State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 196 > 196.01

196.01

196.01 Definitions. As used in this chapter and ch. 197, unless the context requires otherwise:

196.01(1b)

(1b) "Access service" means the provision of switched or dedicated access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling a telecommunications provider to originate or terminate telecommunications service. "Access service" includes unbundled local service provided to telecommunications providers.

196.01(1d)

(1d) "Alternative telecommunications utility" means any of the following:

196.01(1d)(a)

(a) Cable television telecommunications service providers.

196.01(1d)(b)

(b) Pay telephone service providers.

196.01(1d)(c)

(c) Telecommunications resellers or resellers.

196.01(1d)(f)

(f) Any other telecommunications provider if the commission finds that the service offered by the telecommunications provider is available from other telecommunications providers within this state directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(1g)

(1g) "Basic local exchange service" means the provision to residential customers of an access facility, whether by wire, cable, fiber optics or radio, and essential usage within a local calling area for the transmission of high-quality 2-way interactive switched voice or data communication. "Basic local exchange service" includes extended community calling and extended area service. "Basic local exchange service" does not include additional access facilities or any discretionary or optional services that may be provided to a residential customer. "Basic local exchange service" does not include cable service or services provided by a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(1j)

(1j) "Basic message telecommunications service" means long distance toll service as provided on January 1, 1994, on a direct-dialed, single-message, dial-1 basis between local exchanges in this state at tariff rates. "Basic message telecommunications service" does not include any wide-area telecommunications service, 800-prefix service, volume, dedicated, discounted or other interoffice services or individually negotiated contracts for telecommunications service.

196.01(1m)

(1m) "Broadcast service" means the one-way transmission to the public of video or audio programming regulated under 47 USC 301 to 334 that is provided by a broadcast station, as defined in 47 USC 153 (dd), including any interaction with a recipient of the programming as part of the video or audio programming offered to the public.

196.01(1p)

(1p) "Cable service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 522 (6).

196.01(1r)

(1r) "Cable television telecommunications service provider" means a person who provides one or more telecommunications services but who, during the previous taxable year, received at least 90% of his or her gross income in the particular television franchise area in which telecommunication services are provided from the operation of a cable television system subject in whole or in part to 47 USC 521 to 559.

196.01(2g)

(2g) "Commercial mobile radio service provider" means a telecommunications provider that is authorized by the federal communications commission to provide commercial mobile service.

196.01(2i)

(2i) "Commercial mobile service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 332 (d).

196.01(2m)

(2m) "Commission" means the public service commission.

196.01(3)

(3) "Indeterminate permit" means any grant, directly or indirectly, from the state to any public utility of power, right or privilege to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within this state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of any public utility service.

196.01(3b)

(3b) "Interconnection agreement" means an interconnection agreement that is subject to approval by the commission under 47 USC 252 (e).

196.01(3e)

(3e) "Interlata" means between local access and transport areas.

196.01(3g)

(3g) "Intralata" means within the boundaries of a local access and transport area.

196.01(4)

(4) "Municipality" means any town, village or city wherein property of a public utility or any part thereof is located.

196.01(4m)

(4m) "Pay telephone service provider" means a person who owns or leases a pay telephone located on property owned or leased by that person and who otherwise does not offer any telecommunications service directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(5)

(5)

196.01(5)(a)

(a) "Public utility" means, except as provided in par. (b), every corporation, company, individual, association, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court, and every sanitary district, town, village or city that may own, operate, manage or control any toll bridge or all or any part of a plant or equipment, within the state, for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility" includes all of the following:

196.01(5)(a)1.

1. Any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains and any person, except a governmental unit, who furnishes services by means of a sewerage system either directly or indirectly to or for the public.

196.01(5)(a)2.

2. A telecommunications utility.

196.01(5)(b)

(b) "Public utility" does not include any of the following:

196.01(5)(b)1.

1. A cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power or water to its members only.

196.01(5)(b)2.

2. A holding company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (h), unless the holding company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)3.

3. Any company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (f), which owns, operates, manages or controls a telecommunications utility unless the company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)4.

4. A commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(5)(b)5.

5. A joint local water authority under s. 66.0823.

196.01(5)(b)6.

6. A person that owns an electric generating facility or improvement to an electric generating facility that is subject to a leased generation contract, as defined in s. 196.52 (9) (a) 3., unless the person furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(6)

(6) "Railroad" has the meaning given under s. 195.02.

196.01(7)

(7) "Service" is used in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

196.01(8)

(8) "Small telecommunications utility" means any telecommunications utility or a successor in interest of a telecommunications utility that provided landline local and access telecommunications service as of January 1, 1984, and that has less than 50,000 access lines in use in this state.

196.01(8m)

(8m) "Telecommunications carrier" means any person that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public but does not provide basic local exchange service, except on a resale basis. "Telecommunications carrier" does not include an alternative telecommunications utility or a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(8p)

(8p) "Telecommunications provider" means any person who provides telecommunications services.

196.01(9)

(9) "Telecommunications reseller" or "reseller" means a telecommunications utility that resells message telecommunications service, wide-area telecommunications services or other telecommunications services which have been approved for reselling by the commission.

196.01(9m)

(9m) "Telecommunications service" means the offering for sale of the conveyance of voice, data or other information at any frequency over any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the sale of service for collection, storage, forwarding, switching and delivery incidental to such communication and including the regulated sale of customer premises equipment. "Telecommunications service" does not include cable service or broadcast service.

196.01(10)

(10) "Telecommunications utility" means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association and lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public. "Telecommunications utility" does not include a telecommunications carrier.

196.01(12)

(12) "Transmission facility" means any plant or equipment used to carry telecommunications services by wire, optics, radio signal or other means.

196.01(12g)

(12g) "Video service" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (y).

196.01(12r)

(12r) "Video service provider" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (zg), and also includes an interim cable operator, as defined in s. 66.0420 (2) (n).

196.01(13)

(13) "Wide-area telecommunications service" means the offering of message-based telecommunications service using a single, dedicated access line at the originating end of the call at a significant volume-based discount.

196.01 - ANNOT.

History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1981 c. 390; 1983 a. 27, 53, 76, 192, 425, 538; 1985 a. 79, 1985 a. 297 ss. 14 to 22, 39; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 344; 1993 a. 121, 496; 1995 a. 46, 409; 1997 a. 184, 218, 229; 1999 a. 9, 32, 53; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 441; 2007 a. 42.

196.01 - ANNOT.

The PSC may determine that a holding company, formed by a public utility corporation to engage in non-utility business ventures, is itself a public utility when the holding company possesses the power to control utility plants or equipment or when the arrangement is a device to evade regulatory jurisdiction. 71 Atty. Gen. 147.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 196 > 196.01

196.01

196.01 Definitions. As used in this chapter and ch. 197, unless the context requires otherwise:

196.01(1b)

(1b) "Access service" means the provision of switched or dedicated access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling a telecommunications provider to originate or terminate telecommunications service. "Access service" includes unbundled local service provided to telecommunications providers.

196.01(1d)

(1d) "Alternative telecommunications utility" means any of the following:

196.01(1d)(a)

(a) Cable television telecommunications service providers.

196.01(1d)(b)

(b) Pay telephone service providers.

196.01(1d)(c)

(c) Telecommunications resellers or resellers.

196.01(1d)(f)

(f) Any other telecommunications provider if the commission finds that the service offered by the telecommunications provider is available from other telecommunications providers within this state directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(1g)

(1g) "Basic local exchange service" means the provision to residential customers of an access facility, whether by wire, cable, fiber optics or radio, and essential usage within a local calling area for the transmission of high-quality 2-way interactive switched voice or data communication. "Basic local exchange service" includes extended community calling and extended area service. "Basic local exchange service" does not include additional access facilities or any discretionary or optional services that may be provided to a residential customer. "Basic local exchange service" does not include cable service or services provided by a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(1j)

(1j) "Basic message telecommunications service" means long distance toll service as provided on January 1, 1994, on a direct-dialed, single-message, dial-1 basis between local exchanges in this state at tariff rates. "Basic message telecommunications service" does not include any wide-area telecommunications service, 800-prefix service, volume, dedicated, discounted or other interoffice services or individually negotiated contracts for telecommunications service.

196.01(1m)

(1m) "Broadcast service" means the one-way transmission to the public of video or audio programming regulated under 47 USC 301 to 334 that is provided by a broadcast station, as defined in 47 USC 153 (dd), including any interaction with a recipient of the programming as part of the video or audio programming offered to the public.

196.01(1p)

(1p) "Cable service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 522 (6).

196.01(1r)

(1r) "Cable television telecommunications service provider" means a person who provides one or more telecommunications services but who, during the previous taxable year, received at least 90% of his or her gross income in the particular television franchise area in which telecommunication services are provided from the operation of a cable television system subject in whole or in part to 47 USC 521 to 559.

196.01(2g)

(2g) "Commercial mobile radio service provider" means a telecommunications provider that is authorized by the federal communications commission to provide commercial mobile service.

196.01(2i)

(2i) "Commercial mobile service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 332 (d).

196.01(2m)

(2m) "Commission" means the public service commission.

196.01(3)

(3) "Indeterminate permit" means any grant, directly or indirectly, from the state to any public utility of power, right or privilege to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within this state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of any public utility service.

196.01(3b)

(3b) "Interconnection agreement" means an interconnection agreement that is subject to approval by the commission under 47 USC 252 (e).

196.01(3e)

(3e) "Interlata" means between local access and transport areas.

196.01(3g)

(3g) "Intralata" means within the boundaries of a local access and transport area.

196.01(4)

(4) "Municipality" means any town, village or city wherein property of a public utility or any part thereof is located.

196.01(4m)

(4m) "Pay telephone service provider" means a person who owns or leases a pay telephone located on property owned or leased by that person and who otherwise does not offer any telecommunications service directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(5)

(5)

196.01(5)(a)

(a) "Public utility" means, except as provided in par. (b), every corporation, company, individual, association, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court, and every sanitary district, town, village or city that may own, operate, manage or control any toll bridge or all or any part of a plant or equipment, within the state, for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility" includes all of the following:

196.01(5)(a)1.

1. Any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains and any person, except a governmental unit, who furnishes services by means of a sewerage system either directly or indirectly to or for the public.

196.01(5)(a)2.

2. A telecommunications utility.

196.01(5)(b)

(b) "Public utility" does not include any of the following:

196.01(5)(b)1.

1. A cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power or water to its members only.

196.01(5)(b)2.

2. A holding company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (h), unless the holding company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)3.

3. Any company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (f), which owns, operates, manages or controls a telecommunications utility unless the company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)4.

4. A commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(5)(b)5.

5. A joint local water authority under s. 66.0823.

196.01(5)(b)6.

6. A person that owns an electric generating facility or improvement to an electric generating facility that is subject to a leased generation contract, as defined in s. 196.52 (9) (a) 3., unless the person furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(6)

(6) "Railroad" has the meaning given under s. 195.02.

196.01(7)

(7) "Service" is used in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

196.01(8)

(8) "Small telecommunications utility" means any telecommunications utility or a successor in interest of a telecommunications utility that provided landline local and access telecommunications service as of January 1, 1984, and that has less than 50,000 access lines in use in this state.

196.01(8m)

(8m) "Telecommunications carrier" means any person that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public but does not provide basic local exchange service, except on a resale basis. "Telecommunications carrier" does not include an alternative telecommunications utility or a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(8p)

(8p) "Telecommunications provider" means any person who provides telecommunications services.

196.01(9)

(9) "Telecommunications reseller" or "reseller" means a telecommunications utility that resells message telecommunications service, wide-area telecommunications services or other telecommunications services which have been approved for reselling by the commission.

196.01(9m)

(9m) "Telecommunications service" means the offering for sale of the conveyance of voice, data or other information at any frequency over any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the sale of service for collection, storage, forwarding, switching and delivery incidental to such communication and including the regulated sale of customer premises equipment. "Telecommunications service" does not include cable service or broadcast service.

196.01(10)

(10) "Telecommunications utility" means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association and lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public. "Telecommunications utility" does not include a telecommunications carrier.

196.01(12)

(12) "Transmission facility" means any plant or equipment used to carry telecommunications services by wire, optics, radio signal or other means.

196.01(12g)

(12g) "Video service" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (y).

196.01(12r)

(12r) "Video service provider" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (zg), and also includes an interim cable operator, as defined in s. 66.0420 (2) (n).

196.01(13)

(13) "Wide-area telecommunications service" means the offering of message-based telecommunications service using a single, dedicated access line at the originating end of the call at a significant volume-based discount.

196.01 - ANNOT.

History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1981 c. 390; 1983 a. 27, 53, 76, 192, 425, 538; 1985 a. 79, 1985 a. 297 ss. 14 to 22, 39; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 344; 1993 a. 121, 496; 1995 a. 46, 409; 1997 a. 184, 218, 229; 1999 a. 9, 32, 53; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 441; 2007 a. 42.

196.01 - ANNOT.

The PSC may determine that a holding company, formed by a public utility corporation to engage in non-utility business ventures, is itself a public utility when the holding company possesses the power to control utility plants or equipment or when the arrangement is a device to evade regulatory jurisdiction. 71 Atty. Gen. 147.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 196 > 196.01

196.01

196.01 Definitions. As used in this chapter and ch. 197, unless the context requires otherwise:

196.01(1b)

(1b) "Access service" means the provision of switched or dedicated access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling a telecommunications provider to originate or terminate telecommunications service. "Access service" includes unbundled local service provided to telecommunications providers.

196.01(1d)

(1d) "Alternative telecommunications utility" means any of the following:

196.01(1d)(a)

(a) Cable television telecommunications service providers.

196.01(1d)(b)

(b) Pay telephone service providers.

196.01(1d)(c)

(c) Telecommunications resellers or resellers.

196.01(1d)(f)

(f) Any other telecommunications provider if the commission finds that the service offered by the telecommunications provider is available from other telecommunications providers within this state directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(1g)

(1g) "Basic local exchange service" means the provision to residential customers of an access facility, whether by wire, cable, fiber optics or radio, and essential usage within a local calling area for the transmission of high-quality 2-way interactive switched voice or data communication. "Basic local exchange service" includes extended community calling and extended area service. "Basic local exchange service" does not include additional access facilities or any discretionary or optional services that may be provided to a residential customer. "Basic local exchange service" does not include cable service or services provided by a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(1j)

(1j) "Basic message telecommunications service" means long distance toll service as provided on January 1, 1994, on a direct-dialed, single-message, dial-1 basis between local exchanges in this state at tariff rates. "Basic message telecommunications service" does not include any wide-area telecommunications service, 800-prefix service, volume, dedicated, discounted or other interoffice services or individually negotiated contracts for telecommunications service.

196.01(1m)

(1m) "Broadcast service" means the one-way transmission to the public of video or audio programming regulated under 47 USC 301 to 334 that is provided by a broadcast station, as defined in 47 USC 153 (dd), including any interaction with a recipient of the programming as part of the video or audio programming offered to the public.

196.01(1p)

(1p) "Cable service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 522 (6).

196.01(1r)

(1r) "Cable television telecommunications service provider" means a person who provides one or more telecommunications services but who, during the previous taxable year, received at least 90% of his or her gross income in the particular television franchise area in which telecommunication services are provided from the operation of a cable television system subject in whole or in part to 47 USC 521 to 559.

196.01(2g)

(2g) "Commercial mobile radio service provider" means a telecommunications provider that is authorized by the federal communications commission to provide commercial mobile service.

196.01(2i)

(2i) "Commercial mobile service" has the meaning given in 47 USC 332 (d).

196.01(2m)

(2m) "Commission" means the public service commission.

196.01(3)

(3) "Indeterminate permit" means any grant, directly or indirectly, from the state to any public utility of power, right or privilege to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within this state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of any public utility service.

196.01(3b)

(3b) "Interconnection agreement" means an interconnection agreement that is subject to approval by the commission under 47 USC 252 (e).

196.01(3e)

(3e) "Interlata" means between local access and transport areas.

196.01(3g)

(3g) "Intralata" means within the boundaries of a local access and transport area.

196.01(4)

(4) "Municipality" means any town, village or city wherein property of a public utility or any part thereof is located.

196.01(4m)

(4m) "Pay telephone service provider" means a person who owns or leases a pay telephone located on property owned or leased by that person and who otherwise does not offer any telecommunications service directly or indirectly to the public.

196.01(5)

(5)

196.01(5)(a)

(a) "Public utility" means, except as provided in par. (b), every corporation, company, individual, association, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court, and every sanitary district, town, village or city that may own, operate, manage or control any toll bridge or all or any part of a plant or equipment, within the state, for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility" includes all of the following:

196.01(5)(a)1.

1. Any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains and any person, except a governmental unit, who furnishes services by means of a sewerage system either directly or indirectly to or for the public.

196.01(5)(a)2.

2. A telecommunications utility.

196.01(5)(b)

(b) "Public utility" does not include any of the following:

196.01(5)(b)1.

1. A cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power or water to its members only.

196.01(5)(b)2.

2. A holding company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (h), unless the holding company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)3.

3. Any company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (f), which owns, operates, manages or controls a telecommunications utility unless the company furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(5)(b)4.

4. A commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(5)(b)5.

5. A joint local water authority under s. 66.0823.

196.01(5)(b)6.

6. A person that owns an electric generating facility or improvement to an electric generating facility that is subject to a leased generation contract, as defined in s. 196.52 (9) (a) 3., unless the person furnishes, directly to the public, telecommunications or sewer service, heat, light, water or power or, by means of pipes or mains, natural gas.

196.01(6)

(6) "Railroad" has the meaning given under s. 195.02.

196.01(7)

(7) "Service" is used in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

196.01(8)

(8) "Small telecommunications utility" means any telecommunications utility or a successor in interest of a telecommunications utility that provided landline local and access telecommunications service as of January 1, 1984, and that has less than 50,000 access lines in use in this state.

196.01(8m)

(8m) "Telecommunications carrier" means any person that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public but does not provide basic local exchange service, except on a resale basis. "Telecommunications carrier" does not include an alternative telecommunications utility or a commercial mobile radio service provider.

196.01(8p)

(8p) "Telecommunications provider" means any person who provides telecommunications services.

196.01(9)

(9) "Telecommunications reseller" or "reseller" means a telecommunications utility that resells message telecommunications service, wide-area telecommunications services or other telecommunications services which have been approved for reselling by the commission.

196.01(9m)

(9m) "Telecommunications service" means the offering for sale of the conveyance of voice, data or other information at any frequency over any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the sale of service for collection, storage, forwarding, switching and delivery incidental to such communication and including the regulated sale of customer premises equipment. "Telecommunications service" does not include cable service or broadcast service.

196.01(10)

(10) "Telecommunications utility" means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association and lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public. "Telecommunications utility" does not include a telecommunications carrier.

196.01(12)

(12) "Transmission facility" means any plant or equipment used to carry telecommunications services by wire, optics, radio signal or other means.

196.01(12g)

(12g) "Video service" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (y).

196.01(12r)

(12r) "Video service provider" has the meaning given in s. 66.0420 (2) (zg), and also includes an interim cable operator, as defined in s. 66.0420 (2) (n).

196.01(13)

(13) "Wide-area telecommunications service" means the offering of message-based telecommunications service using a single, dedicated access line at the originating end of the call at a significant volume-based discount.

196.01 - ANNOT.

History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1981 c. 390; 1983 a. 27, 53, 76, 192, 425, 538; 1985 a. 79, 1985 a. 297 ss. 14 to 22, 39; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 344; 1993 a. 121, 496; 1995 a. 46, 409; 1997 a. 184, 218, 229; 1999 a. 9, 32, 53; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 441; 2007 a. 42.

196.01 - ANNOT.

The PSC may determine that a holding company, formed by a public utility corporation to engage in non-utility business ventures, is itself a public utility when the holding company possesses the power to control utility plants or equipment or when the arrangement is a device to evade regulatory jurisdiction. 71 Atty. Gen. 147.