PSC 160.115(5)(f)(f) A statement certifying that the universal service fund support will be used for the purpose granted. PSC 160.115(6)(a)(a) The commission shall evaluate all applications submitted under this section. The commission may approve all or part of an application if it includes the information required under sub. (5) and if the commission determines the following: PSC 160.115(6)(a)1.1. The applicant is a non-profit medical clinic or public health agency located in Wisconsin. PSC 160.115(6)(a)2.2. The applicant’s purchase of telecommunications equipment will support the purposes identified in sub. (2). PSC 160.115(6)(a)3.3. The applicant will be able to pay for the portion of the cost of the equipment not funded under this section. PSC 160.115(6)(a)4.4. The applicant has taken steps to secure the equipment at reasonable prices. PSC 160.115(6)(b)(b) Public health agencies and non-profit organizations that operate more than one location may receive universal service fund support for telecommunications equipment at more than one location, but before approving an application involving an additional location, the commission shall consider how much total universal service fund support has been received by the agency or organization during the time period specified in the solicitation for grant applications and the total amount remaining available to be granted under this section during that time period. PSC 160.115(6)(c)(c) The commission may give preference to initial applications filed by a public health agency or non-profit medical clinic. PSC 160.115(6)(d)(d) The commission may convene a panel of experts to assist in the evaluation of applications submitted under this section. PSC 160.115 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; correction in (1) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2011 No. 662; CR 13-068: am. (1) (a), (b) (intro.), 1., 2., (2) (intro.), (b), (c), (3), (4) (a), (5) (intro.), (b), (c), (g), (6) (a) (intro.), 4., (b), renum. (6) (c) to (d), cr. (6) (c) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16. PSC 160.125PSC 160.125 Funding to promote access to telecommunications services. PSC 160.125(1)(a)(a) The commission may compensate any voice mail provider for providing, on request, to a social services agency, a job service agency or a homeless shelter authority, voice-mail service without charge to be used by that agency or authority for the benefit of its homeless clients or residents. PSC 160.125(1)(b)(b) A voice-mail provider that is providing voice-mail boxes to a qualifying agency or authority at no charge may request and receive reimbursement only for its incremental usage and administrative costs of providing this service using available capacity. As an alternative, a provider may request and receive reimbursement from the fund at a standard rate set by the commission to cover expected incremental costs of providing this service using available capacity. PSC 160.125(1)(c)(c) A qualifying agency or authority administering or providing voice-mail service to homeless clients may request reimbursement for its costs directly attributable to administering and providing the voice-mail boxes for the benefit of its homeless clients. PSC 160.125(1)(d)(d) To evaluate the effectiveness of this program, the commission may monitor and obtain information on the offering of this service from the participating voice mail providers, social services agencies, job service agencies and homeless shelter authorities. PSC 160.125(1)(e)(e) A social services agency, job service agency, or homeless shelter authority participating in this program shall maintain a list of all individuals receiving voice mail under this section. PSC 160.125(2)(a)(a) The commission may grant partial funding to non-profit groups for the facilitation of affordable access to telecommunications services through programs or projects, or both, not supported elsewhere in this chapter, but that are consistent with the purposes identified in s. 196.218 (5) (a) 1., Stats. PSC 160.125 NoteNote: As of April 2015, s. 196.218 (5) (a) 1., Stats., reads in pertinent part: PSC 160.125 Note(5) Uses of the fund. (a) The commission shall require that moneys in the universal service fund be used only for any of the following purposes:
PSC 160.125 Note1. To assist customers located in areas of this state that have relatively high costs of telecommunications services, low-income customers and disabled customers in obtaining affordable access to a basic set of essential telecommunications services.
PSC 160.125(2)(b)(b) Any non-profit group may apply for universal service funding to fund any portion of a program or project or both. Funding shall be granted on a state fiscal year basis, but funding for more than one fiscal year may be approved at one time. The commission shall issue a list of approved programs or projects, or both, when grants are awarded. All applications become public documents upon filing.