Mississippi § 77-17-3 - Definitions.

§ 77-17-3. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: “Broadband affiliate” or “affiliate” means any entity that is (i) wholly or partially owned by an electric cooperative, and (ii) formed to own or operate a broadband system or provide broadband services. “Broadband service provider” means an entity that provides broadband services to others on a wholesale basis or to end-use customers on a retail basis. “Broadband operator” means a broadband service provider that owns or operates a broadband system on an electric cooperative’s electric delivery system with the electric cooperative’s consent. “Broadband services” means any service that consists of or includes the provision of or connectivity to a high-speed, high-capacity transmission medium that can carry signals from or to multiple sources and that either: (i) is used to provide access to the Internet, or (ii) provides computer processing, information storage, information content or protocol conversion, including any service applications or information service provided over such high-speed access service. As used herein, “broadband services” also includes video services, voice over Internet protocol services, any wireless services, and Internet protocol-enabled services. “Broadband system” means the fiber, cables, materials, equipment and other facilities that are used or useful for the provision of broadband services. “Electric delivery system” means the poles, lines, fiber, cables, broadband system, materials, equipment, easements and other facilities or properties used by an electric cooperative to deliver or facilitate the delivery, sale or use of electric energy. “Electric cooperative” means an electric power association formed or operating under Sections 77-5-201, et seq. “Internet protocol-enabled services” means any service, capability, functionality or application provided using Internet protocol, or any successor protocol, that enables an end user to send or receive a communication in Internet protocol format, or any successor format, regardless of whether the communications is voice, data or video. “Landowner” includes any person or entity holding an interest in real property. “Video services” means video programming services without regard to delivery technology, including Internet protocol technology (“Internet Protocol television or IPTV”) and video programming provided as a part of a service that enables users to access content, information, email or other services offered over the public Internet. The term “video programming” means any programming generally considered comparable to programming provided by a television broadcast station or others. “Voice over Internet protocol services” means any service that: (i) enables real-time, two-way voice communications that originate from or terminate to the user’s location in Internet protocol or any successor protocol; (ii) uses a broadband connection from the user’s location; and (iii) permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network.