HLS 201ES-45 ORIGINAL
2020 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 22
BY REPRESENTATIVE DESHOTEL
RAILROADS: Urges and requests the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs to study
the effects that the railroads have on broadband deployment
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on
3 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs to meet and function as
4 a joint committee to study the current effects that railroads have on broadband
5 deployment and to report its findings to the legislature.
6 WHEREAS, in the modern economy, access to broadband service is a lifeline to
7quality of life and economic opportunity; and
8 WHEREAS, more advanced communication capabilities and access to broadband
9service are needed in this state; and
10 WHEREAS, citizens of this state rely on critical infrastructure, including railroads,
11to access broadband and connectivity to the regional, national, and global economy; and
12 WHEREAS, this critical infrastructure, including railroads, enhances the local,
13regional, and state economy, the quality of life, and the strength of communities in this state;
14and
15 WHEREAS, the continued lack of advanced communication capabilities and access
16to broadband service in this state presents challenges to individuals residing and businesses
17operating in this state, which can include deficiency in poor infrastructure, limited transit
18options, scarcity of employment possibilities, lack of other technological advances, and
19overall lack of economic growth; and
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HCR NO. 22
1 WHEREAS, a thorough and systematic study of the existing issues caused by the
2lack of broadband access due to the effects that railroads have on broadband deployment is
3necessary and appropriate; and
4 WHEREAS, the investment in and development of railroads to eliminate the issues
5that railroads cause to limit broadband service is necessary to better serve individuals and
6businesses in this state; and
7 WHEREAS, a study of the current effects that railroads have on broadband
8deployment would be the best way to obtain funding for eliminating issues that railroads
9cause to limit broadband service throughout this state and achieving statewide access to
10broadband service.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
12urge and request the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on
13Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs to meet and function as a joint
14committee to study the current effects that railroads have on broadband deployment and to
15report its findings to the legislature.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint committee shall solicit input,
17recommendations, and advice from the following:
18 (1) AT&T.
19 (2) CenturyLink.
20 (3) Cleco.
21 (4) Cox Communications.
22 (5) CSX Transportation.
23 (6) EATEL.
24 (7) Entergy.
25 (8) The Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives.
26 (9) The BNSF Railway.
27 (10) The Canadian National Railway.
28 (11) The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
29 (12) Hunt Telecommunications.
30 (13) The Kansas City Southern Railway.
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HCR NO. 22
1 (14) The Louisiana Cable Association.
2 (15) The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
3 (16) The Louisiana Internet and Television Association.
4 (17) The Louisiana Public Service Commission.
5 (18) The Louisiana Southern Railroad.
6 (19) The Louisiana Telecommunications Association.
7 (20) The Norfolk Southern Railway.
8 (21) The Union Pacific Railroad Company.
9 (22) Unity Communications.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint committee shall report its findings to
11the legislature prior to the convening of the 2021 Regular Session of the Legislature.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted AT&T,
13CenturyLink, Cleco, Cox Communications, CSX Transportation, EATEL, Entergy, the
14Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, the BNSF Railway, the Canadian National
15Railway, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, the Kansas City
16Southern Railway, the Louisiana Cable Association, the Louisiana Department of
17Transportation and Development, the Louisiana Internet and Television Association, the
18Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Louisiana Southern Railroad, the Louisiana
19Telecommunications Association, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Union Pacific Railroad
20Company, and Unity Communications.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 22 Original 2020 First Extraordinary Session Deshotel
Requests the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Consumer Protection, and International Affairs to meet and function as a joint committee
to study the current effects that railroads have on broadband deployment and to report its
findings to the legislature.
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