Providers that are exiting the Wisconsin market need to notify the Commission of that exit. The exact procedure varies slightly by type of provider, but all providers must upload a letter that:
Clearly identifies the provider,
Provides the effective date of market exit, and
Verifies that no customers will be adversely affected by the exit.
Notification
That notification of market exit must include:
A clear identification of the company, including the company’s PSC Utility ID Number.
A clear statement that the company is exiting the Wisconsin telecommunications market.
The date on which the company stopped or will stop doing business in Wisconsin.
A declaration that the company either 1) had no customers or 2) all customers were transferred to another company. If the latter, the notification needs to identify the other company and include a copy of the notice sent to customers informing them of the change or 3) that customers were notified of the provider’s intent to exit the marketplace and stop providing service, and that the notice sent complies with the requirements of Wisc. Admin. Code § ATCP 123.04. A copy of the notice sent to customers must be attached to the letter.
Confirmation that the provider will pay all outstanding assessment invoices, and the final universal service fund assessment. The final USF assessment will cover the remainder of the October through September billing cycle.
Request for Voluntary Decertification
If the provider is certified as a Reseller, CLEC or other type of provider that received a formal Commission certification order, the provider must upload a letter to the Electronic Records Filing (ERF) system. In ERF, the letter should be titled “Request for Voluntary Decertification” and uploaded as a “Existing Service Provider/New docket Application” filing, using the appropriate utility identification number, and “Application” as the document type. The application needs to include a notarized affidavit, signed by a corporate officer authorized to bind the petitioner, which verifies that all information provided in the petition is true and correct to the best of the officer’s knowledge or belief. The Commission will then decertify the provider, a process that usually takes a few weeks.
Notification of Market Exit
If the provider is registered with the Commission as a VoIP Provider, CMRS or other type of telecommunications provider not certified as a telecommunications utility by formal Commission order, the process is similar, but simpler. The provider must upload a letter titled “Notification of Market Exit” to ERF as a "Existing Service Provider/New docket Application" filing, using the appropriate utility identification number, and “Correspondence” as the document type. The Commission will issue a letter confirming market exit within a couple weeks.
Questions or Comments
If you have questions or comments about decertification or require assistance in drafting the appropriate notification of market exit, please contact Peter Jahn at (608)267-2338 or via email at
Peter.jahn@wisconsin.gov.
Questions about using ERF should be directed to the Records Management unit at (608) 261-8524 or via email at
PSCRecordsMail@wisconsin.gov.