By:  Chisum                                                       H.B. No. 2864



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the deployment of high-speed telecommunications 
services        
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 57, Subtitle C, Title II, Utilities Code 
is amended by adding new Subchapter E to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E.  BROADBAND ACCESS.
	Sec. 57.091.  Establishment of Broadband Access Programs.  
(a)  Legislative Finding.  The legislature finds that access to high 
quality, broadband communications services is essential for 
communities to survive and thrive in the twenty-first century and 
that it is a high public priority that the citenzenry of each 
community have reasonable and affordable access to these services.
	(b)  Broadband Access Programs.  From monies appropriated 
for the purpose, the Public Utility Commission shall establish 
programs to assist under-served communities, both rural and urban, 
to obtain access to broadband telecommunications and Internet 
services.  Through appropriate studies and technology assessments, 
the commission shall determine the most appropriate and 
cost-effective means to accomplish the access goals and to meet the 
needs of each community.  These determinations shall consider all 
available technologies.  Priority shall be given to projects 
involving communities in which the general public has no access to 
broadband services, or in which the access is not commensurate for 
any reason, including economic hardship, with the needs of the 
community.  The commission shall not make grants in communities in 
which adequate service is provided and used by the citenzenry.
	(c)  Project Funding.  The commission may make loans or 
grants to telecommunication services providers, political 
subdivisions, or non-profit organizations to accomplish the 
purposes of this act.  The commission shall consider depositing at 
least one-half of the available monies in a revolving loan fund so 
that assistance may be provided in perpetuity.
	(d)  Reporting.  The commission shall report in October of 
each even-numbered year to the governor and the legislature on its 
activities and accomplishments under the programs.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect on September 1, 2003.