### Question
How is the term basic telephone service defined?


### Answer
The term **basic telephone service** is defined in *47 U.S.C. § 274* as the following:

> any wireline telephone exchange service, or wireline telephone exchange service facility, provided by a Bell operating company in a telephone exchange area, except that such term does not include—


(A) a competitive wireline telephone exchange service provided in a telephone exchange area where another entity provides a wireline telephone exchange service that was provided on January 1, 1984, or


(B) a commercial mobile service

#### Citation:
  - *47 U.S.C. § 274*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 5-WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION > SUBCHAPTER II-COMMON CARRIERS > Part III-Special Provisions Concerning Bell Operating Companies**

