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