Wisconsin Public Service Commission Approves Your Local Phone Company LLC for Designation as Eligible Telecommunications Carrier

Strategic Insights -

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved Your Local Phone Company LLC (YLPC) for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) in the state for local exchange services, including tribal areas. This designation will enable YLPC to receive federal universal service support and state low-income support. YLPC has demonstrated that it satisfies all the statutory and regulatory requirements for designation as an ETC in the Designated Service Area.

Key Takeaways:

  • YLPC is a Georgia-based Limited Liability Company authorized to conduct business in Wisconsin as a foreign limited liability company.
  • YLPC will provide local exchange and exchange access services in the Designated Service Areas using a combination of its own facilities and those of its underlying carriers, AT&T and T Mobile.
  • YLPC will offer supported services enumerated under Section 254(c), including voice grade access to the public switched telephone network, local usage, access to emergency services, and Lifeline services to qualifying low-income consumers.
  • YLPC will participate in the National Lifeline Accountability Database to verify eligibility for customers and offer a local usage plan with unlimited calling within the customer's local calling area.
  • YLPC will offer customers an unlimited lifeline wireless plan with 5 GB of data for non-tribal customers and an unlimited minute lifeline wireless plan with 20 GB of data for Enhanced Tribal Benefit recipients.
  • YLPC will use federal low-income universal support only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which the support is intended.
  • YLPC has committed to work with other ETCs to ensure that there is at least one payphone in each Wisconsin municipality that the Company will service.

Statistics:

  • 300 to 3,500 Hertz bandwidth is required for voice communications services for access to the public switched telephone network (47 C.F.R. 54.101(a)(1)).
  • YLPC will offer a local usage plan with unlimited calling within the customer's local calling area (Section 214(e)(1)(A)).
  • The Company will offer an unlimited lifeline wireless plan with 5 GB of data for non-tribal customers and an unlimited minute lifeline wireless plan with 20 GB of data for Enhanced Tribal Benefit recipients.

Sources:

  • "Application for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 214(e)" (Your Local Phone Company LLC, April 4, 2025)
  • Wisconsin Statutes, Section 196.218(4)(b) (2011)
  • 47 U.S.C. 214(e)(1)
  • 47 C.F.R. 54.101(a)(1)
  • 47 C.F.R. 54.101(a)(5)
  • 47 C.F.R. 54.401(a)(1) through (a)(9)
  • National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)
  • Wisconsin Department of Revenue