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Tex. Util. Code § 54.259

DISCRIMINATION BY PROPERTY OWNER PROHIBITED

Known as the Public Utility Regulatory Act

The act spans §§ 11–66 (1,170 sections).

Applied in 1 court decision — leading case Texas Building Owners & Managers Ass'n v. Public Utility Commission (2003)

Most recently applied in Texas Building Owners & Managers Ass'n v. Public Utility Commission (June 2003)

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff

(a) If a telecommunications utility holds a consent, franchise, or permit as determined to be the appropriate grants of authority by the municipality and holds a certificate if required by this title, a public or private property owner may not:

(1) prevent the utility from installing on the owner's property a telecommunications service facility a tenant requests;

(2) interfere with the utility's installation on the owner's property of a telecommunications service facility a tenant requests;

(3) discriminate against such a utility regarding installation, terms, or compensation of a telecommunications service facility to a tenant on the owner's property;

(4) demand or accept an unreasonable payment of any kind from a tenant or the utility for allowing the utility on or in the owner's property; or

(5) discriminate in favor of or against a tenant in any manner, including rental charge discrimination, because of the utility from which the tenant receives a telecommunications service.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to an institution of higher education. In this subsection, "institution of higher education" means:

(1) an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or

(2) a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission has the jurisdiction to enforce this section.

Official source: Texas Constitution and Statutes. Reproduced from public-domain Texas statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.