101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4873

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Kathleen Willis

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the School Wireless Telecommunications Amplifier Act. Provides that wireless communications carriers must provide and install bidirectional amplifiers in a school upon request of a school administrator to support adequate radio or wireless telephone communications for public safety providers. Provides that willful violations of the Act are subject to the penalties and sanctions provided under the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.


LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4873LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b

1    AN ACT concerning telecommunications.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School
5Wireless Telecommunications Amplifier Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Bidirectional amplifier" means an electronic system
8designed to support adequate radio or wireless telephone
9communications for public safety providers, including, but not
10limited to, police, fire, and medical emergency professionals
11anywhere within the school structure where students may be
12found. The frequency ranges that must be supported are 806 MHz
13to 816 MHz and 856 MHz to 866 MHz.
14    "School" means a student attendance center operated by any
15public school district or charter school or a private school
16providing general educational services for an indefinite
17service population.
18    "School administrator" means the superintendent of a
19public school district, the principal of a public school
20attendance center or charter school, or the chief executive
21official of a private school.
22    "Wireless carrier" has the meaning ascribed to that term in
23Section 2 of the Emergency Telephone System Act.
 

 

 

HB4873- 2 -LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b

1    Section 10. School assistance required. Upon the written
2request of a school administrator, a wireless carrier shall, at
3no cost to the school, timely provide the equipment for, the
4installation of, and maintenance of a bidirectional amplifier
5appropriate to the needs of the school as necessary for the
6reasonable and effective functioning of public safety
7providers attending to their duties within the school. The
8assistance shall be provided as soon as practicable, but in no
9event more than 60 days after the written request is received.
 
10    Section 15. Penalty. A wireless carrier that willfully
11fails to comply with the requirements of this Act is subject to
12the penalties and other appropriate sanctions authorized to be
13imposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission under Article XIII
14of the Public Utilities Act.
 
15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16becoming law.