Section R14-2-1001. Definitions

In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.        “Access code” means a sequence of numbers that, when dialed, connects a caller to the provider of operator ser- vices associated with that sequence of numbers.

2.        “Affiliate” means any other entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the entity making alternative oper- ator services available to the public. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under com- mon control with”), as used with respect to any entity, means the power to direct the management policies of such entity, whether through the  ownership of  voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

3.        “Aggregator” or “Traffic Aggregator” means any person or entity that, in the ordinary course of its operations and using a provider of operator services, makes telephones available to the public or to transient users of its prem- ises, for intrastate telephone calls. Each entity that exer- cises control over telephone equipment, whether through ownership of the  equipment, control of  access to the equipment, or some other means, will be responsible as an aggregator.

4.        “Alternative Operator Services” or “AOS” means provi- sion by an entity, other than a local exchange carrier or a certificated interexchange carrier with authorized opera- tor service tariffs, of any telecommunications service ini- tiated from an aggregator location where automated and/ or live assistance is provided to a consumer in order to arrange for billing or completion of an intrastate tele- phone call. Store and forward payphones are not included within this definition.

5.        “AOS Provider” means any public service corporation that provides alternative operator services.

Corporation Commission – Fixed Utilities

6.        “Billing Agency” means any third party authorized by the AOS provider to submit bills to end users and to handle billing disputes.

7.        “Blocking” means the process of screening the calls dialed from the presubscribed telephone in order to pre- vent the completion of calls that would allow the caller to reach a preferred interexchange carrier.

8.        “Call splashing” means the transfer of a telephone call from one provider of operator services to another such provider in such a manner that the subsequent provider is unable or unwilling to determine the originating location of the call and consequently bills the call without prop- erly reflecting the originating and terminating points of the telephone call.

9.        “Consumer,” “Caller,” or “End User” means a person ini- tiating any intrastate telephone call by means of alterna- tive operator services.

10.     “Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited part- nership, joint venture, trust, estate, or natural person.

11.     “Interexchange carriers” or “IXCs” means any long-dis- tance telephone carriers authorized by the Commission to provide long distance, interLATA telecommunications service, but not local exchange services, within the state borders.

12.     “IntraLATA long-distance service” means all long-dis- tance service originating and terminating in the same LATA, as defined by the F.C.C.

13.     “LATA” means one of the geographic local access and transport areas established as a result of the AT&T dives- titure.

14.     “Local exchange carriers” or “LECs” means telephone companies currently certified to provide local telephone service in designated areas of the state.

15.     “Operator Service Charges” or “charges” means all tar- iffed charges, other than rate usage charges, and sur- charges authorized by the Commission and charged to the end user for live or automated operator-assisted calls.

16.     “Rate” means any usage charges, as approved by this Commission.

17.     “Surcharge” or “Location-specific Surcharge” means a charge imposed by an aggregator upon an end user and paid in addition to the usage rates and operator service charges of the alternative operator services provider.

18.     “Waiver” refers to the Commission’s ability to dispense with a requirement under these rules.

19.     “Zero-minus call” means a call that is made by dialing a single zero.

Historical Note

Adopted effective November 2, 1993, under a court- ordered exemption as determined by the Arizona Corpo- ration Commission (Supp. 93-4).

Note

Editor’s Note: The Arizona Corporation Commission has determined that the following Section is exempt from the Attorney General certification provisions of the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act (A.R.S. § 41-1041) by a court order (State ex. rel. Corbin v. Arizona Corporation Commission, 174 Ariz. 216 848

P.2d 301 (App. 1992)).