The commission must adopt and enforce rules that require local exchange companies to establish a 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 rates in high cost rural areas under two plans: (A) the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.403); and (B) the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Company Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.404); (2) reimburse the telecommunications carrier that provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service under Subchapter D; (3) finance the specialized telecommunications assistance program established under Subchapter E; (4) reimburse the department and the commission for costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57; (5) reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as amended; (6) finance the implementation and administration of the identification process under Section 17.007 for telecommunications services; (7) reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter F; (8) reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G; and (9) finance the program established under Subchapter H. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 18.08(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 835, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1553, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 651, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1451, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 17.001, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 5), Sec. 12, eff. September 7, 2005. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 314 (H.B. 2295), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 532 (S.B. 512), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 48 (S.B. 1976), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.