8. Are telecommunications providers allowed to automatically adjust their customers’ rates for any of the Commission’s assessments?
The table below details situations where the customers’ rates of telecommunications providers may be adjusted automatically or may be prohibited by Wisconsin Statutes and/or Wisconsin Administrative Code. Note that assessments, fees, or taxes authorized and/or levied by federal agencies (e.g., interstate assessments authorized and/or levied by the FCC), or other state of Wisconsin agencies (e.g., sales taxes authorized and/or levied by the state of Wisconsin and/or counties within the state), may be covered by other applicable regulations and statutes.
Assessment |
Allowed to Automatically Adjust
Customers’ Rates |
Applicable Wisconsin Statute and/or Wisconsin Administrative Code Cites |
Incumbent Telecommunications Local Exchange Companies |
Other Telecommunications Providers |
Direct |
No |
Yes (due to lack of Commission’s rate jurisdiction) |
Wis. Stat. § 196.85(1) (no prohibition) |
Remainder |
No |
Yes (due to lack of Commission’s rate jurisdiction) |
Wis. Stat. § 196.85(2) (no prohibition) |
Telephone Relay |
No |
Yes (due to lack of Commission’s rate jurisdiction) |
Wis. Stat. § 196.858(5) (prohibition concerning a separate line in a billing statement) |
TEACH, UW-System,
DPI Programs and PSC USF Programs |
Yes (for local exchange services) |
Yes (due to lack of Commission’s rate jurisdiction) |
Wis. Stat. § 196.218(3)(f) provides that telecommunications utilities that provide local exchange service may make adjustments to such rates for contributions to the state USF (TEACH, UW‑System, and DPI Programs and PSC USF Programs). If they do so, they must identify this amount on customer bills. |
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