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