(1) "911 charge" means a fee for the 911 service start-up equipment costs, subscriber notification costs, addressing costs, billing costs, and nonrecurring and recurring installation, maintenance service, and network charges of a service supplier providing 911 service as provided in this chapter.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(2) "911 system" or "911 service" means an emergency telephone system that provides the user of the public telephone system with the ability to reach a public safety answering point by dialing the digits 911. The term 911 system or service also includes "enhanced 911 service", which means an emergency telephone system with 911 service and, in addition, directs 911 calls to appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing based on the geographical location from which the call originated and provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification features. "911 system" and "911 service" include those systems and services that use or rely upon Internet protocol or other similar technologies to provide services that direct voice calls to public safety answering points.

(3) "911 plan" means a plan for the 911 system, enhanced 911 system, or any amendment to the plan developed by a county or municipality.

(4) "Basic 911 system" means a system by which the various emergency functions provided by public safety agencies within each local government‘s jurisdiction may be accessed utilizing the three-digit number 911, but no available options of enhanced systems are included in the system.

(5) "Enhanced 911 network features" means selective routing, automatic number identification, and location identification.

(6) "Enhanced 911 system" means enhanced 911 service, which is a telephone exchange communications service consisting of telephone network features and public safety answering points designated by the local government which enables users of the public telephone system to access a 911 public safety communications center by dialing the digits 911. The service directs 911 calls to appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing based on the geographical location from which the call originated and provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification.

(7) "Addressing", with respect to nonCMRS exchange access service, means the assigning of a numerical address and street name (the name may be numerical) to each location within a local government’s geographical area necessary to provide public safety service as determined by the local government. This address replaces any route and box number currently in place in the 911 database and facilitates quicker response by public safety agencies.

(8) "Automatic location identification" means an enhanced 911 service capability that enables the automatic display of information.

(9) "Automatic number identification" means an enhanced 911 service capability that enables the automatic display of the seven-digit number used to place a 911 call.

(10) "Office" means the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.

(11) "Committee" means the South Carolina 911 Advisory Committee.

(12) "CMRS connection" means each mobile number assigned to a CMRS customer.

(13) "Commercial Mobile Radio Service" (CMRS) means commercial mobile service under Sections 3(27) and 332(d), Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. § 151, et seq.), Federal Communications Commission Rules, and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. The term includes any wireless two-way communication device, including radio-telephone communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communication service, or the functional and/or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communication service, or a network radio access line. The term does not include services that do not provide access to 911 service, a communication channel suitable only for data transmission, a wireless roaming service or other nonlocal radio access line service, or a private telecommunications system.

(14) "Customer" means the local government subscribing to 911 service from a service supplier.

(15) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

(16) "Enhancement" means any addition to a 911 system such as automatic number identification, selective routing of calls, or other future technological advancements, as determined by the Public Service Commission for nonCMRS exchange access companies.

(17) "Exchange access facility" means the access from a particular telephone subscriber’s premises to the telephone system of a service supplier. Exchange access facilities include service supplier provided access lines, PBX trunks, and Centrex network access registers, all as defined by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Exchange access facilities do not include service supplier owned and operated telephone pay station lines, or wide area telecommunications service (wats), foreign exchange (fx), or incoming lines.

(18) "Local government" means any city, county, or political subdivision of the State.

(19) "Mapping" means the development of a computerized geographical display system of roads and structures where emergency response may be required.

(20) "Prepaid wireless 911 charge" means the charge that a prepaid wireless seller is required to collect from a prepaid wireless consumer pursuant to § 23-47-68.

(21) "Prepaid wireless consumer" means a person or entity that purchases prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a prepaid wireless retail transaction.

(22) "Prepaid wireless provider" means a person or entity that provides prepaid wireless telecommunications service pursuant to a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

(23) "Prepaid wireless retail transaction" means the purchase of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from a prepaid wireless seller for any purpose other than resale.

