|
|
|
State Law
Federal Law
|
Texas Utilities Code - Chapter 56 Telecommunications Assistance And Universal Service FundLegal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Utilities Code > Texas Utilities Code - Chapter 56 Telecommunications Assistance And Universal Service Fund In this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Human Services. (2) "Designated provider" means a telecommunications provider designated by the commission to provide ... If this chapter conflicts with another provision of this title, this chapter prevails. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. ... The commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange companies to establish a universal service fund to: (1) assist telecommunications providers in providing basic ... (a) The universal service fund is funded by a statewide uniform charge payable by each telecommunications provider that has access to the customer base. (b) ... (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 ... (a) The commission may require a telecommunications provider to provide a report or information necessary to assess contributions and disbursements to the universal service fund. ... (a) In addition to the authority provided by Section 56.021, for each local exchange company that serves fewer than 31,000 access lines and each cooperative, ... (a) A revenue requirement showing is not required for a disbursement from the universal service fund under this subchapter. (b) The commission shall make each ... On request of an incumbent local exchange company that is not an electing company under Chapters 58 and 59, the commission shall provide reimbursement through ... Text of section effective until Sept. 1, 2007 (a) The commission shall conduct a review and evaluation of whether the universal service fund accomplishes ... On or before September 1 of each year, a telecommunications provider that receives disbursements from the universal service fund shall file with the commission an ... The commission may revise the monthly per line support amounts to be made available from the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan and from the ... Text of section effective until Sept. 1, 2007 (a) On or before October 1, 2005, the commission shall initiate a study for the purpose of ... The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for the uniform and coordinated provision by one telecommunications carrier of a statewide telecommunications relay access service ... (a) The commission shall adopt and enforce rules establishing a statewide telecommunications relay access service for the use of a person with an impairment of ... (a) The telecommunications relay access service shall provide a person with an impairment of hearing or speech with access to the telecommunications network in this ... (a) For a call made using the telecommunications relay access service, the person calling or called: (1) may not be charged for a call that ... If the commission orders a local exchange company to provide for a trial telecommunications relay access service for persons with an impairment of hearing or ... (a) The commission shall set appropriate assessments for all telecommunications utilities to fund the telecommunications relay access service. (b) In setting an assessment, the commission ... (a) A telecommunications utility may recover the utility's universal service fund assessment for the telecommunications relay access service through a surcharge added to the utility ... (a) The commission shall select one telecommunications carrier to provide the statewide telecommunications relay access service. (b) The commission shall make a written award of ... (a) The commission may contract for a special feature for the state's telecommunications relay access service if the commission determines: (1) the feature will benefit ... (a) The telecommunications carrier selected to provide the telecommunications relay access service under Section 56.108 or the carrier selected to provide a special feature for ... (a) An advisory committee to assist the commission in administering this subchapter is composed of the following persons appointed by the commission: (1) two persons ... The advisory committee shall: (1) monitor the establishment, administration, and promotion of the statewide telecommunications relay access service; (2) advise the commission in pursuing a ... (a) The commission shall provide to the advisory committee: (1) clerical and staff support; and (2) a secretary to record committee meetings. (b) The costs ... A member of the advisory committee serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement at rates established for state employees for travel and per diem ... The commission and the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by rule shall establish a specialized telecommunications assistance program to provide financial ... The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by rule shall prescribe eligibility standards for individuals, including deaf individuals and individuals who have ... (a) The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall determine a reasonable price for a basic specialized telecommunications device that permits, or ... (a) Not later than the 45th day after the date the commission receives a voucher a telecommunications device distributor presents for payment or a voucher ... (a) The commission shall allow a telecommunications utility to recover the universal service fund assessment related to the specialized telecommunications assistance program through a surcharge ... The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may promote the program established under this subchapter by means of participation in events, advertisements, ... In this subchapter, "permanent residential or business premises" means a premises that has permanent facilities for water, wastewater, and electricity. Added by Acts 2001, 77th ... (a) Notwithstanding Section 54.001, the commission may designate a telecommunications provider under this section to provide voice-grade services to permanent residential or business premises that ... Persons residing in permanent residential premises or owners of permanent residential or business premises that are not included within the certificated area of a holder ... (a) A petition for designation of a service provider must: (1) state with reasonable particularity the locations of the permanent residential or business premises for ... If the commission finds that the petition complies with Section 56.204, the commission shall hold an evidentiary hearing to determine if a telecommunications provider is ... The commission shall deny a petition if the commission determines that services cannot be extended to the petitioning premises at a reasonable cost. In making ... In any order granting a petition, the commission shall: (1) approve the facilities to be deployed based on the estimated costs of deployment submitted in ... (a) In determining which nominated telecommunications provider the commission will designate to provide service to the petitioning premises, the commission shall consider the relative estimated ... (a) If, after a hearing, the commission designates a telecommunications provider to serve the petitioning premises, the commission shall permit the designated provider to recover ... The commission shall establish a reasonable aid to construction charge, not to exceed $3,000, to be assessed each petitioner. The commission may not require a ... A telecommunications provider may not under any circumstances be required to extend service to a location that is not a permanent residential or business premises ... (a) If the commission approves a petition requesting service, residents of permanent residential premises or owners of permanent residential or business premises in reasonable proximity ... (a) A provider who is designated to serve petitioning premises located within an uncertificated area under this subchapter is the preferred provider for any permanent ... The designation of a provider to serve permanent residential or business premises within an uncertificated area under this subchapter does not have the effect of: ... In this subchapter, "successor utility" has the meaning assigned by Section 54.301. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 76, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, ... A telecommunications utility may receive funding under this subchapter only if: (1) the telecommunications utility is eligible to receive universal service funding under Section 56.023(b); ... (a) At the time the commission designates the successor utility under Section 54.303, the commission shall determine the extent to which the utility should recover ... The commission order designating the successor utility under Section 54.303 shall authorize the utility to recover the costs determined under Section 56.253. The costs may ... The commission by rule shall establish a program to provide from the universal service fund financial assistance for a free telephone service for blind and ... Texas Lawyers
Last modified: August 10, 2007 |