Wisconsin Code § 196.203

Exemption of alternative telecommunications utilities
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(1d) In this section, “local government
telecommunications utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.204
(1m) (a).
(1g) Alternative telecommunications utilities are exempt
from all provisions of this chapter, except as provided in this section, and except for all of the following:
(a) An alternative telecommunications utility is subject to ss.
196.01, 196.016, 196.025 (6), 196.191, 196.206, and 196.212.
(b) An alternative telecommunications utility certified under
this section pursuant to s. 196.50 (2) (j) 1. a. is subject to s.
196.219 (2r), and, with respect only to wholesale telecommunications services, is subject to ss. 196.03 (1) and (6), 196.219 (4),
196.28, and 196.37; and, if such an alternative telecommunications utility was regulated as a price-regulated telecommunications utility prior to June 9, 2011, the alternative telecommunications utility’s intrastate dedicated access rates shall mirror its interstate dedicated access rates.
(c) An alternative telecommunications utility that is a local
government telecommunications utility is subject to s. 196.204.
(2) (a) No person may commence providing service as an alternative telecommunications utility unless the person petitions
for and the commission issues a certification that the person is an
alternative telecommunications utility or unless the person is a
telecommunications utility that the commission certifies as an alternative telecommunications utility under this section pursuant
to s. 196.50 (2) (j) 1. a.
(b) Except for an alternative telecommunications utility that is
a local government telecommunications utility, certification as an
alternative telecommunications utility shall be on a statewide basis and any certification issued by the commission before June 9,
2011, to an alternative telecommunications utility that is not a local government telecommunications utility is considered
amended to be a statewide certification.
(c) An alternative telecommunications utility may provide notice to the commission to maintain certification as an alternative
telecommunications utility but to recertify the alternative
telecommunications utility and impose on the alternative
telecommunications utility only those provisions of this chapter
specified in this paragraph. No later than 30 days after receiving
notice under this paragraph, the commission shall issue an order
granting recertification and imposing on the alternative telecommunications utility those provisions of this chapter specified in
sub. (4m) (a) that are imposed on all alternative telecommunications utilities under sub. (3). The commission may impose a provision of this chapter specified in sub. (4m) (b) or (c) if in the
public interest. An alternative telecommunications utility for
which an order of recertification is issued is subject to sub. (1g).
The granting of the recertification shall operate to terminate the
alternative telecommunications utility’s prior certification. All
regulatory requirements in or related to the prior certification that
are inconsistent with the requirements of or regulation allowed
under this section, including all such requirements imposed by
the certification and all such requirements imposed by the commission, whether by statute or commission rule or order, on the
alternative telecommunications utility are terminated on the effective date of the order, unless the alternative telecommunications utility, in its notice to the commission seeking recertification under this paragraph, requests to remain subject to one or
more requirements of its prior certification that do not violate the
alternative telecommunications utility’s requirements and obligations under this chapter and the commission does not deny the request in the commission’s recertification order.
(d) The commission may deny a petition for certification as an
alternative telecommunications utility described in s. 196.01 (1d)
(f) only if the commission finds that the petitioner does not have
the financial, managerial, or technical capabilities to provide its
proposed services or to comply with conditions that the commission is authorized to impose under sub. (3).
(3) In response to a petition from any interested person, or
upon its own motion, the commission shall determine whether
the public interest requires that a provision of this chapter specified in sub. (4m) be imposed on a person providing or proposing
to provide service as an alternative telecommunications utility. If
the commission imposes a provision of this chapter specified in
sub. (4m) (a) on an alternative telecommunications utility under
this subsection, the commission shall impose the same provision
at the same level of regulation on all other alternative telecommunications utilities.
(4m) (a) The commission may impose s. 196.02 (1), (4), or
(5), 196.04, 196.135, 196.14, 196.197, 196.199, 196.207,

196.208, 196.218, 196.219 (1), (2) (b), (c), or (d), (2r), or (3) (a),
(d), (j), (m), (n), or (o), 196.25, 196.26, 196.39, 196.395, 196.40,
196.41, 196.43, 196.44, 196.65, 196.66, 196.81, 196.85,
196.858, or 196.859 on an alternative telecommunications utility.
(b) In addition to the requirements under s. 196.212, the commission may, with respect only to intrastate switched access services, impose s. 196.03 (1) or (6) or 196.37 on an alternative
telecommunications utility, except that the commission may not
investigate, review, or set the rates for intrastate switched access
services of an alternative telecommunications utility that is subject to s. 196.212 (2) or (3) except as required to enforce s.
196.212 (2) or (3).
(c) The commission may, with respect only to wholesale
telecommunications service, impose s. 196.03 (1) or (6), 196.219
(4), 196.28, or 196.37 on an alternative telecommunications utility certified under sub. (2) (a) or (c).
(5) The commission may establish a reasonable fee schedule
and may assess an alternative telecommunications utility to cover
the cost of certification, recertification, or other determinations
made under this section.
(6) The commission shall maintain information on certified
alternative telecommunications utilities and on applicants for alternative telecommunications utility certification and make that
information available to any person, upon request.

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