Chapter 196

196.208(11)(a)2. 2. A person or class of persons entitled to relief under subd. 1. is also entitled to recover costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1).

196.208(11)(b) (b) The commission shall inquire into any violation of subs. (7) to (9) by a telecommunications utility or by an officer, employee or agent of a telecommunications utility and shall report all violations to the department of justice.

196.208(11)(c) (c)

196.208(11)(c)1. 1. The department of justice, or any district attorney upon informing the department of justice, may commence an action in circuit court in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction any violation of subs. (2) to (9). The department of justice or a district attorney may not commence an action to enforce subs. (7) to (9) unless the commission requests an enforcement action. Before entry of final judgment, the court may make such orders or judgments as may be necessary to restore to any person any pecuniary loss suffered because of the acts or practices involved in the action if proof of these acts or practices is submitted to the satisfaction of the court.

196.208(11)(c)2. 2. The department of justice may conduct hearings, administer oaths, issue subpoenas and take testimony to aid in its investigation of violations of subs. (2) to (6).

196.208(11)(d) (d)

196.208(11)(d)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., any person who violates subs. (2) to (9) shall be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $5,000 for each offense.

196.208(11)(d)2. 2.

196.208(11)(d)2.a. a. A prisoner who violates sub. (5p) (b) may be required to forfeit not more than $500.

196.208(11)(d)2.b. b. A person who employs a prisoner to answer calls made to a toll-free telephone number may be required to forfeit not more than $10,000 if the person violates sub. (5p) (c), aids and abets a prisoner’s violation of sub. (5p) (b), is a party to a conspiracy with a prisoner to commit a violation of sub. (5p) (b), or advises, hires, or counsels or otherwise procures a prisoner to commit a violation of sub. (5p) (b).

196.208(11)(d)3. 3. Forfeitures under subds. 1. and 2. shall be enforced by action on behalf of the state by the department of justice or, upon informing the department of justice, by the district attorney of the county where the violation occurs.

196.208 History History: 1991 a. 127; 1993 a. 361; 2001 a. 16; 2013 a. 20.

196.212 196.212 Switched access rates.

196.212(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

196.212(1)(a) (a) “Affiliate” means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association, or other entity that is controlled by, or is under common control with, a telecommunications provider or telecommunications utility.

196.212(1)(b) (b) “Large incumbent local exchange carrier” means an incumbent local exchange carrier that, with any affiliates that are incumbent local exchange carriers operating in the state, in total had 150,000 or more access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010.

196.212(1)(c) (c) “Large nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier, that had 10,000 or more access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010, and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 before January 1, 2011.

196.212(1)(d) (d) “New nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider, other than an alternative telecommunications utility certified under s. 196.203 pursuant to s. 196.50 (2) (j) 1. a., that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 on or after January 1, 2011.

196.212(1)(e) (e) “Small incumbent local exchange carrier” means an incumbent local exchange carrier that, with any affiliates that are incumbent local exchange carriers operating in the state, in total had fewer than 150,000 access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010.

196.212(1)(f) (f) “Small nonincumbent” means a telecommunications provider that is not an incumbent local exchange carrier, that had fewer than 10,000 access lines in use in this state as of January 1, 2010, and that was granted an initial certification by the commission pursuant to s. 196.203 or 196.50 before January 1, 2011.

196.212(2) (2) New nonincumbents and large nonincumbents.

196.212(2)(a) (a) New nonincumbents. Within 30 days of June 9, 2011, a new nonincumbent may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(2)(b) (b) Large nonincumbents.

196.212(2)(b)1. 1. Except for an increase in intrastate switched access rates under s. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. a. or (3) (b) in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates, a large nonincumbent may not charge intrastate switched access rates higher than the intrastate switched access rates it charged on January 1, 2011.

196.212(2)(b)2. 2. A large nonincumbent shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates as follows:

196.212(2)(b)2.a. a. No later than 4 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 33 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(2)(b)2.b. b. No later than 5 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 50 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(2)(b)2.c. c. No later than 6 years after June 9, 2011, the large nonincumbent shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and, beginning no later than that date, may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(3) (3) Large incumbent local exchange carriers. A large incumbent local exchange carrier shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates to no higher than the large incumbent local exchange carrier’s interstate switched access rates as follows:

196.212(3)(a) (a) Beginning on June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier may not charge intrastate switched access rates higher than the intrastate switched access rates it charged on January 1, 2011.

196.212(3)(b) (b) No later than 2 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 25 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(c) (c) No later than 3 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 33 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(d) (d) No later than 4 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 50 percent of the difference between its intrastate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction.

196.212(3)(e) (e) No later than 5 years after June 9, 2011, the large incumbent local exchange carrier shall further reduce its intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror its interstate switched access rates in effect prior to the reduction and, beginning no later than that date, may not charge intrastate switched access rates that are higher than its interstate switched access rates.

