2023 WISCONSIN ACT 77
An Act to repeal 13.48 (30) (a) 1., 196.504 (1) (b) and 196.504 (2) (d); to renumber and amend 196.504 (1) (c) 2. and 196.504 (2) (c); to consolidate, renumber and amend 13.48 (30) (a) (intro.) and 2.; to amend 13.48 (30) (b), 24.40 (3), 86.16 (6), 196.504 (2) (a) and 196.504 (3) (intro.); and to create 196.504 (1) (c) 2. b., 196.504 (1) (c) 3., 196.504 (2) (c) 1. g. and h., 196.504 (2) (c) 2. d. and 196.504 (2t) of the statutes; relating to: the broadband expansion grant program.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
77,1Section 1. 13.48 (30) (a) (intro.) and 2. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 13.48 (30) (a) and amended to read: 13.48 (30) (a) In this section: 2. “Unserved, “unserved area” has the meaning given in s. 196.504 (1) (c).
77,2Section 2. 13.48 (30) (a) 1. of the statutes is repealed. 77,3Section 3. 13.48 (30) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: 13.48 (30) (b) The legislature finds and determines that the provision of broadband Internet access is essential to the welfare of the citizens of this state and to economic development in this state, and therefore the provision of broadband Internet access is a government function and a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. The legislature further determines that sufficient private capital has been and continues to be unavailable to fulfill the need for the development of broadband Internet access in underserved and unserved areas in this state. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist the public service commission in making broadband expansion grants under s. 196.504 (2) (a) for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved and unserved areas of this state.
77,4Section 4. 24.40 (3) of the statutes is amended to read: