HBA-TYH H.B. 3393 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3393 By: Brimer State Affairs 4/21/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current Internet technology allows Texas communities access to television cable lines that carry both internet and telephone services. However, some owners of the cable lines installed in the homes refuse to give Texas Internet customers a free choice in Internet service providers. H.B. 3393 requires each wireline broadband Internet access transport provider who is an Internet service provider to provide any other requesting Internet service provider access to its broadband Internet access transport services, unbundled from the provision of content, on rates, terms, and conditions that are at least as favorable as those on which it provides such access to itself, to its affiliate, or to any other person. This bill also requires such access to be provided at any technically feasible point selected by the requesting Internet service provider. This would provide Texas Internet customers with open access to their choice of Internet service providers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.001, Utilities Code, to define "broadband," "broadband Internet access transport services," "Internet," "Internet service provider," and "wireline broadband Internet access transport provider." Redesignates Subdivisions (1)-(5) to Subdivisions (5)-(9). SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Utilities Code, by adding Section 61.027, as follows: Sec. 61.027. DUTY OF CERTAIN PROVIDERS. Requires each wireline broadband Internet access transport provider who is, or is an affiliate of, an Internet service provider to provide any other requesting Internet service provider access to its broadband Internet access transport services, unbundled from the provision of content, on rates, terms, and conditions that are at least as favorable as those on which it provides such access to itself, to its affiliate, or to any other person. Requires such access to be provided at any technically feasible point selected by the requesting Internet service provider. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.