LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 25, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair, House Committee on State
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2388  by Chisum (Relating to the provision of
               telecommunications services to permanent residential or
               business premises that are not included in a
               certificated service area.), Committee Report 1st House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would provide that customers not included in a carrier's
certificate of convenience and necessity geographic area may petition
the Public Utility Commission for the appointment of a carrier to
provide basic telephone service.  The designated provider will be
reimbursed for all costs associated with service through an
aid-to-construction fee assessed the customer, monthly service charges
to the customer, and funds from the Universal Service Fund (USF). The
Public Utility Commission feels this new expense to the USF can be
absorbed within the current assessment and available fund surplus.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   475   Office of Public Utility Counsel, 473   Public
                   Utility Commission of Texas, 324   Texas Department
                   of Human Services
LBB Staff:         JK, RB, KM