Wisconsin Administrative Code › Public Service Commission › Chapter PSC 160 - Universal Service Support Funding And Programs › Section PSC 160.02 - Definitions

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) "Calculated charge" means the charge
			 calculated by converting a per call charge into a per minute charge. The
			 conversion to a per minute charge shall be accomplished by dividing the per
			 call charge by the telecommunications provider's average residential call
			 duration. If there are multiple per call charges within one local calling area,
			 the weighted average shall be used as the per call charge.
(2) "Call blocking" means a service that lets
			 customers elect not to allow the completion of any of the calls specified under
			 s.
			 PSC
			 160.04(1) on the customer's
			 account.
(3) "Call control" means a
			 service that lets a customer specify a certain amount of the calls specified
			 under s.
			 PSC
			 160.04(1) that may be completed per
			 month on the customer's account.
(4) "Call limitation" means either call
			 blocking or call control for providers that are incapable of providing both
			 services and, for providers that are capable of providing both services, it
			 means both call blocking and call control.
(6) "Commission" means the public service
			 commission.
(7) "Contributory
			 provider" means a telecommunications provider that pays monies to the universal
			 service fund.
(8) "Disability" means
			 a physical or sensory impairment that limits or curtails an individual's
			 ability to use telecommunications services or equipment, or both.
(9) "Eligible telecommunications carrier" or
			 "ETC" means a telecommunications provider that the commission has so designated
			 and includes federal-only ETCs, full ETCs, and low-income ETCs.
(10) "Emergency service numbers" mean 9-1-1
			 where available and fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and
			 poison center emergency numbers where 9-1-1 is not available.
(11) "Extended community calling" means a
			 telecommunications service by which a customer in one exchange may call a
			 customer in another exchange or combination of exchanges under an expanded
			 local calling plan based on usage.
(12) "Federal-only eligible
			 telecommunications carrier" or "federal-only ETC" means a telecommunications
			 provider that the commission has so designated under s.
			 196.218(4)
			 (b), Stats., or so designated before June 9,
			 2011.
(13) "Federal subscriber line
			 charge" means a monthly per line federal charge that is assessed directly on a
			 local exchange telephone service customer as allowed by the federal
			 communications commission.
Note:
This is also known federally as the end-user
				common line charge. See
				47
				CFR 69.104.
(14) "Full eligible telecommunications
			 carrier" or "full ETC" means a telecommunications provider that the commission
			 has so designated under s.
			 PSC
			 160.13 for participation in all universal service
			 programs.
(15) "Household" has the
			 meaning given in
			 47 CFR
			 54.400(h).
Note:
As of April 2015,
				47 CFR
				54.400(h) read as follows: A
				"household" is any individual or group of individuals who are living together
				at the same address as one economic unit. A household may include related and
				unrelated persons. An "economic unit" consists of all adult individuals
				contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household. An adult
				is any person 18 years or older. If an adult has no or minimal income, and
				lives with someone who provides financial support to him/her, both people shall
				be considered part of the same household. Children under the age of 18 living
				with their parents or guardians are considered to be part of the same household
				as their parents or guardians.
(16) "Incumbent local exchange carrier" means
			 a telecommunications provider, and its successors and assigns, authorized under
			 law or by the commission before September 1, 1994, to place facilities and
			 provide basic local service in a particular geographic area.
(17) "Lifeline" means the program that
			 provides reduced monthly service rates for low-income customers.
(18) "Line" means an access line or service
			 to an activated wireless handset.
(19) "Link-up" means a program that waives
			 some or all service connection charges for low-income customers.
(20) "Local exchange service provider" means
			 any wireless provider that has been designated as an eligible
			 telecommunications carrier under s.
			 PSC
			 160.13, or a telecommunications utility or any other
			 provider of basic local exchange service or standard business lines and
			 usage.
(21) "Low-income" means a
			 household that meets one of the following criteria:
(a) Receives benefits from one or more of the
			 following programs:
1. Wisconsin works under
			 ss.
			 49.141
			 to
			 49.162,
			 Stats.
Note:
This includes all programs, including
				financial and employment assistance, child care subsidy, etc.
2. Medical assistance under
			 42 USC
			 1396
et seq
.
3. Supplemental security income under
			 42 USC
			 1381 to
			 1383.
4. Food stamps under
			 7 USC
			 2011 to
			 2029.
Note:
As of April 2015, the generic term "food
				stamps" refers to programs currently known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
				Program (SNAP) and Food Share.
5. The low income household energy assistance
			 program under s.
			 16.27,
			 Stats.
6. Unless the provider is a
			 federal-only ETC, Wisconsin homestead tax credit under ss.
			 71.51 to
			 71.55,
			 Stats.
7. BadgerCare Plus programs
			 under s.
			 49.471, Stats.,
			 consistent with the income limits in subd. 11.
8. SeniorCare 1 and 2a under s.
			 49.688,
			 Stats.
9. The national school lunch
			 program's free lunch program.
10.
			 Temporary assistance for needy families, other than Wisconsin works under ss.
			 49.141
			 to
			 49.161,
			 Stats.
11. As approved by the
			 commission, other state or federally administered programs for households with
			 income levels less than or equal to 200% of the poverty line as defined in
			 42
			 USC 9902(2).
Note:
See sub. 160.06 (1) (c) concerning other
				households that may be considered low-income.