LRB-1758/P6
EHS:kms&cdc
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Sherwin, BB0475 - New appropriation to fund the Broadband Expansion Grant Program
For 2023-2025 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
State government
Public utility regulation
Broadband expansion grant program funding
This bill provides funding from the general fund for the broadband expansion grant program, in addition to its current funding from the universal service fund. The bill requires PSC to award in each fiscal year no less than 10 percent of the amount in the schedule under the new appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24 for the broadband expansion grant program (minimum amount). However, if the balance in the appropriation is less than the minimum amount, the bill requires PSC to award the entire remaining balance. Further, if PSC does not receive sufficient broadband expansion grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria to award the minimum amount or, if applicable, the remaining balance, the bill requires PSC to award the maximum amount of broadband expansion grants possible that fiscal year.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 20.155 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
20.155 (3) (c) Broadband expansion grant program. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the broadband expansion grant program under s. 196.504 (2).
****Note: This Section
involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section
2. 196.504 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
196.504 (2m) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (c), each fiscal year the commission shall award no less than 10 percent of the amount in the schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24 as broadband expansion grants under sub. (2).
(b) Except as provided in par. (c), if the remaining unobligated balance of the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (c) is less than 10 percent of the amount in the schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24, the commission shall award the entire remaining balance in broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) in that fiscal year.
(c) If in any fiscal year, the commission does not receive sufficient broadband expansion grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria to award the minimum amounts described under par. (a) or (b), the commission shall award the maximum amount of broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) possible that fiscal year.
(End)
