Information for Providers
Some consumers with hearing loss may use captioned telephone service with a second line for simultaneous voice communications. This arrangement is called second line voice carry over, or 2LVCO. Wisconsin universal service rules (Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 160.071(6m)) require Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to waive many of the charges for the second line. The Wisconsin Universal Service Fund (USF) will reimburse ETCs for those waived charges.
Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 160.071(6m) requires ETCs to waive all intrastate recurring and nonrecurring charges for the second line used in a 2LVCO arrangement. These include all one-time activation charges, as well as the monthly access charge, county and state taxes, 911 fee, police and fire protection fee, and the state USF surcharge. The ETC may charge the customer any applicable federal taxes, federal USF surcharges and the subscriber line charge.
Reimbursement
ETCs may seek reimbursement for fees waived for 2LVCO service from the Wisconsin USF. This is a two-step process.
- The ETC must file a letter requesting 2LVCO reimbursement. The letter must be filed via the PSC
Electronic Records Filing (ERF) system in docket 5-LL-[year] where [year] is the current calendar year. (For example, during calendar year 2023, the docket number is 5-LL-2023.) The letter must include a link to, or graphic of, the provider’s tariff or current rate sheet.
- Once approved by staff, the ETC may request reimbursement from Solix, the administrator of the WI USF, ETCs may submit reimbursement requests via
Telecommunications Provider Reimbursement portal.
More Information
Questions or comments about the 2LVCO program should be addressed to Peter Jahn at Peter.Jahn@wisconsin.gov.
Questions about using the ERF system should be directed to the Records Management unit at (608) 261-8524 or via email at PSCRecordsMail@wisconsin.gov.