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                             Texas HB 2128
           Potential Problems for the Texas Online Community
                         Monday, May 1st, 1995
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Contents:
        [1] ANALYSIS OF HB2128
        [2] STATUS OF THE BILL
        [3] WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING YOUR LUNCH HOUR TUESDAY
        [4] WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER TUESDAY
                Appendix A : Members of Senate Economic Development
                Appendix B : Texas Senate Directory

Please distribute widely to all internet service provider (ISP) users
and all bulletin board system (BBS) users. Sysops : please place in a
forum or newsgroup where it is likely to be read by all of your users.
Please re-distribute to other syops that may not have a copy.

Deadline : Do Not Re-distribute Past May 15th.

Authors : David Smith   (bladex@bga.com)
          Paul Elliott  (Paul.Elliott@HrnOwl.LoneStar.Org)

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                          ANALYSIS OF HB 2128

The State of Texas is in the process of a comprehensive overhaul of the
telecommunications infrastructure. According to the preamble, the
intention of HB 2128 is to promote diversity, encourage a competitive
marketplace, and maintain the wide availability of high quality
telecommunication services.

Buried in the detailed language of the 200 page bill, however, are
provisions which we believe contradict these statements, and have an
overwhelming negative impact on the online community.  Specifically, the
bill is written in such a way that it:

  1) brings BBS and Internet Service Providers under PUC jurisdiction
  2) depending on the section, doubles or triples the telephone rates
     internet service provider users currently pay by altering the
     current tariff and rate structures.

Earlier alerts included an expanded point-by-point analysis that details
those sections in the bill which raise these issues and concerns.  This
analysis is available via the Web at (http://www.eden.com/~readthis) and
also via e-mail from Paul.Elliott@HrnOwl.LoneStar.Org.

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STATUS OF THE BILL

_____   House State Affairs committee -- passed.
_____   House of Representatives -- passed voice vote.
_XXX_   Senate committee : Economic Development
_____   Senate
_____   Joint resolution committee (to work out differences in versions)

Between passing out of the State Affairs committee and being voted on by
the full House, an amendment by Rep. Scott Hochberg was attached which
clarified the issue of being defined as an electronic publisher. This
would have mandated that BBS systems be charged the same rates as
something like the Austin American Statesman's Inside Line service.

Legislative aide Jerry Johnson has also been working on drafting
amendments which would help clarify the bill as it applies to BBS
systems and ISPs, and also provide some protection.

The need still exists, however, to close potential loopholes which would
inadvertently suck the online community into a telecommunications
deregulation maelstrom.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING YOUR LUNCH HOUR ON TUESDAY

What's necessary tomorrow is testimony before the Senate Committee on
Economic Development, to raise the issue of how telecommunications
reform will affects the online community.

This is actually much less intimidating than it sounds.  What you can do
is sign a witness affirmation card, stating that you are here to testify
against HB 2128 and any negative impacts to bulletin board systems and
Internet service providers.

Then you can yield your time.

Two people have stepped forward to actually speak in front of the
committee -- Scott McCullough who will testify on the specific legal
language needed to tighten the scope of the bill, and Mike Byrnes, who
will speak as both a BBS sysop and Internet service provider (Turning
Point Systems) and the need to keep them free from regulation and rate
hikes.

You may also speak, if you feel comfortable doing so, but you can also
simply fill out an affirmation card which will serve the same purpose --
let the legislators know that you are concerned.  Committees also don't
appreciate having to listen to the same statements being made over and
over and over again, so this is really a win-win scenario for both
political players.

You can sign up in two ways :

        (1) After 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, you can go to the Capitol
        Extension E1.106 and pick them up from the committee clerk
        (Barbara Henderson) who should be at the front of the room, or
        at least highly visible, and request a witness affirmation card.

        (2) Cards will be available at the law offices of Scott
        McCullough, 711 West 7th street, between the hours of 9:45 a.m.
        and noon.  This is a smaller window of opportunity, but it is
        much more convenient than trying to find a parking space in and
        around the state capitol. There will also be a sample card
        available.

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                     WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER TUESDAY

1) Contact the appropriate Senators. The committee will probably only
discuss the bill for a couple of days before marking it up with
additional language and amendments, so it's best to contact them
immediately.  You will also want to contact the Senator from your area.
Appendixes are included at the end of this document that provide
directory information.

