SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 230
WHEREAS, Rural telecommunications professionals are
gathering in Austin on February 21, 2017, to celebrate their
important contributions to the prosperity of the Lone Star State
and Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 85 percent of Texas is considered rural;
encompassing 142 million acres in 172 counties, rural areas in
Texas are home to more than 3.2 million people, the largest rural
population in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Each year, more than $200 billion of the state's
gross domestic product is generated by such traditionally rural
industries as agriculture, forestry, hunting, and oil and gas
production, and these enterprises require the latest in modern
communications technology; and
WHEREAS, In response to this need, 45 small and rural
incumbent local exchange carriers have built and continue to
maintain a high-quality telecommunications network that covers
the vast majority of the rural areas of the state, including
those remote regions that are most expensive to serve; and
WHEREAS, This state-of-the-art network provides critical
infrastructure for education, economic development, health care,
law enforcement, and border security; in addition, the Small and
Rural ILECs support more than 6,300 jobs and are responsible for
over $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic impact; and
WHEREAS, These local exchange carriers play a vital role in
the dynamic economy of Texas in the 21st century, and they are
truly deserving of special recognition for their accomplishments
and contributions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 21, 2017, as Small and
Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day at the State Capitol
and extend to the visiting telecommunications professionals
sincere best wishes for a productive visit to Austin.
Perry
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 21, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate