Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 35. CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ASSOCIATIONS

CHAPTER 18. RURAL COOPERATIVE UTILITIES

Part 1. General

Definitions

35-18-102. Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Broadband" means transmission facilities capable of handling frequencies greater than those required for high-grade voice communication, higher than 4 kilohertz.

(2) "Cable television system" means a system that receives and amplifies the signals broadcast by one or more television stations and redistributes the signals to subscribing members of the public for a fixed or periodic fee by wire, cable, microwave, or other means, whether the means are owned or leased.

(3) "Cooperative" means a corporation organized under this chapter or a corporation that becomes subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(4) "Member" means each incorporator of a cooperative and each person admitted to and retaining membership in a cooperative as provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the cooperative, including persons admitted to joint membership.

(5) "Person" includes any natural person, firm, association, corporation, business trust, partnership, federal agency, state or political subdivision or an agency of a state or political subdivision, or other organization or group of persons.

(6) "Present" or "presence" includes in-person or any form of presence utilizing remote communication authorized by a cooperative's articles or bylaws.

(7) "Remote communication" includes communication made electronically, by conference telephone call, internet, remote technology, or other communication through which all participants in the meeting have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the members, pose questions, and make comments.

(8) "Rural area", as applied to all corporations organized under the provisions of 35-18-105(1), means:

(a) an area not included within the boundaries of an incorporated or unincorporated city, town, village, or borough having a population in excess of 3,500 persons on March 17, 1939, or subsequent to March 17, 1939;

(b) an incorporated municipality in which 95% or more of the premises are served by an electric cooperative on February 1, 1971;

(c) a former rural area annexed by a municipality and subject to 69-5-109; or

(d) an incorporated municipality that was served by a public utility that sold the public utility's distribution facilities within that municipality to an electric cooperative after January 1, 1998.

History: (1)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 172, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 80, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 7, L. 1971; Sec. 14-502, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 30, Ch. 172, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 151, L. 1949; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 80, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 7, L. 1971; Sec. 14-530, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 14-502(part), 14-530; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 237, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 208, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 168, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 406, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 74, L. 2021.