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9. The national school lunch program’s free lunch program.
10. Temporary assistance for needy families, other than Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, Stats.
11. As approved by the commission, other state or federally administered programs for households with income levels less than or equal to 200% of the poverty line as defined in 42 USC 9902 (2).
Note: See sub. 160.06 (1) (c) concerning other households that may be considered low-income.
(b) The customer’s income, as defined in 47 CFR 54.400 (f), is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
(c) Eligible under any other federal low-income eligibility criteria.
(22)“Low-income eligible telecommunications carrier” or “low-income ETC” means a telecommunications provider that the commission has so designated under s. PSC 160.13 for participation only in the lifeline or link-up program, or both.
(23)“Non-profit group” means an organization described in s. 501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code that is exempt from federal income tax under s. 501 (a) of the internal revenue code.
(24)“Nonrecurring charge” means the charge for those activities and materials necessary to connect network services to the customer’s premises, up to and including the network interface device but not including customer premises wiring or customer premises equipment, and not including construction charges.
(25)“Pay-per-call service” has the meaning given in s. 196.208 (1) (a), Stats.
(26)“Provider” or “telecommunications provider” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (8p), Stats.
(27)“Rural telephone company” has the meaning given in 47 USC 153 (37).
(28)“Two line hearing carryover” means the technique of using 3-way calling and 2 telephone lines, one for hearing and one for text, to connect a hearing caller who is speech impaired with another caller via the telecommunications relay service.
(29)“Two line voice carryover” means the technique of using 3-way calling and 2 telephone lines, one for voice and one for text, to connect a caller who is deaf or hard of hearing but can speak, with another caller via the telecommunications relay service.
(30)“Universal service” means a statewide rapid, efficient, communications network with adequate, economically placed facilities to ensure that a basic set of essential telecommunications services is available to all persons in this state within a reasonable time and at affordable prices.
(31)“Wireless provider” means a commercial mobile radio service provider as defined in s. 196.01 (2g).
History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; renum. (1) and (4) to be (1m) and (4m) and am. (4m) (a), renum. (9) to be (13), cr. (1g), (4g), (8) (g), (h), (9) to (12), am. (7), (8) (a), (e), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; correction in (8) (e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; CR 13-068: renum. (1g), (1m), (2) to (1), (7), (8) and am. (8), cr. (2), renum. (3) to (10), cr. (3), (4), r. (4g), (4m), renum. (5), (6) to (17), (19) and am. (19), cr. (6), renum. (7) to (20) and am., r. (8), renum. (9) to (23), cr. (9), renum. (10), (11) to (24), (27), cr. (11), renum. (12) to (29) and am., cr. (12), renum. (13) to (30) and am., cr. (13) to (16), (18), (21), (22), (25), (26), (28), (31) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (21) (a) 7. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2016 No. 724.
PSC 160.03Essential telecommunications services.
(1)For purposes of this subsection:
(a) “911” means a service that permits a telecommunications user to use the three-digit code ‘911,’ to access emergency services through a public safety answering point operated by a local government.
(b) “Directory assistance” means a service that includes making available to customers, upon request, information contained in directory listings, such as customer address and telephone number.
(c) “Dual tone multi-frequency” means a method of signaling that facilitates the transportation of signaling through the network, shortening call set-up time.
Note: This is commonly known as touch tone.
(d) “Emergency services” includes services, such as 911 and enhanced 911, provided by local governments or other public safety organizations.
(e) “Enhanced 911” means 911 service that includes the ability to provide automatic numbering information, which enables the public safety answering point to call back if the call is disconnected, and automatic location information, which permits emergency service providers to identify the geographic location of the calling party.
(f) “Interexchange service” means the use of the loop, as well as that portion of the switch that is paid for by the end user, or the functional equivalent of these network elements in the case of a wireless provider, necessary to access an interexchange provider’s network.
(g) “Local usage” means an amount of exchange service, prescribed by the commission, provided free of charge to end users.
(h) “Operator services” means any automatic or live assistance to a customer to arrange for billing or completion, or both, of a telephone call.
(i) “Single-party service” means telecommunications service that permits users to have exclusive use of a landline subscriber loop or access line for each call placed, or, in the case of wireless providers, which use spectrum shared among users to provide service, a dedicated message path for the length of a user’s particular transmission.
(j) “Voice grade access” means a functionality that enables a user of telecommunications services to transmit voice communications, including signaling the network that the caller wishes to place a call, and to receive voice communications, including receiving a signal indicating there is an incoming call.
Note: The definitions in sub. (1) do not have any application. The Public Service Commission will remove sub. (1) in future rule-making.
(1m)Each eligible telecommunications carrier shall make all essential telecommunications services available to all of its customers.
(2)“Essential telecommunications services” means the service or functionalities listed in 47 CFR 54.101.
History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (2) (a) 7. to 10., and 14., r., (2) (c), renum. (2) (d) to be (2) (c), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; except (2) (a) 14. eff. 11-1-00; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1m) and am., cr. (1), r. and recr. (2) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.
PSC 160.04Call limitation.
(1)Call limitation obligations.
(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), every local exchange service provider in the state shall offer call limitation capability for each of the following:
1. Long distance toll calls.
2. Pay-per-call service.
3. Collect toll calls.
4. Toll calls charged to a telephone credit card associated with the telephone number for which call limitation has been requested.
5. Toll calls charged to a third telephone number for which call limitation has been requested.
(b) Federal-only eligible telecommunications carriers are not required to offer any call limitation capabilities to customers who are not low income and need only offer blocking of outgoing toll calls to customers who are low income.
(c) A local exchange service provider is not required to offer the blocking under par. (a) 1., 3.,4., or 5., to a customer that has service that does not include a fee for such calls that is in addition to the per month or per billing cycle price of service.
(2)Charges. A local exchange service provider may not impose a charge for the cost of blocking pay-per-call services the first time a customer requests such blocking.
(3)Emergency service. A local exchange service provider may not impose a call limitation that prevents a customer from reaching the emergency service numbers appropriate for the customer’s location.
(4)Public notification and education. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall make reasonable efforts to inform its customers of the availability of and, where charge-free, eligibility requirements for, call limitation services. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall also make reasonable efforts to instruct customers requesting the service in the use of the service.
History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: r. and recr. (title), renum. (1) to (1) (a) (intro.) and am., cr. (1) (a) 1. to 5., (b), (c), r. and recr. (2) to (4), r. (5), (6) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) (c) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.
PSC 160.05Universal service fund programs. Universal service fund monies may be used for fund administration; for informing the public of the existence, purpose, intent, and uses of the universal service fund; and for the following purposes:
(1)For the following programs as adopted by the commission under the appropriation in s. 20.155 (1) (q) and (3), Stats.:
(a) Link-up assistance, as specified in s. PSC 160.061.
(b) Lifeline assistance, as specified in s. PSC 160.062.
(c) Telephone access service for the homeless, as specified in s. PSC 160.125 (1).
(d) Telecommunications equipment purchase program (TEPP) vouchers, as specified in s. PSC 160.071 (1m).
(e) Telecommunications customer assistance program, as specified in s. PSC 160.08.
(f) High rate assistance credits, as specified in s. PSC 160.09.
(g) Alternative universal service protection plans, as specified in s. PSC 160.092.
(k) Funding for programs or projects approved under s. PSC 160.125 (2).
(m) Outreach for low-income assistance programs, as specified in s. PSC 160.063.
(n) Eligible telecommunications carriers designated by a process under s. PSC 160.13 (8) (c).
(p) Second line for 2 line voice or hearing carryover, as specified in s. PSC 160.071 (6m).
(q) Medical telecommunications equipment program, as specified in s. 196.218 (4u), Stats.
(s) Directory assistance, operator assistance and custom calling service payments under s. PSC 160.071 (4) to (6).
(t) Broadband expansion grants under s. 196.504, Stats.
(u) Other programs consistent with the purposes identified in s. 196.218 (5) (a) 1., Stats., as they are approved by the commission on an interim basis.
Note: The text of s. 196.218 (5) (a) 1., Stats., appears in a note after s. PSC 160.125 (2) (a).
(2)For payments by the department of administration for telecommunications access support, as specified in s. 196.218 (5) (a) 5., Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.505 (4) (s), Stats., and for payments under the appropriation in s. 20.865 (4) (u), Stats.
(3)For payments for telecommunications services provided to the campuses of the University of Wisconsin System, as specified in s. 196.218 (5) (a) 6., Stats.
(5)For payments by the department of public instruction to contract for periodical and reference information databases as specified in s. 115.28 (26), Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (q), Stats.
(6)For payments by the department of public instruction for newsline for the blind, under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (q), Stats.
(7)For payments by the department of public instruction for supplemental aid to public library systems as specified in s. 43.24, Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (qm), Stats.
(8)For payments by the department of public instruction for library service contracts as specified in s. 43.03 (6) and (7), Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (r), Stats.
(9)For grants from the department of administration for training teachers to use educational technology under s. 16.996, Stats.
(10)For payments by the department of public instruction to provide funding for online courses made available under s. 115.28 (53), Stats. 
(11)For payments by the department of public instruction to provide funding for the delivery of digital content and collaborative instruction under s. 115.28 (54), Stats.
(12)For other payments authorized by statute. 
History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; emerg. am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (10) to be (1) (a) to (j), cr. (2) to (4), eff. 2-27-98; am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (10) to be (1) (a) to (j), cr. (2) to (4), Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; am. (intro.), (1) (c), (d), (i) and (2), cr. (1) (k) to (s) and (5), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; corrections in (2) and (4) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; correction in (1) (s) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2013 No. 686; CR 13-068: am. (intro.), (1) (intro.), (a), (c), (d), r. (1) (h) to (j), (L), am. (1) (n), r. (1) (o), am. (1) (p), r. (1) (r), renum. (1) (s) to (u), cr. (1) (s), (t), am. (2), (3), r. (4), cr. (6) to (12) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; 2015 Wis. Act 330 s. 20: am. (3) Register April 2016 No. 724, eff. 5-1-16; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2018 No. 756.
PSC 160.06Eligibility for low-income programs.
(1)Low-income assistance eligibility.
(a) All ETCs shall verify an applicant’s eligibility for low-income assistance programs by making timely queries of the applicable databases of the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies designated by the commission. An ETC shall verify an applicant’s eligibility by finding the applicant to be any of the following:
1. An active client of at least one of the programs listed in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (a).
2. A member of the active client’s household whose low income qualifies the client for benefits under at least one of the programs listed in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (a).
3. At an income level that meets the conditions in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (b).
4. At an income level that meets the conditions of any other federal low-income eligibility criteria.
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), an eligible telecommunications carrier shall verify an applicant as eligible for low-income assistance programs if the applicant qualifies for federal universal service fund support for eligible residents of tribal lands under 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.
(c) If an eligible telecommunications carrier cannot verify an applicant’s eligibility under par. (a) or (b), in addition to the households considered low-income under the definition in s. PSC 160.02 (21), the ETC shall consider a household that receives benefits from federal public housing assistance (section 8) to be low-income.
(2)Eligibility reverification. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall reverify eligibility on at least an annual basis for all customers receiving lifeline assistance. The eligible telecommunications carrier shall first attempt to reverify eligibility by making timely queries of the applicable databases of the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies designated by the commission.
(3)Eligibility inquiry. Eligible telecommunications carriers other than federal-only ETCs shall inquire of each customer regarding eligibility of that customer for low-income programs on each order for initial or moved residential service and, orally or in writing, in the first contact with the customer during a year concerning disconnection or payment arrangements.
(4)Query authorization.
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Published under s. 35.93, Stats. Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current. The Register date on each page is the date the chapter was last published.