2) Contact includes faxes, letters, and phone calls. Given the time
crunch and the nature of the situation, either method will be as
effective.  Choose the one that you feel most comfortable doing.

3) When contacting representatives, we request that you keep your
rhetoric under control.  Persistance is distinct from flaming.


Sample fax/mail communication -- revise as you feel appropriate.


Dear Senator ____________________:

re: access to the Internet by ordinary people
re: the future of local Bulletin Board Services


I am  ________________  <describe who you are : sysop, BBS user, etc.>
I use my BBS/Internet access to _______________  (1 or 2 sentences)

You may not be aware of some of the inadvertent consequences of HB 2128.  

Designed to deregulate the telecommunications infrastructure of Texas,
the bill does just the opposite for Bulletin Board systems and Internet
Service Providers by bringing them under the jurisdiction of PUC
regulation and possibly doubling or even tripling the current rate
structures.

Almost all BBS are involved in useful and legitimate activity, such as 
facilitating discussion on a large number of topics, and distributing
public domain software and "shareware".

The Internet services providers are highly competitive. I have noted a number
of new Internet services providers over the last year, and they seem to be 
dropping their prices.

Bulletin Board systems and Internet service providers are not currently
regulated by the Public Utility Commission, so it just doesn't make
sense to regulate them now.

Most of the 2,000 or so Bulletin Board systems in Texas are operated by
people who run them as a hobby, making their systems available to the
public for free. Higher phone rates means many of these people will
simply choose to shut down, resulting in less diversity.

Please amend the language to specifically preclude bulletin board
systems and Internet service providers from being considered
"telecommunications utilities" or "telecommunications providers".
Also please clarify the bill so that internet service providers
are not classified as being involved in "resale" or "switched
access".


Thank you,




Your name
Your address


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Appendix A : (source : Texas Legislative gopher)

                LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM           DATE: 01/10/95
                  74TH REGULAR SESSION - 1995            TIME: 18:42:18

              SENATE COMMITTEE ON Economic Development
              APPOINTMENT DATE: 12/13/94

      CHAIR: Sen. David Sibley (22)             CLERK: Barbara Henderson
 VICE-CHAIR: Sen. Peggy Rosson (29)             PHONE: (512) 463-0365
                                                 BLDG: Sam Houston
                                                 ROOM: 915

    MEMBERS: Sen. Rodney Ellis (13)
             Sen. Chris Harris (10)
             Sen. Tom Haywood  (30)
             Sen. Don Henderson (7)
             Sen. John Leedom (16)
             Sen. Eddie Lucio (27)
             Sen. Frank Madla (19)
             Sen. Jerry Patterson (11)
             Sen. Florence Shapiro (8)


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                              TEXAS SENATE
                            74th Legislature

The mailing address for all senators is:
 P.O. Box 12068
 Austin, TX 78711

Senator: Bill Ratliff #1 Republican
 (512) 463-0101
District Address:
 P. O. Box 1218
 Mount Pleasant, Texas 75456
 (903) 572-1887
Counties Represented:
 Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins
 Lamar, Marion, Morris, Red River, Rusk, Smith (part), Titus,
 Upshur
Senator: David Cain #2 Democrat
 (512) 463-0102
District Address:
 110 North College, Suite 1008
 Tyler, Texas 75702
 (903) 592-5595 
Counties Represented:
 Dallas (part), Ellis (part), Fannin, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall 
(part), Smith (part), Van Zandt, Wood
Senator: Drew Nixon #3 Republican
 (512) 463-0103
District Address:
 316 West Sabine
 Carthage, Texas 75633
 (903) 693-9133

 217 East Lamar, Suite A 
 Jasper, Texas 75961
 (409) 384-9991

 300 West Davis, Suite 530
 Nations Bank Tower
 Conroe, Texas 77301
 (409) 756-5168

Counties Represented:
 Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Hardin, Henderson, Jasper,
 Montgomery (part), Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Sabine,
 San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith (part), Tyler
Senator: Michael Galloway #4 Republican
 (512) 463-0104
District Address:
 21 Yewleaf Road
 The Woodlands, Texas 77381
 (713) 364-7725
Counties Represented:
 Chambers, Galveston (part), Harris (part), Jefferson, Liberty
 Montgomery (part), Orange
Senator: James W. (Jim) Turner #5 Democrat
 (512) 463-0105 (512) 463-0216 (Fax)
District Address:
 603 East Goliad
 Crockett, Texas 75835
 (409) 544-3215

 3000 Briarcrest, Suite 416
 Bryan, Texas 77802
 (409) 774-1665
 (409) 776-8941 (Fax)
Counties Represented:
 Brazos, Burleson, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Houston
 Lee, Leon, Limestone, McLennan (part), Madison, Milam,
 Navarro, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington,
 Williamson (part)
Senator: Mario Gallegos #6 Democrat
 (512) 463-0106 (512) 463-0346 (Fax)
District Address:
 P. O. Box 41
 2205 Clinton Dr.
 Galena Park, Texas 77547
 (713) 678-8600
 (713) 678-7080 (Fax)
Email Address: Mario.Gallegos@capitol.tlc.texas.gov
Counties Represented: Harris (part)
Senator: Don Henderson #7 Republican
 (512) 463-0107
District Address:
 7915 FM 1960 West, Suite 202
 Houston, Texas 77070
 (713) 469-1977
Counties Represented: Harris (part)
Senator: Florence Shapiro #8 Republican
 (512) 463-0108
District Address:
 3700 West 15th Street, Suite 100-C
 Plano, Texas 75075
 (214) 964-5585
Counties Represented: Collin (part), Dallas (part)
Senator: Jane Nelson #9 Republican
 (512) 463-0109
District Address:
 3700 Forums, Suite 201
 Lewisville, Texas 75028
 (214) 724-0066
Counties Represented: Dallas (part), Denton (part), Ellis (part), Tarrant (part)
Senator: Chris Harris #10 Republican
 (512) 463-0110
District Address:
 1309 West Abram, Suite 202
 Arlington, Texas 76013
 (817) 861-9333
Counties Represented: Johnson (part), Parker (part), Tarrant (part)
Senator: Jerry Patterson #11 Republican
 (512) 463-0111
District Addresses:
 2625 Bay Area Blvd., Suite 120
 Pasadena, Texas 77058
 (713) 486-0111

 305 21st Street, Suite 246
 Galveston, Texas 77550
Counties Represented: Brazoria (part), Galveston (part), Harris (part)
Senator: Mike Moncrief #12 Democrat
 (512) 463-0112
District Address:
 1701 River Run, Suite 302
 Fort Worth, Texas 76107
 (817) 338-9420
Counties Represented: Tarrant (part)
Senator: Rodney G. Ellis #13 Democrat
 (512) 463-0113
District Address:
 440 Louisiana, Suite 575
 Houston, Texas 77002
 (713) 236-0306
Counties Represented: Fort Bend (part), Harris (part)
Senator: Gonzalo Barrientos #14 Democrat
 (512) 463-0114 (512) 463-5949 (Fax)
District Addresses:
 1400 Congress Avenue
 Austin, Texas 78701
 (512) 463-0114

 105 Center Street
 Kyle, Texas 78640
 (512) 268-1358
Counties Represented: Hays (part), Travis (part)
Senator: John Whitmire #15 Democrat
 (512) 463-0115
District Address:
 803 Yale Street
 Houston, Texas 77007
 (713) 864-8701
Counties Represented: Harris (part)
Senator: John N. Leedom #16 Republican
 (512) 463-0116
District Address:
 2809 Ross Avenue
 Dallas, Texas 75201
 (214) 969-5444
Counties Represented: Dallas (part), Rockwall (part)
Senator: J. E. (Buster) Brown #17 Republican
 (512) 463-0117
District Address:
 490 Thisway
 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
 (409) 297-3221
Counties Represented: Brazoria (part), Fort Bend (part), Harris (part)
Senator: Kenneth L. (Ken) Armbrister #18 Democrat
 (512) 463-0118 (512) 475-3736 (Fax)
District Address:
 3205 East Mockingbird
 Victoria, Texas 77904
 (512) 572-8061
Counties Represented:
 Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt
 Fayette, Fort Bend (part), Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe (part),
 Hays (part), Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio,
 Victoria, Wharton
Senator: Frank L. Madla, Jr. #19 Democrat
 (512) 463-0119
District Address:
 1313 Southeast Military Drive, Suite 101
 San Antonio, Texas 78214
 (210) 927-9464
Counties Represented:
 Atascosa (part), Bexar (part), Brewster, Crockett, Culberson
 (part), Edwards, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Medina (part),
 Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves (part), Sutton (part), Terrell,
 Uvalde (part), Val Verde
Senator: Carlos F. Truan #20 Democrat
 (512) 463-0120
District Address:
 4531 Ayers, Suite 402
 Corpus Christi, Texas 78467
 (210) 853-2693
Counties Represented:
 Brooks, Hidalgo (part), Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces,
 San Patricio, Willacy
Senator: Judith Zaffirini #21 Democrat
 (512) 463-0121
District Addresses:
 1407 Washington Street
 Laredo, Texas 78042
 (210) 722-2293

