MINUTES 
          
           Legislative Committee on Municipal Franchise Agreements for 
                          Telecommunications Utilities 
                            Thursday, March 19, 1998 
                                     2:00 pm 
                       University of Houston Hilton Hotel 
                                         
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Legislative Committee on  
         Municipal Franchise Agreements for Telecommunications  
         Utilities was held on Thursday, March 19, 1998 at University  
         of Houston Hilton Hotel, in Houston, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                 
         Senator David Sibley 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Representative Bill Carter 
         Representative Fred Hill 
         Representative Steven Wolens  
          
                                      ***** 
                                         
         Chairman Eddie Lucio called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm. 
          
         The following members arrived after the meeting was called to  
         order:  Senator Florence Shapiro arriving at 2:01 pm. 
          
         The following business was transacted. 
          
         Chairman Carter gave opening remarks. 
          
         Chairman Lucio recognized the following witnesses: 
         Brown, Lee, representing the City of Houston, testified on the  
         interim charge. 
         Sturzl, Frank, representing Texas Municipal League, testified  
         on the interim charge. 
         Akers, Monte, representing Texas Municipal League, testified  
         on the interim charge. 
         At 3:30 pm Chairman Lucio called for a brief recess. 
         At 3:32 pm the meeting reconvened. 
         At 3:33 pm Chairman Carter assumed the chair. 
         West, Clarence, representing TCCFUL, testified on the interim  
         charge. 
         At 4:08 pm Chairman Lucio assumed the chair. 
         Lewis, Richard, representing the City of Houston, testified on  
         the interim charge. 
         Mosley, Kathy, representing the City of Houston, testified on  
         the interim charge. 
         Austin, Timothy, representing the City of Houston, testified  
  
         on the interim charge. 
         Casto, Larry, representing the City of Dallas, testified on  
         the interim charge. 
         At 4:36 pm Chairman Lucio called for a brief recess. 
         At 4:38 pm the meeting reconvened. 
         At 4:40 pm Chairman Carter assumed the chair. 
         Rowling, Gwen, representing WESTEL, testified on the interim  
         charge. 
         Hunt, Barbara, representing SWB Telephone Company, testified  
         on the interim charge. 
         At 5:39 pm Chairman Lucio assumed the chair. 
         Hernandez, D'Juan, representing ACSI, testified on the interim  
         charge. 
         At 5:51 pm Chairman Carter assumed the chair. 
         Arnold, William, representing TX Cable and Telecommunications  
         Assn., asked to be heard at the next meeting in El Paso.  
          
         A brief discussion followed. 
          
         Chairman Carter recognized the following witnesses who  
         registered but did not testify: 
         Grohman, Paul, representing the City of Pearland. 
         Hernandez-Galvan, Cristal, representing the City of Fort  
         Worth. 
          
         Chairman Carter closed public testimony. 
          
         Chairman Carter announced that the committee will meet in El  
         Paso on April 24, 1998. 
         There being no further business, at 5:53 pm Representative  
         Hill moved the committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Co-Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Representative Bill Carter, Co-Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Amy B. Kelley, Clerk