§ 4-47. Definitions

For purposes of these Regulations, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given. Where not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The words "shall" and "will" are mandatory, and "may" is permissive. Words not otherwise defined shall be construed to mean the common and ordinary meaning.

"Abandonment" shall mean the permanent cessation of all uses of a Communications Facility; provided that this term shall not include cessation of all use of a Facility within a physical structure where the physical structure continues to be used. By way of example, and not limitation, cessation of all use of a cable within a conduit, where the conduit continues to be used, shall not be "Abandonment" of a Facility in Public Rights-of-Way.

"City" shall mean the City of Tavares, Florida.

"Communications Services" shall mean the transmission, conveyance or routing of voice, data, audio, video, or any other information or signals to a point, or between or among points, by or through any electronic, radio, satellite, cable, optical, microwave, or other medium or method now in existence or hereafter devised, regardless of the protocol used for such transmission or conveyance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of these Regulations "cable service," as defined in Section 202.11(2), Florida Statutes (2000), as it may be amended, is not included in the definition of "Communications Services," and cable service providers may be subject to other ordinances and regulations of the City of Tavares.

"Communications Services Provider" shall mean any Person including a municipality or county providing Communications Services through the placement or maintenance of a Communications Facility in Public Rights-of-Way. Communications Services Provider" shall also include any Person including a municipality or county that places or maintains a Communications Facility in Public Rights-of-Way but does not provide Communications Services.

"Communications Facility" or "Facility" or "System" shall mean any permanent or temporary plant, equipment and property, including but not limited to cables, wires, conduits, ducts, fiber optics, poles, antennae, converters, splice boxes, cabinets, hand holds, manholes, vaults, drains, surface location markers, appurtenances, and other equipment or pathway placed or maintained or to be placed or maintained in the Public Rights-of-Way of the City of Tavares and used or capable of being used to transmit, convey, route, receive, distribute, provide or offer Communications Services.

"FCC" shall mean the Federal Communications Commission.

"In Public Rights-of-Way" or "in the Public Rights-of-Way" shall mean in, on, over, under or across the Public Rights-of-Way.

"Ordinance" shall mean the Ordinance adopting these Regulations.

"Person" shall include any individual, children, firm, association, joint venture, partnership, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate, fiduciary, corporation, organization or legal entity of any kind, successor, assignee, transferee, personal representative, and all other groups or combinations, and shall include the City of Tavares to the extent the City of Tavares acts as a Communications Services Provider.

"Place or maintain" or "placement or maintenance" or "placing or maintaining" shall mean to erect, construct, install, maintain, place, repair, extend, expand, remove, occupy, locate or relocate. A Communications Services Provider that owns or exercises physical control over Communications Facilities in Public Rights-of-Way, such as the physical control to maintain and repair, is "placing or maintaining" the Facilities. A Person providing service only through resale or only through use of a third party's unbundled network elements is not "placing or maintaining" the Communications Facilities through which such service is provided. The transmission and receipt of radio frequency signals through the airspace of the Public Rights-of-Way does not constitute "placing or maintaining" Facilities in the Public Rights-of-Way.

"Public Rights-of-Way" shall mean a public right-of-way, public utility easement, highway, street, bridge, tunnel or alley for which the City of Tavares is the authority that has jurisdiction and control and may lawfully grant access to pursuant to applicable law, and includes the surface, the air space over the surface and the area below the surface. "Public Rights-of-Way" shall not include private property. "Public Rights-of-Way" shall not include any real or personal City of Tavares property except as described above and shall not include City of Tavares buildings, fixtures, poles, conduits, facilities or other structures or improvements, regardless of whether they are situated in the Public Rights-of-Way. Use of public utility easements shall be subject to the provisions of the easement agreement.

"Registrant" shall mean a Communications Services Provider that has Registered with the City of Tavares in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

"Registration" or "Register" shall mean the process described in these Regulations whereby a Communications Services Provider provides certain information to the City of Tavares.

"Regulations" shall mean these Regulations unless otherwise stated.

"Wireless Facility" shall mean any permanent or temporary plant, equipment and property, including but not limited to cables, wires, conduits, ducts, fiber optics, poles, antennae, converters, splice boxes, cabinets, and other equipment placed or maintained or to be placed or maintained in the Public Rights-of-Way of the City of Tavares and used or capable of being used to transmit, convey, route, receive, distribute, provide or offer Communications Services through radio frequency transmission or other wireless means of transmitting or receiving.

"Vertical Structure" shall mean any permanent or temporary building, pole or other structure regardless of the type of construction material.