Bill Text: TX HB2422 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB2422 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB2422-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2422 |
|
||
relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the | ||
Texas Department of Transportation. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER H-1. COORDINATION OF BROADBAND INSTALLATION | ||
Sec. 201.671. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Broadband" means a mass-market retail service by | ||
wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and | ||
receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, | ||
including capabilities that are incidental to and enable the | ||
operation of the service. The term includes a service that is | ||
functionally equivalent to the service described by this | ||
subdivision. | ||
(2) "Broadband conduit" means a conduit, pipe, | ||
innerduct, or microduct for fiber-optic or other cables that | ||
supports broadband and wireless facilities for broadband. | ||
Sec. 201.672. COORDINATION. (a) The department shall | ||
provide notice on the department's Internet website of ongoing and | ||
planned highway construction projects for which the department will | ||
provide voluntary joint trenching opportunities in the state's | ||
right-of-way for broadband providers. A broadband provider may | ||
collaborate with the department to deploy broadband conduit or | ||
other broadband facilities in those rights-of-way. | ||
(b) The department shall give special consideration to | ||
broadband deployment described by Subsection (a) that is likely to | ||
improve access to broadband by rural or underserved communities. | ||
(c) To the extent practicable, the department shall assist | ||
political subdivisions in taking advantage of voluntary joint | ||
trenching opportunities. | ||
Sec. 201.673. REPORT. Annually, the department shall | ||
submit to the legislature a report that explains the actions taken | ||
by the department in carrying out this subchapter and identifies | ||
any costs or cost savings to the state and private entities | ||
associated with voluntary joint trenching opportunities. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2422 was passed by the House on April | ||
24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 2, 1 present, not | ||
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
No. 2422 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 5, | ||
2 present, not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2422 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays | ||
0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: __________________ | ||
Date | ||
__________________ | ||
Governor |