Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 34A - 911 Emergency Telephone Systems

• Access line: means an exchange access line that has the ability to access dial tone and reach a public safety answering point. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• authority: means the Iowa finance authority. See Iowa Code 34A.20
• Communications service: means a service capable of accessing, connecting with, or interfacing with a 911 system by dialing, initializing, or otherwise activating the system exclusively through the digits 911 by means of a local telephone device, wireless communications device, or any other device capable of interfacing with the 911 system. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Competitive local exchange service provider: means any person, including a municipal utility, that provides local exchange services, other than a local exchange carrier or a non-rate-regulated wireline provider of local exchange services under an authorized certificate of public convenience and necessity within a specific geographic area described in maps filed with and approved by the Iowa utilities board as of September 30, 1992. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Director: means the director of the department of homeland security and emergency management. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Division: means the Iowa title guaranty division in the authority, the director of the division, or a designee of the director. See Iowa Code 16.92
• Emergency communications service surcharge: means a charge established by the program manager in accordance with section 34A. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• ESInet: means a system using broadband packet-switched technology that is capable of supporting the transmission of varying types of data to be shared by all public or private safety agencies that are involved in an emergency. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
• GIS: means a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographical data. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Internet: means the federated international system that is composed of allied electronic communication networks linked by telecommunication channels, that uses standardized protocols, and that facilitates electronic communication services, including but not limited to use of the world wide web; the transmission of electronic mail or messages; the transfer of files and data or other electronic information; and the transmission of voice, image, and video. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Local exchange carrier: means any person that was the incumbent and historical rate-regulated wireline provider of local exchange services or any successor to such person that provides local exchange services under an authorized certificate of public convenience and necessity within a specific geographic area described in maps filed with and approved by the Iowa utilities board as of September 30, 1992. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Local exchange service provider: means a vendor engaged in providing telecommunications service between points within an exchange and includes but is not limited to a competitive local exchange service provider and a local exchange carrier. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" and the abbreviation "A. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Originating service provider: means a communications provider that allows its users or subscribers to originate 911 voice or nonvoice messages from the public to public safety answering points, including but not limited to wire-line, wireless, and voice over internet protocol services. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Prepaid wireless telecommunications service: means a wireless communications service that provides the right to utilize mobile wireless service as well as other nontelecommunications services, including the download of digital products delivered electronically, content and ancillary services, which must be paid for in advance and that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the amount declines with use in a known amount. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Program manager: means the 911 program manager appointed pursuant to section 34A. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Provider: means a vendor who provides, or offers to provide, 911 equipment, installation, maintenance, or exchange access services within the 911 service area. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Public or private safety agency: means a unit of state or local government, a local emergency management agency as defined in section 29C. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Public safety answering point: means a twenty-four-hour public safety communications facility that receives 911 service calls and directly dispatches emergency response services or relays calls to the appropriate public or private safety agency. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Voice over internet protocol service: means a service to which all of the following apply:
   a. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Wireless communications service: includes any wireless two-way communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communications service, or the functional or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communications service, or a network access line. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• Wireless communications service provider: means a company that offers wireless communications service to users of wireless devices including but not limited to cellular, personal communications services, mobile satellite services, and enhanced specialized mobile radio. See Iowa Code 34A.2
• year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1