196.795 Public utility holding companies.
196.796 Real estate activities.
196.80 Consolidation or merger of utilities.
196.805 Consolidation or merger of telecommunications utilities.
196.807 Energy affiliate and utility employees.
196.81 Abandonment; commission approval required.
196.84 Commission's holding company and nonutility affiliate regulation costs.
196.85 Payment of commission's expenditures.
196.855 Assessment of costs against municipalities.
196.856 Assessment for stray voltage research.
196.857 Stray voltage program.
196.858 Assessment for telephone relay service.
196.86 Assessments for air quality improvement program.
196.91 Acquisition of existing dams.
196.92 Procedure for acquiring dams.
196.97 Nonessential uses of natural gas.
196.975 Local access and transport area boundaries.
196.98 Water reporting required.
196.01
196.01
Definitions. As used in this chapter and
ch. 197, unless the context requires otherwise:
196.01(1b)
(1b) "Access service" means the provision of switched or dedicated access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling a telecommunications provider to originate or terminate telecommunications service. "Access service" includes unbundled local service provided to telecommunications providers.
196.01(1d)
(1d) "Alternative telecommunications utility" means any of the following:
196.01(1d)(a)
(a) Cable television telecommunications service providers.
196.01(1d)(f)
(f) Any other telecommunications provider if the commission finds that the service offered by the telecommunications provider is available from other telecommunications providers within this state directly or indirectly to the public.
196.01(1g)
(1g) "Basic local exchange service" means the provision to residential customers of an access facility, whether by wire, cable, fiber optics or radio, and essential usage within a local calling area for the transmission of high-quality 2-way interactive switched voice or data communication. "Basic local exchange service" includes extended community calling and extended area service. "Basic local exchange service" does not include additional access facilities or any discretionary or optional services that may be provided to a residential customer. "Basic local exchange service" does not include cable television service or services provided by a commercial mobile radio service provider.
196.01(1j)
(1j) "Basic message telecommunications service" means long distance toll service as provided on January 1, 1994, on a direct-dialed, single-message, dial-1 basis between local exchanges in this state at tariff rates. "Basic message telecommunications service" does not include any wide-area telecommunications service, 800-prefix service, volume, dedicated, discounted or other interoffice services or individually negotiated contracts for telecommunications service.
196.01(1m)
(1m) "Broadcast service" means the one-way transmission to the public of video or audio programming regulated under
47 USC 301 to
334 that is provided by a broadcast station, as defined in
47 USC 153 (dd), including any interaction with a recipient of the programming as part of the video or audio programming offered to the public.
196.01(1p)
(1p) "Cable television service" means the one-way transmission to subscribers of video programming regulated under
47 USC 521 to
559 that is provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station or other programming services that make information available to all subscribers generally and includes any subscriber interaction required for the selection of video programming or other program services.
196.01(1r)
(1r) "Cable television telecommunications service provider" means a person who provides one or more telecommunications services but who, during the previous taxable year, received at least 90% of his or her gross income in the particular television franchise area in which telecommunication services are provided from the operation of a cable television system subject in whole or in part to
47 USC 521 to
559.
196.01(2g)
(2g) "Commercial mobile radio service provider" means a telecommunications provider that is authorized by the federal communications commission to provide commercial mobile service.
196.01(2m)
(2m) "Commission" means the public service commission.
196.01(3)
(3) "Indeterminate permit" means any grant, directly or indirectly, from the state to any public utility of power, right or privilege to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within this state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of any public utility service.
196.01(3b)
(3b) "Interconnection agreement" means an interconnection agreement that is subject to approval by the commission under
47 USC 252 (e).
196.01(3e)
(3e) "Interlata" means between local access and transport areas.
196.01(3g)
(3g) "Intralata" means within the boundaries of a local access and transport area.
196.01(3p)
(3p) "Mobile home park" means any tract of land containing 2 or more individual plots of land that are rented or offered for rent for the accommodation of a mobile home.
196.01(3q)
(3q) "Mobile home park contractor" means a person, other than a public utility, who, under a contract with a mobile home park operator, provides water or sewer service to a mobile home park occupant or performs a service related to providing water or sewer service to a mobile home park occupant.
196.01(3s)
(3s) "Mobile home park occupant" means a person who rents or owns a mobile home in a mobile home park.
196.01(3t)
(3t) "Mobile home park operator" means a person engaged in the business of owning or managing a mobile home park.
196.01(4)
(4) "Municipality" means any town, village or city wherein property of a public utility or any part thereof is located.
196.01(4m)
(4m) "Pay telephone service provider" means a person who owns or leases a pay telephone located on property owned or leased by that person and who otherwise does not offer any telecommunications service directly or indirectly to the public.
196.01(5)(a)(a) "Public utility" means, except as provided in
par. (b), every corporation, company, individual, association, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court, and every sanitary district, town, village or city that may own, operate, manage or control any toll bridge or all or any part of a plant or equipment, within the state, for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility" includes all of the following:
196.01(5)(a)1.
1. Any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains and any person, except a governmental unit, who furnishes services by means of a sewerage system either directly or indirectly to or for the public.
196.01(5)(b)
(b) "Public utility" does not include any of the following:
196.01(5)(b)1.
1. A cooperative association organized under
ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power or water to its members only.
196.01(5)(b)2.
2. A holding company, as defined in
s. 196.795 (1) (h), unless the holding company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.
196.01(5)(b)3.
3. Any company, as defined in
s. 196.795 (1) (f), which owns, operates, manages or controls a telecommunications utility unless the company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.
196.01(7)
(7) "Service" is used in its broadest and most inclusive sense.
196.01(8)
(8) "Small telecommunications utility" means any telecommunications utility or a successor in interest of a telecommunications utility that provided landline local and access telecommunications service as of January 1, 1984, and that has less than 50,000 access lines in use in this state.
196.01(8m)
(8m) "Telecommunications carrier" means any person that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public but does not provide basic local exchange service, except on a resale basis. "Telecommunications carrier" does not include an alternative telecommunications utility or a commercial mobile radio service provider.
196.01(8p)
(8p) "Telecommunications provider" means any person who provides telecommunications services.
196.01(9)
(9) "Telecommunications reseller" or "reseller" means a telecommunications utility that resells message telecommunications service, wide-area telecommunications services or other telecommunications services which have been approved for reselling by the commission.
196.01(9m)
(9m) "Telecommunications service" means the offering for sale of the conveyance of voice, data or other information at any frequency over any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the sale of service for collection, storage, forwarding, switching and delivery incidental to such communication and including the regulated sale of customer premises equipment. "Telecommunications service" does not include cable television service or broadcast service.
196.01(10)
(10) "Telecommunications utility" means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, partnership, association and lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public. "Telecommunications utility" does not include a telecommunications carrier.
196.01(12)
(12) "Transmission facility" means any plant or equipment used to carry telecommunications services by wire, optics, radio signal or other means.
196.01(13)
(13) "Wide-area telecommunications service" means the offering of message-based telecommunications service using a single, dedicated access line at the originating end of the call at a significant volume-based discount.
196.01 History
History: 1977 c. 29,
418;
1981 c. 390;
1983 a. 27,
53,
76,
192,
425,
538;
1985 a. 79,
1985 a. 297 ss.
14 to
22,
39;
1987 a. 27;
1989 a. 344;
1993 a. 121,
496;
1995 a. 46,
409;
1997 a. 184,
218,
229;
1999 a. 9,
32,
53;
1999 a. 150 s.
672.
196.01 Annotation
Commission may determine that holding company, formed by public utility corporation to engage in non-utility business ventures, is itself public utility, where holding company possesses power to control utility plant or equipment or where arrangement is device to evade regulatory jurisdiction.
71 Atty. Gen. 147.
196.015
196.015
Total service long-run incremental cost. 196.015(1)(1) In this section, "basic network function" means the smallest disaggregation of local exchange transport, switching and loop functions that is capable of being separately listed in a tariff and offered for sale.
196.015(2)
(2) In this chapter, total service long-run incremental cost is calculated as the total forward-looking cost, using least cost technology that is reasonably implementable based on currently available technology, of a telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function that would be avoided if the telecommunications provider had never offered the service, group of services, or basic network function or, alternatively, the total cost that the telecommunications provider would incur if it were to initially offer the service, group of services, or basic network function for the entire current demand, given that the telecommunications provider already produces all of its other services.
196.015 History
History: 1993 a. 496.
196.02
196.02
Commission's powers. 196.02(1)(1)
Jurisdiction. The commission has jurisdiction to supervise and regulate every public utility in this state and to do all things necessary and convenient to its jurisdiction.
196.02(2)
(2) Definition; classification. In this subsection, "public utility" does not include a telecommunications cooperative or a small telecommunications utility except as provided under
s. 196.205 or
196.215 (2) and does not include an alternative telecommunications utility. The commission shall provide for a comprehensive classification of service for each public utility. The classification may take into account the quantity used, the time when used, the purpose for which used, and any other reasonable consideration. Each public utility shall conform its schedules of rates, tolls and charges to such classification.
196.02(3)
(3) Rules. The commission may adopt reasonable rules to govern its proceedings and to regulate the mode and manner of all inspections, tests, audits, investigations and hearings.
196.02(4)
(4) Information required; stock holders. 196.02(4)(a)(a) The commission may inquire into the management of the business of all public utilities. The commission shall keep itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted. The commission may obtain from any public utility any information necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties.
196.02(4)(b)
(b) Each public utility shall furnish to the commission, in such form and at such times as the commission requires, the following information respecting the identity of the holders of its voting capital stock in order to enable the commission to determine whether the holders constitute an affiliated interest within the meaning of this chapter:
196.02(4)(b)1.
1. The names of each holder of one percent or more of the voting capital stock of the public utility.
196.02(4)(b)2.
2. The nature of the property right or other legal or equitable interest which the holder has in the stock.
196.02(4)(b)3.
3. Any other similarly relevant information which the commission prescribes and directs.
196.02(4)(c)
(c) If any public utility fails to furnish the commission with information required of it by the commission, the commission may issue an order directing the delinquent public utility to furnish the information immediately or to show good cause why the information cannot be obtained. Failure of any public utility to comply with the order of the commission is a violation of this chapter within the meaning of
s. 196.66.
196.02(5)
(5) Inspect books. The commission or any commissioner or any person employed by the commission for that purpose may, upon demand, inspect the books, accounts, papers, records and memoranda of any public utility, and examine under oath any officer, agent or employee of the public utility in relation to its business and affairs. Any person, other than one of the commissioners, who makes a demand shall produce his or her authority to make the inspection.
196.02(6)
(6) Production of records. The commission may require, by order or subpoena served on any public utility as a summons is served in circuit court, the production within this state at the time and place the commission designates of any books, accounts, papers or records kept by the public utility outside the state, or verified copies in lieu thereof, if the commission orders. If a public utility fails or refuses to comply with the order or subpoena, for each day of the failure or refusal the public utility shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500.
196.02(7)
(7) Commission initiative. In any matter within its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to,
chs. 197 and
201 and this chapter, the commission may initiate, investigate and order a hearing at its discretion upon such notice as it deems proper.
196.02(8)
(8) Employ counsel. The commission may employ counsel in any proceeding, investigation, hearing or trial had by it or in which it is a party, and the expenses thereby incurred shall be charged to the commission's appropriation.
196.02(9)
(9) Technicalities disregarded. Substantial compliance with the requirements of the statutes shall be sufficient to make effective any rule, regulation, order or action of the commission. No rule, regulation, order or action of the commission is invalid for any omission of a technical nature.
196.02(10)
(10) Commission notices; certifications. Any notice of investigation or hearing or certification to a copy of a record of the commission may be issued or certified by any member of the commission or by its secretary or assistant secretary.
196.02(12)
(12) Sue; be sued. The commission may sue and be sued in its own name, and may confer with or participate in any proceedings before any regulatory agency of any other state or of the federal government.
