| TO: | Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2805 by Geren (Relating to the administration of the universal service fund.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Utilities Code to limit eligibility for incumbent local exchange providers that have greater than 7,000 access lines in the state to receive funds from the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan and the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Company Universal Service Plan to support service in exchanges that are not high cost rural areas, as defined by the bill. The bill would allow a company with more than 7,000 access lines to petition the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to designate an exchange that is not in a high cost rural area as eligible for support if the company can demonstrate a need for continuing support.
Based on information provided by the PUC, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas
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| LBB Staff: | UP, AG, ED
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