Amend CSSB 408 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS as 
appropriate:
	SECTION ____.  Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 56.021.  UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED.  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 local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high 
cost rural areas;
		(2)  reimburse the telecommunications carrier that 
provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service 
under Subchapter D;
		(3)  finance the specialized telecommunications 
assistance program established under Subchapter E;
		(4)  reimburse the department, the Texas Commission for 
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the commission for costs incurred 
in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57;
		(5)  reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing 
lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as 
amended;
		(6)  finance the implementation and administration of 
an integrated eligibility process created under Section 17.007 for 
customer service discounts relating to telecommunications 
services, including outreach expenses the commission determines 
are reasonable and necessary;
		(7)  reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter 
F; [and]
		(8)  reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G; 
and           
		(9)  finance the program established under Subchapter 
H.             
	SECTION ____.  Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H.  AUDIO NEWSPAPER PROGRAM
	Sec. 56.301.  AUDIO NEWSPAPER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  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 visually impaired persons that offers the 
text of newspapers using synthetic speech.  The commission may 
adopt rules to implement the program.