196.499(17)(a)(a) A telecommunications carrier who violates a provision of this section or rule or order of the commission promulgated or adopted under this section may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense.
196.499(17)(b)
(b) A telecommunications carrier that knowingly and intentionally violates
sub. (2) or
(3) (a) may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 for each violation.
196.50
196.50
Competing public utilities; indeterminate permits; telecommunications utility certification. 196.50(1)(a)(a) The commission may not grant any person a license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power in the municipality, if there is in operation under an indeterminate permit a public utility engaged in similar service in the municipality, unless the person seeking the license, permit or franchise secures from the commission a declaration, after a public hearing of any interested party, that public convenience and necessity require the delivery of service by the applicant.
196.50(1)(b)
(b) If the commission authorizes a telecommunications carrier to provide access service to the public or business access line and usage service within a local calling area under
s. 196.499 (16), the commission shall consider if or to what extent a telecommunications utility with 150,000 or less access lines in use in this state may be relieved of its obligation to be the provider of last resort. The commission shall consider the extent of competition in the relevant geographic area for the service, the revenues that have been or may be lost by the telecommunications utility, the ability of competing telecommunications providers to serve the existing or projected demand and any other factors that it considers to be relevant.
196.50(1)(c)
(c) Any provision in an agreement or municipal franchise that prohibits entry into the telecommunications or video services market after September 1, 1994, is void.
196.50(2)
(2) Certification of telecommunications utilities. 196.50(2)(a)(a) Alternative telecommunications utilities shall be certified under
s. 196.203. All other telecommunications utilities shall be certified under this subsection.
196.50(2)(b)
(b) A certificate, franchise, license or permit, indeterminate or otherwise, in effect on September 1, 1994, for a telecommunications utility shall remain in effect and shall have the effect of a certificate of authority. A telecommunications utility is not required to apply for a new certificate of authority to continue offering or providing service to the extent of the prior authorization. Each telecommunications utility shall have on file with the commission a map that defines the geographical limits of the service territory that the telecommunications utility is obliged to serve.
196.50(2)(c)
(c) After August 31, 1994, a person who does not possess authority from the commission to provide telecommunications services may not provide services in this state as a telecommunications utility until the person obtains a certificate of authority under this subsection. A certified alternative telecommunications utility or any other certified telecommunications utility may also apply for certification or amended certification under this subsection.
196.50(2)(d)
(d) No later than 45 days after the commission receives an application for a certificate of authority or an amended certificate of authority, the commission shall determine if the application is complete. If the commission determines that the application is complete, the commission shall docket the application and issue a final order no later than the expiration date of the temporary license under
par. (e). If the commission determines that the application is incomplete, the commission shall notify the applicant in writing of the commission's determination, identify any part of the application which the commission has determined to be incomplete and state the reasons for the determination. An applicant may supplement and refile an application which the commission has determined to be incomplete. There is no limit on the number of times that an applicant may refile an application before a final order on the application. If the commission fails to make a determination within 15 days after receiving a refiled application regarding the completeness of an application previously determined to be incomplete, the refiled application shall be considered to be complete.
196.50(2)(e)1.1. Pending the determination on an application for a certificate of authority or an amended certificate of authority, the commission may issue, without notice and hearing, a temporary license for a period not to exceed one year. The issuance of a temporary license does not bind the commission in the final determination on the application.
196.50(2)(e)2.
2. An application for a certificate of authority or amended certificate of authority that is filed after June 30, 1994, shall identify the geographical area to be served and the classification for which it is filed. The application shall be served by the applicant on all affected telecommunications providers.
196.50(2)(f)
(f) The commission shall issue a certificate of authority or an amended certificate of authority if it finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that the applicant possesses sufficient technical, financial and managerial resources to provide telecommunications service to any person within the identified geographic area. In making this determination, the commission shall consider the factors identified in
s. 196.03 (6).
196.50(2)(g)1.1. The authority of every telecommunications utility with a certificate under this subsection is statewide and nonexclusive. The existence of or issuance of a certificate of authority or amended certificate of authority to any telecommunications utility and the approval of any tariff for the telecommunications utility shall not preclude the commission from authorizing additional telecommunications utilities to provide the same or equivalent service or to serve the same geographical area as any previously authorized utility or approved tariff.
196.50(2)(g)2.
2. A telecommunications utility's obligation to serve is defined by the map that the utility files under
par. (b).
196.50(2)(i)
(i) A telecommunications utility certified under this subsection is exempt from
ss. 196.02 (2) and
(6),
196.05,
196.06,
196.07,
196.08,
196.09,
196.10,
196.12,
196.13,
196.16,
196.18,
196.19,
196.20,
196.21,
196.219 (3) (c),
(e),
(g), and
(L),
(4d),
(4m), and
(5),
196.24,
196.395 (1),
196.49,
196.52,
196.58,
196.60,
196.64,
196.78, and
196.79 and, except with respect to wholesale telecommunications service, is exempt from
s. 196.219 (4).
