§  4.3   Communications providers covered by the requirements of this part.

   (a) Cable communications providers are cable service providers that
   also provide circuit-switched telephony. Also included are affiliated
   and non-affiliated entities that maintain or provide communications
   networks or services used by the provider in offering telephony.

   (b) Communications provider is an entity that provides for a fee to one
   or more unaffiliated entities, by radio, wire, cable, satellite, and/or
   lightguide: two-way voice and/or data communications, paging service,
   and/or SS7 communications.

   (c) IXC or LEC tandem facilities refer to tandem switches (or their
   equivalents) and interoffice facilities used in the provision of
   interexchange or local exchange communications.

   (d) Satellite communications providers use space stations as a means of
   providing the public with communications, such as telephony and paging.
   Also included are affiliated and non-affiliated entities that maintain
   or provide communications networks or services used by the provider in
   offering such communications. "Satellite operators" refer to entities
   that operate space stations but do not necessarily provide
   communications services directly to end users.

   (e) Signaling System 7 (SS7) is a signaling system used to control
   telecommunications networks. It is frequently used to "set up,"
   process, control, and terminate circuit-switched telecommunications,
   including but not limited to domestic and international telephone calls
   (irrespective of whether the call is wholly or in part wireless,
   wireline, local, long distance, or is carried over cable or satellite
   infrastructure), SMS text messaging services, 8XX number type services,
   local number portability, VoIP signaling gateway services, 555 number
   type services, and most paging services. For purposes of this rule
   part, SS7 refers to both the SS7 protocol and the packet networks
   through which signaling information is transported and switched or
   routed. It includes future modifications to the existing SS7
   architecture that will provide the functional equivalency of the SS7
   services and network elements that exist as of August 4, 2004. SS7
   communications providers are subject to the provisions of this part 4
   regardless of whether or not they provide service directly to end
   users. Also subject to part 4 of the Commission's rules are affiliated
   and non-affiliated entities that maintain or provide communications
   networks or services used by the SS7 provider in offering SS7
   communications.

   (f) Wireless service providers include Commercial Mobile Radio Service
   communications providers that use cellular architecture and CMRS paging
   providers. See § 20.3 of this chapter for the definition of Commercial
   Mobile Radio Service. Also included are affiliated and non-affiliated
   entities that maintain or provide communications networks or services
   used by the provider in offering such communications.

   (g) Wireline communications providers offer terrestrial communications
   through direct connectivity, predominantly by wire, coaxial cable, or
   optical fiber, between the serving central office (as defined in the
   appendix to part 36 of this chapter) and end user location(s). Also
   included are affiliated and non-affiliated entities that maintain or
   provide communications networks or services used by the provider in
   offering such communications.

   (h) Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers are
   providers of interconnected VoIP service. See § 9.3 of this chapter for
   the definition of interconnected VoIP service. Such providers may be
   facilities-based or non-facilities-based. Also included are affiliated
   and non-affiliated entities that maintain or provide communications
   networks or services used by the provider in offering such
   communications.

   (i) Exclusion of equipment manufacturers or vendors. Excluded from the
   requirements of this part 4 are those equipment manufacturers or
   vendors that do not maintain or provide communications networks or
   services used by communications providers in offering communications.

   [ 69 FR 70338 , Dec. 3, 2004, as amended at  77 FR 25097 , Apr. 27, 2012;
    83 FR 7401 , Feb. 21, 2018]