LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 4, 2013 TO: Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Utilities Code relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund. The bill would modify eligibility requirements for state high cost support programs funded through the universal service fund, including the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan and the Small Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan, to prohibit certain telecommunications companies and cooperatives serving over 31,000 access lines from receiving universal service fund support after December 31, 2016.The bill would authorize certain investor owned incumbent local exchange companies and cooperatives to initiate a proceeding to petition the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to restore universal service fund support for affected exchanges. The bill would cap the amount of funding that the PUC is authorized to restore through these proceedings for affected exchanges. Based on information provided by the PUC, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: UP, RB, ED, LXH LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 4, 2013 TO: Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted TO: Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Utilities Code relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund. The bill would modify eligibility requirements for state high cost support programs funded through the universal service fund, including the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan and the Small Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan, to prohibit certain telecommunications companies and cooperatives serving over 31,000 access lines from receiving universal service fund support after December 31, 2016.The bill would authorize certain investor owned incumbent local exchange companies and cooperatives to initiate a proceeding to petition the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to restore universal service fund support for affected exchanges. The bill would cap the amount of funding that the PUC is authorized to restore through these proceedings for affected exchanges. Based on information provided by the PUC, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: UP, RB, ED, LXH UP, RB, ED, LXH