196.218 Universal service fund.

537 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-196/196-218

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Definitions. In this section:

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

(a).

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

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

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

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

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

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

(3)Contributions to the fund.

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.

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.

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

a. The commission shall estimate the amount of unencumbered balances under s. 20.155

(q)and

(rm)for that fiscal year.

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

(q)and

(q),

(qm), and

(r)for that fiscal year.

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

(q)for that fiscal year.

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

(s)for that fiscal biennium.

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:

a. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155

(r)an amount equal to the sum determined under subd. 2s. (intro.) .

b. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155

(rm)an amount equal to $2,000,000 less the sum determined under subd. 2s. (intro.) .

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:

a. The amount appropriated under s. 20.155

(q).

am. The amount appropriated under s. 20.155

(rm).