 12702 Toepperwein Rd, Suite 214
 San Antonio, Texas
 (210) 657-0095 
Counties Represented:
 Atascosa (part), Bee, Bexar (part), Comal (part), Dimmit,
 Duval, Frio, Guadalupe (part), Hidalgo (part), Jim Hogg,
 LaSalle, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Uvalde (part), Webb,
 Wilson, Zapata, Zavala
Senator: David Sibley #22 Republican
 (512) 463-0122
District Address:
 1105 Wooded Acres, Suite 540
 Waco, Texas 76710
 (817) 772-9709
Counties Represented:
 Bosque, Comanche, Denton (part), Eastland, Erath, Hamilton,
 Hill, Hood, Jack, Johnson (part), McLennan (part), Palo Pinto,
 Parker (part), Somervell, Tarrant (part), Wise
Senator: Royce West #23 Democrat
 (512) 463-0123
District Address:
 5787 S. Hampton Rd., Suite 385
 Dallas, Texas 75232
 (214) 467-0123
Counties Represented:
 Dallas (part), Tarrant (part)
Senator: William M. (Bill) Sims #24 Democrat
 (512) 463-0124
District Address:
 233 West Twohig
 San Angelo, Texas 76901
 (915) 658-5852
Counties Represented:
 Bell, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Coryell,
 Lampasas, Llano (part), McCulloch, Menard, Mills, Mitchell,
 Nolan, Runnels, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Taylor (part),
 Young
Senator: Jeff Wentworth #25 Republican
 (512) 463-0125
District Address:
 1250 NE Loop 410, Suite 425
 San Antonio, Texas 78209
 (210) 826-7800
E-Mail Address: jeff.wentworth@capitol.tlc.texas.gov
Counties Represented:
 Bandera, Bexar (part), Blanco, Comal (part), Gillespie,
 Guadalupe (part), Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano (part),
 Mason, Medina (part), Schleicher, Sutton (part), Tom Green
 (part), Travis (part), Williamson (part)
Senator: Gregory Luna #26 Democrat
 (512) 463-0126
District Address:
 318 West Houston, Suite 302
 San Antonio, Texas 78205
 (210) 225-2526
Counties Represented: Bexar (part)
Senator: Eduardo A. (Eddie) Lucio, Jr. #27 Democrat
 (512) 463-0127
District Address:
 32 North Park Plaza
 Brownsville, Texas 78521
 (210) 548-0227
Counties Represented: Cameron, Hidalgo (part)
Senator: John T. Montford #28 Democrat
 (512) 463-0128
District Address:
 2022 Broadway Street, Suite A
 Lubbock, Texas 79408
 (806) 747-0467
Counties Represented:
 Borden, Crane, Crosby, Culberson (part), Dawson, Ector (part),
 El Paso (part), Garza, Glasscock, Hale, Hockley, Howard,
 Hudspeth, Irion, Lamb, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Reagan,
 Reeves (part), Sterling, Terry, Tom Green (part), Upton, Ward,
Senator: Margaret Ann (Peggy) Rosson #29 Democrat
 (512) 463-0129
District Address:
 1551 Montana, Suite 100
 El Paso, Texas 79902
 (915) 544-1990
Counties Represented: El Paso (part)
Senator: Tom Haywood #30 Republican
 (512) 463-0130
District Address:
 P.O. Box 8552
 Wichita Falls, Texas 76307
 (915) 776-2358
Counties Represented:
 Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress,
 Clay, Collin (part), Collingsworth, Cooke, Cottle, Denton
 (part), Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Grayson, Hall,
 Hardeman, Haskell, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Montague,
 Motley, Scurry, Stonewall, Swisher, Taylor (part),
 Throckmorton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger
Senator: Teel Bivins #31 Republican
 (512) 463-0131
District Address:
 203 West 8th St., Suite 301
 Amarillo, Texas 79105
 (806) 374-8994
Counties Represented:
 Andrews, Bailey, Cochran, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Ector (part),
 Gaines, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson,
 Lipscomb, Midland, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter,
 Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Winkler, Yoakum