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 NoteNote: 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.
PSC 160.062(2g)(b)(b) If the ETC offers prepaid wireless service, the lifeline adjustment for that service shall be the greater of the following: PSC 160.062(2g)(b)1.1. The number of minutes that, when calculated using the lowest per minute rate the ETC offers to its prepaid wireless customers, equals or exceeds the value of the adjustment under par. (a) that would otherwise apply. PSC 160.062(2g)(b)2.2. The number of minutes recognized by the federal communications commission as an acceptable compliance plan provision for that provider. PSC 160.062(2g)(c)1.1. A federal communications commission order or a change in federal law causes an increase in a customer’s lifeline base rate. PSC 160.062(2g)(c)2.2. The state reimbursement amount after the increased lifeline adjustment is not greater than it was before the federal communications commission order or change in federal law. PSC 160.062 NoteNote: A provider may petition the commission under s. PSC 160.01(2)(b) for an increased lifeline adjustment if the increased adjustment would increase the state reimbursement amount. PSC 160.062(2g)(d)(d) Notwithstanding subs. (2g) and (2r), the lifeline adjustment for partial months of service shall follow the policy set by the federal universal service administration corporation or its successors. PSC 160.062(2r)(a)(a) When a customer qualifies for federal universal service fund support for eligible residents of tribal lands under 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.: PSC 160.062(2r)(a)1.1. If the lifeline base rate under sub. (2) is $25 or less, the lifeline adjustment shall be $10, plus whatever federal universal service fund support the customer qualifies for as an eligible resident of tribal lands. PSC 160.062(2r)(a)2.2. If the lifeline base rate under sub. (2) is greater than $25, the lifeline adjustment shall be the amount necessary to reduce the lifeline monthly rate to the level at which the adjustment results in a state reimbursement amount that is equal to what it would be under sub. (2g) (a) 2., plus whatever federal universal service fund support the customer qualifies for as an eligible resident of tribal lands. PSC 160.062(2r)(b)1.1. A federal communications commission order or a change in federal law causes an increase in a customer’s lifeline base rate. PSC 160.062(2r)(b)2.2. The state reimbursement amount after the increased adjustment is not greater than it was before the federal communications commission order or change in federal law. PSC 160.062 NoteNote: A provider may petition the commission under s. PSC 160.01(2) (b) for an increased lifeline adjustment if the increased adjustment would increase the state reimbursement amount. PSC 160.062(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the eligible telecommunications carrier shall show the lifeline adjustment either as an adjustment to the full tariffed or standard rate on a customer’s bill or as a special rate designation. Whenever possible, the eligible telecommunications carrier shall begin showing the lifeline adjustment or rate on an eligible customer’s bill on the next bill date following the date of application for lifeline assistance. If the ETC does not apply the lifeline adjustment or rate on the next bill date, when the ETC does apply the credit it shall be applied back to the date of application. PSC 160.062(3)(b)(b) If an eligible telecommunications carrier offers prepaid service and does not render a bill for that service, if it maintains a statement of account or account balance for a prepaid service customer the provisions of par. (a) apply to the statement of account or account balance. If the ETC does not maintain a statement of account or account balance, the ETC shall include information about adjustments and applicability dates in its terms of service. PSC 160.062(4)(4) Termination and notice of impending termination. Providers shall follow the provisions of 47 CFR 54.405 (e) to terminate lifeline enrollment. The provider shall query the state database used to verify the customer’s eligibility in order to obtain information about whether the customer is still eligible according to that database. If that database indicates that the customer is no longer eligible, the ETC shall follow the de-enrollment procedures in 47 CFR 54.405 (e). The ETC shall send the notice separately from the customer’s regular monthly bill, if one is provided. The notice shall state the termination date and shall provide information about how to demonstrate continued eligibility. PSC 160.062(5)(a)(a) Only low-income and full eligible telecommunications carriers may receive reimbursement from the state universal service fund. PSC 160.062(5)(b)(b) An ETC may only receive reimbursement if it complies with all federal lifeline requirements, including the requirement to stop requesting federal universal service fund reimbursement for a prepaid wireless telephone that has not been used in 60 days and the requirement to use the appropriate state database where possible to verify lifeline eligibility. PSC 160.062(5)(c)(c) The commission may withhold or suspend reimbursement while investigating compliance with state or federal lifeline requirements. PSC 160.062(5)(d)(d) If an ETC is eligible to receive lifeline reimbursement under the federal lifeline program, it may receive reimbursement from the state universal service fund for the difference between what it is eligible to receive in federal reimbursement and what its reimbursement would otherwise be under sub. (2g). PSC 160.062(5)(e)(e) Notwithstanding par. (c), the provider reimbursement for partial months of service shall follow the policy set by the federal universal service administration corporation or its successors. PSC 160.062(5m)(5m) Deadline for filing. