PSC 160.09(3)(d)(d) If a full ETC’s charge for bundled service includes a charge for data service, it is rebuttably presumed that the ETC’s customers are not eligible for high rate assistance for that bundled service. The ETC may rebut this presumption by showing that the charge for the bundled service minus the cost of providing data service totals an amount high enough to qualify the customer for high rate assistance. The commission may, upon complaint or if it has a reasonable basis to believe that a credit should be applied when it is not, require the ETC to provide the relevant cost information.

PSC 160.09(4)(a)(a) For the portion of the price of service below 1.2% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, no credits apply.

PSC 160.09(4)(b)(b) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 1.2% but below 1.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 50% of that amount.

PSC 160.09(4)(c)(c) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 1.7% but below 2.2% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 75% of that amount.

PSC 160.09(4)(d)(d) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 2.2% but below 2.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 85% of that amount.

PSC 160.09(4)(e)(e) For the portion of the price of service equal to or above 2.7% of median household income, per month, for the area in which the rate applies, a credit equal to 95% of that amount.

PSC 160.09(4)(f)(f) When a rate applies in only one county, the median household income used to calculate the credit shall be that of that county in which the rate applies. When a rate applies in more than one county, the median household income used to compute the credit shall be the average of the median household incomes in each county in which the rate applies, weighted by the number of customers paying that rate in each county.

PSC 160.09(4)(g)(g) If the amount of money required to reimburse full ETCs for credits under this section exceeds the amount budgeted for this program under s. PSC 160.17, the commission may modify the formula for high rate assistance credits.

PSC 160.09(5)(5) Except as provided in sub. (9), each full ETC may be reimbursed by the universal service fund for the value of the credits it issues if it files its reimbursement claims with the fund administrator by April 1 of the year following the year during which it issued the credit. The full ETC may obtain an extension of the filing deadline from commission staff for good cause.

PSC 160.09(6)(6) When a full ETC charges a pro-rated portion of the normal monthly charge for service because the customer has had service for only a portion of the month, the rate assistance credit for that customer shall be pro-rated by the same percentage.

PSC 160.09(9)(9) Full ETCs may not be reimbursed by the universal service fund for the value of credits issued to customers receiving essential telecommunications service under a contract if the contract has a duration of greater than one year. The commission may grant waivers of this subsection by order. This subsection does not apply to rural line extension contracts entered into before January 1, 1996.

PSC 160.09 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1), (8) and (9), r. (2) (a), (b), (3) (f), (h) and (6), renum. (2) (c) to be (2) and am. (2), renum. (3) (a) to (e) to be (4) (a) to (e) and am. (4) (a) to (e), renum. (3) (g) to (4) (f) and am. (4) (f), renum. (3) (i) and (5) to be (4) (g) and (6), renum. (4) to be (5) and am. (5), renum. (8) to be (9) and am. (9), cr. (3), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1g) and am., cr. (1), (1r), am. (2), r. and recr. (3), am. (4) to (7), r. (8), am. (9) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (3) (d) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register December 2018 No. 756.

PSC 160.092(2)(2) Alternative plans under this section shall be implemented on an experimental basis. These plans shall be reviewed within 3 years of inception and shall terminate within 5 years of inception, unless made permanent by commission order after notice and an opportunity for hearing.

PSC 160.092(3)(3) Alternative plans under this section may make use of cost studies, bidding, auctions, defined service territories or other mechanisms to protect universal service. The commission may, by order, authorize payment of universal service fund monies as part of an alternative plan.

PSC 160.092 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (intro.), (b), (c), am. (2), (3), r. (4) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; corrections in (2) made under ss. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. and 35.17, Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721.

PSC 160.115(1)(a)(a) “Initial application” means the first application for universal service fund support under this section that an applicant files in a state fiscal year.