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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to provision of broadband infrastructure and connectivity |
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by the Lower Colorado River Authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 8503, Special District Local Laws Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 8503.032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8503.032. BROADBAND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE AND |
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CONNECTIVITY. (a) In this section, "broadband service" means |
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advanced telecommunications capability and Internet access. |
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(b) The authority may provide fiber capacity or facilities |
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for the purpose of facilitating broadband service connectivity. |
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(c) The authority may not provide broadband service to a |
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retail customer. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, Subtitle C, Title 2, |
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Utilities Code, does not apply to the authority. |
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(e) The authority may provide fiber capacity or facilities |
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only on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms and conditions. |
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(f) The authority may not agree to lease fiber capacity or |
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facilities to a municipality for the purpose of facilitating |
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broadband service connectivity, other than for communications |
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regarding utility operations, unless the authority: |
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(1) posts on the authority's Internet website |
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information concerning the proposal to lease the capacity or |
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facilities to the municipality not less than 90 days before |
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entering into the lease agreement with the municipality; and |
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(2) for the 90-day period beginning on the date that |
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the authority posts information under Subdivision (1), makes the |
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capacity or facilities available for lease to any commercial |
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broadband provider that provides broadband services in the |
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municipality, on the authority's standard terms and conditions. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |