SB0107 Enrolled LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The High Speed Internet Services and Information
5 Technology Act is amended by changing Sections 20 and 25 as
6 follows:
 
7     (20 ILCS 661/20)
8     Sec. 20. Duties of the enlisted nonprofit organization.
9     (a) The high speed Internet deployment strategy and demand
10 creation initiative to be performed by the nonprofit
11 organization shall include, but not be limited to, the
12 following actions:
13         (1) Create a geographic statewide inventory of high
14     speed Internet service and other relevant broadband and
15     information technology services. The inventory shall:
16             (A) identify geographic gaps in high speed
17         Internet service through a method of GIS mapping of
18         service availability and GIS analysis at the census
19         block level; and
20             (B) provide a baseline assessment of statewide
21         high speed Internet deployment in terms of percentage
22         of Illinois households with high speed Internet
23         availability; and .

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 2 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1             (C) collect from Facilities-based Providers of
2         Broadband Connections to End User Locations the
3         information provided pursuant to the agreements
4         entered into with the non-profit organization as of the
5         effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
6         General Assembly or similar information from
7         Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to
8         End User Locations that do not have the agreements on
9         said date.
10             For the purposes of item (C), "Facilities-based
11         Providers of Broadband Connections to End User
12         Locations" shall have the same meaning as that term is
13         defined in Section 13-407 of the Public Utilities Act.
14         (2) Track and identify, through customer interviews
15     and surveys and other publicly available sources,
16     statewide residential and business adoption of high speed
17     Internet, computers, and related information technology
18     and any barriers to adoption.
19         (3) Build and facilitate in each county or designated
20     region a local technology planning team with members
21     representing a cross section of the community, including,
22     but not limited to, representatives of business, K-12
23     education, health care, libraries, higher education,
24     community-based organizations, local government, tourism,
25     parks and recreation, and agriculture. Each team shall
26     benchmark technology use across relevant community

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 3 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     sectors, set goals for improved technology use within each
2     sector, and develop a plan for achieving its goals, with
3     specific recommendations for online application
4     development and demand creation.
5         (4) Collaborate with high speed Internet providers and
6     technology companies to encourage deployment and use,
7     especially in underserved areas, by aggregating local
8     demand, mapping analysis, and creating market intelligence
9     to improve the business case for providers to deploy.
10         (5) Collaborate with the Department in developing a
11     program to increase computer ownership and broadband
12     access for disenfranchised populations across the State.
13     The program may include grants to local community
14     technology centers that provide technology training,
15     promote computer ownership, and increase broadband access.
16         (6) Collaborate with the Department and the Illinois
17     Commerce Commission regarding the collection of the
18     information required by this Section to assist in
19     monitoring and analyzing the broadband markets and the
20     status of competition and deployment of broadband services
21     to consumers in the State, including the format of
22     information requested, provided the Commission enters into
23     the proprietary and confidentiality agreements governing
24     such information.
25     (b) The nonprofit organization may apply for federal grants
26 consistent with the objectives of this Act.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 4 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (c) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
2 shall use the funds in the High Speed Internet Services and
3 Information Technology Fund to (1) provide grants to the
4 nonprofit organization enlisted under this Act and (2) for any
5 costs incurred by the Department to administer this Act.
6     (d) The nonprofit organization shall have the power to
7 obtain or to raise funds other than the grants received from
8 the Department under this Act.
9     (e) The nonprofit organization and its Board of Directors
10 shall exist separately and independently from the Department
11 and any other governmental entity, but shall cooperate with
12 other public or private entities it deems appropriate in
13 carrying out its duties.
14     (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Act or any other Act
15 to the contrary, any information that is designated
16 confidential or proprietary by an entity providing the
17 information to the nonprofit organization or any other entity
18 to accomplish the objectives of this Act shall be deemed
19 confidential, proprietary, and a trade secret and treated by
20 the nonprofit organization or anyone else possessing the
21 information as such and shall not be disclosed.
22     (g) The nonprofit organization shall provide a report to
23 the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability on
24 an annual basis for the first 3 complete State fiscal years
25 following its enlistment.
26 (Source: P.A. 95-684, eff. 10-19-07.)
 

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 5 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (20 ILCS 661/25)
2     Sec. 25. Scope of authority. Nothing in this Act shall be
3 construed as giving the Department of Commerce and Economic
4 Opportunity, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any
5 additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers
6 of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology.
7 However, the Department shall have the authority to require
8 Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End
9 User Locations to provide information pursuant to subsection
10 (c) of Section 20. Upon request, any and all information
11 collected pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 20 that is
12 provided to the enlisted nonprofit organization shall be
13 provided to the Department, provided the Department enters into
14 the proprietary and confidentiality agreements governing such
15 information.
16 (Source: P.A. 95-684, eff. 10-19-07.)
 
17     Section 10. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
18 Sections 13-101, 13-202, 13-301, 13-406, 13-407, 13-503,
19 13-505, 13-509, 13-703, 13-704, 13-712, 13-1200, and 22-501 and
20 by adding Sections 13-234, 13-235, 13-401.1, 13-506.2, 13-804,
21 13-900.1, and 13-900.2 as follows:
 
22     (220 ILCS 5/13-101)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-101)
23     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 6 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     Sec. 13-101. Application of Act to telecommunications
2 rates and services. Except to the extent modified or
3 supplemented by the specific provisions of this Article, the
4 Sections of this Act pertaining to public utilities, public
5 utility rates and services, and the regulation thereof, are
6 fully and equally applicable to noncompetitive
7 telecommunications rates and services, and the regulation
8 thereof, except where the context clearly renders such
9 provisions inapplicable. Except to the extent modified or
10 supplemented by the specific provisions of this Article,
11 Articles I through V, Sections 8-301, 8-305, 8-502, 8-503,
12 8-505, 8-509, 8-509.5, 8-510, 9-221, 9-222, 9-222.1, 9-222.2,
13 9-250, and 9-252.1, and Article Articles X and XI of this Act
14 are fully and equally applicable to competitive
15 telecommunications rates and services, and the regulation
16 thereof except that Section 9-250 shall not apply to
17 competitive retail telecommunications services; in addition,
18 as to competitive telecommunications rates and services, and
19 the regulation thereof, and with the exception of competitive
20 retail telecommunications service rates and services, all
21 rules and regulations made by a telecommunications carrier
22 affecting or pertaining to its charges or service to the public
23 shall be just and reasonable, provided that nothing in this
24 Section shall be construed to prevent a telecommunications
25 carrier from accepting payment electronically or by the use of
26 a customer-preferred financially accredited credit or debit

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 7 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 methodology. As of the effective date of this amendatory Act of
2 the 92nd General Assembly, Sections 4-202, 4-203, and 5-202 of
3 this Act shall cease to apply to telecommunications rates and
4 services.
5 (Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01.)
 
6     (220 ILCS 5/13-202)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-202)
7     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
8     Sec. 13-202. "Telecommunications carrier" means and
9 includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock
10 company or association, firm, partnership or individual, their
11 lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court
12 whatsoever that owns, controls, operates or manages, within
13 this State, directly or indirectly, for public use, any plant,
14 equipment or property used or to be used for or in connection
15 with, or owns or controls any franchise, license, permit or
16 right to engage in the provision of, telecommunications
17 services between points within the State which are specified by
18 the user. "Telecommunications carrier" includes an Electing
19 Provider, as defined in Section 13-506.2. Telecommunications
20 carrier does not include, however:
21     (a) telecommunications carriers that are owned and
22 operated by any political subdivision, public or private
23 institution of higher education or municipal corporation of
24 this State, for their own use, or telecommunications carriers
25 that are owned by such political subdivision, public or private

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 8 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 institution of higher education, or municipal corporation and
2 operated by any of its lessees or operating agents, for their
3 own use;
4     (b) telecommunications carriers which are purely mutual
5 concerns, having no rates or charges for services, but paying
6 the operating expenses by assessment upon the members of such a
7 company and no other person but does include telephone or
8 telecommunications cooperatives as defined in Section 13-212;
9     (c) a company or person which provides telecommunications
10 services solely to itself and its affiliates or members or
11 between points in the same building, or between closely located
12 buildings, affiliated through substantial common ownership,
13 control or development; or
14     (d) a company or person engaged in the delivery of
15 community antenna television services as described in
16 subdivision (c) of Section 13-203, except with respect to the
17 provision of telecommunications services by that company or
18 person.
19 (Source: P.A. 87-856.)
 
