AB696: Bill Text

AB696,17,5 196.198 (3) (intro.) The commission may suspend the application of sub. (2) (a) in a particular geographical area for a telecommunications utility or a telecommunications provider if, after a contested case hearing, the commission determines that all of the following apply:

AB696, s. 22 Section 22. 196.198 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,17,8 196.198 (3) (a) Failure to suspend the application of sub. (2) (a) makes competition in that geographical area impractical.

AB696, s. 23 Section 23. 196.198 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,17,11 196.198 (3) (b) (intro.) Suspending the application of sub. (2) (a) is beneficial to all of the following groups:

AB696, s. 24 Section 24. 196.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,17,21 196.20 (1) The rate schedules of any public utility shall include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any public utility in its schedules except by filing the change as proposed with the commission. Except for a telecommunications utility, no No change in any public utility rule which purports to curtail the obligation or undertaking of service of the public utility shall be effective without the written approval of the commission after hearing, except that the commission, by emergency order, may make the rule, as filed, effective from the date of the order, pending final approval of the rule after hearing.

AB696, s. 25 Section 25. 196.20 (1m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 26 Section 26. 196.20 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,18,2 196.20 (2) (a) (intro.) Except for a telecommunications utility, a A proposed change which constitutes a decrease in rates shall be effective at the time specified in the change as filed but not earlier than 10 days after the date of filing the change with the commission, unless any of the following occurs:

AB696, s. 27 Section 27. 196.20 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 28 Section 28. 196.20 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,18,11 196.20 (2m) Except as provided under sub. (5) and ss. 196.193, and 196.195 (12) and 196.196, no change in schedules which constitutes an increase in rates to consumers may be made except by order of the commission, after an investigation and opportunity for hearing. The commission may waive a hearing under this subsection for a proposed change in a telecommunications utility schedule. By rule or order, the commission shall specify the notice and procedural requirements applicable to a telecommunications utility proposal for which a hearing is waived.

AB696, s. 29 Section 29. 196.20 (2r) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 30 Section 30. 196.20 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 31 Section 31. 196.20 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 32 Section 32. 196.20 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 33 Section 33. 196.203 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, is renumbered 196.203 (1g) and amended to read:

AB696,18,23 196.203 (1g) Alternative telecommunications utilities are exempt from all provisions of ch. 201 and this chapter, except as provided in this section, and except that an alternative telecommunications utility is subject to s. 196.025 (6), and except that an alternative telecommunications utility that is a local government telecommunications utility, as defined in s. 196.204 (5) (ag) 1., is subject to s. 196.204 (5).

AB696, s. 34 Section 34. 196.203 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,19,2 196.203 (1d) In this section, "local government telecommunications utility" has the meaning given in s. 196.204 (1m) (a).

AB696, s. 35 Section 35. 196.203 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 196.203 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB696,19,9 196.203 (2) (a) No person may commence providing service as an alternative telecommunications utility unless the person petitions for and the commission issues a determination certification that the person is an alternative telecommunications utility or unless the person is a telecommunications utility for which the commission issues an order under s. 196.50 (2) (j) 1.

AB696,19,13 (6) The commission shall maintain information on authorized certified alternative telecommunications utilities and on applicants for alternative telecommunications utility status certification and make that information available to any person, upon request.

AB696, s. 36 Section 36. 196.203 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,19,22 196.203 (2) (b) Except for an alternative telecommunications utility that is a local government telecommunications utility, certification as an alternative telecommunications utility shall be on a statewide basis and any certification issued by the commission before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], to an alternative telecommunications utility that is not a local government telecommunications utility is considered amended to be a statewide certification. This paragraph does not alter any conditions of a certification issued before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], except for geographic scope.

AB696, s. 37 Section 37. 196.203 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,20,3 196.203 (2) (c) The commission may deny a petition for certification as an alternative telecommunications utility described in s. 196.01 (1d) (f) if the commission finds that the petitioner does not have the financial, managerial, or technical capabilities to provide its proposed services or to comply with conditions that the commission is authorized to impose under sub. (3).

AB696, s. 38 Section 38. 196.203 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 196.203 (3) and amended to read:

AB696,20,17 196.203 (3) In response to a petition from any interested person, or upon its own motion, the commission shall determine whether the public interest requires that any provision of ch. 201 or a provision of this chapter specified in sub. (4m) be imposed on a person providing or proposing to provide service as an alternative telecommunications utility in a relevant market. In making this determination, the commission may consider factors including the quality of service, customer complaints, concerns about the effect on customers of local exchange telecommunications utilities and the extent to which similar services are available from alternative sources. If the commission imposes a provision on an alternative telecommunications utility under this subsection, the commission shall impose the same provision at the same level of regulation on all telecommunications utilities certified under s. 196.50 (2) and all other alternative telecommunications utilities.

AB696, s. 39 Section 39. 196.203 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 40 Section 40. 196.203 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 41 Section 41. 196.203 (3) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 42 Section 42. 196.203 (3) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 43 Section 43. 196.203 (3) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 44 Section 44. 196.203 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 45 Section 45. 196.203 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,21,5 196.203 (4m) The commission may impose s. 196.01, 196.02 (1), (4), or (5), 196.04, 196.135, 196.14, 196.197, 196.199, 196.207, 196.208, 196.209, 196.218, 196.219 (1), (2) (b), (c), or (d), (3) (a), (c), (d), (e), (h), (j), (m), (n), or (o), or (3m), 196.25, 196.26, 196.39, 196.395, 196.40, 196.41, 196.43, 196.44, 196.65, 196.66, 196.81, 196.85, or 196.858 on an alternative telecommunications utility.

AB696, s. 46 Section 46. 196.203 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,21,9 196.203 (5) The commission may establish a reasonable fee schedule and may assess an alternative telecommunications utility to cover the cost of making a certification or other determination under this section.

AB696, s. 47 Section 47. 196.204 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB696,21,11 196.204 (title) Local government telecommunications utilities.

AB696, s. 48 Section 48. 196.204 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 49 Section 49. 196.204 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 50 Section 50. 196.204 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 51 Section 51. 196.204 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 52 Section 52. 196.204 (5) (ag) of the statutes is renumbered 196.204 (1m) and 196.204 (1m) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB696,21,18 196.204 (1m) (intro.) In this subsection section:

AB696, s. 53 Section 53. 196.204 (5) (ar) of the statutes is renumbered 196.204 (2m) and 196.204 (2m) (a), (b) (intro.) and (c) (intro.), as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB696,22,2 196.204 (2m) (a) In addition to the other requirements of this section, each Each telecommunications service, relevant group of services and basic network function offered or used by a local government telecommunications utility shall be priced to exceed its total service long-run incremental cost. The commission may waive the applicability of this subdivision to a nongovernmental telecommunications utility's basic local exchange service if the commission determines that a waiver is consistent with the factors under s. 196.03 (6).

AB696,22,11 (b) (intro.) For purposes of subd. 1. par. (a), the total service long-run incremental cost of a local government telecommunications utility shall take into account, by imputation or allocation, equivalent charges for all taxes, pole rentals, rights-of-way, licenses, and similar costs that are incurred by nongovernmental telecommunications utilities. This subdivision paragraph does not apply to a local government telecommunications utility that is subject to the exemption under s. 66.0422 (3n). This subdivision paragraph also does not apply to a telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function if all of the following conditions apply:

AB696,22,15 (c) (intro.) Subdivision 2. Paragraph (b) does not apply to a telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function, that is used to provide broadband service and that is offered by a municipal telecommunications utility, if all of the following apply:

AB696, s. 54 Section 54. 196.204 (5) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 55 Section 55. 196.204 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 56 Section 56. 196.205 (1m) of the statutes is renumbered 196.205, and 196.205 (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB696,22,23 196.205 (intro.) A telecommunications cooperative or an unincorporated telecommunications cooperative association may elect to be subject to ss. 196.28 and 196.37 as they apply to any rate, toll or charge and to ss. 196.02 (2), 196.09 (1), s. 196.11 (2), 196.20 and 196.26 in any of the following ways:

AB696, s. 57 Section 57. 196.205 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 58 Section 58. 196.206 of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,23,3 196.206 Interconnected voice over Internet protocol service. (1) Exemption. Interconnected voice over Internet protocol service is not subject to ch. 201 or this chapter, except as provided in this section.

AB696,23,12 (2) Universal service fund. A telecommunications provider that provides interconnected voice over Internet protocol service in this state shall make contributions to the universal service fund based on its revenues from providing such service. The revenues shall be calculated using direct assignment, a provider-specific traffic study, the inverse of the interstate jurisdictional allocation established by the federal communications commission for the purpose of federal universal service assessments, or any other reasonable assignment. Direct assignment or traffic studies shall be based on the primary physical service address identified by the customer.

AB696,23,15 (3) Intrastate access rates. Unless otherwise provided under federal law, access charges for interconnected voice over Internet protocol service are subject to s. 196.191.

AB696, s. 59 Section 59. 196.211 of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,23,17 196.211 Electronic call detail records. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB696,23,20 (a) "Competitive local exchange carrier" means a local exchange carrier, as defined in 47 USC 153 (26), but does not include an incumbent local exchange carrier, as defined in 47 USC 251 (h) (1).

AB696,23,25 (b) "Electronic call detail record" means an electronic record in exchange message interface record format for a call originated by a commercial mobile radio service provider or a competitive local exchange carrier which is subsequently routed by a tandem switching provider to the telecommunications provider that terminates the call.

AB696,24,2 (c) "Tandem switching provider" means a telecommunications provider that provides tandem switching service to another telecommunications provider.

AB696,24,14 (2) Tandem switching providers. Beginning no later than 24 months after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], a tandem switching provider shall make electronic call detail records available to telecommunications providers for calls that are originated by commercial mobile radio service providers and competitive local exchange carriers and subsequently routed by the tandem switching provider to a telecommunications provider's network for termination. A tandem switching provider is in compliance with this subsection if the electronic call detail record that is made available contains the information provided by the telecommunications provider that originated the call. This section does not alter or otherwise change the record creation, record exchange, or billing processes for traffic carried by interexchange carriers that are in effect on the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].

AB696, s. 60 Section 60. 196.213 of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 61 Section 61. 196.215 of the statutes is repealed.

AB696, s. 62 Section 62. 196.218 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,24,20 196.218 (1) (a) "Essential telecommunications services" means services or functionalities determined by the federal communications commission to be eligible for support by federal universal service support mechanisms.

AB696, s. 63 Section 63. 196.218 (3) (a) 3. c. of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,24,23 196.218 (3) (a) 3. c. The amounts required to make disbursements to incumbent local exchange carriers under s. 196.191 (3) (d) 2.

AB696, s. 64 Section 64. 196.218 (3) (a) 3m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,25,6 196.218 (3) (a) 3m. Contributions under this paragraph may be based only on the gross operating revenues from the provision of broadcast services identified by the commission under subd. 2. and on intrastate telecommunications services in this state of the telecommunications providers subject to the contribution. Contributions based on revenues from interconnected voice over Internet protocol service shall be calculated as provided under s. 196.206 (2).

AB696, s. 65 Section 65. 196.218 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,25,16 196.218 (3) (f) Notwithstanding ss. 196.196 (1) and (5) (d) 2., s. 196.20 (2m), (5) and (6), 196.213 and 196.215, a telecommunications utility that provides local exchange service may make adjustments to local exchange service rates for the purpose of recovering its contributions to the universal service fund required under this subsection. A telecommunications utility that adjusts local exchange service rates for the purpose of recovering such contributions shall identify on customer bills a single amount that is the total amount of the adjustment. The public service commission shall provide telecommunications utilities the information necessary to identify such amounts on customer bills.

AB696, s. 66 Section 66. 196.218 (4) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB696,25,25 196.218 (4) Essential telecommunications services. Each telecommunications provider that provides basic local exchange service or that is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to 47 USC 214 (e) (2) shall make available to its customers all essential telecommunications services. A telecommunications provider may satisfy this subsection by providing essential telecommunications services itself or through an affiliate and in either case may provide essential telecommunications services through the use of any available technology or mode.

AB696, s. 67 Section 67. 196.218 (5) (a) 14. of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,26,3 196.218 (5) (a) 14. To make disbursements to incumbent local exchange carriers under s. 196.191 (3) (d) 2.

AB696, s. 68 Section 68. 196.218 (5r) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,26,5 196.218 (5r) (title) Annual report reports.

AB696, s. 69 Section 69. 196.218 (5r) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,26,12 196.218 (5r) (a) 4. An assessment of how successful investments identified in s. 196.196 (5) (f), assistance provided by the universal service fund, and price regulation and other alternative incentive regulations of telecommunications utilities designed to promote competition have been in advancing the public interest goals identified under s. 196.03 (6), and recommendations for further advancing those goals.

AB696, s. 70 Section 70. 196.218 (5r) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB696,26,21 196.218 (5r) (am) The commission shall submit a written report to the universal service fund council at least annually regarding the administration of the disbursements to incumbent local exchange carriers under s. 196.191 (3) (d) 2. The report shall identify the total amount of money collected from each telecommunications provider that contributes to the universal service fund, the total amount disbursed annually to each incumbent local exchange carrier under s. 196.191 (3) (d) 2., and the commission's administrative expenses related to s. 196.191 (3) and 196.206 (2).

AB696, s. 71 Section 71. 196.219 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB696,26,25 196.219 (1) (b) "Local exchange service" has the meaning given in s. 196.50 (1) (b) 1. includes access service, basic local exchange service, and business access line and usage service within a local calling area.