SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 230
         WHEREAS, Rural telecommunications professionals are
  gathering in Austin on February 21, 2017, to celebrate their
  important contributions to the prosperity of the Lone Star State
  and Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day; and
         WHEREAS, Nearly 85 percent of Texas is considered rural;
  encompassing 142 million acres in 172 counties, rural areas in
  Texas are home to more than 3.2 million people, the largest rural
  population in the nation; and
         WHEREAS, Each year, more than $200 billion of the state's
  gross domestic product is generated by such traditionally rural
  industries as agriculture, forestry, hunting, and oil and gas
  production, and these enterprises require the latest in modern
  communications technology; and
         WHEREAS, In response to this need, 45 small and rural
  incumbent local exchange carriers have built and continue to
  maintain a high-quality telecommunications network that covers
  the vast majority of the rural areas of the state, including
  those remote regions that are most expensive to serve; and
         WHEREAS, This state-of-the-art network provides critical
  infrastructure for education, economic development, health care,
  law enforcement, and border security; in addition, the Small and
  Rural ILECs support more than 6,300 jobs and are responsible for
  over $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic impact; and
         WHEREAS, These local exchange carriers play a vital role in
  the dynamic economy of Texas in the 21st century, and they are
  truly deserving of special recognition for their accomplishments
  and contributions; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
  Legislature, hereby recognize February 21, 2017, as Small and
  Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day at the State Capitol
  and extend to the visiting telecommunications professionals
  sincere best wishes for a productive visit to Austin.
 
  Perry
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on February 21, 2017.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate