2021 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 196 - Regulation of public utilities.
196.204 - Local government telecommunications utilities.

196.204 Local government telecommunications utilities.

(1m) In this section:

(a) “Local government telecommunications utility" means a municipality that owns, operates, manages, or controls any plant or equipment, or that wholly owns, operates, manages, or controls any entity that owns, operates, manages, or controls any plant or equipment, used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public.

(b) “Nongovernmental telecommunications utility" means a telecommunications utility that is not a local government telecommunications utility.

(2m)

(a) Each telecommunications service, relevant group of services, and basic network function offered or used by a local government telecommunications utility shall be priced to exceed its total service long-run incremental cost.

(b) For purposes of par. (a), the total service long-run incremental cost of a local government telecommunications utility shall take into account, by imputation or allocation, equivalent charges for all taxes, pole rentals, rights-of-way, licenses, and similar costs that are incurred by nongovernmental telecommunications utilities. This paragraph does not apply to a local government telecommunications utility that is subject to the exemption under s. 66.0422 (3n). This paragraph also does not apply to a telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function if all of the following conditions apply:

1. On November 1, 2003, the commission has determined that the local government telecommunications utility is an alternative telecommunications utility under s. 196.203.

2. A majority of the governing board of the local government telecommunications utility votes to submit the question of supporting the operation of the local government telecommunications utility to the electors in an advisory referendum and a majority of the voters in the local government telecommunications utility voting at the advisory referendum vote to support operation of the local government telecommunications utility.

(c) Paragraph (b) does not apply to a telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function that is used to provide broadband service and that is offered by a municipal telecommunications utility, if all of the following apply:

1. The municipal telecommunications utility offers the telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function on a nondiscriminatory basis to persons who provide broadband service to end users.

2. The municipality does not provide to end users the telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or broadband service provided by the basic network function.

3. The municipal utility determines that, at the time that the municipal utility authorizes the provision of the telecommunications service, relevant group of services, or basic network function, the municipal utility's provision of the service, group of services, or function does not compete with more than one provider of broadband service.

History: 2003 a. 278, 327; 2011 a. 22.