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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70906</law_id><section_number>56-487</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="16">Telephone Cooperatives Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning appears from the context:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Cooperative</span>&#x201D; shall mean a telephone <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> formed under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-255703" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Municipality</span>&#x201D; shall mean any city or incorporated town of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-255704" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include natural <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, firms, associations, <span class="dictionary">cooperatives</span>, <span class="dictionary">corporations</span>, business trusts, partnerships and bodies politic. <a id="paragraph-255705" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Telephone service</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include service over wire or cable lines, including voice carrier, service by voice carrier <span class="dictionary">system</span> over electric distribution and transmission lines, service over radio <span class="dictionary">circuits</span>, and any other service involving the transmission of voice, video or data between fixed points. <a id="paragraph-255706" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Acquire</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include construct, <span class="dictionary">acquire</span> by purchase, lease, devise, gift or the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or other mode of acquisition. <a id="paragraph-255707" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">System</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include any plant, works, <span class="dictionary">system</span>, facilities, or properties, or any part or parts thereof, together with all appurtenances thereto, used or useful in connection with the transmission of voice, video or data. <a id="paragraph-255708" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Obligations</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include <span class="dictionary">bonds</span>, interim certificates or receipts, notes, debentures, and all other <span class="dictionary">evidences</span> of indebtedness either issued or the payment thereof assumed by a <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span>. <a id="paragraph-255709" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal agency</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include the United States of America, the President of the United States of America, and any and all other authorities, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States of America, heretofore or hereafter created. <a id="paragraph-255710" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Improve</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include construct, reconstruct, <span class="dictionary">improve</span>, replace, extend, enlarge, alter, better or repair. <a id="paragraph-255711" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; shall mean the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors of a <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> formed under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-255712" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Member</span>&#x201D; shall mean and include each <span class="dictionary">person</span> admitted to membership in the <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> pursuant to <span class="dictionary">law</span> or its bylaws. <a id="paragraph-255713" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-487/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1950, p. 588; 1956, c. 434; 1996, c. 708.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