196.50(2)(j)1.1. A telecommunications utility certified under this subsection may do any of the following:
196.50(2)(j)1.a.
a. Provide notice to the commission to terminate the certification under this subsection and certify the telecommunications utility as an alternative telecommunications utility under
s. 196.203. No later than 30 days after receiving notice under this
subd. 1. a., the commission shall issue an order granting a certification under
s. 196.203. The granting of such certification shall operate to terminate the certification under this subsection. All regulatory requirements in or related to the certification under this subsection that are inconsistent with the requirements of or regulation allowed under
s. 196.203, including all such requirements imposed by the certification and all such requirements imposed by the commission, whether by statute or commission rule or order, on the telecommunications utility are terminated on the effective date of the order, unless the telecommunications utility, in its notice to the commission seeking certification under
s. 196.203, requests to remain subject to one or more requirements of its prior certification under this subsection that do not violate the telecommunications utility's requirements or obligations under this chapter and the commission does not deny the request in its order pursuant to this
subd. 1. a. granting certification under
s. 196.203.
196.50(2)(j)1.b.
b. Provide notice to the commission to recertify the telecommunications utility under this subsection and impose on the telecommunications utility only those provisions of this chapter specified in this
subd. 1. b. No later than 30 days after receiving notice under this
subd. 1. b., the commission shall issue an order that grants recertification under this subsection and that imposes on the telecommunications utility only those provisions of this chapter specified in this
subd. 1. b. The telecommunications utility shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter, except
ss. 196.01,
196.016,
196.025 (6),
196.191,
196.206,
196.212,
196.219 (2r), and
196.503; and except those provisions in
s. 196.203 (4m) (a) that are imposed on all alternative telecommunications utilities under
s. 196.203 (3); and except, with respect to its wholesale telecommunications services only,
ss. 196.03 (1) and
(6),
196.219 (4),
196.28, and
196.37. If required by the public interest, the commission may, with respect only to intrastate switched access services, impose on the telecommunications utility
s. 196.03 (1) and
(6) and
196.37, except that the commission may not impose
s. 196.03 (1) or
(6) without also imposing
s. 196.37 on the telecommunications utility. The granting of the recertification shall operate to terminate the telecommunications utility's prior certification. All regulatory requirements related to the prior certification that are inconsistent with the requirements of or regulation allowed under this
subd. 1. b., including all such requirements imposed by the certification, and all such requirements imposed by the commission, whether by statute or commission rule or order, on the telecommunications utility are terminated on the effective date of the order unless the telecommunications utility, in its notice to the commission seeking recertification under this
subd. 1. b., requests to remain subject to one or more requirements of its prior certification that do not violate the telecommunications utility's requirements or obligations under this chapter and the commission does not deny the request in its recertification order.
196.50(2)(j)2.
2. Issuance of a commission order under
subd. 1. shall operate as a limited waiver of the telecommunications utility's right to an exemption under
47 USC 251 (f) (1), which shall apply only to all of the following:
196.50(2)(j)3.
3. Issuance of a commission order under
subd. 1. shall operate as a limited waiver of the telecommunications utility's right to petition the commission for suspension or modification under
47 USC 251 (f) (2), which shall apply only to all of the following:
196.50(3)
(3) Second utility. Any certificate, permit, license or franchise issued to a public utility, other than a telecommunications utility, which contains any term interfering with the existence of a 2nd public utility, other than a telecommunications utility, is amended to permit any municipality to grant a franchise for the operation of the 2nd public utility.
196.50(4)
(4) Municipality restrained. No municipality may construct any public utility if there is in operation under an indeterminate permit in the municipality a public utility engaged in similar service other than a telecommunications service, unless it secures from the commission a declaration, after a public hearing of all parties interested, that public convenience and necessity require the municipal public utility.
196.50(5)
(5) Injunction. Pending investigation and finding by the commission as to whether public convenience and necessity require a 2nd public utility, the furnishing of any public utility service, other than a telecommunications service, in any municipality contrary to the provisions of this section may be enjoined at the suit of the state or of any public utility having an interest in the issue.
196.50(6)
(6) No denial on federal financing. No certificate of convenience and necessity or permit to any public utility under
ss. 196.49 and
196.50 shall be denied because of the amount of the public utility's notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued to the United States in connection with loans to rural telecommunications utilities made under the rural electrification act of 1936,
7 USC 901 to
950aaa-5, as amended, or by reason of the ratio of such indebtedness to the value of the public utility's property or to its other classes of securities.
196.50(7)(a)(a) This subsection applies to any telecommunications utility that is restricted under federal law or under any consent decree approved by a federal district court.
196.50(7)(b)
(b) Upon application by a telecommunications utility subject to this subsection for a certificate to provide interlata services, the commission shall consider all of the following factors in determining whether to grant a certificate of authority:
196.50(7)(b)1.
1. Whether granting the certificate is in the public interest.
196.50(7)(b)2.
2. Whether the utility will provide interconnection to its local exchange network under reasonable terms and conditions.
196.50(7)(b)3.
3. Whether the utility will permit appropriate resale and sharing of its services.
196.50(7)(b)4.
4. Whether the utility will provide unbundled services under reasonable terms and conditions.
196.50(7)(b)6.
6. Whether competition in the interlata marketplace will be enhanced or hindered by granting the certificate.
196.50(7)(c)
(c) The commission may impose terms and conditions upon the grant of a certificate under
par. (b) that are necessary to protect the public interest and promote competition.
196.50(7)(d)
(d) The commission, after providing notice and opportunity for hearing, shall issue its decision on the application within 180 days after the filing. The time period may be extended upon agreement of the commission and the applicant.
196.50(7)(e)
(e) An applicant may not be authorized to provide interlata service before the availability of dial-1 presubscription on an intralata basis in all of its exchanges except where it is technically infeasible to offer intralata dial-1 presubscription due to the action or inaction of a switch vendor.
196.50 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: For division of service between competing utilities, see s.
197.01 (4).
196.50 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
PSC 166, Wis. adm. code.
196.503
196.503
Telecommunications provider of last-resort obligations. 196.503(1)(1)
Definitions. In this section, "basic voice service" means the provision to residential customers of 2-way voice communication within a local calling area. "Basic voice service" includes extended community calling and extended area service. "Basic voice service" does not include the offering of Internet access service or any discretionary or optional services that are provided to a residential customer, even if provided in a bundle or package with basic voice service.
196.503(2)
(2) Incumbent local exchange carrier obligations. 196.503(2)(a)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, and except as provided in
sub. (3), an incumbent local exchange carrier shall make basic voice service available to all residential customers within a local exchange area in which it operates as an incumbent local exchange carrier.
196.503(2)(b)
(b) An incumbent local exchange carrier may satisfy its obligations under
par. (a) through an affiliate and through the use of any available technology or mode.
196.503(3)(a)(a) An incumbent local exchange carrier may apply to the commission for a waiver from compliance with
sub. (2) (a) in a local exchange area.
196.503(3)(b)
(b) The commission shall grant a waiver requested under
par. (a) for a local exchange area if any of the following is satisfied:
196.503(3)(b)1.
1. The commission finds that the incumbent local exchange carrier demonstrates that the waiver is in the public interest or that effective competition exists for basic voice service in the local exchange.
196.503(3)(b)2.
2. The commission has made a previous finding of effective competition under s.
196.195 (2), 2009 stats., for basic local exchange service in the local exchange. The commission may not grant a waiver under this subdivision until after June 1, 2012.
196.503(3)(c)
(c) The commission's review of a waiver requested under
par. (a) shall be strictly limited to determining whether any of the criteria specified in
par. (b) 1. or
2. is satisfied.
196.503(3)(d)1.1. Within 120 days of the filing of a waiver request based on
par. (b) 1., the commission shall grant or deny the request and, if denied, the commission shall issue a written decision identifying the reasons for its denial. If the commission fails to grant or deny the waiver request within 120 days of its filing, the waiver request is considered granted by operation of law.
196.503(3)(d)2.
2. The commission shall grant a waiver based on
par. (b) 2. as soon as the commission verifies that the commission has previously made the finding specified in
par. (b) 2., but no later than 20 days after the filing of the waiver request. If the commission fails to grant a waiver request based on
par. (b) 2. within 20 days of its filing, the waiver request is considered granted by operation of law. If the commission denies a waiver based on
par. (b) 2., the commission shall issue a written decision identifying the reasons for its denial.
196.503(4)(a)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a commission decision prior to June 9, 2011, eliminating an incumbent local exchange carrier's provider of last-resort obligations, by operation of law or otherwise, remains in force and in effect as to the elimination of those obligations.
196.503(4)(b)
(b) Except to enforce this section, nothing in this section provides the commission with any authority to regulate, or any jurisdiction over, incumbent local exchange carriers and the rates, terms, and conditions of their services that the commission does not otherwise have under this chapter.
196.503(5)
(5) Sunset. This section does not apply after April 30, 2013.
196.503 History
History: 2011 a. 22.
