§ 7051. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Automatic location identification" or "ALI" means the system capability to identify automatically the geographical location of the electronic device being used by the caller to summon assistance and to provide that location information to an appropriate device located at any public safety answering point for the purpose of sending emergency assistance.

(2) ALI "database" means a derivative, verified set of records which contain at a minimum a telephone number and location identification for each unique building or publicly used facility within a defined geographic area in Vermont.

(3) "Automatic number identification" or "ANI" means the system capability to identify automatically the calling telephone number and to provide a display of that number at any public safety answering point.

(4) "Board" means the Vermont Enhanced 911 Board established under section 7053 of this title.

(5) "Caller" means a person or an automated device calling on behalf of a person.

(6) "Director" means the Director for statewide Enhanced 911.

(7) "Emergency call system" or "Enhanced 911 system" means a system consisting of devices with the capability to determine the location and identity of a caller that initiates communication for the purpose of summoning assistance in the case of an emergency. In most cases summoning assistance will occur when a caller dials the digits 9-1-1 on a telephone, mobile phone, or other IP-enabled service, or by a communication technology designed for the purpose of summoning assistance in the case of an emergency.

(8) "Emergency services" means fire, police, medical, and other services of an emergency nature as identified by the Board.

(9) "IP-enabled service" means a service, device, or application that makes use of Internet protocol, or IP, and which is capable of entering the digits 9-1-1 or otherwise contacting the emergency 911 system. IP-enabled service includes voiceover IP and other services, devices, or applications provided through or using wire line, cable, wireless, or satellite or other facilities.

(10) "Municipality" means any city, town, incorporated village, unorganized town, gore, grant, or other political subdivision of the State.

(11) "Other methods of locating caller" means those commercially available technologies designed to provide the location information of callers when a call is initiated to access emergency 911 services regardless of the type of device that is used.

(12) "Public safety answering point" means a facility with the capability to receive emergency calls, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of receiving 911 calls and dispatching, transferring, or relaying emergency 911 calls to other public safety agencies or private safety agencies.

(13) "Selective routing" means a telecommunications switching system that enables all 911 calls originating from within a defined geographical region to be answered at a predesignated public service answering point.

(14) "Dispatchable Location" means the location information delivered to the public safety answering point with a 911 call.

(15) "Enterprise Communications Systems (ECS)" means any networked communication system serving two or more stations, or living units, within an enterprise. ECS includes circuit-switched networks, such as multi-line telephone systems or legacy ECS, IP-enabled service, and cloud-based technology.

(16) "Station" means a telephone handset, customer premise equipment (CPE), or calling device that is capable of initiating a call to 911. (Added 1993, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1995, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 22, 1996; 2011, No. 64, § 1, eff. June 2, 2011; 2017, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 24, eff. May 28, 2018.)