Chapter 196

196.208(6)(b) (b) In any advertisement for a pay-per-call service, clearly and conspicuously disclose all conditions, restrictions and charges associated with the receipt of goods or services that are represented to be a gift, prize or incentive for using a pay-per-call service.

196.208(6)(c) (c) Not make any assertion, representation or statement that is false, deceptive or misleading in an offer or sale of a pay-per-call service.

196.208(6)(d) (d) If a caller to a pay-per-call service may be solicited to purchase additional pay-per-call services, clearly and conspicuously disclose that information in any advertisement for the pay-per-call service.

196.208(6)(e) (e) Refrain from advertising a number as toll-free if the toll-free service vendor has violated sub. (5t).

196.208(7) (7) Billing information.

196.208(7)(a) (a) A telecommunications utility shall do all of the following:

196.208(7)(a)1. 1. Include on each billing statement that includes charges for pay-per-call services a clear and conspicuous notice that states: “You may not have your telephone service disconnected for failure to pay for ‘900’ number services. You may dispute charges for ‘900’ number services if you believe the charges are unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal.”

196.208(7)(a)2. 2. If a customer’s local exchange telecommunications utility is technically able to provide blocking, semiannually include with a billing statement a clear and conspicuous notice stating that the customer may request that the local exchange telecommunications utility block the customer’s access to pay-per-call services.

196.208(7)(b) (b) If a telecommunications utility provides billing services to a provider, the telecommunications utility shall do all of the following:

196.208(7)(b)1. 1. In a clear and conspicuous manner, list charges for pay-per-call services separately from charges for telecommunications service or identify charges for pay-per-call services with an identifying symbol.

196.208(7)(b)2. 2. If a customer contacts the telecommunications utility regarding a charge for pay-per-call services, inform the customer that the customer may request the telecommunications utility to remove charges for pay-per-call services from subsequent billing statements.

196.208(7)(b)3. 3. If a customer reasonably disputes a charge for pay-per-call services and requests removal, remove that charge for pay-per-call services from subsequent billing statements.

196.208(7)(c) (c) A local telecommunications utility shall disseminate information that explains that a customer may request blocking, if available, and may request that charges for pay-per-call services be removed from its billing statements, although nonpayment of charges may result in a civil collection action.

196.208(8) (8) Collection practices.

196.208(8)(a) (a) A telecommunications utility may not do any of the following:

196.208(8)(a)1. 1. Disconnect a customer’s basic local exchange and basic interexchange services for failure to pay for pay-per-call services billed by the telecommunications utility.

196.208(8)(a)2. 2. Misrepresent that telecommunication service may be disconnected for nonpayment of pay-per-call service charges.

196.208(8)(a)3. 3. Condition the extension of local exchange service to a customer upon the customer’s agreement to block access to pay-per-call services.

196.208(8)(a)4. 4. Regarding a delinquent account, condition the acceptance of deposits or guarantees upon customer payment of outstanding pay-per-call service charges.

196.208(8)(a)5. 5. Regarding a delinquent account, condition the acceptance of a deferred payment plan upon inclusion of outstanding pay-per-call service charges in the plan unless the telecommunications utility discloses the amount of pay-per-call service charges, informs the customer that payment of pay-per-call service charges are not required as part of the plan and sends the customer a written confirmation that outlines the deferred payment plan with and without the inclusion of pay-per-call service charges.

196.208(8)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), a telecommunications utility shall verify that a notice of disconnection does not include charges relating to pay-per-call services before the telecommunications utility sends the notice to a customer.

196.208(8)(c) (c) A telecommunications utility may request the commission to waive the verification requirement of par. (b). The commission may grant a waiver if it determines that the costs that would be incurred by the telecommunications utility to meet the verification requirement are such that meeting the verification requirement is not in the best interest of the utility’s customers.

196.208(9) (9) Blocking.

196.208(9)(a) (a) If technically feasible, a local exchange telecommunications utility shall provide a customer the option of blocking access to pay-per-call services that use “900” exchanges.

196.208(9)(b) (b) A local exchange telecommunications utility may not charge a customer for the cost of blocking the first time a customer requests blocking.

196.208(9)(c) (c) A local exchange telecommunications utility may not reinstate a customer’s access to pay-per-call services that use “900” exchanges unless the customer makes the request for reinstatement in writing and the request is confirmed by the utility.

196.208(10) (10) Territorial application.

196.208(10)(a) (a) Subsections (2) to (5) apply to any pay-per-call service that a caller may access by a call originating in this state and subs. (5p) and (5t) apply to any charitable organization, toll-free service vendor, or employee of a charitable organization or toll-free service vendor that a caller may access by a call originating in this state.

196.208(10)(b) (b) Subsection (6) applies to any advertising or sales practice directed to a resident of this state.

196.208(11) (11) Remedies and penalties.

196.208(11)(a) (a)

196.208(11)(a)1. 1. If a provider or a toll-free service vendor fails to comply with this section, any person or class of persons adversely affected by the failure to comply has a claim for appropriate relief, including but not limited to damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, specific performance and rescission.

196.208(11)(a)2. 2. A person or class of persons entitled to relief under subd. 1. is also entitled to recover costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1).

196.208(11)(b) (b) The commission shall inquire into any violation of subs. (7) to (9) by a telecommunications utility or by an officer, employee or agent of a telecommunications utility and shall report all violations to the department of justice.

196.208(11)(c) (c)

196.208(11)(c)1. 1. The department of justice, or any district attorney upon informing the department of justice, may commence an action in circuit court in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction any violation of subs. (2) to (9). The department of justice or a district attorney may not commence an action to enforce subs. (7) to (9) unless the commission requests an enforcement action. Before entry of final judgment, the court may make such orders or judgments as may be necessary to restore to any person any pecuniary loss suffered because of the acts or practices involved in the action if proof of these acts or practices is submitted to the satisfaction of the court.

196.208(11)(c)2. 2. The department of justice may conduct hearings, administer oaths, issue subpoenas and take testimony to aid in its investigation of violations of subs. (2) to (6).

196.208(11)(d) (d)

196.208(11)(d)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., any person who violates subs. (2) to (9) shall be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $5,000 for each offense.

196.208(11)(d)2. 2.

196.208(11)(d)2.a. a. A prisoner who violates sub. (5p) (b) may be required to forfeit not more than $500.

196.208(11)(d)2.b. b. A person who employs a prisoner to answer calls made to a toll-free telephone number may be required to forfeit not more than $10,000 if the person violates sub. (5p) (c), aids and abets a prisoner’s violation of sub. (5p) (b), is a party to a conspiracy with a prisoner to commit a violation of sub. (5p) (b), or advises, hires, or counsels or otherwise procures a prisoner to commit a violation of sub. (5p) (b).

196.208(11)(d)3. 3. Forfeitures under subds. 1. and 2. shall be enforced by action on behalf of the state by the department of justice or, upon informing the department of justice, by the district attorney of the county where the violation occurs.

196.208 History History: 1991 a. 127; 1993 a. 361; 2001 a. 16; 2013 a. 20.

196.212 196.212 Switched access rates.

196.212(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

196.212(1)(a) (a) “Affiliate” means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association, or other entity that is controlled by, or is under common control with, a telecommunications provider or telecommunications utility.

196.212(1)(b) (b) “Large incumbent local exchange carrier” means an incumbent local exchange carrier that, with any affiliates that are incumbent local exchange carriers operating in the state, in total had 150,000 or more access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010.

196.212(1)(c) (c) “Large nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier, that had 10,000 or more access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010, and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 before January 1, 2011.

196.212(1)(d) (d) “New nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider, other than an alternative telecommunications utility certified under s. 196.203 pursuant to s. 196.50 (2) (j) 1. a., that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 on or after January 1, 2011.

196.212(1)(e) (e) “Small incumbent local exchange carrier” means an incumbent local exchange carrier that, with any affiliates that are incumbent local exchange carriers operating in the state, in total had fewer than 150,000 access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010.

196.212(1)(f) (f) “Small nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier, that had fewer than 10,000 access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010, and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 before January 1, 2011.

196.212(2) (2) New nonincumbents and large nonincumbents.

196.212(2)(a) (a) New nonincumbents. Within 30 days of June 9, 2011, a new nonincumbent may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(2)(b) (b) Large nonincumbents.

196.212(2)(b)1. 1. Except for an increase in intrastate switched access rates under s. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. a. or (3) (b) in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates, a large nonincumbent may not charge intrastate switched access rates higher than the intrastate switched access rates it charged on January 1, 2011.

196.212(2)(b)2. 2. A large nonincumbent shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates as follows:

196.212(2)(b)2.a. a. No later than 4 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 33 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(2)(b)2.b. b. No later than 5 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 50 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(2)(b)2.c. c. No later than 6 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and, beginning no later than that date, may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(3) (3) Large incumbent local exchange carriers. A large incumbent local exchange carrier shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates to no higher than the large incumbent local exchange carrier’s interstate switched access rates as follows:

196.212(3)(a) (a) Beginning on June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier may not charge intrastate switched access rates higher than the intrastate switched access rates it charged on January 1, 2011.

196.212(3)(b) (b) No later than 2 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 25 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(c) (c) No later than 3 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 33 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(d) (d) No later than 4 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 50 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(e) (e) No later than 5 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and, beginning no later than that date, may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(4) (4) Limited commission review.

196.212(4)(a) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, except to enforce this section and ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. a. and 196.219 (2r), and except to enforce s. 196.191 (3) (b) only to allow an increase in intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror interstate switched access rates, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of large nonincumbents, new nonincumbents, and large incumbent local exchange carriers.

196.212(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter except to enforce ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. and 196.219 (2r), during the 4-year period beginning on June 9, 2011, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of small incumbent local exchange carriers.

196.212(4)(c) (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter except to enforce ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. and 196.219 (2r), during the 3-year period beginning on June 9, 2011, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of small nonincumbents.

196.212(5) (5) Enforcement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission shall have jurisdiction to enforce payment of intrastate switched access rates set forth in a tariff required under s. 196.191 (1) or a contract for intrastate switched access service allowed under s. 196.191 (6).

196.212(6) (6) Application. The intrastate switched access rate reductions required by this section apply to any entity subject to those rates, regardless of the technology or mode used by that entity to provide its telecommunications services.

196.212 History History: 2011 a. 22; 2015 a. 197 s. 51.

196.216 196.216 Small telecommunications utilities as small businesses. A small telecommunications utility is a small business for the purposes of s. 227.114.

196.216 History History: 1985 a. 297; 1987 a. 403 s. 256.

196.217 196.217 Average toll rates.

196.217(1) (1) Different rates restricted. A telecommunications utility may not charge different rates for residential basic message telecommunications service, business basic message telecommunications service, or single-line wide-area telecommunications service on routes of similar distances within this state, unless authorized by the commission. This subsection does not prohibit volume or term discounts, discounts in promotional offerings, differences in the rates for intralata and interlata services of similar distances, the provision of optional toll calling plans to selected exchanges or customers or the passing through of any state or local taxes in the specific geographic area from which the tax originates.

196.217(2) (2) Toll services. Notwithstanding sub. (1), a telecommunications utility may charge prices for toll services under contract that are unique to a particular customer or group of customers if differences in the cost of providing a service or a service element justify a different price for a particular customer or group of customers, or if market conditions require individual pricing.

196.217(3) (3) Averaged rates. Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), an intralata toll provider shall offer all optional toll calling plans on a statewide basis at geographically averaged rates until the provider deploys intralata dial-1 presubscription, except that an optional toll call plan need not be offered where deployment of that offering would not be economically or technically feasible.

196.217 History History: 1993 a. 496.

196.218 196.218 Universal service fund.

196.218(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

196.218(1)(a) (a) “Essential telecommunications services” means the services or functionalities listed in 47 CFR 54.101 (a).

196.218(1)(bm) (bm) “Local exchange service” means basic local exchange service or business access line and usage service.

196.218(1)(c) (c) “Universal service” includes the availability of a basic set of essential telecommunications services anywhere in this state.

196.218(1)(d) (d) “Universal service fund” means the trust fund established under s. 25.95.

196.218(2) (2) Fund administration. The commission shall do all of the following:

196.218(2)(c) (c) Contract for the administration of the universal service fund.

196.218(2)(d) (d) Obtain an annual independent audit of the universal service fund.