Basic Local Telecommunications Service - This term means voice-grade,
flat-rate residential and flat-rate single-line business local exchange services
which provide dial tone, local usage necessary to place unlimited calls within a
local exchange area, dual tone multi-frequency dialing, and access to the following:
emergency services such as "911," all locally available interexchange companies,
directory assistance, operator services, relay services, and an alphabetical directory
listing. For a local exchange telecommunications company, such term shall include
any extended area service routes, and extended calling services in existence or
ordered by the commission on or before July 1, 1995.
Competitive Local Exchange Telecommunications Company (CLEC) - Any company certificated
by the Commission to provide local exchange telecommunications service in this state
on or after July 1, 1995.
Local Access And Transport Areas (LATAs) - A geographic area in which the AT&T and
Verizon local exchange companies carry telephone calls. Local access and transport
areas are loosely based on standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs).
Local Exchange Telecommunications Company or
Incumbent Local Exchange Telecommunications
Company (ILEC)
- Any company certificated by the Commission to provide local exchange
telecommunications service in this state on or before June 30, 1995.
Local Interconnection - This term means the physical linking of two networks for
the mutual exchange of local traffic. Each competitive local exchange telecommunications
company shall provide access to, and interconnection with, its telecommunications
services to any other provider of local exchange telecommunications services requesting
such access and interconnection at nondiscriminatory prices, terms, and conditions.
If the parties are unable to negotiate mutually acceptable prices, terms, and conditions,
either party may petition the commission to make a determination.
No local exchange telecommunications company or competitive local exchange telecommunications
company shall knowingly deliver traffic, for which terminating access service charges
would otherwise apply, through a local interconnection arrangement without paying
the appropriate charges for such terminating access service.
Network Access - Any service or facility provided by the incumbent local exchange
company or the competitive local exchange company to another telecommunications
service provider for the purpose of originating or terminating long distance traffic.
Nonbasic Service - Any telecommunications service provided by a local exchange telecommunications
company other than a basic local telecommunications service, a local interconnection
arrangement described in Section 364.16, Florida Statutes, or a network access service
described in Section 364.163, Florida Statutes.
Number Portability - The ability of users of telecommunications services to retain,
typically at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers without impairment
of quality, reliability, or convenience when switching from one telecommunications
carrier to another.
Pay Telephone Service Company (PATS) - Any certificated telecommunications entity
which provides pay telephone service.
Unbundling and resale - Upon request, each local exchange telecommunications company
shall unbundle all of its network features, functions, and capabilities, including
access to signaling databases, systems and routing processes, and offer them to
any other telecommunications provider requesting such features, functions or capabilities
for resale to the extent technically and economically feasible and required by federal
law. The parties shall negotiate the terms, conditions, and prices of any feasible
unbundling request. If the parties cannot reach a satisfactory resolution, either
party may petition the commission to arbitrate the dispute. In no event, however,
shall the local exchange telecommunications company be required to offer such unbundled
services, network features, functions or capabilities, or unbundled local loops
at prices that are below cost.