The Universal Service Fund is funded through assessments on telecommunications providers, which totaled $22.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2001-02. The largest program supported by the Fund is the Educational Telecommunications Access Program, which has been administered by the Technology for Educational Achievement (TEACH) Board. During FY 2001-02, $11.7 million, or 61.9 percent of total fund expenditures and transfers, was spent on this program, including subsidies for data lines and video links for schools, libraries, and others.
Most other programs supported by the Fund are operated by the PSC. Expenditures for these programs had historically been significantly less than annual program budgets. In response, in
2001 Wisconsin Act 16 the Legislature limited the amount of assessments to support the PSC-operated programs to $5.0 million in FY 2003-04 and $6.0 million in FY 2004-05. However, the level of expenditures and encumbrances in the PSC-operated programs increased during FY 2000-01 and FY 2001-02 and is relatively close to these limits on future assessment levels.
As a result of legislative action, the Universal Service Fund was required to lapse $3,979,000 to the General Fund during the 2001-03 biennium. Subsequent to the transfers, the Fund had a balance of approximately $4.8 million as of June 30, 2003.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the staff at the PSC, TEACH, and the Fund's administrator, Williams Young, LLC, during the audit.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Transportation
July 28, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is the report required under Wisconsin Act 119, regarding the release of photos from the Department of Transportation driver record files to Wisconsin and adjacent state law enforcement agencies.
This report is provided annually and contains the agencies and the purpose for which copies of the photographs were provided.
If you have questions regarding the release of photographs contact Debbie Kraemer, Supervisor in the Records and Licensing Information Section, Bureau of Driver Services, Division of Motor Vehicles by phone at (608) 264-7060, or e-mail at
debbie.kraemer@dot.state.wi.us.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Carlson
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
August 5, 2003
To the Honorable the Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2001 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Driscoll, Darcy Partnership for Positive Growth
Fischer, Laurie Dairy Business Association
Tries, John Partnership for Positive Growth
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 28, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Almond
, Patricia M.,
of Madison, as Division Administrator of Merit Recruitment and Selection, Department of Employment Relations, to serve for the term ending March 26, 2004.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Labor, Small Business Development and Consumer Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 30, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Bruce
, Linda C.,
of Superior, as a member of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2008.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 29, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Cook
, Mary R.,
of Madison, as a member of the Medical Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2006.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
Relating to consulting physicians and changing "athletic trainer" with "licensee."
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, July 31, 2003.
Referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care, August 6, 2003
.
Relating to operation of the health insurance risk-sharing plan (HIRSP).
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, July 31, 2003.
Referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care, August 6, 2003
.
__________________
The committee on Education, Ethics and Elections reports and recommends:
Relating to ESEA intradistrict safe school transfer options.
No action taken.
Michael Ellis
Chairperson
The committee on Environment and Natural Resources reports and recommends:
Relating to the small and abandoned dam removal grant program.
No action taken.
Relating to commercial fishing in Lake Michigan.
No action taken.
Relating to fishing on the inland and outlying waters of Wisconsin.
No action taken.