(24) "Prepaid wireless seller" means a person or entity that sells prepaid wireless telecommunications service to another person or entity for any purpose other than resale.

(25) "Prepaid wireless telecommunications service" means any commercial mobile radio 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 units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount.

(26) "Public safety agent" means a functional agency which provides fire fighting, law enforcement, medical, or other emergency services.

(27) "Public safety answering point" (PSAP) means a communications facility operated on a twenty-four hour basis which first receives 911 calls from persons in a 911 service area and which may directly dispatch public safety services or extend, transfer, or relay 911 calls to appropriate public safety agencies. A PSAP may be designated to a primary or secondary exchange service, referring to the order in which calls are directed for answering.

(28) "Regional systems" means the formation of two or more local governments or multi-jurisdictional systems for the purpose of jointly forming and funding 911 systems.

(29) "Selective routing" means the method employed to direct 911 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point based on the geographical location from which the call originated.

(30) "Service subscriber" means any person, company, corporation, business, association, or party not exempt from county or municipal taxes or utility franchise assessments who is provided telephone (local exchange access facility) service in the political subdivision or CMRS service or VoIP service.

(31) "Service supplier" means any person, company, or corporation, public or private, providing exchange telephone service, CMRS service, or VoIP service to end users.

(32) "Rate" means the recurring or nonrecurring rates billed by the service supplier, which represents the service supplier’s recurring charges for exchange access facilities, exclusive of all taxes, fees, licenses, or similar charges.

(33) "Telephone subscriber" or "subscriber" means a person or entity to whom exchange telephone service, either residential or commercial, is provided and in return for which the person or entity is billed on a monthly basis. When the same person, business, or organization has several telephone access lines, each exchange access facility constitutes a separate subscription.

(34) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service" means interconnected VoIP service as that term is defined in 47 C.F.R. § 9.3 as may be amended.

(35) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider" means a person or entity that provides VoIP service.

(36) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber" means a person or entity that purchases VoIP service from a VoIP provider.

(37) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 911 charge" means the charge imposed pursuant to § 23-47-67.

(38) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service line" means a VoIP service that offers an active telephone number or successor dialing protocol assigned by a VoIP service provider to a customer that has outbound calling capability.

(39) "Board" means the board of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.

(40) "Call" means any information, written communication, video, data, or voice that is delivered to the PSAP initiating an emergency response.

(41) "IP-Enabled Services" means services and applications making use of Internet Protocol (IP) including, but not limited to, voice over IP and other services and applications provided through wireline, cable, wireless and satellite facilities, and any other facility that is capable of connecting users dialing or entering the digits 911 to public safety answering points.

(42) "NextGen 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1)" includes the delivery of 911 calls over an IP-based network and provides multimedia data capabilities for PSAPs and other emergency service organizations.

(43) "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 or wireless communications device.

(44) "Communications service provider" means a service provider, public or private, that transports information electronically via landline, wireless, Internet, cable, or satellite, including, but not limited to, wireless communications service providers, personal communications service, telematics, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

(45) "Wireless communications service" means commercial mobile radio service. "Wireless communications service" includes any wireless two-way communications used in cellular telephone service, a personal communications service, or a network access line. "Wireless communications service" does not include a service whose customers do not have access to 911 or 911-like services.

(46) "Wireless communications provider" means a company that offers wireless communication service to users of wireless devices including, but not limited to, cellular, personal communications services, mobile satellite services, and enhanced specialized mobile radio.

(47) "ESInet" means an Emergency Services IP Network. An ESInet can be one or many networks, including local, regional, statewide, nationwide, or international.

(48) "VoIP Network" or "Voice over Internet Protocol Network" means a method in which voice communications are delivered via digital Internet connections.

(49) "Legacy systems" means any 911 system, whether basic or enhanced, operating in South Carolina prior to the board establishing an NG9-1-1 or subsequent systems.

(50) "Strategic plan" means the defined strategy of South Carolina’s 911 goals and objectives and the steps necessary to achieve those goals and objectives.