Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: “Automatic location identification” or “ALI” means a telecommunications network capability that enables the automatic display of information defining the geographical location of the telephone used to place a wireless enhanced 911 call. “Automatic number identification” or “ANI” means a telecommunications network capability that enables the automatic display of the telephone number used to place a wireless enhanced 911 call. “Commercial mobile radio service provider” or “CMRS provider” means cellular licensees, broadband personal communications services (PCS) licensees and specialized mobile radio (SMR) providers, as those terms are defined by the Federal Communications Commission, which offer on a post-paid or prepaid basis or via a combination of those two methods, real-time, two-way switched voice service that is interconnected with the public switched network and includes resellers of any commercial mobile radio service. “County answering point” or “public safety answering point” or “PSAP” means a facility to which 911 calls are initially routed for response and where county personnel respond to specific requests for emergency service by directly dispatching the appropriate emergency service provider, relaying a message to the appropriate provider or transferring the call to the appropriate provider. “Emergency services organization” means the organization established under article five, chapter fifteen of this code. “Emergency service provider” means any emergency services organization or public safety unit. “Emergency telecommunicator” means a professional telecommunicator meeting the training requirements set forth in §24-6-5 and is a first responder tasked with the gathering of information related to medical emergencies, the provision of assistance and instructions by voice, prior to the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS), and the dispatching and support of EMS resources responding to an emergency call. “Emergency telephone system” means a telephone system which through normal telephone service facilities automatically connects a person dialing the primary emergency telephone number to an established public agency answering point, but does not include an enhanced emergency telephone system. “Emergency services IP network” or “ESInet” means a shared public safety agency-managed Internet-Protocol (IP) network that: (A) Is used for emergency services communications; (B) Provides an IP transport infrastructure that is capable of carrying voice and data and that supports NG911 service core functions such as routing and location validation of emergency service requests; and (C) Is engineered, managed, and intended to support emergency public safety communications and 911 service. “Enhanced emergency telephone system” or “enhanced 911 service” means a telephone system which automatically connects the person dialing 911 to the appropriate county answering point with ALI and ANI data. “Next Generation 911” or “NG911” means a service that: (A) Consists of coordinated intrastate 911 IP networks serving residents of West Virginia with the routing of emergency service requests, by voice or data, across public safety ESInets; (B) Automatically directs 911 emergency telephone calls and other emergency service requests in data formats to the appropriate PSAP by routing using geographical information system data; (C) Provides for ALI and ANI features; and (D) Interconnects with enhanced 911 service. “Prepaid wireless calling service” means prepaid wireless calling service as defined in §11-15-2 of this code. “Public agency” means the state and any municipality, county, public district or public authority which provides or has authority to provide firefighting, police, ambulance, medical, rescue or other emergency services. “Public safety unit” means a functional division of a public agency which provides firefighting, police, medical, rescue or other emergency services. “Telephone company” means any public utility and any CMRS provider which is engaged in the provision of telephone service whether primarily by means of wire or wireless facilities. “Comprehensive plan” means a plan pertaining to the installing, modifying or replacing of telephone switching equipment; a telephone utility’s response in a timely manner to requests for emergency telephone service by a public agency; a telephone utility’s responsibility to report to the Public Service Commission; charges and tariffs for the services and facilities provided by a telephone utility; and access to an emergency telephone system by emergency service organizations. “Technical and operational standards” means those standards of telephone equipment and processes necessary for the implementation of the comprehensive plan as defined in subdivision (11) of this subsection. “VoIP service” means interconnected voice over Internet protocol service as defined in the code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Part 9, section 9.3, as amended.