Senate Bill 236 aims to enhance the legal protections surrounding telecommunication and electric infrastructure by expanding the scope of existing laws to include video service and broadband service lines. The bill amends several sections of the statutes, specifically 941.40 (1), (2), (3), and (4)(b), to apply the same prohibitions and penalties that currently exist for telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, and electric power companies to video and broadband service providers. Notably, the bill increases the penalties for certain offenses from misdemeanors to Class I felonies, which significantly raises the potential fines and imprisonment terms for violations.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals who intentionally interfere with or damage the property of video service and broadband providers without prior notice or permission will face harsher consequences. For instance, the bill changes the classification of offenses such as unauthorized alterations or physical connections to these services from Class B and Class A misdemeanors to Class I felonies. This legislative change reflects a growing recognition of the importance of protecting all forms of communication and utility infrastructure in the state of Wisconsin.
Statutes affected: Bill Text: 941.40(1), 941.40, 941.40(2), 941.40(3), 941.40(4)(b)