Wis. Stat. § 196.203 — WI Code / Chapter 196 / Section 196.203
Exemption of alternative telecommunications utilities.
Status: in_force

(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.

History: 1985 a. 297 ; 1993 a. 496 ; 1997 a. 140 ; 1999 a. 150 ; 2003 a. 125 , 278 ; 2007 a. 42 ; 2009 a. 28 ; 2011 a. 22 ; 2013 a. 125 , 166 ; 2021 a. 24 ; 2025 a. 109 .