Wisconsin Legislature: PSC 160.05(1)(d)

(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 160.04 Call 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 160.05 Universal 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.

(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 160.06 Eligibility 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.

(a) Customers shall complete and remit any reasonably required query authorization forms or forfeit eligibility.

(b) Eligible telecommunications carriers shall obtain whatever customer authorization is required by the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies for the database queries necessary for eligibility verification. The commission may revoke the eligible telecommunications carrier designation and order the forfeiture of reimbursements if it accesses a customer’s database information without that customer’s authorization. The commission may also refer the eligible telecommunications carrier to the Wisconsin department of justice or other state agency for appropriate action.

(5) Applicant requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an applicant is only eligible for low-income assistance programs under this chapter if the applicant provides all of the information required under state and federal law.

History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; renum. (1) to be (1) (intro.) and am. (1) (intro.), renum. (5) (a) to be (5), cr. (1) (a) to (c), am. (3) and (4), r. (5) (b), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1) (a) and am. (a) (intro.), 1., 2., r. (1) (a) 3., cr. (1) (a) 3., 4., (b), (c), am. (2), (3), renum. (4) to (4) (b) and am., cr. (4) (a), r. and recr. (5) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.

PSC 160.061 Link-up program. The commission may fund programs to identify and provide monetary assistance to low-income persons who are unlikely to be able to obtain telecommunications service without such assistance. Such programs may include customers who qualify for federal universal service fund support for eligible residents of tribal lands under 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.

History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1) and (6), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: r. and recr. Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.

PSC 160.062 Lifeline program.

(1) Definitions.

(a) For purposes of subs. (2) to (7), “eligible telecommunications carrier” or “ETC” means only full and low-income ETCs, and does not include federal-only ETCs.

(b) For purposes of this section, “line” means an access line, service to an activated wireless handset, or service to an internet connection used as a substitute for a traditional telecommunications connection.

(c) For purposes of this section, “lifeline monthly rate” means the lifeline base rate under sub. (2) minus the lifeline adjustment under sub. (2g) or (2r).

(1g) Applicability. An eligible telecommunications carrier may apply the lifeline adjustment under sub. (2g) to any residential service that includes voice service, including bundles of voice and data services, and bundles that include optional calling features such as caller identification, call waiting, voice mail and three-way calling.

(1r) Eligibility.

(a) All eligible telecommunications carriers shall offer to all qualified low-income customers a lifeline adjustment to the customer’s rate for either of the following:

1. Essential telecommunications service, whether stand-alone or as part of a service package.

2. Internet access, if the customer demonstrates that, because of his or her disability other than cognitive impairment, certified under s. PSC 160.071 (1), the customer requires internet access that is adequate to support service that is substitutable for and comparable to essential telecommunications service.

Note: An example under subd. 2. is a video relay service.

Note: Subd. 2. does not require a provider to offer internet access service. If provider offers a service needed under subd. 2., or bills for such a service provided by an affiliate, the provider applies the lifeline adjustment to the price of that service and collects some of the payment from the customer and some from the USF.

(b) An ETC taking an application for the lifeline program shall do the following:

1. Unless the ETC uses a state or federal duplication prevention database, ask the applicant if he or she is currently receiving a lifeline adjustment on any other line.

2. Require the applicant to certify that he or she is not currently receiving a lifeline adjustment on any other line or from any other provider.

3. Only offer and apply the lifeline adjustment on one line.

4. Ensure that any federal requirements about lifeline are met.

Note: For example, see 47 CFR 54.410 regarding use of state databases for eligibility verification.