By: Seliger S.B. No. 804
(King of Hemphill)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the period of eligibility for support from the
universal service plan for certain providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 56.023(p), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(p) If an incumbent local exchange company or cooperative is
ineligible for support under a plan established under Section
56.021(1) for services in an exchange, a plan established under
Section 56.021(1) may not provide support to any other
telecommunications providers for services in that exchange, except
that an eligible telecommunications provider that is receiving
support under Section 56.021(1)(A) in that exchange shall continue
to receive such support until the later of December 31, 2017, or the
second anniversary of [for a 24-month period following] the date
the incumbent local exchange provider or cooperative ceases
receiving support in that exchange. The support received by the
eligible telecommunications provider during that [the 24-month]
period shall be at the same monthly per line support level in effect
for that exchange as of the date the incumbent local exchange
provider or cooperative ceases receiving funding in that exchange.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.