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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for support from the universal service |
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fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 56.023, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (p) and adding Subsections (r) and (s) to read |
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as follows: |
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(p) If an incumbent local exchange company or cooperative is |
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ineligible for support under a plan established under Section |
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56.021(1) for services in an exchange, a plan established under |
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Section 56.021(1) may not provide support to any other |
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telecommunications providers for services in that exchange, except |
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that an eligible telecommunications provider that is receiving |
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support under Section 56.021(1)(A) in that exchange shall continue |
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to receive such support until the commission determines that the |
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support should be eliminated under Subsection (r) [the later of
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December 31, 2017, or the second anniversary of the date the
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incumbent local exchange provider or cooperative ceases receiving
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support in that exchange]. Until the commission eliminates the |
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support under Subsection (r), the [The] support received by the |
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eligible telecommunications provider [during that period] shall be |
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at the same monthly per line support level in effect for that |
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exchange as of the date the incumbent local exchange provider or |
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cooperative ceases receiving funding in that exchange. |
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(r) If the number of access lines served by competitive |
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eligible telecommunications providers receiving support in an |
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exchange described by Subsection (p) declines by at least 50 |
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percent from the number of lines that were served by those providers |
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in that exchange on December 31, 2016, the commission shall review |
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the per line support amount for that exchange at least once every |
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three years to determine whether continuing the support is in the |
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public interest. The commission by rule shall establish the |
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criteria to determine whether the support should be eliminated. |
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The first review under this subsection for an exchange must be |
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completed not later than the end of the year following the year in |
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which the number of access lines first declines by at least 50 |
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percent. |
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(s) The support for eligible telecommunications providers |
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under Subsections (p) and (r) expires December 31, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. Section 56.023(q), Utilities Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1476 passed the Senate on |
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April 20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1476 passed the House on |
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May 18, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 111, Nays 33, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |