Bill Text: TX SB73 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 73 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to universal service fund assistance to high cost rural areas and the uniform charge that funds the universal service fund.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-14 - Filed [SB73 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB73-Introduced.html

	87S11028 CXP-F

	By: Perry	S.B. No. 73



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to universal service fund assistance to high cost rural
	areas and the uniform charge that funds the universal service fund.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 56.001, Utilities Code, is amended by
	adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
	(3) "High cost rural area" means:
	(A) an area:
	(i) receiving support under Section
	56.021(1) on December 31, 2020; and
	(ii) served by a telecommunications
	provider that is subject to rate regulation under Chapter 53; and
	(B) any other exchange:
	(i) receiving support under the Texas High
	Cost Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.403) or the Small
	and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Company Universal Service Plan
	(16 T.A.C. Section 26.404); and
	(ii) not excluded by commission rule based
	on the number of telecommunications providers serving the exchange,
	the population density in the exchange, and the number of customers
	served per route mile of plant in service used to provide basic
	local telecommunications service.
	SECTION 2. Section 56.022, Utilities Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 56.022. UNIFORM CHARGE. (a) The universal service
	fund is funded by a statewide uniform charge payable by each
	telecommunications provider and each provider of Voice over
	Internet Protocol service that has access to the customer base.
	(b) A telecommunications provider or provider of Voice over
	Internet Protocol service shall pay the charge in accordance with
	procedures approved by the commission.
	(c) The uniform charge is on services and at rates the
	commission determines. In establishing the charge and the services
	to which the charge will apply, the commission may not:
	(1) grant an unreasonable preference or advantage to a
	telecommunications provider or a provider of Voice over Internet
	Protocol service;
	(2) assess the charge on pay telephone service; [or]
	(3) subject a telecommunications provider or a
	provider of Voice over Internet Protocol service to unreasonable
	prejudice or disadvantage; or
	(4) assess the charge in a manner that is not
	technology-neutral or that grants an unreasonable preference based
	on technology.
	SECTION 3. Sections 56.024(a) and (b), Utilities Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a) The commission may require a telecommunications
	provider or a provider of Voice over Internet Protocol service to
	provide a report or information necessary to assess contributions
	and disbursements to the universal service fund.
	(b) A report or information the commission requires a
	telecommunications provider or a provider of Voice over Internet
	Protocol service to provide under Subsection (a) is confidential
	and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
	SECTION 4. Not later than December 31, 2021, the Public
	Utility Commission of Texas shall initiate the rulemaking to adopt
	the rules required by Section 56.001, Utilities Code, as amended by
	this Act.
	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
	legislative session.