By: Nichols, Hinojosa  S.B. No. 507
         (In the Senate - Filed January 28, 2021; March 9, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
  March 25, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 25, 2021,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 507 By:  Nichols
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an accommodation process authorizing the use of state
  highway rights-of-way by broadband-only providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 250, Transportation Code, is amended by
  adding Section 250.002 to read as follows:
         Sec. 250.002.  RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCOMMODATION FOR
  BROADBAND-ONLY PROVIDERS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Broadband-only provider" means an entity that
  exclusively provides broadband service.
               (2)  "Broadband service" means Internet service with
  the capability of providing:
                     (A)  a download speed of 25 megabits per second or
  faster; and
                     (B)  an upload speed of three megabits per second
  or faster.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall:
               (1)  on a competitively and technologically neutral and
  nondiscriminatory basis with respect to other providers of
  broadband service, establish an accommodation process that
  authorizes broadband-only providers to use state highway
  rights-of-way, subject to highway purposes, for:
                     (A)  new broadband facility installations;
                     (B)  additions to or maintenance of existing
  broadband facility installations;
                     (C)  adjustments or relocations of broadband
  facilities; and
                     (D)  existing broadband facilities retained
  within the rights-of-way; and
               (2)  prescribe minimum requirements for the
  accommodation, method, materials, and location for the
  installation, adjustment, and maintenance of broadband facilities
  under the accommodation process.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than the first anniversary of the
  effective date of this Act, the Texas Transportation Commission
  shall adopt the rules required by Section 250.002, Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2021.
 
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