Certain telecom companies must provide advanced services in rural areas on request, on comparable terms, and within 15 months; the commission may enforce the section.
Sec. 55.014. PROVISION OF ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. (a) In this section, "advanced service" means any telecommunications service other than residential or business basic local exchange telephone service, caller identification service, and customer calling features. (b) This section applies to a company electing under Chapter 58 or a company that holds a certificate of operating authority or service provider certificate of operating authority. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, beginning September 1, 2001, a company to which this section applies that provides advanced telecommunications services within the company's urban service areas, shall, on a bona fide retail request for those services, provide in rural areas of this state served by the company advanced telecommunications services that are reasonably comparable to the advanced services provided in urban areas. The company shall offer the advanced telecommunications services: (1) at prices, terms, and conditions that are reasonably comparable to the prices, terms, and conditions for similar advanced services provided by the company in urban areas; and (2) within 15 months after the bona fide request for those advanced services. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a company to which this section applies shall, on a bona fide retail request for those services, offer caller identification service and custom calling features in rural areas served by the company. The company shall offer the services: (1) at prices, terms, and conditions reasonably comparable to the company's prices, terms, and conditions for similar services in urban areas; and (2) within 15 months after the bona fide request for those services. (e) This section may not be construed to require a company to: (1) begin providing services in a rural area in which the company does not provide local exchange telephone service; or (2) provide a service in a rural area of this state unless the company provides the service in urban areas of this state. (f) For purposes of this section, a company to which this section applies is considered to provide services in urban areas of this state if the company provides services in a municipality with a population of more than 190,000. (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the commission has all jurisdiction necessary to enforce this section. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.