If you have received a letter regarding the Texas Universal
Service Fund (TUSF) assessment, it is because you have
been identified by the Texas Comptrollers office as
an entity that reports taxable telecommunications
receipts under Chapter 151 of the Texas Tax Code. The
TUSF is supported by a charge of about 24% of
all taxable telecommunications receipts of Texas
telecommunications providers.
If you believe
that you are not a telecommunications provider as that
term is defined below, please send a letter briefly
stating the basis for the assertion that you are not a
telecommunications provider. Your letter will assist us
in maintaining accurate records.
Send your
letter to the following address:
Attn: |
TUSF
c/o Solix
10 Lanidex Plaza West
Parsippany, NJ 07054-0685
|
The
Public Utility Commission hired an outside entity to
administer the TUSF because the PUC does not have
sufficient in-house resources or expertise to manage the
daily operations of the fund. For questions regarding the TUSF
contact Solix's TUSF hotline at (800)
899-6078.
Solix was
selected as the TUSF administrator through a competitive
bidding process because it offered the best package of
services at the best price. Solix serves as the
administrator for at least six other state universal
service funds.
If you still
have outstanding questions after contacting the Solix,
please notify the TUSF Administrator at the Public Utility
Commission of Texas.
Attn: |
TUSF
Administrator
Public Utility Commission of Texas
PO Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326
|
Introduction
In 1987, the Texas
Legislature established a Universal Service
Funding mechanism, which has changed over time
through amendments to the Texas statute. The
current rules concerning universal service in
place at the Public Utility Commission of Texas
complement the federal universal service rules
and are appropriate for the changes in the
telecommunications industry toward a competitive
market.
The Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF) is financed by a charge of 24% of all taxable telecommunications basic service receipts of Texas' telecommunications providers. In July 2022, a court ordered the PUC to fix shortfalls in the fund. As a result, the PUC adopted a temporary rate of 24% up from 3.3 percent, which will generate enough in fees to fully fund all outstanding obligations. Once the outstanding obligations are fulfilled, the Commission anticipates lowering the rate to a level that maintains the fund balance going forward. Telecommunications providers are not required to pass the costs of the TUSF through to residential and business customers on their monthly bills, but they may choose to do so. Currently, the TUSF supports several programs: the Relay Texas and Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Programs, the Tel-Assistance, Lifeline and Link Up programs, and the Small Local Exchange Carriers Universal Service Fund, and the Texas High-Cost Universal Service Plan.
Texas Statutory Sections that Pertain to the TUSF
Sec.51.002. DEFINITIONS.
(10)
"Telecommunications provider":
(A) means:
(i) a
certificated telecommunications
utility;
(ii) a
shared tenant service provider;
(iii)
a nondominant carrier of
telecommunications services;
(iv) a
provider of commercial mobile
service as defined by Section
332(d), Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. Section 151 et
seq.), Federal Communications
Commission rules, and the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
(Public Law 103-66);
(v) a
telecommunications entity that
provides central office based
PBX-type sharing or resale
arrangements;
(vi)
an interexchange
telecommunications carrier;
(vii)
a specialized common carrier;
(viii)
a reseller of communications;
(ix) a
provider of operator services;
(x) a
provider of customer-owned pay
telephone service; or
(xi)
a person or entity
determined by the commission to
provide telecommunications
services to customers in this
state; and
(B) does not
mean:
(i) a
provider of enhanced or
information services, or another
user of telecommunications
services, who does not also
provide telecommunications
services; or
(ii) a
state agency or state institution
of higher education, or a service
provided by a state agency or
state institution of higher
education.
Sec.56.022. UNIFORM CHARGE
(a) The universal service
fund is funded by a statewide uniform charge
payable by each telecommunications provider
that has access to the customer base.
(b) A telecommunications
provider shall pay the charge in accordance
with procedures approved by the commission.
(c) The uniform charge is
on services and at rates the commission
determines. In establishing the charge and
the services to which the charge will apply,
the commission may not:
(1) grant an
unreasonable preference or advantage
to a telecommunications provider;
(2) assess the charge on pay telephone; or
(3) subject a
telecommunications provider to
unreasonable prejudice or
disadvantage.
Helpful Links
For information about the Federal Universal
Service Fund check: http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/universal_service/welcome.html