As used in this act:

(a) “Broadband” means the transmission of digital signals at rates equal to or greater than 1.5 megabits per second.

(b) “CLASS services” means custom local area signaling services, which include automatic callback, automatic recall, calling number identification, selective call rejection, selective call acceptance, selective call forwarding, distinctive ringing and customer originated trace.

(c) “Commission” means the state corporation commission.

(d) “Dialing parity” means that a person that is not an affiliate of a local exchange carrier is able to provide telecommunications services in such a manner that customers have the ability to route automatically, without the use of any access code, their telecommunications to the telecommunications carrier of the customer’s designation from among two or more telecommunications carriers, including such local exchange carrier.

(e) “Federal act” means the federal telecommunications act of 1996, P.L. 104-104 (amending the communications act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.)

(f) “ISDN” means integrated services digital network which is a network and associated technology that provides simultaneous voice and data communications over a single communications channel.

(g) “LATA” has the meaning ascribed to it in the federal act.

(h) “Local exchange carrier” means any telecommunications public utility or its successor, not to include an electing carrier, providing switched telecommunications service within any local exchange service area, as approved by the commission on or before January 1, 1996. However, with respect to the Hill City exchange area, in which multiple carriers were certified by the commission prior to January 1, 1996, the commission’s determination, subject to any court appeals, of which authorized carrier shall serve as the carrier of last resort will determine which carrier shall be deemed the local exchange carrier for that exchange.

(i) “Number portability” has the meaning ascribed to it in the federal act.

(j) “1+ intraLATA dialing parity” means the ability of a local exchange service customer to specify the telecommunications or local exchange carrier that will carry the intraLATA long distance messages when that customer dials either “1” or “0” plus a 10-digit number.

(k) “Operating area” means:

(1) In the case of a rural telephone company, operating area or service area means such company’s study area or areas as approved by the federal communications commission;

(2) in the case of a local exchange carrier, other than a rural telephone company, operating area or service area means such carrier’s local exchange service area or areas as approved by the commission.

(l) “Rural telephone company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the federal act, excluding any local exchange carrier which together with all of its affiliates has 20,000 or more access lines in the state.

(m) “Telecommunications carrier” means a corporation, company, individual, association of persons, their trustees, lessees or receivers that provides a telecommunications service, including, but not limited to, interexchange carriers and competitive access providers, but not including local exchange carriers certified before January 1, 1996.

(n) “Telecommunications public utility” means any public utility, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 66-104, and amendments thereto, which owns, controls, operates or manages any equipment, plant or generating machinery, or any part thereof, for the transmission of telephone messages, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 66-104, and amendments thereto, or the provision of telecommunications services in or throughout any part of Kansas.

(o) “Telecommunications service” means the provision of a service for the transmission of telephone messages, or two-way video or data messages.

(p) “Universal service” means telecommunications services and facilities which include: single party, two-way voice grade calling; stored program controlled switching with vertical service capability; E-911 capability; tone dialing; access to operator services; access to directory assistance; and equal access to long distance services.

(q) “Enhanced universal service” means telecommunications services, in addition to those included in universal service, which shall include: Signaling system seven capability, with CLASS service capability; basic and primary rate ISDN capability, or the technological equivalent; full-fiber interconnectivity, or the technological equivalent, between central offices; and broadband capable facilities to: All schools accredited pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-3214 et seq., and amendments thereto; hospitals as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-425, and amendments thereto; public libraries; and state and local government facilities which request broadband services.