Title UT, Utilities Code

Sec. 55.203. DIRECTORY PUBLISHED BY PRIVATE PUBLISHER. (a) A private for-profit publisher of a residential telephone directory that is distributed to the public at minimal or no cost shall include in the directory: (1) a listing of any toll-free and local telephone numbers of: (A…

Sec. 55.204. ELECTRONIC TELEPHONE DIRECTORY. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a telecommunications provider or telecommunications utility, to further the recycling goals, may publish on the provider's or the utility's Internet website a telephone directory or directory listing …

Sec. 55.251. CHARGE FOR HOTEL OR MOTEL CALL. A hotel or motel may not charge more than 50 cents for: (1) a local telephone call; (2) a credit card telephone call; (3) a collect telephone call; or (4) any other local telephone call for which assistance from the hotel or motel oper…

Sec. 55.252. 900 SERVICE USED BY PROBATIONERS OR PAROLEES. (a) This section applies only to a telecommunications utility that transports or provides an intrastate 900 service that is: (1) covered by a contract authorized by Chapter 76 or 508, Government Code; and (2) used by a de…

Sec. 55.253. TELEPHONE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES. (a) In this section: (1) "Prepaid calling card company" means a company that provides a prepaid calling service to the public using its own network or resold services. (2) "Prepaid calling service" means a prepaid telecommunication…

Sec. 55.301. STATE POLICY. It is the policy of this state to ensure that all customers are protected from the unauthorized switching of a telecommunications utility selected by the customer to provide telecommunications service. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 22, e…

Sec. 55.302. COMMISSION RULES. (a) The commission shall adopt nondiscriminatory and competitively neutral rules to implement this subchapter, including rules that: (1) ensure that customers are protected from deceptive practices in the obtaining of authorizations and verification…

Sec. 55.303. VERIFICATION OF CHANGE. A telecommunications utility may verify a change order by: (1) obtaining written authorization from the customer; (2) obtaining a toll-free electronic authorization placed from the telephone number that is the subject of the change order; or (…

Sec. 55.304. UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE. (a) If a change in the selection of a customer's telecommunications utility is not made or verified in accordance with this subchapter, the change, on request by the customer, shall be reversed within a period established by commission ruling. (b…

Sec. 55.305. CORRECTIVE ACTION AND PENALTIES. (a) If the commission finds that a telecommunications utility has repeatedly violated the commission's telecommunications utility selection rules, the commission shall order the utility to take corrective action as necessary. In addit…

Sec. 55.306. REPEATED AND RECKLESS VIOLATION. If the commission finds that a telecommunications utility has repeatedly and recklessly violated the commission's telecommunications utility selection rules, the commission may, if consistent with the public interest, suspend, restric…

Sec. 55.307. DECEPTIVE OR FRAUDULENT PRACTICE. The commission may prohibit a utility from engaging in a deceptive or fraudulent practice, including a marketing practice, involving the selection of a customer's telecommunications utility. The commission may define deceptive and fr…

Sec. 55.308. CONSISTENCY WITH FEDERAL LAW. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, rules adopted by the commission under this subchapter shall be consistent with applicable federal laws and rules. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 199…

Sec. 56.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. (2) "Designated provider" means a telecommunications provider designated by the commission to provide services to an uncertificated area under Subchapter F. …

Sec. 56.002. CONFLICT OF PROVISIONS. If this chapter conflicts with another provision of this title, this chapter prevails. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. SUBCHAPTER B. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND

Sec. 56.021. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED. The commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange companies to establish a universal service fund to: (1) assist telecommunications providers in providing basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rat…

Sec. 56.022. UNIFORM CHARGE. (a) The universal service fund is funded by a statewide uniform charge payable by each telecommunications provider that has access to the customer base. (b) A telecommunications provider shall pay the charge in accordance with procedures approved by t…

Sec. 56.023. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The commission shall: (1) in a manner that assures reasonable rates for basic local telecommunications service, adopt eligibility criteria and review procedures, including a method for administrative review, the commission finds nece…

Sec. 56.0231. SUPPORT EXPIRED. Support to an incumbent local exchange company or cooperative provided under Section 56.023 must be reduced on December 31, 2024, to zero percent of the amount of support that the company or cooperative is eligible to receive on that date if before …

Sec. 56.0232. SUPPORT RELINQUISHED. (a) An eligible telecommunications provider may notify the commission that the provider relinquishes the support it is entitled to receive under this chapter. After notice by the provider, the commission shall require the entity administering t…

Sec. 56.024. REPORTS; CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) The commission may require a telecommunications provider to provide a report or information necessary to assess contributions and disbursements to the universal service fund. (b) A report or information the commission requires a telecomm…

Sec. 56.025. MAINTENANCE OF RATES AND EXPANSION OF FUND FOR CERTAIN COMPANIES. (a) In addition to the authority provided by Section 56.021: (1) for each local exchange company that serves fewer than 31,000 access lines and each cooperative, the commission may adopt a mechanism ne…

Sec. 56.026. PROMPT AND EFFICIENT DISBURSEMENTS. The commission shall make each disbursement from the universal service fund promptly and efficiently so that a telecommunications provider does not experience an unnecessary cash-flow change as a result of a change in governmental …

Sec. 56.028. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN INTRALATA SERVICE. On request of an incumbent local exchange company that is not an electing company under Chapters 58 and 59, the commission shall provide reimbursement through the universal service fund for reduced r…

Sec. 56.030. AFFIDAVITS OF COMPLIANCE. On or before September 1 of each year, a telecommunications provider that receives disbursements from the universal service fund shall file with the commission an affidavit certifying that the telecommunications provider is in compliance wit…

Sec. 56.031. ADJUSTMENTS: TEXAS HIGH COST UNIVERSAL SERVICE PLAN. The commission may revise the monthly per line support amounts to be made available from the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan after notice and an opportunity for hearing. In determining appropriate monthly pe…

Sec. 56.032. ADJUSTMENTS: SMALL AND RURAL INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE COMPANY UNIVERSAL SERVICE PLAN. (a) In this section: (1) "Rate of return" means the Federal Communications Commission's prescribed rate of return as of the date of any determination, review, or adjustment under th…

Sec. 56.033. SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO DEREGULATED MARKETS. (a) An incumbent local exchange company may not receive support from the universal service fund for a deregulated market that has a population of at least 30,000. (b) An incumbent local exchange company may receive support fr…

Sec. 56.101. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for the uniform and coordinated provision by one telecommunications carrier of a statewide telecommunications relay access service for persons with an impairment of hearing or speech. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166…

Sec. 56.102. TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE. (a) The commission shall adopt and enforce rules establishing a statewide telecommunications relay access service for the use of a person with an impairment of hearing or speech. (b) The commission rules shall provide that the…

Sec. 56.103. TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The telecommunications relay access service shall provide a person with an impairment of hearing or speech with access to the telecommunications network in this state equivalent to the access provided other cu…

Sec. 56.104. TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE CHARGES. (a) For a call made using the telecommunications relay access service, the person calling or called: (1) may not be charged for a call that originates and terminates in the same local calling area; and (2) shall pay on…

Sec. 56.105. TRIAL SERVICE COSTS AND DESIGN INFORMATION. If the commission orders a local exchange company to provide for a trial telecommunications relay access service for persons with an impairment of hearing or speech, all pertinent costs and design information from the trial…

Sec. 56.106. TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE ASSESSMENTS. (a) The commission shall set appropriate assessments for all telecommunications utilities to fund the telecommunications relay access service. (b) In setting an assessment, the commission shall consider: (1) the ag…

Sec. 56.107. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND SURCHARGE. (a) A telecommunications utility may recover the utility's universal service fund assessment for the telecommunications relay access service through a surcharge added to the utility customers' bills. (b) The commission shall specify …

Sec. 56.108. SELECTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE CARRIER. (a) The commission shall select one telecommunications carrier to provide the statewide telecommunications relay access service. (b) The commission shall make a written award of the contract to the telecom…

Sec. 56.1085. SPECIAL FEATURES FOR RELAY ACCESS SERVICE. (a) The commission may contract for a special feature for the state's telecommunications relay access service if the commission determines: (1) the feature will benefit the communication of persons with an impairment of hea…

Sec. 56.109. COMPENSATION OF CARRIER. (a) The telecommunications carrier selected to provide the telecommunications relay access service under Section 56.108 or the carrier selected to provide a special feature for the telecommunications relay access service under Section 56.1085…

Sec. 56.110. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) An advisory committee to assist the commission in administering this subchapter is composed of the following persons appointed by the commission: (1) two persons with disabilities that impair the ability to effectively access the telephone net…

Sec. 56.111. ADVISORY COMMITTEE DUTIES. The advisory committee shall: (1) monitor the establishment, administration, and promotion of the statewide telecommunications relay access service; (2) advise the commission in pursuing a service that meets the needs of persons with an imp…

Sec. 56.112. ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUPPORT AND COSTS. (a) The commission shall provide to the advisory committee: (1) clerical and staff support; and (2) a secretary to record committee meetings. (b) The costs associated with the advisory committee shall be reimbursed from the unive…

Sec. 56.113. ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES. A member of the advisory committee serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement at rates established for state employees for travel and per diem incurred in the performance of the member's official duties.…

Sec. 56.151. SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) The executive commissioner, after consulting with the department, by rule shall establish a specialized telecommunications assistance program to provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities that …

Sec. 56.152. ELIGIBILITY. The executive commissioner, after consulting with the department, by rule shall prescribe eligibility standards for individuals, including deaf individuals and individuals who have an impairment of hearing or speech, to receive an assistance voucher unde…

Sec. 56.153. VOUCHERS. (a) The department shall determine a reasonable price for a basic specialized telecommunications device that permits, or basic specialized services that permit, telephone network access and distribute to each eligible applicant a voucher that guarantees pay…

Sec. 56.154. DEPARTMENT DUTIES. (a) Not later than the 45th day after the date the department receives a voucher a telecommunications device distributor presents for payment or a voucher a telecommunications service provider presents for payment, the department shall pay to the d…