Telecommunications and information technology services
Wis. Stat. § 36.585
in effect(1) In this section:
(ag) “Interconnection” means linking with a third-party network for the mutual exchange of traffic.
(ar) “Telecommunications services” includes data and voice over Internet protocol services, Internet protocol services, broadband access and transport, information technology services, Internet access services, and unlit fiber.
(b) “Third-party entity” means a company, corporation, nonprofit association, joint venture, cooperative, partnership, or consortium.
(2) The board may use telecommunications services procured by the board only for the purpose of carrying out its mission. Except as provided in sub. (3m), the board shall not offer, resell, or provide telecommunications services, that are available from a private telecommunications carrier to the general public or to any other public or private entity.
(3) Except as provided in sub. (3m), beginning July 1, 2013, the board may not be, and shall ensure that no institution or college campus is and that the extension is not, a member, shareholder, or partner in or with any third-party entity or other person that offers, resells, or provides telecommunications services to the general public or to any public or private entity unless at least one of the following applies:
(a) The third-party entity or other person does not offer, resell, or provide telecommunications services that it did not offer, resell, or provide on June 15, 2011, and the third-party entity or other person does not offer, resell, or provide telecommunications services to a private entity, to the general public, or to a public entity other than a university or a university-affiliated research facility or a facility approved by the joint committee on finance under sub. (4), that the third-party entity was not serving on June 15, 2011.
(b) The third-party entity or other person is comprised entirely of universities and university-affiliated research facilities.
(3m)
(a) In this subsection, “third-party entity” includes the Broadband Optical Research, Education and Sciences Network, Internet2, and the Northern Tier Network Consortium, and does not include WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(b) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may serve as a member, shareholder, or partner in or with a third-party entity that satisfies either of the following:
1. The primary purpose of the third-party entity is to advance academic research of higher education establishments and the board, institution, college campus, or extension served as a member, shareholder, or partner in or with the third-party entity on February 1, 2013.
2. Prior to service as a member, shareholder, or partner, the secretary of administration issues a determination to the board, institution, college campus, or extension that the primary purpose of the third-party entity is to advance academic research of higher education establishments.
(c) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may use the services of a third-party entity that satisfies par. (b) 1. or 2.
(d) The board, an institution or college campus, or the extension may participate in the operations of, provide telecommunications services for the purpose of interconnection to, or provide technical support services to, a third-party entity that satisfies par. (b) 1. or 2., but only in connection with the use of services under par. (c).
(3r) Beginning on January 1, 2014, the board may not do any of the following:
(a) Employ any individual who is also employed by WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(b) Allow WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns to occupy any facilities owned or leased by the board.
(c) Jointly own any assets or property with WiscNet or its affiliates, successors, or assigns.
(4) Beginning June 15, 2011, the board may not commit, and shall ensure that no institution or college campus or the extension, commits, any funds received from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the federal department of commerce related to the Building Community Capacity Through Broadband Project grant awarded to the extension to any facilities to which such funds were not committed prior to June 15, 2011, without the approval of the joint committee on finance.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/36.585Fetched: 10/7/2026