Montana Code Annotated 1995

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     10-4-101. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
     (1) "Account" means the 9-1-1 emergency telecommunications account established in 10-4-301.
     (2) "Department" means the department of administration provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 10.
     (3) "Direct dispatch method" means a 9-1-1 service in which a public safety answering point, upon receipt of a telephone request for emergency services, provides for a decision as to the proper action to be taken and for dispatch of appropriate emergency service units.
     (4) "Emergency" means any event that requires dispatch of a public or private safety agency.
     (5) "Emergency services" means services provided by any public or private safety agency, including law enforcement, firefighting, ambulance or medical services, and civil defense services.
     (6) "Exchange access services" means:
     (a) telephone exchange access lines or channels that provide local access from the premises of a subscriber in this state to the local telecommunications network to effect the transfer of information; and
     (b) unless a separate tariff rate is charged therefor, any facility or service provided in connection with the services described in subsection (6)(a).
     (7) "Local government" means any city, county, or political subdivision of the state and its agencies.
     (8) "Minimum 9-1-1 service" means a telephone service meeting the standards established in 10-4-102 that automatically connects a person dialing the digits 9-1-1 to an established public safety answering point. "Minimum 9-1-1 services" includes equipment for connecting and outswitching 9-1-1 calls within a telephone central office, trunking facilities from the central office to a public safety answering point, and equipment, as appropriate, for transferring the call to another point, when appropriate.
     (9) A "9-1-1 jurisdiction" means a group of public or private safety agencies who operate within or are affected by one or more common central office boundaries and who have agreed in writing to jointly plan a 9-1-1 emergency telephone system.
     (10) "Private safety agency" means any entity, except a public safety agency, providing emergency fire, ambulance, or medical services.
     (11) "Provider" means a public utility, cooperative telephone company, or any other entity that provides telephone exchange access services.
     (12) "Public safety agency" means the state and any city, county, city-county consolidated government, municipal corporation, chartered organization, public district, or public authority located in whole or in part within this state that provides or has authority to provide emergency services.
     (13) "Public safety answering point" means a communications facility operated on a 24-hour basis that first receives 9-1-1 calls from persons in a 9-1-1 service area and which may, as appropriate, directly dispatch public or private safety services or transfer or relay 9-1-1 calls to appropriate public safety agencies.
     (14) "Relay method" means a 9-1-1 service in which a public safety answering point, upon receipt of a telephone request for emergency services, notes the pertinent information from the caller and relays such information to the appropriate public safety agency, other agencies, or other providers of emergency services for dispatch of an emergency unit.
     (15) "Subscriber" means an end user who receives telephone exchange access services.
     (16) "Transfer method" means a 9-1-1 service in which a public safety answering point, upon receipt of a telephone request for emergency services, directly transfers such a request to an appropriate public safety answering agency or other provider of emergency services.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 635, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 30, Ch. 370, L. 1987.

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