Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB583 by Carona (Relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Utilities Code relating to eligibility for support from the universal service fund. The bill would modify eligibility requirements for state high cost support programs funded through the universal service fund, including the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan and the Small Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan, to prohibit certain telecommunications companies and cooperatives serving over 31,000 access lines from receiving universal service fund support after December 31, 2016.
The bill would authorize certain investor owned incumbent local exchange companies and cooperatives to initiate a proceeding to petition the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to restore universal service fund support for affected exchanges. The bill would cap the amount of funding that the PUC is authorized to restore through these proceedings for affected exchanges.
Based on information provided by the PUC, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.