BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2119

By: Schwertner

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) oversees the disbursement of support from the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF) to support certain telecommunications services in rural and high-cost locations in Texas. Meanwhile, the Broadband Development Office within the comptroller of public accounts is tasked with development and management of the Broadband Development Map, which identifies the level of broadband connectivity in communities across Texas as a means to inform future broadband funding decisions. However, there is currently no requirement for these two entities to share information regarding which locations are classified as eligible for state broadband services, which locations are served by eligible service providers that receive support from the TUSF, and which locations are both classified as eligible for state broadband services and are served by these eligible service providers. S.B. 2119 seeks to prevent duplicative efforts related to broadband and telecommunications connectivity by requiring the PUC to create, annually update, and publish a map that shows these locations.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2119 amends the Government Code to require the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to create, update annually, and publish on the PUC website a map that shows locations in Texas that are, as follows:

· receiving reliable broadband service at speeds of not less than 100 megabits per second for a download and not less than 20 megabits per second for an upload;

· served by a telecommunications provider determined eligible by the PUC that receives support for that purpose under a plan of the Texas Universal Service Fund; and

· both receiving such reliable broadband service and served by such a provider.

The bill requires the comptroller of public accounts to assist the PUC in creating and updating the map and requires the PUC to submit a report not later than December 1 of each year, beginning in 2024, to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature that shows the applicable locations on the map.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.