Bill Text: TX HB1768 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the use of the universal service fund to provide Internet service to certain persons with an impairment of hearing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-12 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1768 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB1768-Introduced.html
84R8589 DDT-F | ||
By: Naishtat | H.B. No. 1768 |
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relating to the use of the universal service fund to provide | ||
Internet service to certain persons with an impairment of hearing. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 56.021. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED. The | ||
commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange | ||
companies to establish a universal service fund to: | ||
(1) assist telecommunications providers in providing | ||
basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high | ||
cost rural areas under two plans: | ||
(A) the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan | ||
(16 T.A.C. Section 26.403); and | ||
(B) the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange | ||
Company Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.404); | ||
(2) reimburse the telecommunications carrier that | ||
provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service | ||
under Subchapter D; | ||
(3) finance the specialized telecommunications | ||
assistance program established under Subchapter E; | ||
(4) reimburse the department and the commission for | ||
costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57; | ||
(5) reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing | ||
lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as | ||
amended; | ||
(6) finance the implementation and administration of | ||
an integrated eligibility process created under Section 17.007 for | ||
customer service discounts relating to telecommunications | ||
services, including outreach expenses the commission determines | ||
are reasonable and necessary; | ||
(7) reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter | ||
F; | ||
(8) reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G; | ||
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(9) finance the program established under Subchapter | ||
H; and | ||
(10) reimburse a telecommunications carrier that | ||
provides Internet service under Subchapter I. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter I to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER I. INTERNET SERVICE PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH IMPAIRMENT | ||
OF HEARING | ||
Sec. 56.351. INTERNET SERVICE PROGRAM. The commission by | ||
rule shall establish and implement a program to provide from the | ||
universal service fund reimbursement for free or discounted | ||
Internet service provided by a telecommunications carrier to a | ||
person with an impairment of hearing who is eligible for lifeline | ||
service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as amended. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |