87R8812 BRG-F
 
  By: Paddie H.B. No. 1505
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to attachments for broadband service on utility poles
  owned by an electric cooperative.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 252, Utilities Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 252. CABLE ATTACHMENTS TO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE'S
  DISTRIBUTION POLES
         SECTION 2.  Title 5, Utilities Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 253 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 253. BROADBAND ATTACHMENTS TO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE'S
  DISTRIBUTION POLES
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 253.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Broadband provider" means an entity that provides
  broadband service either directly or through an affiliate that uses
  the entity's communications facilities, regardless of whether the
  entity:
                     (A)  provides additional services in addition to
  broadband service; or
                     (B)  uses its facilities in whole or in part to
  provide broadband service.
               (2)  "Broadband service" means Internet service with
  the capability of providing:
                     (A)  a download speed of 25 megabits per second or
  faster; and
                     (B)  an upload speed of three megabits per second
  or faster.
               (3)  "Communications space" means the lower usable
  space on a pole that is typically reserved for low-voltage
  communications equipment.
               (4)  "Large order application" means an application
  submitted by a broadband provider under this subchapter requesting
  access to attach pole attachments to a number of poles:
                     (A)  that exceeds the lesser of 300 poles or a
  number equal to 0.5 percent of the electric cooperative's poles;
  and
                     (B)  that is not more than the lesser of 3,000
  poles or a number equal to five percent of the electric
  cooperative's poles.
               (5)  "Pole" has the meaning assigned by Section
  252.001.
               (6)  "Pole attachment" means an affixture of cables,
  strands, wires, and associated equipment used in the provision of a
  broadband provider's services attached to a pole directly or
  indirectly or placed in a right-of-way owned or controlled by an
  electric cooperative.
               (7)  "Simple make-ready activities" means work to
  accommodate a new pole attachment on a pole and includes work where
  existing attachments in the communications space are moved without
  any reasonable expectation of:
                     (A)  service outage or facility damage;
                     (B)  a need to splice an existing communications
  attachment; or
                     (C)  a need to relocate an existing wireless
  attachment.
         Sec. 253.0002.  APPLICABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER.
  (a)  This chapter applies to a pole attachment affixed by a
  broadband provider to a pole owned and controlled by an electric
  cooperative. This chapter does not apply to a pole attachment
  regulated by the Federal Communications Commission under 47 U.S.C.
  Section 224.
         (b)  This chapter does not abrogate or affect a right or
  obligation of a party to a pole attachment contract entered into by
  a broadband provider and an electric cooperative before September
  1, 2021.
         (c)  A broadband provider that attaches a pole attachment to
  a pole owned by an electric cooperative under the terms of this
  chapter is subject to Sections 252.006, 252.007, and 252.008 in the
  same manner as if the broadband provider were a cable operator.
         (d)  This chapter does not limit a right of a party to a pole
  attachment contract to request modification, amendment, or renewal
  of such contract to conform it to the provisions of this chapter.
         Sec. 253.0003.  NO STATE CERTIFICATION; NO REGULATORY
  AUTHORITY.  (a)  This chapter does not constitute state
  certification under 47 U.S.C. Section 224. If a court determines
  that this chapter constitutes certification under that section,
  this chapter is not enforceable and has no effect.
         (b)  This chapter may not be construed to subject an electric
  cooperative to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission
  under 47 U.S.C. Section 224.
         (c)  This chapter does not authorize a department, agency, or
  political subdivision of this state to exercise enforcement or
  regulatory authority over attachments to electric cooperative
  poles.
         Sec. 253.0004.  CONSTRUCTION OF TERMS AND PHRASES.
  Technical terms and phrases in this chapter, other than those
  defined by Section 253.0001, shall be construed using the term's or
  phrase's usual and customary meanings in the electric and broadband
  industries.
         Sec. 253.0005.  COST-BASED NON-RECURRING CHARGES.  
  Non-recurring charges authorized by this chapter must be
  cost-based.
  SUBCHAPTER B. APPLICATION FOR ACCESS TO POLES
         Sec. 253.0101.  APPLICATION FOR POLE ACCESS. (a)  A
  broadband provider may not access a pole owned by an electric
  cooperative for the purpose of placing a pole attachment unless the
  provider applies for that access in accordance with this
  subchapter.
         (b)  An electric cooperative shall:
               (1)  establish a timeline for a broadband provider to
  apply for and obtain access to poles for placing a pole attachment
  under this chapter; and
               (2)  make available an explanation of the information
  reasonably required for an application for access to poles for
  placing a pole attachment under this chapter to be considered
  complete.
         Sec. 253.0102.  REVIEW OF APPLICATION FOR COMPLETENESS. (a)  
  An electric cooperative shall review an application for
  completeness before the cooperative reviews the application on the
  merits.
         (b)  An electric cooperative shall notify an applicant
  whether an application is complete not later than:
               (1)  the 10th business day after the date the
  cooperative receives the application;
               (2)  the 25th business day after the date the
  cooperative receives a large order application;
               (3)  the fifth business day after the date the
  cooperative receives a resubmitted application; or
               (4)  the 20th business day after the date the
  cooperative receives a resubmitted large order application.
         Sec. 253.0103.  TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS BY SAME
  APPLICANT. For purposes of this chapter, an electric cooperative
  may treat as a single application for pole access an application the
  cooperative receives from the same applicant before the 31st day
  after the cooperative receives that applicant's most recent
  previous application.
         Sec. 253.0104.  GRANT OR DENIAL OF APPLICATION. (a)  Except
  as provided by Sections 253.0204 and 253.0302, an electric
  cooperative shall grant or deny an application for pole access
  under this chapter and provide to the applicant a survey of the
  poles affected by the application not later than:
               (1)  the 45th day after the date the cooperative
  receives a complete application; or
               (2)  the 60th day after the date the cooperative
  receives a complete large order application.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may deny an application for
  access to a pole under this chapter if:
               (1)  generally applicable safety, reliability, or
  engineering requirements established for the protection of public
  health, safety, or welfare prevent granting access; or
               (2)  the pole lacks sufficient capacity.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(1), an electric
  cooperative may not deny access to a pole if the capacity, safety,
  reliability, or engineering consideration may be remedied by
  rearranging, expanding, replacing, or otherwise safely
  reengineering the pole or pole attachments through make-ready
  activities.
         (d)  An electric cooperative's denial of an application to
  access a pole under this chapter must:
               (1)  be specific;
               (2)  include all relevant evidence and information that
  supports the denial; and
               (3)  explain how the evidence and information relate to
  the denial.
         Sec. 253.0105.  DEADLINES NOT APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN
  APPLICATIONS. (a)  An electric cooperative is not required to meet
  the deadlines under this subchapter for an application for pole
  access to place pole attachments on more than 3,000 poles or more
  than 5 percent of the electric cooperative's poles.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may not act under Subsection (a)
  to delay an application unreasonably and shall negotiate in good
  faith with the applicant regarding the time required to fulfill the
  cooperative's duties.
  SUBCHAPTER C. MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES
         Sec. 253.0201.  DEADLINES FOR MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES.  (a)  
  Not later than the 15th day after the date an electric cooperative
  grants an application, the electric cooperative shall provide to
  the broadband provider a detailed and itemized estimate of the
  expected costs of all necessary make-ready activities.
         (b)  An electric cooperative shall complete all make-ready
  activities in the communications space and send a detailed,
  itemized final invoice to the broadband provider not later than:
               (1)  the 30th day after the date the electric
  cooperative receives payment of the estimated make-ready cost from
  the broadband provider; or
               (2)  for a large order application, the 75th day after
  the date the electric cooperative receives payment of the estimated
  make-ready cost from the broadband provider.
         (c)  An electric cooperative shall complete all make-ready
  activities above the communications space, including pole
  replacements, and send a detailed, itemized final invoice to the
  broadband provider not later than:
               (1)  the 90th day after the date the electric
  cooperative receives payment of the estimated make-ready cost from
  the broadband provider; or
               (2)  for a large order application, the 135th day after
  the date the electric cooperative receives payment of the estimated
  make-ready cost from the broadband provider.
         Sec. 253.0202.  EXTENSION OF MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES
  DEADLINE. (a)  An electric cooperative may extend a deadline under
  Section 253.0201(b) or (c) for a cause that renders the deadline
  infeasible. A cooperative that chooses to extend a deadline shall:
               (1)  immediately and in writing notify the broadband
  provider and each person with an affected existing pole attachment
  about the delay; and
               (2)  identify the affected poles and provide a detailed
  explanation of the reason for the delay and an estimated new
  completion date to the broadband provider and each person with an
  affected existing pole attachment.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may not extend a deadline under
  this section for a period longer than is necessary to complete
  make-ready activities on affected poles.
         (c)  An electric cooperative may not extend a deadline under
  this section because of a preexisting violation on an affected pole
  caused by a person other than the broadband provider. The
  cooperative shall correct a preexisting violation as part of the
  make-ready process and before the applicable deadline at the cost
  of the responsible person.
         (d)  An electric cooperative shall resume make-ready
  activities without discrimination when the cooperative returns to
  routine operations.
         Sec. 253.0203.  DEADLINES NOT APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN
  APPLICATIONS. (a)  An electric cooperative is not required to meet
  the deadlines under this subchapter for an application to place
  pole attachments on more than 3,000 poles or more than five percent
  of the electric cooperative's poles.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may not act under Subsection (a)
  to delay an application unreasonably and shall negotiate in good
  faith with the applicant regarding the time required to fulfill the
  cooperative's duties.
         Sec. 253.0204.  CONTRACTORS FOR MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES.  (a)  
  A broadband provider may hire a contractor approved by the electric
  cooperative to complete a survey under Section 253.0104 or perform
  a make-ready activity under this subchapter that is not timely
  completed by the electric cooperative or a person with an existing
  pole attachment.
         (b)  The broadband provider shall provide reasonably timely
  notice to the electric cooperative and each person with an existing
  pole attachment on an affected pole that the provider intends to
  hire a contractor as authorized by Subsection (a).
         (c)  The broadband provider shall provide reasonably timely
  notice to the electric cooperative and each person with an existing
  pole attachment on an affected pole of the contractor's completion
  of the make-ready activities.
         (d)  An electric cooperative may not act under Subsection (a)
  unreasonably to withhold approval of a contractor for purposes of
  this section.
         (e)  Not later than the 90th day after the date a broadband
  provider provides notice as provided by Subsection (c), the
  cooperative or person may inspect the make-ready work.
         (f)  Not later than the 14th day after the date that an
  electric cooperative or person completes an inspection under
  Subsection (e), the cooperative or person may notify the broadband
  provider of any damage or code violations caused by such work. The
  notice must include specific documentation.
         (g)  The electric cooperative or person that completes an
  inspection may:
               (1)  remedy any defective make-ready work at the cost
  of the broadband provider; or
               (2)  require the provider to remedy the defect not
  later than the 14th day after the provider receives the notice under
  Subsection (f).
         Sec. 253.0205.  LIST OF APPROVED CONTRACTORS. (a)  An
  electric cooperative shall maintain and make available a list of
  approved contractors for work above the communications space and
  pole replacements. An electric cooperative may require any work
  above the communications space and pole replacements to be
  performed by contractors on this list, including work performed by
  a contractor hired under Section 253.0204.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may not act unreasonably to
  withhold consent for a requested addition of a qualified contractor
  to the list described by Subsection (a).
  SUBCHAPTER D. OPTION FOR SIMPLE MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES
         Sec. 253.0301.  OPTION: SIMPLE MAKE-READY.  A broadband
  provider may choose to perform simple make-ready activities using
  one-touch make-ready procedures in place of the process outlined
  under Subchapter C.
         Sec. 253.0302.  GRANT OR DENIAL OF APPLICATION: SIMPLE
  MAKE-READY.  (a)  A broadband provider that chooses to perform
  simple make-ready activities as described by Section 253.0301 must
  indicate that choice and describe the work to be performed as part
  of the provider's initial application under Subchapter B.
         (b)  An electric cooperative shall grant or deny an
  application for simple make-ready activities under this section not
  later than:
               (1)  the 15th day after the date the cooperative
  receives a complete application; or
               (2)  the 30th day after the date the cooperative
  receives a complete large order application.
         Sec. 253.0303.  SIMPLE MAKE-READY ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY
  CONTRACTOR.  (a)  If an application for activities under Section
  253.0302 is granted, a contractor hired by the broadband provider
  shall perform all necessary surveys.
         (b)  The broadband provider and contractor shall provide a
  reasonable opportunity for the electric cooperative and a person
  with an existing pole attachment on an affected pole to be present
  for any field inspections.
         (c)  A contractor hired by the broadband provider may perform
  all simple make-ready activities. Not later than the 15th day
  before the date the contractor begins performing simple make-ready
  activities, the contractor shall provide to the electric
  cooperative and a person with an existing pole attachment on an
  affected pole written notice that:
               (1)  identifies the contractor performing the
  activities; and
               (2)  sets out reasonable opportunities for the
  cooperative and person to be present for the activities.
         Sec. 253.0304.  INSPECTION OF WORK AND REMEDIATION OF
  DAMAGES. (a)  A broadband provider immediately shall notify the
  electric cooperative and a person with an existing pole attachment
  on an affected pole of any damage to the cooperative's or person's
  facilities reasonably likely to interrupt the entity's service.
         (b)  An electric cooperative or person that receives notice
  under Subsection (a) may:
               (1)  complete any remedial work at a reasonable cost to
  the broadband provider; or
               (2)  require the broadband provider immediately to
  remedy the damage at the provider's own expense.
         (c)  Not later than the 15th day after the date a broadband
  provider or contractor hired by the provider completes simple
  make-ready activities on a pole, the provider shall notify the
  electric cooperative and a person with an existing pole attachment
  on the pole of the completed work.
         (d)  Not later than the 90th day after the date an electric
  cooperative or person receives notice under Subsection (c), the
  cooperative or person may inspect the work. Not later than the 14th
  day after the date of the inspection, the cooperative or person may
  provide notice to the broadband provider, with specific
  documentation, of any damage or code violations caused by the work.
         (e)  An electric cooperative or person that provides notice
  under Subsection (d) may:
               (1)  remedy any defective make-ready work at the cost
  of the broadband provider; or
               (2)  require the provider to remedy the defect not
  later than the 14th day after the date the provider received the
  notice under Subsection (d).
  SUBCHAPTER E. POLES AND POLE ATTACHMENTS
         Sec. 253.0401.  DUTIES OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE. An electric
  cooperative shall rearrange, expand, replace, or otherwise safely
  reengineer any pole at the request of a broadband provider whose
  application for access to a pole is granted if the change is:
               (1)  consistent with the National Electrical Safety
  Code; and
               (2)  reasonably necessary to safely accommodate a pole
  attachment.
         Sec. 253.0402.  RECOVERY OF COSTS FOR REPLACING POLES. (a)  
  If an electric cooperative is required under Section 253.0401 to
  replace a pole that has been in service for longer than 75 percent
  and less than 100 percent of the average service life of a pole
  owned by the cooperative, the cooperative may not require
  reimbursement of costs associated with replacing the pole from the
  broadband provider that exceed the cooperative's reasonable costs
  of advancing the retirement of the existing pole.
         (b)  The costs under Subsection (a) shall be determined by
  adding:
               (1)  the remaining undepreciated value of the existing
  pole;
               (2)  any interest expense of advancing the replacement
  of the pole relative to replacing the pole at the end of the average
  service life of a pole owned by the electric cooperative; and
               (3)  any reasonable incremental cost of increasing the
  capacity of the replacement pole relative to the installation cost
  of the average new pole installed by the electric cooperative.
         (c)  If an electric cooperative is required under Section
  253.0401 to replace a pole that has been in service for the average
  service life of a pole owned by the electric cooperative or longer,
  the cooperative may not require reimbursement of costs associated
  with replacing the pole from the broadband provider that exceed any
  reasonable incremental cost of increasing the capacity of the
  replacement pole relative to the installation cost of the average
  new pole installed by the electric cooperative.
         (d)  An electric cooperative shall determine the average
  service life of a pole as the period of time during which an
  electric cooperative's books maintained for tax and accounting
  purposes consider an average pole to have positive value, after
  depreciation.
         Sec. 253.0403.  SHARING COSTS OF MODIFICATION TO POLE. (a)  
  The following entities must share proportionately in the costs of
  modifying a pole under Section 253.0401:
               (1)  the broadband provider who obtains access to a
  pole through a modification to the pole; and
               (2)  a person who directly benefits from a
  modification, including:
                     (A)  the electric cooperative;
                     (B)  a person with an existing attachment on the
  pole who adds to or modifies the person's attachment after
  receiving notice of the modification; and
                     (C)  a party that makes an attachment to a pole
  after the completion of a modification that made the attachment
  possible.
         (b)  This section does not affect the responsibility of the
  electric cooperative under Sections 253.0401 and 253.0402.
         Sec. 253.0404.  EXTENSION ARMS AND TEMPORARY POLE
  ATTACHMENTS. (a)  A broadband provider may use extension arms and
  temporary attachments pending the completion of make-ready
  activities if use of extension arms and temporary attachments
  complies with the National Electrical Safety Code or other
  applicable safety codes.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may require a broadband
  provider to convert a temporary attachment to a permanent
  attachment not later than the 60th day after the date of the
  completion of make-ready activities and may require the provider to
  comply with the National Electrical Safety Code or other
  applicable safety codes.
         Sec. 253.0405.  POLE ATTACHMENT SPECIFICATIONS. (a)  A
  broadband provider may not be required to meet pole attachment
  specifications that exceed the specifications in the National
  Electrical Safety Code, applicable fire safety codes, and any
  building code or similar code of general applicability for the
  protection of public health, safety, or welfare a political
  subdivision adopted before the provider submitted an application to
  the cooperative.
