Texas Utilities Code - Section 56.023. Commission Powers And Duties
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§ 56.023. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The
commission shall:
(1) in a manner that assures reasonable rates for
basic local telecommunications service, adopt eligibility criteria
and review procedures, including a method for administrative
review, the commission finds necessary to fund the universal
service fund and make distributions from that fund;
(2) determine which telecommunications providers meet
the eligibility criteria;
(3) determine the amount of and approve a procedure
for reimbursement to telecommunications providers of revenue lost
in providing tel-assistance service under Subchapter C;
(4) establish and collect fees from the universal
service fund necessary to recover the costs the department and the
commission incur in administering this chapter and Chapter 57; and
(5) approve procedures for the collection and
disbursal of the revenue of the universal service fund.
(b) The eligibility criteria must require that a
telecommunications provider, in compliance with the commission's
quality of service requirements:
(1) offer service to each consumer within the
company's certificated area and to any permanent residential or
business premises to which the company is designated to provide
services under Subchapter F; and
(2) render continuous and adequate service within the
company's certificated area and to any permanent residential or
business premises to which the company is designated to provide
services under Subchapter F.
(c) A company designated under Subchapter F to provide
services to permanent residential or business premises within an
uncertificated area and that complies with Subsection (b) shall
receive universal service fund distributions to assist the provider
in providing those services. In addition, the commission shall
designate the provider as an eligible telecommunications carrier
under 47 U.S.C. Section 214(e)(2), as amended, for those permanent
residential or business premises.
(d) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration
of the universal service fund and this chapter and may act as
necessary and convenient to administer the fund and this chapter.
(e) A successor utility, as that term is defined by Section
54.301, that is or becomes an eligible telecommunications carrier
under 47 U.S.C. Section 214(e)(2), as amended, is entitled to
receive universal service fund distributions for costs in
accordance with Subchapter G.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, § 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 651, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003,
78th Leg., ch. 76, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Section: 55.306 55.307 55.308 56.001 56.002 56.021 56.022 56.023 56.024 56.025 56.026 56.028 56.029 56.030 56.031
Last modified: August 10, 2007
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