99-639 C.M.R. ch. 101, § 2 - DEFINITIONS

As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. Advanced Communications Technology Infrastructure. "Advanced communications technology infrastructure" means any communications technology infrastructure or infrastructure improvement that expands the deployment of or improves the quality of broadband service or wireless service coverage and can perform common applications and network service.

B. Authority. "Authority" means the ConnectMaine Authority established in 35-A M.R.S. §9203.

C. Broadband Service. "Broadband service" means a two-way, always-on, communications service that provides access to public data networks and the Internet, without usage limits and meets certain performance criteria determined annually by the Authority pursuant to § 5 of this Chapter to be necessary to use common applications and network services.

D. Common Applications and Network Service. "Common Applications and Network Service" means the ability to deliver commonly used applications for consumer use over the network.

Including:

1. Real-time, synchronous voice and video communication, including video conferencing used in remote learning, telehealth, and remote working;

2. Audio and video streaming;

3. Network and cloud-based applications; including office productivity tools, e-commerce, and government services;

4. Network file and data storage, sharing, retrieval, visualization, and search;

5. E-Sports, interactive gaming, and other recreational use;

6. Home and business automation, security, and telemetry; and

7. Any other application or network service that facilitates communication, and information exchange for the purposes of education, business use, telemedicine and other economic purposes.

E. Communications Service. "Communications service" means any wireline voice, satellite, data, fixed wireless data or video retail service.

F. Communications Service Provider. "Communications service provider" means:

1. Any entity offering communications service to customers in the State; or

2. Any facilities-based provider of mobile wireless voice or data retail service that voluntarily chooses to be assessed by the Authority under 35-A M.R.S. §9211.

G. Household. "Household" means a house and its occupants, regarded as a unit.

H. Infrastructure. "Infrastructure" means a physical component or collection of physical components that provide the basic support for distributing advanced communication technology services.

I. Line. A "line" is any wired or wireless connection capable of real-time concurrent inbound or outbound voice communication calls that are made or received to or from the public switched telephone network. For the purposes of this Chapter, private branch exchange (PBX) lines and Centrex lines are considered to be lines. For the purposes of this Chapter, the number of lines a service provider provides to a subscriber shall be deemed to equal the number of inbound or outbound calls the subscriber can maintain at the same time using the service provider's service.

J. Mobile Communications Service Provider. "Mobile communications service provider" means any facilities-based provider of retail mobile wireless voice or data service that voluntarily contributes to the ConnectMaine Fund.

K. Underserved Area. "Underserved Area" means any geographic area where broadband service exists, but where the Authority has determined that the service is inadequate pursuant to criteria set forth in section 5(C) of this Chapter.

L. Unserved Area. "Unserved Area" means any geographic area that the Authority has determined is without broadband service pursuant to criteria set forth in section 5(B) of this Chapter.

Notes

99-639 C.M.R. ch. 101, § 2