• Notice of posted questions and public workshop
• Who should respond and how
• Discounts under review
• Questions posted
• How to submit responses

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas is gathering information related to telecommunications incentive regulations. For libraries and educational institutions, this topic relates to the telecommunications discounts for network services available through Chapters 58 and 59 of the Public Utility Code (i.e., H.B. 2128 related discounts enacted in 1995). This data gathering process will form the basis of the Commission's report to the 79th Legislature and will recommend if the discounts (among other incentive-related programs) should be continued and, if so, in what form.

As part of this process, the PUC has published series of questions related to the discounts and other matters in order to gather public input. (The questions, which are published in the Texas Register at www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/in-addition/in-addition.html#585, are included at the end of this Texline message.) The PUC also published notice of a public workshop on these matters to be held June 23, 2004 at 9:00 am in Austin at the Travis Building. It is critical that the PUC receive many responses documenting the value of the telecommunications discounts for libraries and educational institutions through this process. Anyone interested in attending the workshop is welcomed to do so.

WHO SHOULD RESPOND TO THE PUC QUESTIONS

If your library does not handle telecommunications issues directly, you are encouraged to make your campus network administrators aware of the PUC process and to encourage them to respond to the PUC review. We encourage any library or educational institution that has directly contracted for their telecommunications services and has benefited from the discounts to respond to the questions.

If your library handles its own telecommunications services:

1. Librarians should determine which discounts (if any) have been applied to the library's telecommunication services.
2. Quantify these savings.
3. Describe the benefits of these discounts: 1) in terms of what the savings have allowed the library to purchase or achieve in technology infrastructure and 2) as they translate into improved public services. Include specific examples.

If your library does not handle its own telecommunications services:

Make your network administrators aware of the PUC review if your library does not handle telecommunications billing and contracting directly. Be sure to give network administrators information on the need for and use of your library's online capabilities. Help them prepare meaningful responses to the questions.

Be sure to send the TLA office a copy of your institution's responses. Email to gloriam@txla.org or fax to 512/328-8852/

DISCOUNTS BEING REVIEWED

• Telecommunications services for certain private network services at 105% of cost (110% for some companies), including frame relay service to link branches to the central library, for example.
• T-1 discounted rates based on statewide averages
• All Chapter 58 and 59 providers must allow eligible entities to share network services. Internet access through THENET, for example, is possible through this mechanism.

QUESTIONS POSTED BY THE PUC

The commission requests interested persons file comments to address the following questions:

(NOTE: WHILE NOT ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED, THE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER AND THE QUESTION NUMBER INCLUDED FOR EACH RESPONSE.)

1. For companies that have elected incentive regulation under Chapter 58 or Chapter 59 please describe in detail, using facts and concrete examples, the effects of that election on consumer benefits, including the effects on:

(a) the Texas business community, including small, medium, and large businesses;

(b) Texas residential consumers; and

(c) libraries and educational institutions.

2. For companies that have elected incentive regulation under Chapter 58 or Chapter 59, please describe in detail, using facts and concrete examples, the effects of that election on competition.

3. For companies that have elected incentive regulation under Chapter 58 or Chapter 59, please describe in detail, using facts and concrete examples, the effects of that election on quality of service.

4. For companies that have elected incentive regulation under Chapter 58 or Chapter 59, please describe in detail, using facts and concrete examples, the effects of that election on infrastructure investments. Please include discussion as to whether the phone companies that have elected into incentive regulation have met the infrastructure commitments required by PURA Chapter 58, Subchapters F and G, and Chapter 59, Subchapters C and D, including infrastructure commitments regarding:

(a) libraries and educational institutions;

(b) telemedicine centers; and

(c) public or not-for-profit hospitals or not-for-profit heath care centers.

5. Based on the responses to questions 1 - 4 above, should the incentive regulation provided by Chapters 58 and 59 be extended, modified, eliminated, or replaced with another form of regulation? Please explain why or why not.

HOW TO SUBMIT RESPONSES

Responses may be filed by submitting 16 copies to the commission's Filing Clerk, Public Utility Commission of Texas, 1701 North Congress Avenue, P.O. Box 13326, Austin, Texas 78711-3326 within 20 days of the date (May 28) of publication of this notice. All responses should reference Project Number 29072. The commission requests that comments be limited to 30 pages.

For additional information on the PUC process, go to http://www.puc.state.tx.us/telecomm/projects/29072/29072.cfm.