Section 10. Definitions

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Attestation" means a written statement regarding compliance with a requirement or condition contained in this chapter, signed by an officer, director, or comparable official of the applicant or new entrant.

"Basic telephone service" means the customer's dial tone line and local usage. Local usage can be purchased on a flat rate, measured, or on a per message basis, or some combination thereof.

"Bundled service" means a designated group of services or products offered to customers at a package or set price. A bundled service may consist of regulated and nonregulated services or products.

"Casual user service" means a local exchange telecommunications service of a competitive local exchange carrier or municipal local exchange carrier that does not require a customer to actively subscribe or contract with the competitive local exchange carrier or municipal local exchange carrier to use the service. For example, these services may require alternate billing arrangements such as a calling card to use the service.

"Commission" means the State Corporation Commission.

"Competitive local exchange carrier" ("CLEC") means an entity, other than a locality, certificated to provide local exchange telecommunications services in Virginia after January 1, 1996, pursuant to § 56-265.4:4 of the Code of Virginia. An incumbent local exchange carrier shall be considered a CLEC in any territory that is outside the territory it was certificated to serve as of December 31, 1995, for which it obtains a certificate to provide local exchange telecommunications services on or after January 1, 1996.

"Customer" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or lawful entity that purchases local exchange telecommunications services.

"Incumbent local exchange carrier" or "incumbent" ("ILEC") means a public service company providing local exchange telecommunications services in Virginia on December 31, 1995, pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or the successors to any such company.

"Individual customer pricing" means the offering of service or services to a specific customer at rates, terms, or conditions provided through an agreement instead of pursuant to tariff.

"Interconnection" means the point of interface between local exchange carriers' networks. Interconnection can be achieved at different points of the network.

"Interstate service" means service that originates in one state and terminates in another state.

"Intrastate service" means service that originates and terminates within a state.

"Local exchange carrier" ("LEC") means a certificated provider of local exchange telecommunications services, whether an incumbent or new entrant.

"Local exchange telecommunications services" means local exchange telephone service as defined by § 56-1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Locality" means a city, town, county, or authority that operates an electric distribution system in Virginia.

"Municipal local exchange carrier" ("MLEC") means a locality certificated to provide local exchange telecommunications services pursuant to § 56-265.4:4 of the Code of Virginia.

"New entrant" means a CLEC or an MLEC.

"Promotion or promotional rates" means an offering of limited duration that reduces, waives, or otherwise modifies applicable tariffed rates, terms, or conditions.

"Retail local exchange telecommunications service or services" means telecommunications service or services that are offered for sale directly to the public.

"Service charges" means charges associated with work activities performed by the LEC in conjunction with providing service. These include, but are not limited to, charges for installation, activation, order processing, line restoration, maintenance visits, or changes in service.

"Switched access charges" means the per minute rates billed by LECs to IXCs or other LECs for the use of the LEC's network when an end user makes or receives a long distance call.

"Tariff" means schedules on file with the commission that are open to public inspection that detail a local exchange carrier's services, rates, charges, terms, and conditions of service.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 19, Issue 17, eff. April 10, 2003; Errata, 19:20 VA.R. 2999 June 16, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 04, eff. October 9, 2007; Volume 28, Issue 12, eff. February 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 12.1-13 of the Code of Virginia.