PSC 160.05(7) (7) For payments by the department of public instruction for supplemental aid to public library systems as specified in s. 43.24, Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (qm), Stats.

PSC 160.05(8) (8) For payments by the department of public instruction for library service contracts as specified in s. 43.03 (6) and (7), Stats., under the appropriation in s. 20.255 (3) (r), Stats.

PSC 160.05(9) (9) For grants from the department of administration for training teachers to use educational technology under s. 16.996, Stats.

PSC 160.05(10) (10) For payments by the department of public instruction to provide funding for online courses made available under s. 115.28 (53), Stats. 

PSC 160.05(11) (11) For payments by the department of public instruction to provide funding for the delivery of digital content and collaborative instruction under s. 115.28 (54), Stats.

PSC 160.05(12) (12) For other payments authorized by statute. 

PSC 160.05 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; emerg. am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (10) to be (1) (a) to (j), cr. (2) to (4), eff. 2-27-98; am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (10) to be (1) (a) to (j), cr. (2) to (4), Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; am. (intro.), (1) (c), (d), (i) and (2), cr. (1) (k) to (s) and (5), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; corrections in (2) and (4) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; correction in (1) (s) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2013 No. 686; CR 13-068: am. (intro.), (1) (intro.), (a), (c), (d), r. (1) (h) to (j), (L), am. (1) (n), r. (1) (o), am. (1) (p), r. (1) (r), renum. (1) (s) to (u), cr. (1) (s), (t), am. (2), (3), r. (4), cr. (6) to (12) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; 2015 Wis. Act 330 s. 20: am. (3) Register April 2016 No. 724, eff. 5-1-16; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2018 No. 756.

PSC 160.06 PSC 160.06 Eligibility for low-income programs.

PSC 160.06(1) (1) Low-income assistance eligibility.

PSC 160.06(1)(a) (a) All ETCs shall verify an applicant’s eligibility for low-income assistance programs by making timely queries of the applicable databases of the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies designated by the commission. An ETC shall verify an applicant’s eligibility by finding the applicant to be any of the following:

PSC 160.06(1)(a)1. 1. An active client of at least one of the programs listed in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (a).

PSC 160.06(1)(a)2. 2. A member of the active client’s household whose low income qualifies the client for benefits under at least one of the programs listed in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (a).

PSC 160.06(1)(a)3. 3. At an income level that meets the conditions in s. PSC 160.02 (21) (b).

PSC 160.06(1)(a)4. 4. At an income level that meets the conditions of any other federal low-income eligibility criteria.

PSC 160.06(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), an eligible telecommunications carrier shall verify an applicant as eligible for low-income assistance programs if the applicant qualifies for federal universal service fund support for eligible residents of tribal lands under 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.

PSC 160.06(1)(c) (c) If an eligible telecommunications carrier cannot verify an applicant’s eligibility under par. (a) or (b), in addition to the households considered low-income under the definition in s. PSC 160.02 (21), the ETC shall consider a household that receives benefits from federal public housing assistance (section 8) to be low-income.

PSC 160.06(2) (2) Eligibility reverification. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall reverify eligibility on at least an annual basis for all customers receiving lifeline assistance. The eligible telecommunications carrier shall first attempt to reverify eligibility by making timely queries of the applicable databases of the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies designated by the commission.

PSC 160.06(3) (3) Eligibility inquiry. Eligible telecommunications carriers other than federal-only ETCs shall inquire of each customer regarding eligibility of that customer for low-income programs on each order for initial or moved residential service and, orally or in writing, in the first contact with the customer during a year concerning disconnection or payment arrangements.

PSC 160.06(4) (4) Query authorization.

PSC 160.06(4)(a) (a) Customers shall complete and remit any reasonably required query authorization forms or forfeit eligibility.

PSC 160.06(4)(b) (b) Eligible telecommunications carriers shall obtain whatever customer authorization is required by the Wisconsin department of health services, the Wisconsin department of revenue, or other government agencies for the database queries necessary for eligibility verification. The commission may revoke the eligible telecommunications carrier designation and order the forfeiture of reimbursements if it accesses a customer’s database information without that customer’s authorization. The commission may also refer the eligible telecommunications carrier to the Wisconsin department of justice or other state agency for appropriate action.

PSC 160.06(5) (5) Applicant requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an applicant is only eligible for low-income assistance programs under this chapter if the applicant provides all of the information required under state and federal law.

PSC 160.06 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; renum. (1) to be (1) (intro.) and am. (1) (intro.), renum. (5) (a) to be (5), cr. (1) (a) to (c), am. (3) and (4), r. (5) (b), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: renum. (1) to (1) (a) and am. (a) (intro.), 1., 2., r. (1) (a) 3., cr. (1) (a) 3., 4., (b), (c), am. (2), (3), renum. (4) to (4) (b) and am., cr. (4) (a), r. and recr. (5) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.

PSC 160.061 PSC 160.061 Link-up program. The commission may fund programs to identify and provide monetary assistance to low-income persons who are unlikely to be able to obtain telecommunications service without such assistance. Such programs may include customers who qualify for federal universal service fund support for eligible residents of tribal lands under 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.

PSC 160.061 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (1) and (6), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 13-068: r. and recr. Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16.

PSC 160.062 PSC 160.062 Lifeline program.

PSC 160.062(1) (1) Definitions.

PSC 160.062(1)(a) (a) For purposes of subs. (2) to (7), “eligible telecommunications carrier” or “ETC” means only full and low-income ETCs, and does not include federal-only ETCs.

PSC 160.062(1)(b) (b) For purposes of this section, “line” means an access line, service to an activated wireless handset, or service to an internet connection used as a substitute for a traditional telecommunications connection.