196.212(4) (4) Limited commission review.

196.212(4)(a) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, except to enforce this section and ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. a. and 196.219 (2r), and except to enforce s. 196.191 (3) (b) only to allow an increase in intrastate switched access rates in order to mirror interstate switched access rates, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of large nonincumbents, new nonincumbents, and large incumbent local exchange carriers.

196.212(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter except to enforce ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. and 196.219 (2r), during the 4-year period beginning on June 9, 2011, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of small incumbent local exchange carriers.

196.212(4)(c) (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter except to enforce ss. 196.191 (2) (d) 2. and 196.219 (2r), during the 3-year period beginning on June 9, 2011, the commission may not investigate, review, or set the intrastate switched access rates of small nonincumbents.

196.212(5) (5) Enforcement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission shall have jurisdiction to enforce payment of intrastate switched access rates set forth in a tariff required under s. 196.191 (1) or a contract for intrastate switched access service allowed under s. 196.191 (6).

196.212(6) (6) Application. The intrastate switched access rate reductions required by this section apply to any entity subject to those rates, regardless of the technology or mode used by that entity to provide its telecommunications services.

196.212 History History: 2011 a. 22; 2015 a. 197 s. 51.

196.216 196.216 Small telecommunications utilities as small businesses. A small telecommunications utility is a small business for the purposes of s. 227.114.

196.216 History History: 1985 a. 297; 1987 a. 403 s. 256.

196.217 196.217 Average toll rates.

196.217(1) (1) Different rates restricted. A telecommunications utility may not charge different rates for residential basic message telecommunications service, business basic message telecommunications service, or single-line wide-area telecommunications service on routes of similar distances within this state, unless authorized by the commission. This subsection does not prohibit volume or term discounts, discounts in promotional offerings, differences in the rates for intralata and interlata services of similar distances, the provision of optional toll calling plans to selected exchanges or customers or the passing through of any state or local taxes in the specific geographic area from which the tax originates.

196.217(2) (2) Toll services. Notwithstanding sub. (1), a telecommunications utility may charge prices for toll services under contract that are unique to a particular customer or group of customers if differences in the cost of providing a service or a service element justify a different price for a particular customer or group of customers, or if market conditions require individual pricing.

196.217(3) (3) Averaged rates. Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), an intralata toll provider shall offer all optional toll calling plans on a statewide basis at geographically averaged rates until the provider deploys intralata dial-1 presubscription, except that an optional toll call plan need not be offered where deployment of that offering would not be economically or technically feasible.

196.217 History History: 1993 a. 496.

196.218 196.218 Universal service fund.

196.218(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

196.218(1)(a) (a) “Essential telecommunications services” means the services or functionalities listed in 47 CFR 54.101 (a).

196.218(1)(bm) (bm) “Local exchange service” means basic local exchange service or business access line and usage service.

196.218(1)(c) (c) “Universal service” includes the availability of a basic set of essential telecommunications services anywhere in this state.

196.218(1)(d) (d) “Universal service fund” means the trust fund established under s. 25.95.

196.218(2) (2) Fund administration. The commission shall do all of the following:

196.218(2)(c) (c) Contract for the administration of the universal service fund.

196.218(2)(d) (d) Obtain an annual independent audit of the universal service fund.

196.218(3) (3) Contributions to the fund.

196.218(3)(a) (a)

196.218(3)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (b), the commission shall require all telecommunications providers to contribute to the universal service fund beginning on January 1, 1996.

196.218(3)(a)2. 2. The commission may require a person other than a telecommunications provider to contribute to the universal service fund if, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the commission determines that the person is offering a nontraditional broadcast service in this state that competes with a telecommunications service provided in this state for which a contribution is required under this subsection.

196.218(3)(a)2e. 2e. No later than 30 days after the close of a fiscal year:

196.218(3)(a)2e.a. a. The commission shall estimate the amount of unencumbered balances under s. 20.155 (1) (q) and (3) (rm) for that fiscal year.

196.218(3)(a)2e.b. b. The department of public instruction shall provide the commission with the department’s estimate of the total amount of unencumbered balances under s. 20.255 (1) (q) and (3) (q), (qm), and (r) for that fiscal year.

196.218(3)(a)2e.c. c. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall provide the commission with the board’s estimate of the amount of unencumbered balance under s. 20.285 (1) (q) for that fiscal year.

196.218(3)(a)2m. 2m. No later than 30 days after the close of a fiscal biennium, the department of administration shall provide the commission with the department’s estimate of the amount of unencumbered balance under s. 20.505 (4) (s) for that fiscal biennium.

196.218(3)(a)2s. 2s. Thirty days after the close of a fiscal year or as soon as practicable thereafter, the commission shall determine the sum of the estimates specified in subd. 2e. a., b., and c. If the close of a fiscal year is also the close of a fiscal biennium, the sum shall include the estimate specified in subd. 2m. In the subsequent fiscal year, all of the following apply:

196.218(3)(a)2s.a. a. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r) an amount equal to the sum determined under subd. 2s. (intro.).

196.218(3)(a)2s.b. b. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (rm) an amount equal to $2,000,000 less the sum determined under subd. 2s. (intro.).

196.218(3)(a)3. 3. The commission shall designate the method by which the contributions under this paragraph shall be calculated and collected. The method shall ensure that the contributions are sufficient to generate and, to the extent practicable, do not exceed the following amounts:

196.218(3)(a)3.a. a. The amount appropriated under s. 20.155 (1) (q).

196.218(3)(a)3.am. am. The amount appropriated under s. 20.155 (3) (rm).

196.218(3)(a)3.b. b. The amounts appropriated under ss. 20.255 (1) (q) and (3) (q), (qm), and (r), 20.285 (1) (q), and 20.505 (4) (s).

196.218(3)(a)3m. 3m. Contributions under this paragraph may be based only on the gross operating revenues from the provision of broadcast services identified by the commission under subd. 2. and on intrastate telecommunications services in this state of the telecommunications providers subject to the contribution. Contributions based on revenues from interconnected voice over Internet protocol service shall be calculated as provided under s. 196.206 (2).

196.218(3)(b) (b) The commission may exempt from part or all of the contributions required under par. (a) telecommunications providers who have small gross operating revenues from the provision of intrastate telecommunications services in this state and who have provided these services for less than a period specified by the commission, not to exceed 5 years. The commission may also exempt a telecommunications provider or other person from part or all of the contribution required under par. (a) if the commission determines that requiring the contribution would not be in the public interest.

196.218(3)(c) (c) The commission shall designate by rule the classes of providers or other persons subject to par. (a) and the required rates of contribution for each class.

196.218(3)(d) (d) The commission shall consider all of the following in specifying the contributions required under par. (a):

196.218(3)(d)1. 1. The impact of the contributions on all members of the public and the telecommunications industry.

196.218(3)(d)2. 2. The fairness of the amount of the contributions and the methods of collection.

196.218(3)(d)3. 3. The costs of administering the collection of the contributions.

196.218(3)(e) (e) A telecommunications provider or other person may establish a surcharge on customers’ bills to collect from customers contributions required under this subsection.

196.218(3)(f) (f) A telecommunications utility that provides local exchange service may make adjustments to local exchange service rates for the purpose of recovering its contributions to the universal service fund required under this subsection. A telecommunications utility that adjusts local exchange service rates for the purpose of recovering such contributions shall identify on customer bills a single amount that is the total amount of the adjustment. The public service commission shall provide telecommunications utilities the information necessary to identify such amounts on customer bills.

196.218(3)(g) (g) If the commission or a telecommunications provider makes a mistake in calculating or reporting any data in connection with the contributions required under par. (a), and the mistake results in the telecommunications provider’s overpayment of such a contribution, the commission shall reimburse the telecommunications provider for the amount of the overpayment.

196.218(4) (4) Essential telecommunications services.

196.218(4)(a) (a) Each telecommunications provider that is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to 47 USC 214 (e) shall make available to its customers all essential telecommunications services. A telecommunications provider may satisfy this paragraph by providing essential telecommunications services itself or through an affiliate and in either case may provide essential telecommunications services through the use of any available technology or mode.

196.218(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), if a commercial mobile radio service provider is designated or seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to 47 USC 214 (e) for the purpose of federal universal service funding and not for the purpose of state universal service funding, the commercial mobile radio service provider is not subject to any eligible telecommunications carrier requirements imposed by the commission and shall be subject only to the eligible telecommunications carrier requirements imposed by 47 USC 214 (e) (1) and regulations and orders of the federal communications commission implementing 47 USC 214 (e) (1).

196.218(4m) (4m) Toll blocking. The commission shall issue rules to implement, cost-free to low-income customers, the capability to block all long distance or other toll calls from a customer’s telephone service with a goal of universal applicability of the toll-blocking service no later than January 1, 1996. A telecommunications utility may petition the commission for a waiver from providing toll-blocking service upon a demonstration that providing this service would represent an unreasonable expense for the telecommunications utility and its ratepayers.

196.218(4t) (4t) Educational telecommunications access program rules. The commission, in consultation with the department of administration, shall promulgate rules specifying the telecommunications services eligible for funding through the educational telecommunications access program under s. 16.997.

196.218(4u) (4u) Medical telecommunications equipment program. From the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (q), the commission may spend up to $500,000 annually for grants to nonprofit medical clinics and public health agencies for the purchase of telecommunications equipment to be used in providing services to their clients. The commission shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for awarding grants under this subsection.