automatic location identification (ALI)� means the system capability to identify
automatically the geographical location of the telephone being used by the caller
and to provide a display of the location information at a public safety answering
point.
(2) "Automatic number identification (ANI)� means the system capability to identify automatically
the calling telephone number and to provide a display of that number at a public safety
answering point.
(3) "Communications common carrier� means any person, party, or entity that provides communications
services for profit by way of wire or radio. It includes re-sellers of such services.
(4) "Communications services� means the transmission of sounds, messages, data, information,
codes, or signals between a point or points of origin and a point or points of reception.
(5) "Prepaid wireless E-911 telecommunications service� means a wireless telecommunications
service that allows a caller to dial 911 to access the 911 system, which service must
be paid for in advance and is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the
number declines with use in a known amount.
(6) "Private safety agency� means a private entity that provides emergency fire, ambulance,
or medical services.
(7) "Public agency� means the state government and any unit of local government or special
purpose district located in whole or in part within the state that provides, or has
authority to provide, firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other
emergency services.
(8) "Public safety agency� means a functional division of a public agency that provides
firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services.
(9) "Public safety answering point (PSAP)� means a communications facility operated on
a twenty-four (24) hour basis, assigned responsibility to transmit 911 calls to other
public safety agencies. It is the first point of reception of a 911 call by a public
safety agency and serves the entire state.
(10) "Relay method� means the method of responding to a telephone request for emergency
service whereby a public safety answering point notes pertinent information and relays
it by telephone to the appropriate public safety agency or other provider of emergency
services for dispatch of an emergency service unit.
(11) "Selective call routing� means a feature that routes a 911 call from a central office
to the designated public safety answering point based upon the telephone number of
the calling party.
(12) "Telecommunication services provider,� for purposes of this chapter and of chapter
21 of this title, means every person, party, or entity that provides communications
services, telephony services, voice or data transmission services, and wireless prepaid
services, including, but not limited to: audio, print information, voice over internet
protocol (VoIP), data or visual information, communication or transmission or any
combination thereof, for profit on a subscription, wireless prepaid service, wireless
prepaid telephone calling arrangement or pay-for-services or any other basis by means
of landline local telephone exchange, cellular telephone, wireless communication,
radio, telephony, internet, data, satellite, computer, prepaid wireless telephone,
voice over internet protocols (VoIP) instruments, devices or means, or any other communication
or data instruments devices or means that have access to, connect with, or interface
with the E-911 uniform emergency telephone system. Telecommunication service provider
includes "telephone common carrier,� "communications common carrier,� "telephone companies,�
and "common carrier� as those terms are used in this chapter and in chapter 21 of
this title, and "telecommunication common carrier� as defined in the Code of Federal
Regulations at 47 C.F.R. part 22, as amended from time to time, and as defined in the NENA Master Glossary of 9-1-1 Terminology as amended from time to time.
(13) "Telephone common carrier� means any person, party, or entity that provides communications
services for profit between a point of origin and a point of reception by way of a
land-line wire connection between the two (2) points. It includes re-sellers of such
services.
(14) "Telephone service provider� means every person, party, or entity that provides telephone
services to subscribers or wireless prepaid customers including, but not limited to,
"telephone common carrier� and "telecommunications service providers.�
(15) "Telephony� or "telephony services provider� (see "Telephone service provider�).
(16) "The 911 authority� means the agency of the state government in which responsibility
for administering the implementation and operation of the 911 system is vested by
the general assembly.
(17) "Transfer method� means the method of responding to a telephone request for emergency
service whereby a public safety answering point transfers the call directly to the
appropriate public safety agency or other provider of emergency service for dispatch
of an emergency service unit.
(18) "Voice over internet protocol (VoIP)� provides distinct packetized voice or data information
in digital format using the Internet Protocol.