Sen. Nass authors Wisconsin Senate bill to repeal outdated telecom requirements

A bill authored by State Sen. Steve L. Nass in the Wisconsin Senate aims to streamline telecommunications regulations by eliminating outdated requirements and refining certification processes for providers, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “requirement for certain telecommunications providers to provide basic voice service”.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill repeals section 196.503 of the statutes, effectively removing outdated requirements for incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) to provide basic voice service to all residential customers within their local exchange areas. This requirement, initially enacted under the 2011 Wisconsin Act 22, had a sunset clause post-April 2013 and involved considerations of public interest or competition levels for potential waivers. The bill also amends sections 196.203 (1g) (b) and 196.50 (2) (j) 1. b., affecting the certification and regulation of telecommunications utilities. The key focus is streamlining and updating regulatory obligations for these providers, particularly regarding intrastate and wholesale telecommunications services, by eliminating defunct regulations and refining existing certifications.

The bill was co-authored by Rep. William Penterman (Republican-38th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Rep. Russell Goodwin (Democrat-12th District), and Rep. Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District).

Steve L. Nass has co-authored or authored another 107 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with five of them being enacted.

Nass graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1978 with a BS.

Nass, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 11th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Neal Kedzie.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.