PSC 160.075 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (3), cr. (5), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00. PSC 160.08PSC 160.08 Telecommunications customer assistance program. The commission may authorize individual telecommunications providers to establish telecommunications customer assistance programs that meet authorized goals and objectives for increasing or stabilizing subscription levels for non-optional, essential telecommunications service within its service territory or to address avoidance of disconnection or limitation of service to low-income households with payment problems. The customer assistance programs may allow a provider to not make available certain essential services, as defined in s. PSC 160.03 (2), in order to keep at least minimaltelecommunications service to certain low-income households with payment problems. The commission shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not a telecommunications customer assistance program may receive universal service fund monies. PSC 160.09PSC 160.09 High rate assistance credits. PSC 160.09(1)(1) In this section, “median household income” means the estimated median household income per county published annually by the U.S. census bureau’s small area income and poverty estimate program. PSC 160.09 NoteNote: This may be found on the commission’s website at psc.wi.gov.
PSC 160.09(1g)(1g) A full ETC shall provide high rate assistance credits to residential customers when the price of service exceeds levels set in this section. PSC 160.09(1r)(1r) A full ETC shall recalculate credits under this section whenever the fixed monthly charge for essential telecommunications service, as defined in s. PSC 160.03 (2), is changed, or when ordered to do so by the commission. If the recalculation results in a de minimis change, the ETC may request that the administrator of the division of business and communications services stay the requirement to increase or decrease the credit. PSC 160.09(2)(2) Full eligible telecommunications carriers shall calculate credits as specified in sub. (4) utilizing the price of service determined under sub. (3). PSC 160.09(3)(a)(a) If a full ETC offers essential services on a stand-alone basis, the price of service calculated under this paragraph for its stand-alone essential services shall be considered the price of service when calculating credits for all of the ETC’s offerings, whether provided on a stand-alone basis or as part of a bundle. The price of service for stand-alone essential services that is used to calculate credits under sub. (4) shall include all of the following charges and fees: PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.1. The in-state charges and fees for residential stand-alone essential services, including, as applicable, all of the following: PSC 160.09(3)(a)5.5. The charge, if any, for 120 local calls, excluding extended community calling calls. PSC 160.09(3)(a)6.6. The federal communications commission authorized charge for implementation of local number portability. PSC 160.09(3)(b)(b) The price of service for residential stand-alone essential services does not include charges for items and services such as: PSC 160.09(3)(c)(c) If a full ETC only offers essential services bundled with other services, and not on a stand-alone basis, the price of service used to calculate credits under sub. (4) shall be the charges and fees for the service, minus the charge for optional items or services such as the following: PSC 160.09(3)(d)(d) If a full ETC’s charge for bundled service includes a charge for data service, it is rebuttably presumed that the ETC’s customers are not eligible for high rate assistance for that bundled service. The ETC may rebut this presumption by showing that the charge for the bundled service minus the cost of providing data service totals an amount high enough to qualify the customer for high rate assistance. The commission may, upon complaint or if it has a reasonable basis to believe that a credit should be applied when it is not, require the ETC to provide the relevant cost information. PSC 160.09(4)(4) Full eligible telecommunications carriers shall issue high rate assistance credits according to the following criteria: PSC 160.09(4)(a)(a) For the portion of the price of service below 1.2% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, no credits apply. PSC 160.09(4)(b)(b) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 1.2% but below 1.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 50% of that amount. PSC 160.09(4)(c)(c) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 1.7% but below 2.2% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 75% of that amount. PSC 160.09(4)(d)(d) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 2.2% but below 2.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 85% of that amount. PSC 160.09(4)(e)(e) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 2.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 95% of that amount. PSC 160.09(4)(f)(f) When a rate applies in only one county, the median household income used to calculate the credit shall be that of that county in which the rate applies. When a rate applies in more than one county, the median household income used to compute the credit shall be the average of the median household incomes in each county in which the rate applies, weighted by the number of customers paying that rate in each county. PSC 160.09(4)(g)(g) If the amount of money required to reimburse full ETCs for credits under this section exceeds the amount budgeted for this program under s. PSC 160.17, the commission may modify the formula for high rate assistance credits. PSC 160.09(5)(5) Except as provided in sub. (9), each full ETC may be reimbursed by the universal service fund for the value of the credits it issues if it files its reimbursement claims with the fund administrator by April 1 of the year following the year during which it issued the credit. The full ETC may obtain an extension of the filing deadline from commission staff for good