79R10015 JJT-F

By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 1662



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to provider of last resort obligations of certain 
telecommunications utilities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 54.251(b), Utilities Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  Except as specifically determined otherwise by the 
commission under this subchapter or Subchapter G, the holder of a 
certificate of convenience and necessity for an area has the 
obligations of a provider of last resort regardless of whether 
another provider has a certificate of operating authority or 
service provider certificate of operating authority for that area.  
The provider of last resort obligation under this subsection may be 
met using any available technology, notwithstanding any other 
provision of this title.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.