| 1 | 1 | | 84R8589 DDT-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Naishtat H.B. No. 1768 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the use of the universal service fund to provide |
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| 8 | 8 | | Internet service to certain persons with an impairment of hearing. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 56.021. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED. The |
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| 13 | 13 | | commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange |
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| 14 | 14 | | companies to establish a universal service fund to: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) assist telecommunications providers in providing |
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| 16 | 16 | | basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high |
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| 17 | 17 | | cost rural areas under two plans: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (A) the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan |
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| 19 | 19 | | (16 T.A.C. Section 26.403); and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (B) the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange |
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| 21 | 21 | | Company Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.404); |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) reimburse the telecommunications carrier that |
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| 23 | 23 | | provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service |
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| 24 | 24 | | under Subchapter D; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) finance the specialized telecommunications |
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| 26 | 26 | | assistance program established under Subchapter E; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (4) reimburse the department and the commission for |
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| 28 | 28 | | costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (5) reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing |
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| 30 | 30 | | lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as |
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| 31 | 31 | | amended; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (6) finance the implementation and administration of |
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| 33 | 33 | | an integrated eligibility process created under Section 17.007 for |
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| 34 | 34 | | customer service discounts relating to telecommunications |
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| 35 | 35 | | services, including outreach expenses the commission determines |
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| 36 | 36 | | are reasonable and necessary; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (7) reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter |
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| 38 | 38 | | F; |
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| 39 | 39 | | (8) reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G; |
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| 40 | 40 | | [and] |
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| 41 | 41 | | (9) finance the program established under Subchapter |
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| 42 | 42 | | H; and |
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| 43 | 43 | | (10) reimburse a telecommunications carrier that |
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| 44 | 44 | | provides Internet service under Subchapter I. |
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| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 2. Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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| 46 | 46 | | Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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| 47 | 47 | | SUBCHAPTER I. INTERNET SERVICE PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH IMPAIRMENT |
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| 48 | 48 | | OF HEARING |
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| 49 | 49 | | Sec. 56.351. INTERNET SERVICE PROGRAM. The commission by |
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| 50 | 50 | | rule shall establish and implement a program to provide from the |
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| 51 | 51 | | universal service fund reimbursement for free or discounted |
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| 52 | 52 | | Internet service provided by a telecommunications carrier to a |
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| 53 | 53 | | person with an impairment of hearing who is eligible for lifeline |
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| 54 | 54 | | service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as amended. |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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