PSC 160.04 History
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
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:
PSC 160.05(3)
(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.
PSC 160.05(5)
(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.
PSC 160.05(6)
(6) For payments by the department of public instruction for newsline for the blind, under the appropriation in s.
20.255 (3) (q), Stats.
PSC 160.05(7)
(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.
PSC 160.05(8)
(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.
PSC 160.05(9)
(9) For grants from the department of administration for training teachers to use educational technology under s.
16.996, Stats.
PSC 160.05(10)
(10) For payments by the department of public instruction to provide funding for online courses made available under s.
115.28 (53), Stats.
PSC 160.05(11)
(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.
PSC 160.05 History
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
PSC 160.06
Eligibility for low-income programs. PSC 160.06(1)(a)
(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:
PSC 160.06(1)(a)4.
4. At an income level that meets the conditions of any other federal low-income eligibility criteria.
PSC 160.06(1)(b)
(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.
PSC 160.06(1)(c)
(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.
PSC 160.06(2)
(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.
PSC 160.06(3)
(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.
PSC 160.06(4)(a)
(a) Customers shall complete and remit any reasonably required query authorization forms or forfeit eligibility.
PSC 160.06(4)(b)
(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.
PSC 160.06(5)
(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.
PSC 160.06 History
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
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.
PSC 160.061 History
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(1)(a)(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.
PSC 160.062(1)(b)
(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.
PSC 160.062(1)(c)
(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).
PSC 160.062(1g)
(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.
PSC 160.062(1r)(a)
(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:
PSC 160.062(1r)(a)1.
1. Essential telecommunications service, whether stand-alone or as part of a service package.
PSC 160.062(1r)(a)2.
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.
PSC 160.062 Note
Note: An example under subd. 2. is a video relay service.
PSC 160.062 Note
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.
PSC 160.062(1r)(b)
(b) An ETC taking an application for the lifeline program shall do the following:
PSC 160.062(1r)(b)1.
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.
PSC 160.062(1r)(b)2.
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.
PSC 160.062 Note
Note: For example, see
47 CFR 54.410 regarding use of state databases for eligibility verification.
PSC 160.062(1r)(c)
(c) A customer may not request a lifeline adjustment on more than one line. An ETC shall not apply the lifeline adjustment unless the customer has certified under par.
(b) that the customer is not receiving a lifeline adjustment on another line or from any other provider.
PSC 160.062(1r)(d)
(d) If an ETC becomes aware that a customer is receiving a lifeline adjustment on more than one line or from more than one provider, the ETC shall provide notice and take action under sub.
(4) to ensure that the customer receives a lifeline adjustment on only one line.
PSC 160.062(2)
(2) Lifeline base rate. The lifeline base rate is one of the following:
PSC 160.062(2)(a)
(a) For an eligible telecommunications carrier offering local service on a stand-alone basis, the sum of:
PSC 160.062(2)(a)1.
1. The in-state charges and fees for stand-alone single-party residential service with touch-tone, including, as applicable, all of the following:
PSC 160.062(2)(a)5.
5. The charge for 120 local calls, excluding extended community calling calls.
PSC 160.062(2)(b)
(b) $25, if the eligible telecommunications carrier does not offer local service on a stand-alone basis, and only offers it as part of a service package.
PSC 160.062(2)(c)
(c) The commission may authorize a different lifeline base rate based on the particular facts and circumstances concerning an eligible telecommunications carrier's local service or internet access charges.
PSC 160.062(2g)(a)1.
1. If the lifeline base rate is $25 or less, the lifeline adjustment shall be $10.
PSC 160.062(2g)(a)2.
2. If the lifeline base rate is greater than $25, the lifeline adjustment shall be the lesser of the following:
PSC 160.062 Note
Note: Subsection (2g) (a) 2. b. caps the adjustment at, essentially, double the maximum amount available from the federal USF at the time the rules went into effect. In the future, the amount available from the federal USF may increase, but the state portion is frozen at $9.25 so that if, for example, the federal subscriber line charge is raised and paid for through the federal USF, the state does not automatically increase its reimbursement portion. This step was taken to protect the state fund by blocking any automatic increase in state reimbursement due to federal action.
