79R1943 MTB-D
By: Naishtat H.B. No. 1340
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the funding of a telephone service for blind and
visually impaired persons that provides the text of newspapers
using synthetic speech.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. 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 2. 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 to a state sponsor of a
free telephone service for blind and visually impaired persons that
provides the text of newspapers using synthetic speech. The amount
of the support may not exceed the amount necessary to become a
sponsor or maintain sponsorship. The commission may adopt rules to
implement the program.
Sec. 56.302. ELIGIBILITY. The commission by rule shall
prescribe eligibility standards for a state sponsor of a service
described by Section 56.301 to receive assistance under the
program.
Sec. 56.303. RECOVERY OF SURCHARGE. (a) The commission
shall allow a telecommunications utility to recover the universal
service fund assessment related to the program described by Section
56.301 through a surcharge added to the utility's customers' bills.
(b) The commission shall specify how each utility must
determine the amount of the surcharge and by rule shall prohibit a
utility from recovering an aggregation of more than 12 months of
assessments in a single surcharge. The rules must require a utility
to apply for approval of a surcharge before the 91st day after the
date the period during which the aggregated surcharges were
assessed closes.
(c) If a utility chooses to impose the surcharge, the
utility shall include the surcharge in the "universal service fund
surcharge" listing as provided by Section 56.107.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.