Bill Text: TX SB73 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to universal service fund assistance to high cost rural areas and the uniform charge that funds the universal service fund.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-14 - Filed [SB73 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB73-Introduced.html
87S11028 CXP-F | ||
By: Perry | S.B. No. 73 |
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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; [ |
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(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. |