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)(L)

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) 1. 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:

PSC 160.071(4)(b)(b) The ETC shall receive reasonable reimbursement from the universal service fund for these calls.

PSC 160.071(5)(a)(a) An eligible telecommunications carrier other than a federal-only ETC shall waive the charge for operator assistance to place calls for a customer with a disability that meets all of the following:

PSC 160.071(5)(a)2.2. In the customer’s opinion, requires the custom calling service in order for the customer to receive service that is comparable to the essential service provided to other customers.

PSC 160.071(5)(b)(b) The ETC shall receive reasonable reimbursement from the universal service fund for these calls.

PSC 160.071(6)(a)(a) An eligible telecommunications carrier other than a federal-only ETC shall waive the charge for a custom calling service for a customer with a disability that meets all of the following:

PSC 160.071(6)(a)2.2. In the customer’s opinion, requires the custom calling service in order for the customer to receive service that is comparable to the essential service provided to other customers.