AB43,2432 Section 2432. 196.504 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2433 Section 2433. 196.504 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,6626 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).

AB43,,6627 (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.

AB43,,6628 (c) If in any fiscal year, the commission does not receive sufficient broadband expansion grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria to award the minimum amounts described under par. (a) or (b), the commission shall award the maximum amount of broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) possible that fiscal year.

AB43,2434 Section 2434. 196.504 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,6630 196.504 (2r) The commission shall administer the line extension assistance program and shall have the following powers:

AB43,,6631 (a) To make financial assistance grants to residents of properties that are not served by a broadband service provider to assist in paying the customer costs associated with line extension necessary to connect broadband service to the properties. The amount of a financial assistance grant under this subsection may not exceed $4,000. Grants awarded under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (b).

AB43,,6632 (b) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding financial assistance grants under this subsection. The criteria shall give priority to properties that serve as a primary residence.

AB43,2435 Section 2435. 196.504 (2t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,6634 196.504 (2t) (a) Within 10 days of the close of the broadband expansion grant application process, the commission shall publish on its website the proposed geographic broadband service area and the proposed broadband service speeds for each application for a broadband expansion grant submitted.

AB43,,6635 (b) An Internet service provider in or proximate to the proposed project area may, within 30 days of publication of the information under par. (a), submit in writing to the commission a challenge to an application. A challenge shall contain information demonstrating one of the following:

AB43,,6636 1. The provider currently provides available, reliable, and affordable fixed wireless or wired broadband service to any part of the proposed project area at download speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater and upload speeds of 20 megabits per second or greater.

AB43,,6637 2. The provider commits to complete construction of broadband infrastructure and to provide available, reliable, and affordable fixed wireless or wired broadband service to any part of the proposed project area at speeds equal to or greater than the speeds described under subd. 1. no later than 24 months after the date of the commission’s order awarding broadband expansion grants. The provider shall submit documentation showing this commitment, including engineering plans, invoices related to project materials, permit applications, and a project timeline.

AB43,,6638 (bm) An Internet service provider that submits a challenge under this subsection shall allow the commission to inspect the broadband infrastructure identified by a provider in a challenge under par. (b) 1. or 2. to ensure it meets minimum service standards.

AB43,,6639 (c) The commission shall evaluate an Internet service provider’s challenge under this subsection, and is prohibited from funding any portion of a project relating to the area that is the subject of the challenge if the commission determines that the challenger’s provision of or commitment to provide broadband service that meets the requirements of par. (b) in that area is credible.

AB43,,6640 (d) If the commission denies funding to an applicant as a result of an Internet service provider’s challenge made under this subsection and the Internet service provider does not fulfill its commitment to provide available, reliable, and affordable broadband service in the area that is the subject of the challenge, the commission is prohibited from awarding grant funding to that Internet service provider for the following 2 grant cycles and that Internet service provider is prohibited from participating in the challenge process under par. (b) for the following 2 grant cycles, unless the commission determines that the Internet service provider’s failure to fulfill its commitment was the result of factors beyond the Internet service provider’s control. The commission shall give priority scoring treatment to an application targeting a grant project area that remains unserved as a result of a successful challenge and an unfulfilled commitment.

AB43,2436 Section 2436. 196.504 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,6642 196.504 (3) (intro.) The commission shall encourage the development of broadband infrastructure in underserved unserved areas of the state and do all of the following:

AB43,2437 Section 2437. 196.504 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,6644 196.504 (10) The commission shall administer a digital equity program under which it may do all of the following:

AB43,,6645 (a) Provide outreach and assistance to promote digital equity.

AB43,,6646 (b) Coordinate the administration of federal and state digital equity funding.

AB43,,6647 (c) Provide digital navigation services.

AB43,,6648 (d) Implement digital inclusion activities.

AB43,2438 Section 2438. 196.5048 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,6650 196.5048 Internet service provider registration. No person may provide Internet service in this state unless the person registers with the commission.

AB43,2439 Section 2439. 196.745 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,6652 196.745 (2) (a) Any person violating sub. (1) (a), or any order or rule issued under sub. (1) (a), shall forfeit an amount not exceeding $25,000 $200,000. Each day of violation is a separate violation of sub. (1) (a). No person may forfeit an amount exceeding $500,000 $2,000,000 for a single persisting violation of sub. (1) (a) or any order or any rule issued under sub. (1) (a). The commission shall remit all forfeitures paid under this paragraph to the secretary of administration for deposit in the school fund.