Texas Senate Passes VoIP Bill

The Texas Senate passed a telecom bill Thursday to clarify that the Public Utility Commission should continue to grant operating authority certificates to VoIP providers (SB-2399). Wednesday in Montana, the House passed two infrastructure bills. The chamber voted 98-0 to concur with the Senate on SB-521, which would allow applicants seeking to use the right-of-way to seek exceptions to paying fair market value. The House voted 73-25 for an amended SB-531, which would update state rules and definitions for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment program. Also Wednesday, the Washington state Senate voted 48-0 for an amended HB-1711, which would provide a sales and use tax exemption for internet and telecom infrastructure projects involving a federally recognized tribe.