Section 63.132. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Customer communications—A customer voice or data communication made in whole or in part by wire, cable, microwave or other means for the transmission by a telephone company of communications between the point of origin and the point of reception by a telephone company.

Customer information—Information regarding a customer of a telephone company or information regarding the services or equipment ordered and used by that customer. The term includes a customer’s name, address and telephone number, occupation, information concerning toll calls, collect calls and third-party billed calls, local message detail information and information concerning services ordered or subscribed to by a customer. The term also includes bills, statements, credit history, toll records whether on paper, microfiche or electromagnetic media; computer records; interexchange carrier selection, service problems and annoyance call records.

Destruction—The mutilation of documents in a manner which insures that their content is obliterated by sufficiently tearing or shredding prior to collection by public waste or trash collectors or by appropriately erasing information stored electromagnetically.

Employe—An individual who works directly for and is paid a salary by a telephone company subject to this subchapter.

Pen register—A device which records or decodes electronic or other impulses which identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted with respect to wire communications on the telephone line to which the device is attached. The term does not include a device which is excluded from the definition of pen register by the Wiretap Act.

Security department—The department or individuals with responsibility for the prevention and investigation of the loss, destruction or theft of telephone company property, the unauthorized or unlawful use of telephone company equipment or services and the unlawful conduct of telephone company employes which occurs during the course of employment.

Service evaluation and monitoring—Evaluation and monitoring of telephone company operations, including communications, to maintain or improve the quality of service to the customer. The term includes review of customer/employe relations, system checks and facility maintenance.

Telephone company—A public utility which provides regulated telecommunication services subject to Commission jurisdiction.

Trap and trace device—A device which captures incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted. The term does not include a device which is excluded from the definition of trap and trace device by the Wiretap Act.

Wiretap—A device which is used to intercept and record or aurally monitor telephone communications whether from a local or remote site under a court order or other lawful process.

Wiretap Act—Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § § 5701—5781 (relating to Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act).