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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the |
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Public Utility Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 19 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 19. COORDINATION OF BROADBAND INSTALLATION |
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Sec. 19.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Broadband" means a mass-market retail service by |
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wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and |
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receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, |
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including capabilities that are incidental to and enable the |
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operation of the service. The term includes a service that is |
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functionally equivalent to the service described by this |
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subdivision. |
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(2) "Broadband conduit" means a conduit, pipe, |
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innerduct, or microduct for fiber optic or other cables that |
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supports broadband and wireless facilities for broadband. |
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Sec. 19.0102. DUTIES. (a) In collaboration with the Texas |
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Department of Transportation and private entities, the commission |
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shall encourage and coordinate efforts to plan, relocate, install, |
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or improve broadband conduit in highway rights-of-way in |
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conjunction with any current or planned highway construction. To |
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the extent necessary, in collaboration with the Texas Department of |
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Transportation the commission shall: |
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(1) evaluate engineering and design standards, |
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procedures and criteria for contracts or lease agreements, and |
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pricing requirements; and |
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(2) provide for allocation of risk, costs, and any |
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revenue generated. |
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(b) In collaboration with any other state agency the |
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commission considers necessary, the commission shall develop a |
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strategy to facilitate the timely and efficient deployment of |
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broadband conduit or other broadband facilities on state-owned land |
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and in state-owned buildings. |
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(c) The commission shall give special consideration to |
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projects described by Subsection (a) or (b) that are likely to |
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improve access to broadband by rural or underserved communities. |
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(d) To the extent practicable, the commission shall assist |
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political subdivisions in adopting and implementing projects |
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similar to those in Subsections (a) and (b) for the construction or |
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improvement of roads under the jurisdiction of political |
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subdivisions and for broadband deployment on land or in buildings |
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owned by political subdivisions. |
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Sec. 19.0103. REPORT. Annually, the commission shall |
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submit to the legislature a report that explains the actions taken |
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by the commission in carrying out this chapter, the number of |
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current and planned projects receiving assistance from the |
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commission, any gains in broadband speed or access associated with |
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the projects, and any costs or cost savings to the state, private |
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entities, or end users of broadband services associated with the |
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projects. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |