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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the update of discounted telecommunication services |
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provided to educational institutions, libraries, hospitals, and |
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health centers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 58.252, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (1-a) and amending Subdivision (3) to read as |
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follows: |
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(1-a) "Health center" means a federally qualified |
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health center service delivery site. |
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(3) "Private network services" means: |
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(A) broadband digital service that is capable of |
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providing transmission speeds of 45 megabits a second or greater |
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for customer applications, including the latest switched services |
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and fiber-based point-to-point solutions; and |
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(B) other customized or packaged network |
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services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 58.253(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) On customer request, an electing company shall provide |
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private network services to: |
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(1) an educational institution; |
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(2) a library as defined in Section 57.021; |
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(3) a nonprofit telemedicine center; |
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(4) a public or not-for-profit hospital; [or] |
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(5) a legally constituted consortium or group of |
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entities listed in this subsection; or |
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(6) a nonprofit health center. |
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SECTION 3. Section 58.258(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by |
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this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network |
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services may not be increased before January 1, 2020 |
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[2012]. However, an electing company may increase a rate in |
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accordance with the provisions of a customer specific contract. |
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SECTION 4. The heading to Section 58.260, Utilities Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 58.260. POINT-TO-POINT [45 MEGABITS A SECOND
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INTRALATA] SERVICE. |
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SECTION 5. Section 58.260(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) On request of an entity described by Section 58.253(a), |
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an electing company shall provide to the entity the latest |
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intraLATA switched services and fiber-based point-to-point |
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solutions the company offers at 45 megabits a second or greater |
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[intraLATA services]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 58.262(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) On request of an entity described by Section 58.253(a), |
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an electing company shall provide to the entity expanded |
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interconnection (virtual colocation) and shall make available the |
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latest multiprotocol label switching mechanism (virtual links) |
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offered by the company. |
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SECTION 7. Section 58.268, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 58.268. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding |
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any other provision of this title, an electing company shall |
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continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2020 |
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[2012], regardless of: |
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(1) the date the company elected under this chapter; |
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or |
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(2) any action taken in relation to that company under |
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Chapter 65. |
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SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a company that elects to provide discounted services on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A company that elects to provide |
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discounted services before the effective date of this Act is |
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subject to the law in effect immediately before that date, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |