196.198 Local measured telecommunications service.
(1) In this section, “extended community telephone service" means a telecommunications service by which a customer in one exchange may call a customer in another exchange or combination of exchanges under a discounted toll charge plan.
(2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a telecommunications utility that has more than 150,000 access lines in use in this state or a telecommunications provider that has more than 150,000 access lines in use in this state may not charge a residential customer for basic local exchange service based on the duration of a call or on the time of day that a call is made. This subsection does not apply to an extended community telephone service.
(3) The commission may suspend the application of sub. (2) in a particular geographical area for a telecommunications utility or a telecommunications provider if, after a contested case hearing, the commission determines that all of the following apply:
(a) Failure to suspend the application of sub. (2) makes competition in that geographical area impractical.
(b) Suspending the application of sub. (2) is beneficial to all of the following groups:
1. Residential customers in general.
2. Disabled customers.
3. Elderly customers.
History: 1993 a. 496; 2011 a. 22.