PSC 160.125 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; renum. from 160.063 (title), (1), (2), (3) and (4) to be 160.125 (1) (title), renum. (1) to (4) to be (1) (a), (b), (d) and (e), cr. (1) (c) and (2), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; corrections in (2) (a), (c) 2. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2013 No. 686; CR 13-068: am. (1) (title), (a), (b), (e), (2) (a), (b), renum. (2) (c) 1. to (2) (c) 1m. and am., cr. (2) (c) 1., am. (2) (c) 2., 3., 5. (intro.), a. to d., (d) (intro.), 1., 2., (e), (f) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction under s. 35.17, Stats., in (2) (c) 1. Register January 2016 No. 721.

PSC 160.13(1)(a)(a) The commission may designate a telecommunications provider as an eligible telecommunications carrier. This designation is not transferable.

PSC 160.13(2)(a)(a) A full or low-income ETC, but not a federal-only ETC, is eligible to receive universal service funding for an area, under both applicable federal and state universal service programs, if it meets all of the following requirements:

PSC 160.13(2)(a)1.1. Holds itself ready to offer all elements of essential telecommunications service, as defined in s. PSC 160.03 (2), to all customers in the area for which it is requesting ETC status.

PSC 160.13(2)(a)2.2. Regularly advertises its service in the area for which it is requesting ETC status, with the advertisements meeting all of the following requirements:

PSC 160.13(2)(a)3.3. Offers lifeline service, as defined in s. PSC 160.062, wherever service is offered in the area for which it is requesting ETC status, and publicizes the availability of those offerings in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely to qualify for them.

PSC 160.13(2)(b)(b) An applicant for federal-only ETC designation under s. 196.218 (4) (b), Stats., is required to meet all of the applicable federal eligibility requirements in 47 CFR 54.201 and 54.202, and any state requirements or processes that federal law requires ETCs to follow.

PSC 160.13 NoteNote: For example, federal ETC regulations require all providers to follow some provisions of state law, such as use of state lifeline eligibility verification databases.

PSC 160.13(3)(3) Application for new or expanded ETC status. Application for new or expanded ETC status. An applicant for new or expanded eligible telecommunications carrier status shall demonstrate its ability to meet the requirements under sub. (2) by including all of the following information in its application:

PSC 160.13(3)(b)(b) A demonstration of how the applicant meets the requirement of 47 USC 214 (e) (1) (A). This shall be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

PSC 160.13(3)(b)1.1. An explanation of how the applicant will use its own facilities, or a combination of its own facilities and resale, to provide voice telecommunications service to a Wisconsin customer.

PSC 160.13(3)(b)2.2. An electronic link to or copy of the federal communications commission order approving the applicant’s compliance plan, and an electronic link to the approved compliance plan.

PSC 160.13 NoteNote: A provider may apply for ETC designation before its compliance plan is approved by the Federal Communications Commission, but the commission will not act on the application until the plan is approved.

PSC 160.13(3)(c)1.1. A copy of the applicant’s 5 year plan, and associated documentation, as required by 47 CFR 54.202 (a) (1) ii., including certification that it will use any federal high cost support monies for the purposes allowed under 47 USC 254 (e) and 47 CFR 54.313 (a) and 54.314 (a).

PSC 160.13(3)(c)2.2. A certified statement that the applicant will not seek high cost assistance funding from the federal universal service fund or high rate assistance funding from the state universal service fund.

PSC 160.13(3)(e)(e) A list of all of the exchanges or wire centers, or both, for which ETC status is sought and identification of any wire center for which status is sought for only a portion of the wire center.

PSC 160.13(3)(f)(f) The applicant’s name, any other name under which the applicant does business, the applicant’s commission utility identification number and proof of registration with the department of financial institutions.