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall file its reimbursement request with the fund administrator before April 1 of the year following the year during which the customer was charged the lifeline monthly rate for which reimbursement is sought. A provider may obtain an extension from commission staff for good cause, if the extension request is received before the April 1 deadline. PSC 160.062(6)(a)(a) An eligible telecommunications carrier may not do any of the following to a lifeline customer: PSC 160.062(6)(a)1.1. Charge a deposit for service if the customer voluntarily accepts call limitation. PSC 160.062(6)(a)2.2. Request that the customer pay in advance for more than one month’s local service bill. PSC 160.062(6)(a)3.3. Disconnect the customer from local service for nonpayment of toll charges. PSC 160.062(6)(b)(b) An ETC may counsel a customer that otherwise would be subject to disconnection to accept call limitation. PSC 160.062(7)(7) Call limitation under special programs. An eligible telecommunications carrier acting under the limited conditions specified in its commission approved telecommunications customer assistance program under s. PSC 160.08 may impose call limitation on lifeline customers. PSC 160.062(8)(8) Federal-only ETCs. Federal-only eligible telecommunications carriers shall comply with all federal lifeline requirements, including the requirement to stop requesting federal universal service fund reimbursement for a prepaid wireless telephone that has not been used in 60 days and the requirement to use the appropriate state database where possible to verify lifeline eligibility. PSC 160.062 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1), renum. (2) (a) to be (2) (b) and am., renum. (4) to be (3) and am., renum. (6) to be (5) and am., renum. (5) to be (4), cr. (2) (a), (c), (6) and (7), r. (2) (b) and (3), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: r. (1), (2), cr. (1), (1g), (1r), (2), (2g), (2r), (3) (title), renum. (3) to (3) (a) and am., cr. (3) (b), r. and recr. (4), r. (5), (6), cr. (5), (5m), (6), (7) (title), am. (7), cr. (8) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in numbering in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721; correction in (1r) (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2016 No. 724. PSC 160.063PSC 160.063 Outreach for low-income assistance programs. PSC 160.063(1)(1) Funding may be available to fund projects to increase participation of the eligible populations in the universal service fund low-income support programs. PSC 160.063(2)(2) Funding from the universal service fund for projects under sub. (1) may not exceed $250,000 in one year. Funding shall be limited to not more than 6 projects with at least one project focused statewide and one project focused on the Milwaukee area, if feasible. PSC 160.063(3)(3) The commission may periodically review applications and grant funding, when funding is available, based on complete responses to a request for applications. An application may involve disbursement of support during multiple state fiscal years. All applications become public documents upon filing. PSC 160.063(3m)(3m) An application for funding under sub. (1) shall include all of the following: PSC 160.063(3m)(b)(b) The name and a description of any project partners and the role of each partner. PSC 160.063(3m)(c)(c) A description of the proposed activities and an explanation of how those activities may increase participation of eligible populations in the universal service fund low-income support programs. PSC 160.063(3m)(d)(d) A budget showing a breakdown of costs and how a grant under this section would be used. PSC 160.063(4)(4) The commission may authorize funding to conduct or contract for an evaluation of the effectiveness of this program in promoting enrollment in low-income programs and subscribership to telecommunications service. This evaluation shall be completed within 2 years of the date on which the commission grants the project funding. The cost of this evaluation shall not exceed $25,000. This $25,000 shall be included as part of the $250,000 maximum total funding available under this section during the year in which the evaluation occurs. PSC 160.063 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: am. (1) to (3), cr. (3m), am. (4) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16. PSC 160.071PSC 160.071 Service and equipment pricing for individuals with special telecommunications needs. PSC 160.071(1)(a)(a) A person with a disability may determine whether that disability presents a barrier to use of telecommunications services, or equipment, or both. That person shall determine what accommodations are needed to ensure effective telecommunications access. PSC 160.071(1)(b)(b) When a provider, the fund administrator, a vendor, or the commission has sound reason to question the self-certification of a customer under par. (a), additional verification of disability, such as an appropriate medical professional’s written diagnosis and description of physical limitations and special needs resulting from that diagnosis, may be required for certification of special telecommunications needs. An appropriate medical professional is one who is qualified to make such a diagnosis and provide such a description. PSC 160.071(1m)(a)1.1. “Cognitive impairment” means a condition that limits every day practical skills and involves significant difficulty with memory, information processing, executive functions, or some combination thereof. PSC 160.071(1m)(a)2.2. “Disability” means a physical, cognitive, or sensory impairment that limits or curtails an individual’s ability to use telecommunications services or equipment, or both. PSC 160.071(1m)(am)(am) The universal service fund administrator shall make vouchers available to assist customers with a disability who have special telecommunications needs certification under s. PSC 160.071 (1) in the purchase of equipment needed to personally access and use essential services of the telecommunications network. A customer may not use a voucher to purchase equipment which will be used exclusively for commercial purposes. PSC 160.071(1m)(b)(b) Vouchers shall be limited to the following amounts by category of disability: PSC 160.071(1m)(c)(c) A voucher recipient under par. (b) 1. is not required to make a co-payment. All other voucher recipients are required to make a co-payment of $100 when the equipment is purchased. Under par. (f), for certain low income customers the co-payment may be supplied by funding through the telecommunications assistance program administered by the Wisconsin department of health services under s. 46.297, Stats., and ch. DHS 78. For certain low-income customers in the categories under par. (b) 3. and 4. the co-payment may be supplied by the universal service fund if the customer provides a medical professional’s statement confirming the need for telecommunications equipment available under this section and if the customer certifies that he or she would meet the income requirements of the telecommunications assistance program. PSC 160.071(1m)(e)(e) An applicant shall submit a completed, commission-approved voucher application form to the universal service fund administrator. PSC 160.071 NoteNote: Customers with disabilities may obtain commission-approved voucher application forms from the fund administrator, the commission, or other sources, including the commission’s website: psc.wi.gov.
PSC 160.071(1m)(f)(f) Applicants for vouchers under this section shall be Wisconsin residents. An applicant may not receive a voucher for equipment for the same disability more than once every 3 years. An applicant may receive a voucher for equipment even if another person in the same household has also received a voucher. The fund administrator shall refer applications filed by low-income individuals in the categories under par. (b) 2., 5., and 6., to the Wisconsin department of health services for telecommunications assistance program funding to provide any customer co-payment required under par. (c). If the applicant is found eligible, the fund administrator may issue an alternative voucher to include that program’s funding. If found ineligible, the fund administrator shall process a voucher application in priority according to its original date of receipt. PSC 160.071(1m)(g)(g) The fund administrator shall grant applications on a first-come, first-served basis except no single disability classification described in par. (b) may be issued vouchers totaling more than 75% of the total annual budget within the first 3 quarters of the budget year. PSC 160.071(1m)(h)(h) The fund administrator shall establish a waiting list for applications held pending available funding or under par. (g). PSC 160.071(1m)(i)(i) The commission may establish new disability categories and voucher maximums if it identifies a need. PSC 160.071(1m)(j)(j) Vendors may redeem vouchers, submitted with an invoice, from the universal service fund administrator. A vendor may not receive reimbursement that exceeds the total purchase price of the equipment with tax less, where applicable, a customer co-payment of $100. The commission may, for good cause, suspend a vendor’s eligibility to redeem vouchers under this program. Suspended vendors may not receive reimbursement for vouchers submitted for purchases or customer orders made after the date of suspension. PSC 160.071(1m)(k)(k) Commission staff may impose reasonable limits on the types and quantities of devices that may be purchased with one voucher. PSC 160.071(1m)(L)1.1. The fund administrator shall maintain and make accessible, a list of the types and quantities of equipment eligible for purchase with a single voucher in each category under par. (b). Revisions to the list shall be done periodically by the fund administrator in consultation with the commission staff and representatives selected by the universal service fund council. The fund administrator and commission may solicit input regarding revisions from vendors, representatives of interested groups serving the disabled and others, as appropriate. PSC 160.071 NoteNote: The equipment list will be posted on the commission’s website (psc.wi.gov). A vendor may submit an e-mail address to the commission and request e-mail notification of whenever a revised list is posted.
PSC 160.071(1m)(L)2.2. The commission staff and fund administrator may include equipment that can be used to access the internet for telecommunications service on the list of equipment available to individuals in the categories under par. (b) 3. to 6. Internet access equipment includes a personal computing device and necessary software, but does not include customer premises wiring, telephone or cable access lines, or telecommunications services. PSC 160.071(1m)(L)3.3. Individuals requesting equipment under subd. 2. shall provide a medical professional’s statement to the fund administrator stating that the equipment is necessary to meet the telecommunications needs of that individual. PSC 160.071(1m)(m)(m) Equipment purchases involving individual exceptions to the eligible equipment lists under par. (L) may be granted by the fund administrator only following consultation with commission staff. Commission staff, the fund administrator, or both, may solicit input regarding such exceptions from vendors, representatives of interested groups serving the disabled and others, as appropriate. PSC 160.071(1m)(n)(n) Objections to items included on or excluded from the eligible equipment lists and determinations regarding individual exceptions shall be submitted to the commission in writing. The commission staff shall review the objection and issue a letter addressing it. Commission staff decisions may be appealed to the commission. PSC 160.071(4)(a)(a) An eligible telecommunications carrier other than a federal-only ETC shall waive the charge for a reasonable number of directory assistance calls in a month for a customer with a disability that meets all of the following:
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