         (b)  This section may not be construed to expand the power of
  any local government jurisdiction.
         Sec. 253.0406.  OVERLASHING. (a)  A broadband provider with
  an existing pole attachment may not be required to obtain advance
  approval from an electric cooperative to overlash or permit a third
  party to overlash the provider's existing wires.
         (b)  An electric cooperative may require a broadband
  provider to provide notice before and after overlashing. The
  cooperative may not require notice before overlashing to be
  provided before the 15th day before the date of the overlashing
  activities.
         (c)  An electric cooperative may require a broadband
  provider to modify an overlashing proposal to address specific and
  identified capacity, safety, reliability, or engineering issues.
  The cooperative may not prohibit the provider from overlashing
  because of a preexisting violation caused by another person.
         (d)  An electric cooperative may require a broadband
  provider to remedy damage or code violations caused by overlashing
  if the electric cooperative:
               (1)  inspects the overlash not later than the 90th day
  after the date the cooperative receives notice that an overlash is
  complete; and
               (2)  informs the provider of the damage or violation
  not later than the 14th day after the date of the inspection.
         Sec. 253.0407.  USE OF POLE ATTACHMENTS FOR MULTIPLE
  SERVICES. A broadband provider that attaches a pole attachment
  under this chapter may use the attachment for any service delivered
  over the provider's facilities, including cable service.
  SUBCHAPTER F. POLE ATTACHMENT CONTRACTS
         Sec. 253.0501.  POLE ATTACHMENT CONTRACTS WITH BROADBAND
  PROVIDERS. (a) A broadband provider and an electric cooperative
  shall establish the rates, terms, and conditions for pole
  attachments by a written pole attachment contract executed by both
  parties. The rates, terms, and conditions for attachments by a
  broadband provider on an electric cooperative's poles must be just,
  reasonable, and nondiscriminatory.
         (b)  In determining whether rates, terms, and conditions are
  just and reasonable, the following factors must be considered:
               (1)  the interests of and benefits to the consumers and
  potential consumers of the electric cooperative's services;
               (2)  the interests of and benefits to the subscribers
  and potential subscribers to broadband services offered through the
  pole attachments;
               (3)  the interests of and benefits to third parties
  from the availability of broadband services offered through the
  pole attachments;
               (4)  compliance with the specifications in the National
  Electrical Safety Code, applicable fire safety codes, and any
  building code or similar code of general applicability for the
  protection of public health, safety, or welfare applicable to the
  pole attachments; and
               (5)  the maintenance and reliability of both electric
  distribution and broadband services.
         (c)  A broadband provider and an electric cooperative shall
  negotiate a pole attachment contract and any amendment,
  modification, or renewal thereof in good faith.
         (d)  A request to negotiate a new pole attachment contract or
  to amend, modify, or renew a contract pertaining to pole
  attachments by a broadband provider or an electric cooperative must
  be made in writing.
         Sec. 253.0502.  CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND MEDIATION. (a)  
  If a broadband provider and an electric cooperative are unable to
  agree to a new pole attachment contract before the expiration date
  of an existing contract, the rates, terms, and conditions of the
  existing contract and the terms and conditions of the electric
  cooperative's application and permitting processes remain in
  force:
               (1)  during the 90-day negotiation period described by
  Subsection (b) and during the period of any agreed extension;
               (2)  during the 60-day mediation period described by
  Subsection (b) and during the period of any agreed extension; and
               (3)  pending final disposition of any litigation
  commenced under Subsection (c).
         (b)  If a broadband provider and an electric cooperative are
  unable to agree to a new pole attachment contract before the 91st
  day after the expiration date of an existing contract, and are
  unable to agree to an extension of the negotiation period for a
  certain number of days, the broadband provider and electric
  cooperative shall attempt to resolve any disagreement over the
  rates, terms, or conditions by submitting the contract negotiations
  to a mediation process. The mediation process may not extend later
  than the 60th day after the end of the initial 90-day negotiation
  period and any agreed extension of that period unless the broadband
  provider and electric cooperative agree to an extension of the
  mediation period for a certain number of days. The mediation
  process must be conducted in a county in which the electric
  cooperative has distribution poles. The broadband provider and
  electric cooperative must share equally the expenses for the
  mediator.
         (c)  If the mediation process under Subsection (b) does not
  resolve the disagreement over the rates, terms, or conditions of a
  new pole attachment agreement, or if a dispute arises under the
  terms of an existing agreement or the requirements of this chapter,
  the broadband provider or electric cooperative may file suit in a
  district court to resolve the disagreement or dispute, including to
  enforce the terms of the agreement or of this chapter.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.