2015 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
196. Regulation of public utilities.
196.504 Broadband expansion grant program.

196.504  Broadband expansion grant program.

196.504(1) (1) In this section:

196.504(1)(a) (a) "Eligible applicant" means any of the following:

196.504(1)(a)1. 1. An organization operated for profit or not for profit, including a cooperative.

196.504(1)(a)2. 2. A telecommunications utility.

196.504(1)(a)3. 3. A city, village, town, or county that submits an application in partnership with an eligible applicant under subd. 1. or 2.

196.504(1)(am) (am) "Scalable" means, with respect to a project for a broadband network, that the broadband network has the ability to maintain the quality of its service while increasing parameters relating to the size of the network, such as the number of users, the number of network nodes, the number of services provided, or the network's geographic spread.

196.504(1)(b) (b) "Underserved" means served by fewer than 2 broadband service providers.

196.504(2) (2) The commission shall administer the broadband expansion program and shall have the following powers:

196.504(2)(a) (a) To make broadband expansion grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas designated under par. (d). Grants awarded under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (r). In each fiscal year, the total amount of the grants may not exceed $1,500,000.

196.504(2)(b) (b) To prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that shall be contained in an application for a grant under this section. 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.

196.504(2)(c) (c) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding grants under this section. The criteria shall prohibit grants that have the effect of subsidizing the expenses of a telecommunication provider or the monthly bills of telecommunications customers. The criteria shall give priority to projects that include matching funds, that involve public-private partnerships, that affect areas with no broadband service providers, that are scalable, or that affect a large geographic area or a large number of underserved individuals or communities.

196.504(2)(d) (d) To designate areas of the state that are underserved as underserved areas.

196.504 History