Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 39-21.1 - 911 Emergency Telephone Number Act
Section 39-21.1-3. - Definitions.

§ 39-21.1-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Automatic location identification (ALI)” means the system capability to identify automatically the geographical location of the telephone being used by the caller and to provide a display of the location information at a public safety answering point.
(2) “Automatic number identification (ANI)” means the system capability to identify automatically the calling telephone number and to provide a display of that number at a public safety answering point.
(3) “Communications common carrier” means any person, party, or entity that provides communications services for profit by way of wire or radio. It includes re-sellers of such services.
(4) “Communications services” means the transmission of sounds, messages, data, information, codes, or signals between a point or points of origin and a point or points of reception.
(5) “Prepaid wireless E-911 telecommunications service” means a wireless telecommunications 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 predetermined units or dollars of which the number declines with use in a known amount.
(6) “Private safety agency” means a private entity that provides emergency fire, ambulance, or medical services.
(7) “Public agency” means the state government and any unit of local government or special purpose district located in whole or in part within the state that provides, or has authority to provide, firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services.
(8) “Public safety agency” means a functional division of a public agency that provides firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services.
(9) “Public safety answering point (PSAP)” means a communications facility operated on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, assigned responsibility to transmit 911 calls to other public safety agencies. It is the first point of reception of a 911 call by a public safety agency and serves the entire state.
(10) “Relay method” means the method of responding to a telephone request for emergency service whereby a public safety answering point notes pertinent information and relays it by telephone to the appropriate public safety agency or other provider of emergency services for dispatch of an emergency service unit.
(11) “Selective call routing” means a feature that routes a 911 call from a central office to the designated public safety answering point based upon the telephone number of the calling party.
(12) “Telecommunication services provider,” for purposes of this chapter and of chapter 21 of this title, means every person, party, or entity that provides communications services, telephony services, voice or data transmission services, and wireless prepaid services, including, but not limited to: audio, print information, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), data or visual information, communication or transmission or any combination thereof, for profit on a subscription, wireless prepaid service, wireless prepaid telephone calling arrangement or pay-for-services or any other basis by means of landline local telephone exchange, cellular telephone, wireless communication, radio, telephony, internet, data, satellite, computer, prepaid wireless telephone, voice over internet protocols (VoIP) instruments, devices or means, or any other communication or data instruments devices or means that have access to, connect with, or interface with the E-911 uniform emergency telephone system. Telecommunication service provider includes “telephone common carrier,” “communications common carrier,” “telephone companies,” and “common carrier” as those terms are used in this chapter and in chapter 21 of this title, and “telecommunication common carrier” as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations at 47 C.F.R. part 22, as amended from time to time, and as defined in the NENA Master Glossary of 9-1-1 Terminology as amended from time to time.
(13) “Telephone common carrier” means any person, party, or entity that provides communications services for profit between a point of origin and a point of reception by way of a land-line wire connection between the two (2) points. It includes re-sellers of such services.
(14) “Telephone service provider” means every person, party, or entity that provides telephone services to subscribers or wireless prepaid customers including, but not limited to, “telephone common carrier” and “telecommunications service providers.”
(15) “Telephony” or “telephony services provider” (see “Telephone service provider”).
(16) “The 911 authority” means the agency of the state government in which responsibility for administering the implementation and operation of the 911 system is vested by the general assembly.
(17) “Transfer method” means the method of responding to a telephone request for emergency service whereby a public safety answering point transfers the call directly to the appropriate public safety agency or other provider of emergency service for dispatch of an emergency service unit.
(18) “Voice over internet protocol (VoIP)” provides distinct packetized voice or data information in digital format using the Internet Protocol.
History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 236, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 123, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 365, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 9, § 11.