196.505
196.505
Construction of chapter. 196.505(1)
(1) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to deny a foreign corporation the privilege of offering telecommunications services in this state if it has received a certificate of authority under
ch. 180 and any other authorization from the commission required under this chapter.
196.505(2)
(2) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to permit
chapter 184 or this chapter to apply differently to a foreign corporation which offers telecommunications services in this state than to a similarly situated domestic corporation which offers telecommunications services in this state.
196.505 History
History: 1985 a. 297;
1993 a. 496.
196.51
196.51
Prior permits and franchises validated. Any license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power in any municipality is valid and shall not be affected by
s. 196.50 (1), if the license, permit or franchise was granted prior to April 3, 1911, to any public utility or was under consideration prior to April 3, 1911, in the governing body of any municipality at the time another public utility operating in the municipality obtained an indeterminate permit.
196.51 History
History: 1983 a. 53.
196.52
196.52
Relations with affiliated interests; definition; contracts with affiliates filed and subject to commission control. 196.52(1)(1) In this section, "person" includes but is not limited to trustees, lessees, holders of beneficial equitable interest, voluntary associations, receivers, partnerships and corporations; and "affiliated interests" means, with respect to a public utility:
196.52(1)(a)
(a) Any person owning or holding directly or indirectly 5% or more of the voting securities of the public utility.
196.52(1)(b)
(b) Any person in any chain of successive ownership of 5% or more of voting securities of the public utility.
196.52(1)(c)
(c) Every corporation 5% or more of whose voting securities is owned by any person owning 5% or more of the voting securities of the public utility or by any person in any chain of successive ownership of 5% or more of voting securities of the public utility.
196.52(1)(d)
(d) Any person who is an officer or director of the public utility or of any corporation in any chain of successive ownership of 5% or more of voting securities of the public utility.
196.52(1)(e)
(e) Any corporation operating a public utility, a railroad, or a servicing organization for furnishing supervisory, construction, engineering, accounting, legal and similar services to public utilities or railroads, which has one or more officers or one or more directors in common with the public utility, and any other corporation which has directors in common with the public utility if the number of such directors of the corporation is more than one-third of the total number of the public utility's directors.
196.52(1)(f)
(f) Any person whom the commission determines as a matter of fact after investigation and hearing to be actually exercising any substantial influence over the policies and actions of the public utility even if such influence is not based upon stockholding, stockholders, directors or officers as specified under
pars. (a) to
(e).
196.52(1)(g)
(g) Any other person whom the commission determines as a matter of fact after investigation and hearing to be actually exercising substantial influence over the policies and actions of the public utility in conjunction with one or more other persons with whom they are related by ownership, by blood or adoption or by action in concert that together they are affiliated with such public utility for the purpose of this section, even though no one of them alone is so affiliated under
pars. (a) to
(f).
196.52(1)(h)
(h) Any subsidiary of the public utility. In this paragraph, "subsidiary" means any person 5% or more of the securities of which are directly or indirectly owned by a public utility.
196.52(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, "contract or arrangement" means a contract or arrangement providing for the furnishing of management, supervisory, construction, engineering, accounting, legal, financial or similar services and any contract or arrangement for the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property, right, or thing, or for the furnishing of any service, property, right, or thing, other than management, supervisory, construction, engineering, accounting, legal, financial or similar services, but "contract or arrangement" does not include a contract or arrangement under which a transmission utility, as defined in
s. 196.485 (1) (i), sells or transfers securities, as defined in
s. 196.485 (1) (fe), that have been issued by a transmission company, as defined in
s. 196.485 (1) (ge). Except as provided under
par. (b), unless and until the commission gives its written approval, any contract or arrangement is not valid or effective if the contract or arrangement is made between a public utility and an affiliated interest after June 7, 1931. Every public utility shall file with the commission a verified copy of any contract or arrangement, a verified summary of any unwritten contract or arrangement, and any contract or arrangement, written or unwritten, which was in effect on June 7, 1931. The commission shall approve a contract or arrangement made or entered into after June 7, 1931, only if it shall clearly appear and be established upon investigation that it is reasonable and consistent with the public interest. The commission may not approve any contract or arrangement unless satisfactory proof is submitted to the commission of the cost to the affiliated interest of rendering the services or of furnishing the property or service to each public utility or of the cost to the public utility of rendering the services or of furnishing the property or service to each affiliated interest. No proof is satisfactory under this paragraph unless it includes the original (or verified copies) of the relevant cost records and other relevant accounts of the affiliated interest, or an abstract of the records and accounts or a summary taken from the records and accounts if the commission deems the abstract or summary adequate. The accounts shall be properly identified and duly authenticated. The commission, where reasonable, may approve or disapprove a contract or arrangement without submission of the cost records or accounts.
