1. (a) The commission shall select one telecommunications carrier to provide the statewide telecommunications relay access service.

2. (b) The commission shall make a written award of the contract to the telecommunications carrier whose proposal is the most advantageous to this state, considering:

   1. (1) price;
   2. (2) the interests of the community of persons with an impairment of hearing or speech in having access to a high quality and technologically advanced telecommunications system; and
   3. (3) any other factor listed in the commission's request for proposals.
3. (c) The commission shall consider each proposal in a manner that does not disclose the contents of the proposal to a telecommunications carrier making a competing proposal.

4. (d) The commission's evaluation of a telecommunications carrier's proposal shall include the:

   1. (1) charges for the service;
   2. (2) service enhancements proposed by the carrier;
   3. (3) technological sophistication of the network proposed by the carrier; and
   4. (4) date proposed for beginning the service.

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