Bill Text: TX HB2697 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of the funding resources awarded by the broadband development office.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to State Affairs [HB2697 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2697-Introduced.html
88R9230 DIO-D | ||
By: Guillen | H.B. No. 2697 |
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relating to the regulation of the funding resources awarded by the | ||
broadband development office. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 490I.0103(c), Government Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(c) This chapter does not grant the comptroller authority to | ||
regulate broadband services or broadband service providers or, | ||
except as required of an applicant or recipient under Section | ||
490I.0106, to require broadband service providers to: | ||
(1) submit information to the comptroller; or | ||
(2) comply with best practices for broadband | ||
development. | ||
SECTION 2. Sections 490I.0106(b) and (h), Government Code, | ||
are amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) The office shall establish and publish criteria for | ||
making awards under Subsection (a). The office shall: | ||
(1) take into consideration grants and other financial | ||
incentives awarded by the federal government for the deployment of | ||
broadband service in a designated area; | ||
(2) prioritize the applications of applicants that | ||
will expand access to and adoption of broadband service in eligible | ||
areas in which the lowest percentage of addresses have access to | ||
broadband service; [ |
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(3) prioritize the applications of applicants that | ||
will expand access to broadband service in public and private | ||
primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education; | ||
and | ||
(4) develop best practices for broadband development | ||
and provide the manner in which award recipients must comply with | ||
those best practices. | ||
(h) The office shall establish and publish criteria for | ||
award recipients. The criteria must include requirements that | ||
grants, loans, and other financial incentives awarded through the | ||
program be used only: | ||
(1) for capital expenses, purchase or lease of | ||
property, and other expenses, including backhaul and transport, | ||
that will facilitate the provision or adoption of broadband | ||
service; and | ||
(2) in the manner provided by the office for | ||
compliance with the best practices for broadband development | ||
developed under Subsection (b)(4). | ||
SECTION 3. Section 490I.0106, Government Code, as amended | ||
by this Act, applies only to an application submitted to the | ||
broadband development office on or after the date the office | ||
publishes the best practices for broadband development as provided | ||
by that section. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |