AgdaPkt 2005-09-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~-¿;- THE TEXAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS REFORM MEASURE to obtain other rights-of-way or to make pay- ments for easements in addition to payments made by the utility for the placement of its electric delivery system. 7. Provides that an electric utility that allows BPL shall employ all reasonable mea- sures to protect electric reliability. 8. Prohibits the Public Utility Commission or any state or local government from: (a) requiring a utility to install a BPL system on its power lines or to offer BPL services in all or any part of the utility's certificated service area; (b) requiring a utility to allow others to install a BPL system on the utility's electric delivery system; or (c) prohibiting a utility from installing a BPL system or offering BPL services in any part or all of the utility's certificated service area. 9. Provides that if a city is already collect- ing a charge or fee from an electric utility for the use of a street, alley, or public way for the delivery of electricity to retail electric custom- ers, the city is prohibited from requiring a BPL franchise and is prohibited from imposing or collecting a charge, fee, or tax from an electric utility for installing equipment to facilitate BPL services on an existing electric distribution system. 10. Authorizes the state or a city to impose a charge on the provision of BPL services that is no greater than the lowest charge the state or a city imposes on other broadband providers for use of the public rights-of-way. 11. Provides that a municipally owned utility is not prohibited from providing energy-related data services, such as load management or automated meter reading, to its energy cus- tomers. 12. Prohibits a city or a municipally owned utility from discriminating against a certified Page 3 of 3 telecommunications provider regarding the use of the public rights-of-way. 13. Prohibits a city or a municipally owned utility from charging more for a pole attach- ment than is allowed by federal law, and requires a city or MOU to establish a single, uniform pole attachment fee prior to Septem- ber 1 , 2006. 14. Requires a study of the purposes of the Universal Service Fund, and whether the fund has achieved its goals. 15. Provides that all incumbent local exchange markets are deregulated on January 1,2006 (or January 1, 2007, for areas with a population less than 30,000); unless the Public Utility Commission determines that a market should remain regulated. 16. Provides that an incumbent local exchange company may elect to remain regulated. 17. Requires telecommunications and cable employees to provide identification when entering real property to work within a public right of way. 18. Creates a telecommunications com- petitiveness legislative oversight committee to report to the legislature on telecommunica- tions issues. PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities,org