Wisconsin Code § 36.585

Telecommunications and information technology services
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(1) In this section:
(ag) “Interconnection” means linking with a third-party network for the mutual exchange of traffic.
(ar) “Telecommunications services” includes data and voice
over Internet protocol services, Internet protocol services, broadband access and transport, information technology services, Internet access services, and unlit fiber.
(b) “Third-party entity” means a company, corporation, nonprofit association, joint venture, cooperative, partnership, or
consortium.
(2) The board may use telecommunications services procured
by the board only for the purpose of carrying out its mission. Except as provided in sub. (3m), the board shall not offer, resell, or
provide telecommunications services, that are available from a
private telecommunications carrier to the general public or to any
other public or private entity.
(3) Except as provided in sub. (3m), beginning July 1, 2013,
the board may not be, and shall ensure that no institution or college campus is and that the extension is not, a member, shareholder, or partner in or with any third-party entity or other person
that offers, resells, or provides telecommunications services to
the general public or to any public or private entity unless at least
one of the following applies:
(a) The third-party entity or other person does not offer, resell, or provide telecommunications services that it did not offer,
resell, or provide on June 15, 2011, and the third-party entity or
other person does not offer, resell, or provide telecommunications
services to a private entity, to the general public, or to a public entity other than a university or a university-affiliated research facility or a facility approved by the joint committee on finance under sub. (4), that the third-party entity was not serving on June
15, 2011.
(b) The third-party entity or other person is comprised entirely of universities and university-affiliated research facilities.
(3m) (a) In this subsection, “third-party entity” includes the
Broadband Optical Research, Education and Sciences Network,
Internet2, and the Northern Tier Network Consortium, and does
not include WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(b) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may serve as a member, shareholder, or partner in or with a
third-party entity that satisfies either of the following:
1. The primary purpose of the third-party entity is to advance academic research of higher education establishments and

the board, institution, college campus, or extension served as a
member, shareholder, or partner in or with the third-party entity
on February 1, 2013.
2. Prior to service as a member, shareholder, or partner, the
secretary of administration issues a determination to the board,
institution, college campus, or extension that the primary purpose
of the third-party entity is to advance academic research of higher
education establishments.
(c) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may use the services of a third-party entity that satisfies par.
(b) 1. or 2.
(d) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may participate in the operations of, provide telecommunications services for the purpose of interconnection to, or provide
technical support services to, a third-party entity that satisfies
par. (b) 1. or 2., but only in connection with the use of services
under par. (c).
(3r) Beginning on January 1, 2014, the board may not do any
of the following:
(a) Employ any individual who is also employed by WiscNet
or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(b) Allow WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns to
occupy any facilities owned or leased by the board.
(c) Jointly own any assets or property with WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(4) Beginning June 15, 2011, the board may not commit, and
shall ensure that no institution or college campus or the extension, commits, any funds received from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the federal department of commerce related to the Building Community Capacity
Through Broadband Project grant awarded to the extension to any
facilities to which such funds were not committed prior to June
15, 2011, without the approval of the joint committee on finance.

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