Sec. 56.155.  RECOVERY OF SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SURCHARGE.  (a)  The commission shall allow a telecommunications utility to recover the universal service fund assessment related to the specialized telecommunications assistance program through a surcharge added to the utility's customers' bills.
(b)  The commission shall specify how each utility must determine the amount of the surcharge and by rule shall prohibit a utility from recovering an aggregation of more than 12 months of assessments in a single surcharge.  The rules must require a utility to apply for approval of a surcharge before the 91st day after the date the period during which the aggregated surcharges were assessed closes.
(c)  If a utility chooses to impose the surcharge, the utility shall include the surcharge in the "universal service fund surcharge" listing as provided by Section 56.107.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 18.08(e), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1553, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.