By Mark Seale
TTA Executive Director
Austin, Texas — The Public Utility Commission (PUC) must immediately restore over $200 million in past-due support to rural telephone providers from the Texas Universal Service Fund (USF), a state program designed to ensure reliable and affordable telecommunications connectivity in rural Texas, according to a judgment from the Third Court of Appeals issued June 30, 2022.
The Court ruled that the PUC "acted without legal authority" when it stopped paying more than 70% of its TUSF obligations in January of 2021. Justices said the PUC's interpretation of the law would lead to an "absurd result."
"For two years, rural Texans have faced the uncertainty of whether their local phone companies would be able to ride out the financial storm created when the Public Utility Commission stopped funding universal communications services for rural areas of the state — and whether they might face dramatic increases in their phone bills or lose service altogether as a result," said Rusty Moore, General Manager and COO of BBT Telecom and Board President of the Texas Telephone Association. "Today we are thrilled the court has agreed with us — USF is a fundamental building block of a connected rural Texas."
Moore described the Court's ruling as the first step to restore needed funding for rural communications and committed to working with the Texas Legislature to ensure stable and appropriate funding for the future. USF is funded through a surcharge on telephone services and is not part of the state's general budget.
The USF was created in 1987 because costs to build and maintain the telecommunication network over large rural areas are much higher than in densely populated urban areas, meaning many rural Texans could not afford service without a cost balancing mechanism.
Almost 4 million rural Texans rely on USF to support their affordable access to the telecommunications network, which enables voice and broadband service and powers rural cellular service.
"We look forward to working with the new commissioners at the PUC to quickly follow the court's directions, recoup the money owed to these companies, and move on with the business of providing reliable and affordable telecommunications to all of Rural Texas," said Moore.
About Texas Telephone Association 43 Rural Texas telecommunications providers comprise the Texas Telephone Association. Its members include telephone cooperatives and both privately held and publicly traded companies that serve over 3 million rural Texans across almost half of the total landmass of Texas (145,000 square miles — an area the size of Montana).
Keep Friona Clean — The City will open the roll-off box located at East 8th and South Jackson Avenue on Saturday, July 9th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Thank you for keeping Friona clean!
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Thank you — Friona Vocational Agriculture Association members would like to thank everyone who supported their pulled pork lunch fundraiser last Friday. Funds raised will benefit 4-H, FCCLA, and FFA students.
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Pancake Dinner — Vo Ag members will also be on hand to help cook pancakes for FCCLA fundraiser on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Friona Community Center. Proceeds will be used to cover the costs of traveling to San Diego for the national meeting. See you there!!!
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Prairie/Legacy News — the Resident Council at Prairie Acres has chosen to honor the memory of Jennifer Baize for the month of July. The news of her passing was difficult for both staff and residents. Jennifer dedicated 25 years of her life to serving the residents at Prairie Acres. Administrator Jeff Procter said, "She was a blessing to all on so many levels and a treasure to work with in the care of our residents. We are truly at a loss."
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Friona Youth Camps — Friona Youth Sports will present a Volleyball Camp with ENMU July 12-15 at the Friona JH Gym. There will also be a Basketball Camp for Girls with WT Girls August 1-3 at the Friona JH Gym. You can register at www.frionayouthsports.org for both camps.
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Library turns 40 — The current Friona Public Library building turned 40 in June. An open house for the facility was held on June 13th, 1982. The new building was financed entirely by donations.
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Save the Date — The 14th Annual Pudge Kendrick Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for July 30-31 at the John Pitman Golf Club in Hereford, Texas. The charity event raises money to provide grants to local cancer patients. Corporate and personal sponsorships are available. Go to the Parmer County Cancer Coalition facebook page for more info.
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Welcome to Friona - The Friona Methodist Church would like to introduce their new pastor, David McGaughy, his wife Rachel, and their family. They have just celebrated the twins', Walker and Wyatt, 18th birthday and are preparing to send them off to college at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Owen will be a sophomore at FHS, and Ellie is going into 7th grade. Rachel will teach 6th grade science at Friona Jr. High this upcoming school year.
Blanca Chavez, Nadia Snyder, and sponsor Erin Barnett at the FCCLA Nationals event in San Diego. Below, Nadia checks to see if the gold medal is real.
Nadia Snyder and Blanca Chavez attended FCCLA Nationals in San Diego, California on June 28th - July 4th. Nadia is the new Level 2 Teach and Train National Champion and gold medalist!!! Blanca's position as President of Region I made her a part of the State Executive Council which allowed her to help on-stage at the State Awards Ceremony following the National Ceremony. Nadia and Blanca are hosting a Pancake Dinner on Sunday, July 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria to raise funds to offset the expenses of the trip.