1. (a) A member is a patron of a telephone cooperative if the member purchases local telecommunications service or toll telecommunications service or pays end user access charges in the ordinary course of business of the cooperative.
2. (b) The use of interexchange access, payment of interexchange access fees or settlements, or purchase of equipment does not qualify a member or other person as a patron.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.