Bill Text: TX HB3440 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to eligibility of certain rural companies for support from the universal service fund.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-18 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3440 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB3440-Introduced.html
84R9639 JXC-D | ||
By: Guillen | H.B. No. 3440 |
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relating to eligibility of certain rural companies for support from | ||
the universal service fund. | ||
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) finance the rural basic and broadband service | ||
program established under Subchapter I. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter I to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER I. RURAL BASIC AND BROADBAND SERVICE PROGRAM | ||
Sec. 56.351. SUPPORT FOR BASIC AND BROADBAND SERVICES IN | ||
RURAL AREAS. (a) The commission shall provide from the universal | ||
service fund financial assistance for a telecommunications | ||
provider that holds a certificate of operating authority or a | ||
service provider certificate of operating authority to build and | ||
maintain facility-based networks capable of providing access to | ||
basic local telecommunications service and broadband service in | ||
rural areas of this state where: | ||
(1) an incumbent local exchange company no longer | ||
seeks support for a particular exchange; and | ||
(2) support is necessary to allow the provision of | ||
services at rates comparable to the benchmark rates established by | ||
the Federal Communications Commission. | ||
(b) Support received under this subchapter may not be used | ||
for a purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (a). | ||
(c) In an area where an incumbent local exchange company | ||
provides service and seeks support from the universal service fund, | ||
telecommunications providers eligible to receive support under | ||
this subchapter will continue to receive per-line support identical | ||
to the support received by the incumbent local exchange company. | ||
Sec. 56.352. NETWORK STANDARDS. The commission by rule | ||
shall establish standards for networks built or maintained using | ||
support disbursed under this subchapter. The standards must require | ||
a network to provide basic local telecommunications service and | ||
broadband service and be consistent with standards established by | ||
the federal government. | ||
Sec. 56.353. SUPPORT LEVEL. (a) The commission shall adopt | ||
rules to ensure that support provided under this subchapter is | ||
calculated in a manner that is consistent with standard accounting | ||
principles. | ||
(b) Until the commission determines the level of support | ||
necessary to allow a telecommunications provider eligible to | ||
receive support under this subchapter to fulfill the requirements | ||
of this subchapter: | ||
(1) on or before September 1, 2017, the provider is | ||
entitled to receive at least the level of support the provider is | ||
entitled to receive on the date the provider requests support from | ||
the commission; and | ||
(2) after September 1, 2017, the provider is entitled | ||
to receive at least the level of support the provider is entitled to | ||
receive under commission rules effective on September 1, 2017. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |