Section 196.859 - Assessment for telecommunications utility trade practices(1) The commission shall annually assess against telecommunications utilities the total of the amount appropriated under s. 20.115(1) (jm).(2) The commission shall assess a sum equal to the annual total amount under sub. (1) to telecommunications utilities in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. A telecommunications utility shall pay the assessment within 30 days after the bill has been mailed to the assessed telecommunications utility. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. Payments shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.115(1) (jm).(3) Section 196.85(3) to (8), as it applies to assessments under s. 196.85(1) or (2), applies to assessments under this section.(4) A telecommunications utility may not recover the assessment under this section by billing a customer for the assessment on a separate line in a billing statement.