88R9230 DIO-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 2697
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  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; [and]
               (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.