82R6623 RWG-F
By: Deuell S.B. No. 834
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the update of discounted telecommunication services
provided to educational institutions, libraries, hospitals, and
health centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 58.252, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (1-a) and amending Subdivision (3) to read as
follows:
(1-a) "Health center" means a federally qualified
health center service delivery site.
(3) "Private network services" means:
(A) broadband digital service that is capable of
providing transmission speeds of 45 megabits a second or greater
for customer applications, including the latest switched services
and fiber-based point-to-point solutions; and
(B) other customized or packaged network
services.
SECTION 2. Section 58.253(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) On customer request, an electing company shall provide
private network services to:
(1) an educational institution;
(2) a library as defined in Section 57.021;
(3) a nonprofit telemedicine center;
(4) a public or not-for-profit hospital; [or]
(5) a legally constituted consortium or group of
entities listed in this subsection; or
(6) a nonprofit health center.
SECTION 3. Section 58.258(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by
this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network
services may not be increased before January 1, 2020
[2012]. However, an electing company may increase a rate in
accordance with the provisions of a customer specific contract.
SECTION 4. The heading to Section 58.260, Utilities Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 58.260. POINT-TO-POINT [45 MEGABITS A SECOND
INTRALATA] SERVICE.
SECTION 5. Section 58.260(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) On request of an entity described by Section 58.253(a),
an electing company shall provide to the entity the latest
intraLATA switched services and fiber-based point-to-point
solutions the company offers at 45 megabits a second or greater
[intraLATA services].
SECTION 6. Section 58.262(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) On request of an entity described by Section 58.253(a),
an electing company shall provide to the entity expanded
interconnection (virtual colocation) and shall make available the
latest multiprotocol label switching mechanism (virtual links)
offered by the company.
SECTION 7. Section 58.268, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 58.268. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this title, an electing company shall
continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2020
[2012], regardless of:
(1) the date the company elected under this chapter;
or
(2) any action taken in relation to that company under
Chapter 65.
SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a company that elects to provide discounted services on or after the
effective date of this Act. A company that elects to provide
discounted services before the effective date of this Act is
subject to the law in effect immediately before that date, and that
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.