Assembly Bill 820

Duties of the Public Service Commission under the broadband expansion grant program and certification of political subdivisions under that program. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 24, 2016. It's ⁠.

Introduced, passed

Jan 29, 2016
Committee, passed

Approved
Assembly vote, passed

Passed Feb 16, 2016
Senate vote, passed

Passed Mar 15, 2016
Governor, passed

Signed
Law, here now

2015 Wisconsin Act 278

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 24, 2016: “Published 3-25-2016”

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Wisconsin Act

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Official term: Act. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

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Author

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Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill imposes certain duties on the Public Service Commission regarding broadband infrastructure. Current law requires the PSC to designate areas of the state that are served by fewer than two broadband service providers as underserved areas and make grants for constructing broadband infrastructure in those areas in accordance with specified priorities. The bill requires the PSC to encourage the development of broadband infrastructure in those areas. The bill also requires the PSC to provide comprehensive information concerning permits required for broadband network projects and related business activities in the state. In addition, the PSC must work with other state and local agencies to encourage timely and efficient issuance of permits and resolution of related issues, as well as encourage local and federal government agencies to coordinate activities related to approving applications and issuing permits related to broadband network projects.

The bill imposes additional priorities on the PSC in making the grants described above. Under the bill, the PSC must give priority to projects that promote economic development. Also, the PSC must give priority to projects in a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) that the PSC has certified as a Broadband Forward! community. To be eligible for that certification, a political subdivision must enact an ordinance for reviewing applications and issuing permits related to broadband network projects. The ordinance must provide for all of the following: a single point of contact; specified deadlines on the political subdivision's consideration of applications; specified requirements on the denial and approval of applications; filing by electronic or another means authorized by the PSC; and reasonable fees. The bill allows the PSC to develop a model ordinance that complies with the bill's requirements. If a political subdivision enacts an ordinance that is different from a model ordinance, the bill requires the political subdivision, when applying for certification, to submit a written statement describing the ordinance and how it differs from the model ordinance.

Read the full summary

The bill requires the PSC to prescribe the form and manner for political subdivisions to apply for certification. The PSC must also prescribe a process for public notice and comment on applications for a period of at least 30 days, and the PSC must consider any public comments before making a certification. However, the process for public notice and comment does not apply to an application by a political subdivision that enacts a model ordinance developed by the PSC or submits the written statement described above.

The bill imposes the following prohibitions on a political subdivision that the PSC certifies as a Broadband Ready! community: requiring designation of a final contractor to complete a broadband network project; imposing application fees that exceed $100; imposing unreasonable fees; imposing moratoriums on applications, permits, or construction related to broadband network projects; discriminating among public utilities and certain other entities; requiring applicants to provide any service to the political subdivision, and, except for reasonable fees, requiring an applicant to make any payment to or on behalf of the political subdivision.

Also, the bill allows the PSC to decertify a political subdivision upon the request of a broadband service provider if the political subdivision fails to comply with an ordinance described above, modifies the ordinance, or violates a prohibition described above. In addition, the bill allows the PSC to hear complaints that a fee under an ordinance is unreasonable. In a proceeding on such a complaint, the bill specifies that a political subdivision has the burden of proving reasonableness.

Who's behind it

21 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 21 are Republicans.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 27 names

Authors (21)

Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
Mary Czaja · Republican, Assembly
Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
James Edming · Republican, Assembly
Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
John Macco · Republican, Assembly
Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
Lee Nerison · Republican, Assembly
Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
Rob Swearingen · Republican, Assembly
Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
Gary Tauchen · Republican, Assembly
Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
Nancy VanderMeer · Republican, Assembly

Signed on in support (6)

Richard Gudex · Republican, Senate
Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
Adam Jarchow · Republican, Assembly
Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
Roger Roth · Republican, Senate
Thomas Tiffany · Republican, Senate

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Fiscal Estimate From PSC

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.