Sec.  25.103   Definitions.

   (a)  Communications  common  carrier . The term “communications common
   carrier” as used in this part means any person (individual, partnership,
   association, joint-stock company, trust, corporation, or other entity)
   engaged as a common carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign communication
   by wire or radio or in interstate or foreign radio transmission of energy,
   including such carriers as are described in subsection 2(b) (2) and (3) of
   the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and, in addition, for purposes
   of  subpart  H  of  this  part,  includes any individual, partnership,
   association, joint-stock company, trust, corporation, or other entity which
   owns or controls, directly or indirectly, or is under direct or indirect
   common control with, any such carrier.

   (b) Authorized carrier. The term “authorized carrier” means a communications
   common carrier which is authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
   under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to provide services by
   means of communications satellites.

   (c) Communications satellite corporation. (1) The terms “communications
   satellite  corporation” or “corporation” as used in this part mean the
   corporation  created  pursuant  to  the provisions of Title III of the
   Communications Satellite Act of 1962.

   (2)  The corporation shall be deemed to be a common carrier within the
   meaning of section 3(10) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

   (d)   Communication-satellite   earth   station   complex.   The  term
   communication-satellite  earth  station complex includes transmitters,
   receivers, and communications antennas at the earth station site together
   with the interconnecting terrestrial facilities (cables, lines, or microwave
   facilities)  and  modulating  and demodulating equipment necessary for
   processing of traffic received from the terrestrial distribution system(s)
   prior  to  transmission via satellite and of traffic received from the
   satellite prior to transfer of channels of communication to terrestrial
   distribution system(s).

   (e)  Communication-satellite  earth  station  complex  functions.  The
   communication-satellite earth station complex interconnects with terminal
   equipment  of common carriers or authorized entities at the interface;
   accepts  traffic  from  such  entities at the interface, processes for
   transmission via satellite and performs the transmission function; receives
   traffic from a satellite or satellites, processes it in a form necessary to
   deliver channels of communication to terrestrial common carriers or such
   other  authorized  entities and delivers the processed traffic to such
   entities at the interface.

   (f)  Interface.  The point of interconnection between two distinct but
   adjacent communications systems having different functions. The interface in
   the communication-satellite service is that point where communications
   terminal equipment of the terrestrial common carriers or other authorized
   entities   interconnects   with   the   terminal   equipment   of  the
   communication-satellite  earth  station  complex. The interface in the
   communication-satellite service shall be located at the earth station site,
   or if this is impracticable, as close thereto as possible.

   (g) Emergency call center (ECC). A facility that subscribers of satellite
   commercial mobile radio services call when in need of emergency assistance
   by dialing “911” on their mobile satellite earth terminal.

   [ 28 FR 13037 , Dec. 5, 1963, as amended at  31 FR 3289 , Mar. 2, 1966;  68 FR 63997 , Nov. 12, 2003;  69 FR 6582 , Feb. 11, 2004]