Sec. 490H.002.  COMPOSITION.  (a)  The council is composed of one nonvoting member appointed by the broadband development office and the following voting members appointed by the governor:
(1)  two representatives of separate Internet service provider industry associations, including at least one representative of an association that primarily represents small providers, as defined by Section 56.032, Utilities Code;
(2)  one representative of the health information technology industry;
(3)  two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit organizations that advocate for elderly persons statewide;
(4)  two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated history of working with the legislature and the public to identify solutions for expanding broadband to rural, unserved areas of this state;
(5)  one representative of an agricultural advocacy organization in this state;
(6)  one representative of a hospital advocacy organization in this state;
(7)  one representative of a medical advocacy organization in this state;
(8)  one county official who serves in an elected office of a county with a population of less than 35,000;
(8-a)  one county clerk of a county with a population of less than 60,000;
(8-b)  one sheriff of a county with a population of less than 60,000;
(9)  one municipal official who serves in an elected office of a municipality with a population of less than 20,000 located in a county with a population of less than 60,000;
(10)  one representative of an institution of higher education that has its main campus in a county with a population of less than 60,000;
(11)  one representative of a school district with a territory that includes only counties with a population of less than 60,000;
(12)  one representative from a library association;
(13)  one hospital administrator employed by a licensed hospital located in a county with a population of less than 60,000;
(14)  one representative from an electric cooperative providing broadband;
(15)  one representative of a school district with a territory that includes all or part of a county with a population of more than 500,000; and
(16)  one representative of a nonprofit organization that has a demonstrated history of facilitating broadband adoption by offering digital literacy training or providing access to broadband technology.
(b)  The governor shall, to the greatest extent practicable, make appointments to the council that ensure that the composition of the council reflects the racial and ethnic composition of the state.
(c)  A member of the council appointed under Subsection (a) serves for a five-year term.
(d)  A vacancy on the council is filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1960), Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 2019.
Amended by: 
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 625 (H.B. 5), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2021.