PSC 160.08 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: am. Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.

PSC 160.09 PSC 160.09 High rate assistance credits.

PSC 160.09(1) (1) In this section, “median household income” means the estimated median household income per county published annually by the U.S. census bureau’s small area income and poverty estimate program.

PSC 160.09 Note Note: This may be found on the commission’s website at psc.wi.gov.

PSC 160.09(1g) (1g) A full ETC shall provide high rate assistance credits to residential customers when the price of service exceeds levels set in this section.

PSC 160.09(1r) (1r) A full ETC shall recalculate credits under this section whenever the fixed monthly charge for essential telecommunications service, as defined in s. PSC 160.03 (2), is changed, or when ordered to do so by the commission. If the recalculation results in a de minimis change, the ETC may request that the administrator of the division of business and communications services stay the requirement to increase or decrease the credit.

PSC 160.09(2) (2) Full eligible telecommunications carriers shall calculate credits as specified in sub. (4) utilizing the price of service determined under sub. (3).

PSC 160.09(3) (3) For purposes of calculating credits under sub. (4):

PSC 160.09(3)(a) (a) If a full ETC offers essential services on a stand-alone basis, the price of service calculated under this paragraph for its stand-alone essential services shall be considered the price of service when calculating credits for all of the ETC’s offerings, whether provided on a stand-alone basis or as part of a bundle. The price of service for stand-alone essential services that is used to calculate credits under sub. (4) shall include all of the following charges and fees:

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1. 1. The in-state charges and fees for residential stand-alone essential services, including, as applicable, all of the following:

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.a. a. Police and fire protection fee.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.b. b. State universal service fund assessment.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.c. c. Remainder assessment.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.d. d. Telecommunications utility trade practices assessment.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)1.e. e. Federal universal service fund assessment.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)2. 2. Any 9-1-1 charges billed on the telephone bill.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)3. 3. The federal subscriber line charge.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)4. 4. The access recovery charge.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)5. 5. The charge, if any, for 120 local calls, excluding extended community calling calls.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)6. 6. The federal communications commission authorized charge for implementation of local number portability.

PSC 160.09(3)(a)7. 7. Other charges as approved by the commission.

PSC 160.09(3)(b) (b) The price of service for residential stand-alone essential services does not include charges for items and services such as:

PSC 160.09(3)(b)1. 1. Data service.

PSC 160.09(3)(b)2. 2. Handsets, modems, or other customer premises equipment.

PSC 160.09(3)(b)3. 3. Caller identification.

PSC 160.09(3)(b)4. 4. Call waiting.

PSC 160.09(3)(b)5. 5. Texting.

PSC 160.09(3)(b)6. 6. Voicemail.

PSC 160.09(3)(c) (c) If a full ETC only offers essential services bundled with other services, and not on a stand-alone basis, the price of service used to calculate credits under sub. (4) shall be the charges and fees for the service, minus the charge for optional items or services such as the following: