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By: Anderson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry) |
H.B. No. 2422 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2019; |
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April 29, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on |
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Business & Commerce; May 14, 2019, reported adversely, with |
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favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, |
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Nays 0; May 14, 2019, sent to printer.) |
Click here to see the committee vote |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2422 |
By: Nichols |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the coordination of certain broadband projects by the |
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Texas Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H-1. COORDINATION OF BROADBAND INSTALLATION |
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Sec. 201.671. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Broadband" means a mass-market retail service by |
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wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and |
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receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, |
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including capabilities that are incidental to and enable the |
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operation of the service. The term includes a service that is |
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functionally equivalent to the service described by this |
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subdivision. |
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(2) "Broadband conduit" means a conduit, pipe, |
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innerduct, or microduct for fiber-optic or other cables that |
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supports broadband and wireless facilities for broadband. |
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Sec. 201.672. COORDINATION. (a) The department shall |
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provide notice on the department's Internet website of ongoing and |
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planned highway construction projects for which the department will |
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provide voluntary joint trenching opportunities in the state's |
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right-of-way for broadband providers. A broadband provider may |
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collaborate with the department to deploy broadband conduit or |
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other broadband facilities in those rights-of-way. |
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(b) The department shall give special consideration to |
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broadband deployment described by Subsection (a) that is likely to |
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improve access to broadband by rural or underserved communities. |
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(c) To the extent practicable, the department shall assist |
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political subdivisions in taking advantage of voluntary joint |
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trenching opportunities. |
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Sec. 201.673. REPORT. Annually, the department shall |
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submit to the legislature a report that explains the actions taken |
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by the department in carrying out this subchapter and identifies |
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any costs or cost savings to the state and private entities |
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associated with voluntary joint trenching opportunities. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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