[Text of section effective in a city or town which accepts the provisions of 1990, 291.]

Section 18A. In this section and in sections 18B to 18I, inclusive, and in section fourteen A of chapter one hundred and sixty-six, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:—

“Automatic number identification”, an enhanced 911 service capability that allows for the automatic display of the seven digit number used to place a 911 call.

“Automatic location identification”, an enhanced 911 service capability that allows for the automatic display of information relating to the geographical location of the telephone used to place a 911 call.

“Board”, the statewide emergency telecommunications board.

“Director”, the executive director of the statewide emergency telecommunications board.

“Enhanced 911 service”, a service consisting of telephone network features provided for users of the public telephone system enabling such users to reach a public safety answering point by dialing the digits 911. Such service directs calls to appropriate public safety answering points based on selective routing, and also provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification.

“Enhanced 911 network features”, those features which provide selective routing, automatic number identification and automatic location identification.

“Enhanced 911 systems”, a distinct entity or geographical segment in which enhanced 911 service is provided. It consists of an electronic switching system serving as a control office and trunking connecting all central offices within a geographical segment and the public safety answering points and circuits from such public safety answering points to a data base for retrieval of location information.

“FCC Order”, all orders issued by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to the proceeding entitled “Revision of the Commission’s Rules to Ensure Compatibility with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems” (CC Docket No. 94-102; RM 8143), or any successor proceeding, including all other criteria established therein, regarding the delivery of wireless enhanced 911 service by a wireless carrier.

“Local exchange service”, telephone exchange 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.

“Municipality”, any city or town in the commonwealth.

“Network components”, includes the software and hardware for the control office, other central office modification, trunking and all components of the computer storage system and data base used for selective routing of 911 calls and automatic location identification, including a public safety answering point.

“Public safety agency”, a functional division of a municipality or the state which provides fire fighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical or other emergency services.

“Private safety agency”, any entity, except for a municipality or a public safety agency, providing emergency police, fire, ambulance or medical services.

“Public safety answering point”, a facility assigned the responsibility of receiving 911 calls and, as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency response services or transferring or relaying emergency 911 calls to other public or private safety agencies.

A primary public safety answering point is equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays, and is the first point of reception of a 911 call. It serves the municipality in which it is located, and other cities and towns as may be determined by the board.

A secondary public safety answering point is equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays. It receives 911 calls only when they are transferred from the primary public safety answering point or on an alternative routing basis when calls cannot be completed to the primary public safety answering point.

A ringing public safety answering point is equipped for receipt of voice communications only, and may not operate twenty-four hours each day. It receives 911 calls that are transferred from the primary public safety answering point.

“Selective routing”, the method to direct 911 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point based on the geographical location from which the call originated.

“Subscriber”, an end user who receives telephone exchange access service.

“Telephone company”, includes all persons, firms, corporations, associations and joint stock associations or companies, as defined in chapter one hundred and fifty-nine, furnishing or rendering local telephone exchange service.

“Wireless carrier”, all commercial mobile radio services, as that term is defined in 47 U.S.C. section 332(d).

“Wireless enhanced 911 service”, the service required to be provided by wireless carriers pursuant to the FCC Order.