TITLE: Recognizing February 21, 2017, as Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 21, 2017, as Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Rural telecommunications professionals are gathering in Austin on February 21, 2017, to celebrate the importance of Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers to the prosperity of the Lone Star State; and WHEREAS, Nearly 85 percent of Texas is considered rural; encompassing 142 million acres in 172 counties, these areas are home to more than 3.2 million people, the largest rural population in the nation; and WHEREAS, Each year, more than $200 billion of the state's gross domestic product is generated by such traditionally rural industries as agriculture, forestry, hunting, and oil and gas production, and these enterprises require the latest in modern communications technology; and WHEREAS, In response to this need, 45 Small and Rural ILECs have built and continue to maintain a high-quality telecommunications network that covers the vast majority of the rural areas of the state, including those remote regions that are most expensive to serve; and WHEREAS, This state-of-the-art network provides critical infrastructure for education, economic development, health care, law enforcement, and border security; in addition, the Small and Rural ILECs support more than 6,300 jobs and are responsible for over $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic impact; and WHEREAS, Small and Rural ILECs play a vital role in the dynamic economy of Texas in the 21st century, and they are truly deserving of special recognition for their accomplishments and contributions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 21, 2017, as Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting telecommunications professionals sincere best wishes for a productive visit to Austin. King of Uvalde Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 428 was adopted by the House on February 21,2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House