TITLE 16.ECONOMIC REGULATION

Part 2. PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS

Chapter 26. SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (commission) adopts amendments to §26.128 relating to Telephone Directories and §26.415 relating to the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) with no changes to the proposed text as published in the October 26, 2001 Texas Register (26 TexReg 8444). The amendment to §26.128 is necessary to implement the provisions of House Bill 2345, 77th Legislature (HB 2345), relating to the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program, and the provisions of House Bill 472, 77th Legislature (HB 472), relating to new §43.101(c) of the Texas Telemarketing Disclosure and Privacy Act as it relates to telephone directories. The amendment to §26.128 also removes references to Chapter 23 and makes other non-substantive changes. The amendment to §26.415 is necessary to implement the provisions of HB 2345 and clarifies vendor registration and reimbursement requirements and procedures for the STAP. Other amendments are non- substantive. These amendments were adopted under Project Number 24525.

A public hearing on the amendments was held at commission offices on November 29, 2001 at 9:30 a.m. Representatives from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SWBT) and John Staurulakis, Inc. attended the hearing, but provided no comments.

The commission received no written comments on the proposed amendments.

Subchapter F. REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

16 TAC §26.128

This amendment is adopted under the Public Utility Regulatory Act, Texas Utilities Code Annotated §14.002 (Vernon 1998, Supplement 2002) (PURA), which provides the Public Utility Commission with the authority to make and enforce rules reasonably required in the exercise of its powers and jurisdiction; and specifically, an Act approved May 28, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 424, §6, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 761, 762, which requires the commission to adopt rules, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Act, under PURA, Chapter 56, Subchapter E, as amended by the Act, to conform the specialized telecommunications assistance program established under that subchapter to changes in law made by the Act and to adopt rules under PURA §55.203(g), as added by the Act, promptly and to make the rules apply to directories published on or after January 1, 2002; and an Act approved June 17, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 1429, §1, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 4812, 4814-4815, which requires the commission to establish a Texas no-call list.

Cross Reference to Statutes: Public Utility Regulatory Act §§14.002, 55.203(g), and 56.156; and Texas Business and Commerce Code §43.101(c).

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 2001.

TRD-200108266

Rhonda Dempsey

Rules Coordinator

Public Utility Commission of Texas

Effective date: January 10, 2002

Proposal publication date: October 26, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7308


Subchapter P. TEXAS UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND

16 TAC §26.415

This amendment is adopted under the Public Utility Regulatory Act, Texas Utilities Code Annotated §14.002 (Vernon 1998, Supplement 2002) (PURA), which provides the Public Utility Commission with the authority to make and enforce rules reasonably required in the exercise of its powers and jurisdiction; and specifically, an Act approved May 28, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 424, §6, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 761, 762, which requires the commission to adopt rules, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Act, under PURA, Chapter 56, Subchapter E, as amended by the Act, to conform the specialized telecommunications assistance program established under that subchapter to changes in law made by the Act and to adopt rules under PURA §55.203(g), as added by the Act, promptly and to make the rules apply to directories published on or after January 1, 2002; and an Act approved June 17, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 1429, §1, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 4812, 4814-4815, which requires the commission to establish a Texas no-call list.

Cross Reference to Statutes: Public Utility Regulatory Act §§14.002, 55.203(g), and 56.156; and Texas Business and Commerce Code §43.101(c).

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 2001.

TRD-200108267

Rhonda G. Dempsey

Rules Coordinator

Public Utility Commission of Texas

Effective date: January 10, 2002

Proposal publication date: October 26, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7308


Subchapter R. PROVISIONS RELATING TO MUNICIPAL REGULATION AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT

16 TAC §26.467

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (commission) adopts an amendment to §26.467 relating to Rates, Allocation, Compensation, Adjustments and Reporting with no changes to the proposed text as published in the October 26, 2001 Texas Register (26 TexReg 8447). The amendment is necessary to implement House Bill 1777, 76th Legislature, Regular Session (1999) (HB 1777) which authorizes the commission to determine a uniform method for calculating municipal franchise compensation paid by certificated telecommunications providers (CTPs). Local Government Code §283.055(g) requires that "beginning 24 months after the date the commission establishes rates per access line, the commission shall annually adjust the rates per access line for each municipality by an amount equal to one-half the annual change, if any, in the consumer price index." The amendment deletes the language in §26.467(j) delineating the specific timeframe during which consumer price index (CPI) adjustments will be made to the commission-established access line rates. The amendment ensures that §26.467 is consistent with the Local Government Code and allows the commission to process the CPI adjustments to the commission-established access line rates in a more efficient manner. The amendment was adopted under Project Number 24683.

No comments were received in reference to this proposed amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Public Utility Regulatory Act, Texas Utilities Code Annotated, §14.002 (Vernon 1998, Supplement 2002), which provides the commission with the authority to make and enforce rules reasonably required in the exercise of its powers and jurisdiction. The amendment is also adopted under Local Government Code, §283.058, which grants the commission jurisdiction over municipalities and CTPs necessary to enforce the provisions of Chapter 283.

Cross Reference to Statutes: Public Utility Regulatory Act §14.002 and Local Government Code §283.058.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 2001.

TRD-200108268

Rhonda G. Dempsey

Rules Coordinator

Public Utility Commission of Texas

Effective date: January 10, 2002

Proposal publication date: October 26, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7308