SB70,2426 Section 2426. 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act 58, is amended to read:

SB70,,6603 196.504 (2) (a) To make broadband expansion grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved unserved areas designated under par. (d) (e). Grants awarded under this section subsection shall be paid from the appropriations under ss. 20.155 (3) (c), (r), and (rm) and 20.866 (2) (z), in the amount allocated under s. 20.866 (2) (z) 5.

****Note: This is reconciled s. 196.504 (2) (a). This Section has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -1758/P5, -1361/P4, and -1169/P3.

SB70,2427 Section 2427. 196.504 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,,6605 196.504 (2) (b) To prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that shall be contained in an application for a grant under this section subsection. The application shall require the applicant to identify the area of the state that will be affected by the proposed project and explain how the proposed project will increase broadband access.

SB70,2428 Section 2428. 196.504 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 196.504 (2) (c) 1. (intro.) and amended to read:

SB70,,6607 196.504 (2) (c) 1. (intro.) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding grants under this section subsection. The criteria shall prohibit grants give priority to all of the following:

SB70,,6608 a. Grants that do not have the effect of subsidizing the expenses of a provider of telecommunications service, as defined in s. 182.017 (1g) (cq), or the monthly bills of customers of those providers. The criteria shall give priority to projects

SB70,,6609 c. Projects that include at least 40 percent matching funds, and shall give higher priority to projects with more than 40 percent matching funds.

SB70,,6610 d. Projects that involve public-private partnerships, that affect unserved areas,.

SB70,,6611 e. Projects that are scalable,.

SB70,,6612 f. Projects that promote economic development, that will not result in delaying the provision of broadband service to areas neighboring areas to be served by the proposed project, or.

SB70,,6613 g. Projects that affect a large geographic area that is difficult to connect or a large number of underserved unserved individuals or communities.

SB70,,6614 2. When evaluating grant applications under this section subsection, the commission shall consider the all of the following:

SB70,,6615 a. The degree to which the proposed projects would duplicate existing broadband infrastructure, information about the presence of which is provided to the commission by the applicant or another person within a time period designated by the commission; the.

SB70,,6616 b. The impacts of the proposed projects on the ability of individuals to access health care services from home and the cost of those services; and the.

SB70,,6617 c. The impacts of the proposed projects on the ability of students to access educational opportunities from home.

****Note: This is reconciled s. 196.504 (2) (c). This Section has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -1361/P4 and -1169/P3.

SB70,2429 Section 2429. 196.504 (2) (c) 1. b. of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,,6619 196.504 (2) (c) 1. b. Require that projects serve unserved areas.

SB70,2430 Section 2430. 196.504 (2) (c) 1. h. of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,,6621 196.504 (2) (c) 1. h. Projects that are capable of offering service at actual download speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater and upload speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater and shall give higher priority to projects that are capable of exceeding these speeds. Beginning on July 1 of the 2nd calendar year beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], and on July 1 of each successive odd-numbered year thereafter, the commission may adjust the threshold service speeds designated in this subdivision if, upon review, it determines there is good cause to do so in order to align with changes in technology and actual market conditions. If the commission adjusts these threshold speeds, it shall publicize the adjusted speeds on its website.

SB70,2431 Section 2431. 196.504 (2) (c) 2. d. and e. of the statutes are created to read:

SB70,,6623 196.504 (2) (c) 2. d. The affordability of the service.

SB70,,6624 e. All federal funding for broadband facilities in the project area of the proposed project.

SB70,2432 Section 2432. 196.504 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,2433 Section 2433. 196.504 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,,6627 196.504 (2m) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (c), each fiscal year the commission shall award no less than 10 percent of the amount in the schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24 as broadband expansion grants under sub. (2).

SB70,,6628 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), if the remaining unobligated balance of the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (c) is less than 10 percent of the amount in the schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24, the commission shall award the entire remaining balance in broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) in that fiscal year.