cause. PSC 160.09(6)(6) When a full ETC charges a pro-rated portion of the normal monthly charge for service because the customer has had service for only a portion of the month, the rate assistance credit for that customer shall be pro-rated by the same percentage. PSC 160.09(7)(7) A full ETC shall show and identify the high rate assistance credits on bills issued to customers. PSC 160.09(9)(9) Full ETCs may not be reimbursed by the universal service fund for the value of credits issued to customers receiving essential telecommunications service under a contract if the contract has a duration of greater than one year. The commission may grant waivers of this subsection by order. This subsection does not apply to rural line extension contracts entered into before January 1, 1996. PSC 160.09 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1), (8) and (9), r. (2) (a), (b), (3) (f), (h) and (6), renum. (2) (c) to be (2) and am. (2), renum. (3) (a) to (e) to be (4) (a) to (e) and am. (4) (a) to (e), renum. (3) (g) to (4) (f) and am. (4) (f), renum. (3) (i) and (5) to be (4) (g) and (6), renum. (4) to be (5) and am. (5), renum. (8) to be (9) and am. (9), cr. (3), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1g) and am., cr. (1), (1r), am. (2), r. and recr. (3), am. (4) to (7), r. (8), am. (9) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (3) (d) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register December 2018 No. 756. PSC 160.092PSC 160.092 Alternative universal service protection plans. PSC 160.092(1)(1) After notice and opportunity for hearing the commission may, by order, implement one or more of the following plans: PSC 160.092(1)(b)(b) A measure to ensure provision of intralata and interlata essential services. PSC 160.092(1)(c)(c) A measure approved by the commission as necessary to protect universal service and ensure provision of services. PSC 160.092(2)(2) Alternative plans under this section shall be implemented on an experimental basis. These plans shall be reviewed within 3 years of inception and shall terminate within 5 years of inception, unless made permanent by commission order after notice and an opportunity for hearing. PSC 160.092(3)(3) Alternative plans under this section may make use of cost studies, bidding, auctions, defined service territories or other mechanisms to protect universal service. The commission may, by order, authorize payment of universal service fund monies as part of an alternative plan. PSC 160.092 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (intro.), (b), (c), am. (2), (3), r. (4) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; corrections in (2) made under ss. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. and 35.17, Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721. PSC 160.115PSC 160.115 Medical telecommunications equipment program. PSC 160.115(1)(a)(a) “Initial application” means the first application for universal service fund support under this section that an applicant files in a state fiscal year. PSC 160.115(1)(b)(b) “Non-profit medical clinic” includes any clinic or hospital that meets all of the following: PSC 160.115(1)(b)2.2. Serves federally designated health professional shortage areas as defined in 42 USC 254e (a) (1), medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations. PSC 160.115(1)(c)(c) “Public health agency” includes the department of health services, any local health department as defined in s. 250.01 (4), Stats., and any health care facility or program operated by a tribe or tribal organization under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 USC 450f et seq.) PSC 160.115(2)(2) The commission may grant funding to non-profit medical clinics and public health agencies for the purchase of telecommunications equipment for any of the following purposes: PSC 160.115(2)(b)(b) To directly or indirectly enhance access to medical care in rural or underserved areas of the state, or both. PSC 160.115(2)(c)(c) To directly or indirectly enhance access to medical care by underserved populations or persons with disabilities in the state, or both. PSC 160.115(3)(3) The commission may grant a maximum of $500,000 in universal service fund support granted under this section per state fiscal year, or $1,000,000 per state biennium. PSC 160.115(4)(a)(a) An applicant for universal service fund support under this section may not, in its application, request disbursement of support for a time period longer than that specified in the solicitation for grant applications. PSC 160.115(5)(5) An applicant for funding shall include all of the following in its application: PSC 160.115(5)(a)(a) A description of the telecommunications equipment for which universal service fund support is requested. PSC 160.115(5)(b)(b) An explanation of how the applicant’s purchase of the telecommunications equipment will support the purposes identified in sub. (2). PSC 160.115(5)(c)(c) Identification of the vendor that may supply the telecommunications equipment. PSC 160.115(5)(d)(d) A description of how the portion of the purchase price not covered by universal service fund support, if any, will be paid for. PSC 160.115(5)(e)(e) A description of the steps taken to secure the telecommunications equipment at reasonable prices. PSC 160.115(5)(f)(f) A statement certifying that the universal service fund support will be used for the purpose granted. PSC 160.115(6)(a)(a) The commission shall evaluate all applications submitted under this section. The commission may approve all or part of an application if it includes the information required under sub. (5) and if the commission determines the following: PSC 160.115(6)(a)1.1. The applicant is a non-profit medical clinic or public health agency located in Wisconsin. PSC 160.115(6)(a)2.2. The applicant’s purchase of telecommunications equipment will support the purposes identified in sub. (2). PSC 160.115(6)(a)3.3. The applicant will be able to pay for the portion of the cost of the equipment not funded under this section.
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