Bill Text: TX SB1104 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-16 - Left pending in committee [SB1104 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1104-Introduced.html
86R12616 JXC-D | ||
By: Perry | S.B. No. 1104 |
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relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the | ||
Public Utility Commission of Texas. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended | ||
by adding Chapter 19 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 19. COORDINATION OF BROADBAND INSTALLATION | ||
Sec. 19.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(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. 19.0102. DUTIES. (a) In collaboration with the Texas | ||
Department of Transportation and private entities, the commission | ||
shall encourage and coordinate efforts to plan, relocate, install, | ||
or improve broadband conduit in highway rights-of-way in | ||
conjunction with any current or planned highway construction. To | ||
the extent necessary, in collaboration with the Texas Department of | ||
Transportation the commission shall: | ||
(1) evaluate engineering and design standards, | ||
procedures and criteria for contracts or lease agreements, and | ||
pricing requirements; and | ||
(2) provide for allocation of risk, costs, and any | ||
revenue generated. | ||
(b) In collaboration with any other state agency the | ||
commission considers necessary, the commission shall develop a | ||
strategy to facilitate the timely and efficient deployment of | ||
broadband conduit or other broadband facilities on state-owned land | ||
and in state-owned buildings. | ||
(c) The commission shall give special consideration to | ||
projects described by Subsection (a) or (b) that are likely to | ||
improve access to broadband by rural or underserved communities. | ||
(d) To the extent practicable, the commission shall assist | ||
political subdivisions in adopting and implementing projects | ||
similar to those in Subsections (a) and (b) for the construction or | ||
improvement of roads under the jurisdiction of political | ||
subdivisions and for broadband deployment on land or in buildings | ||
owned by political subdivisions. | ||
Sec. 19.0103. REPORT. Annually, the commission shall | ||
submit to the legislature a report that explains the actions taken | ||
by the commission in carrying out this chapter, the number of | ||
current and planned projects receiving assistance from the | ||
commission, any gains in broadband speed or access associated with | ||
the projects, and any costs or cost savings to the state, private | ||
entities, or end users of broadband services associated with the | ||
projects. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |