Bill Text: TX SB507 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to an accommodation process authorizing the use of state highway rights-of-way by broadband-only providers.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Effective immediately [SB507 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB507-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 507 | ||
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| relating to an accommodation process authorizing the use of state | ||
| highway rights-of-way by broadband-only providers. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Transportation Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Section 250.002 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 250.002. RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCOMMODATION FOR | ||
| BROADBAND-ONLY PROVIDERS. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Broadband-only provider" means an entity that | ||
| exclusively provides 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. | ||
| (b) The commission by rule shall: | ||
| (1) on a competitively and technologically neutral and | ||
| nondiscriminatory basis with respect to other providers of | ||
| broadband service, establish an accommodation process that | ||
| authorizes broadband-only providers to use state highway | ||
| rights-of-way, subject to highway purposes, for: | ||
| (A) new broadband facility installations; | ||
| (B) additions to or maintenance of existing | ||
| broadband facility installations; | ||
| (C) adjustments or relocations of broadband | ||
| facilities; and | ||
| (D) existing broadband facilities retained | ||
| within the rights-of-way; and | ||
| (2) prescribe minimum requirements for the | ||
| accommodation, method, materials, and location for the | ||
| installation, adjustment, and maintenance of broadband facilities | ||
| under the accommodation process. | ||
| SECTION 2. Not later than the first anniversary of the | ||
| effective date of this Act, the Texas Transportation Commission | ||
| shall adopt the rules required by Section 250.002, Transportation | ||
| Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 507 passed the Senate on | ||
| March 31, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 507 passed the House on | ||
| May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, one | ||
| present not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
