LRB-4877/1
KP:amn&kjf
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 20, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Smith,
Ringhand, Erpenbach, Hansen,
Johnson and Miller, cosponsored by Representatives Shankland, Vruwink,
Milroy, Doyle, Anderson, Considine, Emerson, Hesselbein, Kolste,
Ohnstad, Pope, Sargent, Sinicki, Stubbs and Subeck. Referred to Committee
on Utilities and Housing.
SB839,1,4
1An Act to create 20.155 (3) (b) and 196.504 (3) (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the statutes;
2relating to: the Public Service Commission's authority to obtain information
3about Internet service availability, broadband expansion grants, and making
4an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to require retail electric
utilities and cooperatives to survey customers and members about broadband
service availability and reimburse the utilities and cooperatives for conducting the
surveys. The bill also requires the PSC to require Internet service providers to
disclose to the PSC the properties they serve and the average minimum download
and upload speeds at which they provide residential and business service to those
properties. The PSC must use the survey results and information disclosed to
improve broadband mapping.
The bill also provides a supplemental appropriation for the broadband
expansion grant program administered by the PSC. Under current law, the PSC
awards grants for constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas
designated by the PSC.
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:
SB839,1
1Section 1
. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
-
See PDF for table SB839,2
3Section 2
. 20.155 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB839,2,54
20.155
(3) (b)
Broadband expansion grants; supplemental. The amounts in the
5schedule for broadband expansion grants under s. 196.504.
SB839,3
6Section
3. 196.504 (3) (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the statutes are created to read:
SB839,2,97
196.504
(3) (d) Require electric providers to survey customers and members
8about the availability of broadband service and provide the survey results to the
9commission.
SB839,2,1110
(e) Reimburse electric providers for the cost of conducting surveys under par.
11(d).
SB839,2,1412
(f) Require Internet service providers to disclose to the commission the
13properties they serve and the average minimum download and upload speeds at
14which they provide residential and business service to those properties.
SB839,3,2
1(g) Use the survey results provided under par. (d) and information disclosed
2under par. (f) to improve broadband mapping.