SB839: Bill Text

LRB-4877/1

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 839

February 20, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Ringhand, Erpenbach, Hansen, Johnson and Miller, cosponsored by Representatives Shankland, Vruwink, Milroy, Doyle, Anderson, Considine, Emerson, Hesselbein, Kolste, Ohnstad, Pope, Sargent, Sinicki, Stubbs and Subeck. Referred to Committee on Utilities and Housing.

SB839,1,4 An Act to create 20.155 (3) (b) and 196.504 (3) (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the statutes; relating to: the Public Service Commission's authority to obtain information about Internet service availability, broadband expansion grants, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Public Service Commission to require retail electric utilities and cooperatives to survey customers and members about broadband service availability and reimburse the utilities and cooperatives for conducting the surveys. The bill also requires the PSC to require Internet service providers to disclose to the PSC the properties they serve and the average minimum download and upload speeds at which they provide residential and business service to those properties. The PSC must use the survey results and information disclosed to improve broadband mapping.

The bill also provides a supplemental appropriation for the broadband expansion grant program administered by the PSC. Under current law, the PSC awards grants for constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas designated by the PSC.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB839,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB839,2 Section 2 . 20.155 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB839,2,5 20.155 (3) (b) Broadband expansion grants; supplemental. The amounts in the schedule for broadband expansion grants under s. 196.504.

SB839,3 Section 3. 196.504 (3) (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the statutes are created to read:

SB839,2,9 196.504 (3) (d) Require electric providers to survey customers and members about the availability of broadband service and provide the survey results to the commission.

SB839,2,11 (e) Reimburse electric providers for the cost of conducting surveys under par. (d).

SB839,2,14 (f) Require Internet service providers to disclose to the commission the properties they serve and the average minimum download and upload speeds at which they provide residential and business service to those properties.

SB839,3,2 (g) Use the survey results provided under par. (d) and information disclosed under par. (f) to improve broadband mapping.

SB839,3,3 (End)