Chapter PSC 161

PSC 161.05(3) (3) A school district may not apply to participate in the educational telecommunications access program for access to a data line or video link if it has received in the current state fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, an annual grant from the board under s. 16.997 (6), Stats.

PSC 161.05 Note Note: Section 16.997 (6), Stats., was repealed by 2007 Wis. Act 20.

PSC 161.05(5) (5) The application to the board shall include the following:

PSC 161.05(5)(a) (a) The name, address and telephone number of the school district, private school, cooperative educational service agency, technical college district, private college or public library board and the name and telephone number of an individual to contact about the application.

PSC 161.05(5)(b) (b) A description of the access requested and plans for its use.

PSC 161.05(5)(c) (c) The specific location for each data line or video link requested.

PSC 161.05(5)(d) (d) The desired date for service to begin for each data line or video link requested.

PSC 161.05(5)(e) (e) A brief description of the proposed use of each data line or video link requested.

PSC 161.05(5)(f) (f) Other information requested by the board.

PSC 161.05 Note Note: Application materials are available from the TEACH Board. The TEACH Board’s web site is www.teachwi.state.wi.us.

PSC 161.05(6) (6) The board shall forward applications when received to the commission and department.

PSC 161.05 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; CR 13-068: r. (4) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2017 No. 733.

PSC 161.06 PSC 161.06 Determinations of eligibility.

PSC 161.06(1) (1) The board shall determine if any school district, private school, cooperative educational service agency, technical college district, private college or public library board which applies under s. PSC 161.05 is eligible to participate in the educational telecommunications access program.

PSC 161.06(2) (2) In its determination of eligibility under sub. (1), the board shall use the following criteria:

PSC 161.06(2)(a) (a) Availability of funds and impact of the requested access on available funds.

PSC 161.06(2)(b) (b) Applicant’s educational technology plan.

PSC 161.06(2)(c) (c) Reasonableness of requested access, including economic efficiency and cost. Requests for access which requires telecommunications transport over long distances when similar access is available locally or regionally may be determined ineligible.

PSC 161.06(2)(d) (d) Readiness of applicant to use the requested access, including program development, facility arrangements and staff training.

PSC 161.06(2)(e) (e) Other criteria established by the board.

PSC 161.06(3) (3) If the board, after consultation with the commission, determines at any time that the monies in the universal service fund for this program are insufficient to approve all pending applications, the board may prioritize applications for access. In establishing priorities, the board may give a higher priority to an application whenever a determination of eligibility would maximize the number of eligible applicants statewide or geographically distribute access to data lines and video links throughout the state. In addition, the board may give a higher priority to any application from an applicant which does not already have a data line or video link in service, which has applied for a discount under the federal universal service program in 47 USC 254 or which establishes a reasonable level of utilization for the requested access line or video link. The board may establish at any time other criteria for prioritizing applications for access.

PSC 161.06(4) (4) The board shall notify the applicant, department and commission of its determination.

PSC 161.06 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98.

PSC 161.07 PSC 161.07 Provision of services.

PSC 161.07(1) (1) Alternative access.

PSC 161.07(1)(a) (a) If an applicant eligible for access under s. PSC 161.06 requests alternative access, the board may determine whether a particular alternative access is reasonable. The board may at any time seek assistance from the department, which may include an analysis of the feasibility of the alternative access requested.

PSC 161.07(1)(b) (b) The board shall make its determination under par. (a) within 90 days of the deadline for applications established by the board, except that the department may request an extension for the completion of its feasibility analysis.

PSC 161.07(2) (2) Coordinate with department.

PSC 161.07(2)(a) (a) The board shall coordinate with the department for the provision of requested access if the board has determined under s. PSC 161.06 that an applicant is eligible to participate in the educational telecommunications access program and, if the requested access is alternative access, the board has determined under sub. (1) that the alternative access is reasonable.

PSC 161.07(2)(b) (b) Provision of alternative access by the board under par. (a) shall conform to the competitive procurement requirements of ch. 16, Stats.

PSC 161.07(3) (3) Notification. If the department is unable to contract under s. 16.974 (1), Stats., for the alternative access which the board is coordinating with the department under sub. (2), the department shall notify the board within 5 days of the department’s inability. The board shall notify the applicant and commission.

PSC 161.07 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Register April 2007 No. 616.

PSC 161.08 PSC 161.08 Payments.

PSC 161.08(1) (1) Any contract under s. 16.974 (1), Stats., between an applicant and the department shall require a monthly payment from the applicant to the department for each data line or video link, not to exceed $250 per month, except that the payment required may not exceed $100 per month for each data line or video link which relies on a transport medium operating at a speed of 1.544 megabits per second.

PSC 161.08(2) (2) The board shall pay from the universal service fund the costs of annual grants under s. 16.997 (6), Stats., and contracts under s. 16.974 (1), Stats., as required by s. 196.218 (5) (a) 5., Stats., to the extent that these costs are not paid under sub. (1).

PSC 161.08 Note Note: Section 16.997 (6), Stats., was repealed by 2007 Wis. Act 20.

PSC 161.08 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616.

PSC 161.09 PSC 161.09 Assessments. Assessments for the educational telecommunications access program shall be made by the commission pursuant to ch. PSC 160.

PSC 161.09 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98.