Tex. Local Government Code § 283.006: FEE REQUIREMENT FOR USE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a certificated telecommunications provider that does not use a public right-of-way within the municipality may not be required to pay franchise fees, right-of-way fees or any other fee or other compensation, other than a fee or compensation excluded from the "base amount" under Section 283.053(a), directly to the municipality to provide local exchange telephone service in the municipality.

(b) This section does not affect the number of access lines counted and reported to the commission under Section 283.055.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules to determine the method of payment and to ensure that access line fees are paid on a competitively neutral and non-discriminatory basis by certificated telecommunications providers that provide more access lines than they purchase from an underlying provider of resold services or unbundled network elements.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 840, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.