20     (220 ILCS 5/13-234 new)
21     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
22     Sec. 13-234. Interconnected voice over Internet protocol
23 service. "Interconnected voice over Internet protocol service"
24 or "Interconnected VoIP service" has the meaning prescribed in
25 47 CFR 9.3 as defined on the effective date of this amendatory

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 9 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 Act of the 96th General Assembly or as amended thereafter.
 
2     (220 ILCS 5/13-235 new)
3     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
4     Sec. 13-235. Interconnected voice over Internet protocol
5 provider. "Interconnected voice over Internet protocol
6 provider" or "Interconnected VoIP provider" means and includes
7 every corporation, company, association, joint stock company
8 or association, firm, partnership, or individual, their
9 lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court
10 whatsoever that owns, controls, operates, manages, or provides
11 within this State, directly or indirectly, Interconnected
12 voice over Internet protocol service.
 
13     (220 ILCS 5/13-301)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-301)
14     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
15     Sec. 13-301. Duties of the Commission.
16     (1) Consistent with the findings and policy established in
17 paragraph (a) of Section 13-102 and paragraph (a) of Section
18 13-103, and in order to ensure the attainment of such policies,
19 the Commission shall:
20         (a) participate in all federal programs intended to
21     preserve or extend universal telecommunications service,
22     unless such programs would place cost burdens on Illinois
23     customers of telecommunications services in excess of the
24     benefits they would receive through participation,

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 10 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     provided, however, the Commission shall not approve or
2     permit the imposition of any surcharge or other fee
3     designed to subsidize or provide a waiver for subscriber
4     line charges; and shall report on such programs together
5     with an assessment of their adequacy and the advisability
6     of participating therein in its annual report to the
7     General Assembly, or more often as necessary;
8         (b) (Blank) establish a program to monitor the level of
9     telecommunications subscriber connection within each
10     exchange in Illinois, and shall report the results of such
11     monitoring and any actions it has taken or recommends be
12     taken to maintain and increase such levels in its annual
13     report to the General Assembly, or more often if necessary;
14         (c) order all telecommunications carriers offering or
15     providing local exchange telecommunications service to
16     propose low-cost or budget service tariffs and any other
17     rate design or pricing mechanisms designed to facilitate
18     customer access to such telecommunications service,
19     provided that services offered by any telecommunications
20     carrier at the rates, terms, and conditions specified in
21     Section 13-506.2 or Section 13-518 of this Article shall
22     constitute compliance with this Section. A
23     telecommunications carrier may seek Commission approval of
24     other low-cost or budget service tariffs or rate design or
25     pricing mechanisms to comply with this Section and shall
26     after notice and hearing, implement any such proposals

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 11 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     which it finds likely to achieve such purpose;
2         (d) investigate the necessity of and, if appropriate,
3     establish a universal service support fund from which local
4     exchange telecommunications carriers who pursuant to the
5     Twenty-Seventh Interim Order of the Commission in Docket
6     No. 83-0142 or the orders of the Commission in Docket No.
7     97-0621 and Docket No. 98-0679 received funding and whose
8     economic costs of providing services for which universal
9     service support may be made available exceed the affordable
10     rate established by the Commission for such services may be
11     eligible to receive support, less any federal universal
12     service support received for the same or similar costs of
13     providing the supported services; provided, however, that
14     if a universal service support fund is established, the
15     Commission shall require that all costs of the fund be
16     recovered from all local exchange and interexchange
17     telecommunications carriers certificated in Illinois on a
18     competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis. In
19     establishing any such universal service support fund, the
20     Commission shall, in addition to the determination of costs
21     for supported services, consider and make findings
22     pursuant to subsection (2) paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of
23     item (e) of this Section. Proxy cost, as determined by the
24     Commission, may be used for this purpose. In determining
25     cost recovery for any universal service support fund, the
26     Commission shall not permit recovery of such costs from

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 12 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     another certificated carrier for any service purchased and
2     used solely as an input to a service provided to such
3     certificated carrier's retail customers. ; and
4     (2) (e) investigate the necessity of and, if appropriate,
5 establish a universal service support fund in addition to any
6 fund that may be established pursuant to item (d) of this
7 Section; provided, however, that if a telecommunications
8 carrier receives universal service support pursuant to item (d)
9 of this Section, that telecommunications carrier shall not
10 receive universal service support pursuant to this item.
11 Recipients of any universal service support funding created by
12 this item shall be "eligible" telecommunications carriers, as
13 designated by the Commission in accordance with 47 U.S.C.
14 214(e)(2). Eligible telecommunications carriers providing
15 local exchange telecommunications service may be eligible to
16 receive support for such services, less any federal universal
17 service support received for the same or similar costs of
18 providing the supported services. If a fund is established, the
19 Commission shall require that the costs of such fund be
20 recovered from all telecommunications carriers, with the
21 exception of wireless carriers who are providers of two-way
22 cellular telecommunications service and who have not been
23 designated as eligible telecommunications carriers, on a
24 competitively neutral and non-discriminatory basis. In any
25 order creating a fund pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection
26 (1) this item, the Commission, after notice and hearing, shall:

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 13 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         (a) (1) Define the group of services to be declared
2     "supported telecommunications services" that constitute
3     "universal service". This group of services shall, at a
4     minimum, include those services as defined by the Federal
5     Communications Commission and as from time to time amended.
6     In addition, the Commission shall consider the range of
7     services currently offered by telecommunications carriers
8     offering local exchange telecommunications service, the
9     existing rate structures for the supported
10     telecommunications services, and the telecommunications
11     needs of Illinois consumers in determining the supported
12     telecommunications services. The Commission shall, from
13     time to time or upon request, review and, if appropriate,
14     revise the group of Illinois supported telecommunications
15     services and the terms of the fund to reflect changes or
16     enhancements in telecommunications needs, technologies,
17     and available services.
18         (b) (2) Identify all implicit subsidies contained in
19     rates or charges of incumbent local exchange carriers,
20     including all subsidies in interexchange access charges,
21     and determine how such subsidies can be made explicit by
22     the creation of the fund.
23         (3) Identify the incumbent local exchange carriers'
24     economic costs of providing the supported
25     telecommunications services.
26         (c) (4) Establish an affordable price for the supported

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 14 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     telecommunications services for the respective incumbent
2     local exchange carrier. The affordable price shall be no
3     less than the rates in effect at the time the Commission
4     creates a fund pursuant to this item. The Commission may
5     establish and utilize indices or models for updating the
6     affordable price for supported telecommunications
7     services.
8         (5) Identify the telecommunications carriers from whom
9     the costs of the fund shall be recovered and the mechanism
10     to be used to determine and establish a competitively
11     neutral and non-discriminatory funding basis. From time to
12     time, or upon request, the Commission shall consider
13     whether, based upon changes in technology or other factors,
14     additional telecommunications providers should contribute
15     to the fund. The Commission shall establish the basis upon
16     which telecommunications carriers contributing to the fund
17     shall recover contributions on a competitively neutral and
18     non-discriminatory basis. In determining cost recovery for
19     any universal support fund, the Commission shall not permit
20     recovery of such costs from another certificated carrier
21     for any service purchased and used solely as an input to a
22     service provided to such certificated carriers' retail
23     customers.
24         (6) Approve a plan for the administration and operation
25     of the fund by a neutral third party consistent with the
26     requirements of this item.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 15 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     No fund shall be created pursuant to this item until
2 existing implicit subsidies, including, but not limited to,
3 those subsidies contained in interexchange access charges,
4 have been identified and eliminated through revisions to rates
5 or charges. Prior to May 1, 2000, such revisions to rates or
6 charges to eliminate implicit subsidies shall occur
7 contemporaneously with any funding established pursuant to
8 this item. However, if the Commission does not establish a
9 universal service support fund by May 1, 2000, the Commission
10 shall not be prevented from entering an order or taking other
11 actions to reduce or eliminate existing subsidies as well as
12 considering the effect of such reduction or elimination on
13 local exchange carriers.
14     Any telecommunications carrier providing local exchange
15 telecommunications service which offers to its local exchange
16 customers a choice of two or more local exchange
17 telecommunications service offerings shall provide, to any
18 such customer requesting it, once a year without charge, a
19 report describing which local exchange telecommunications
20 service offering would result in the lowest bill for such
21 customer's local exchange service, based on such customer's
22 calling pattern and usage for the previous 6 months. At least
23 once a year, each such carrier shall provide a notice to each
24 of its local exchange telecommunications service customers
25 describing the availability of this report and the specific
26 procedures by which customers may receive it. Such report shall

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 16 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 only be available to current and future customers who have
2 received at least 6 months of continuous local exchange service
3 from such carrier.
4 (Source: P.A. 91-636, eff. 8-20-99.)
 
5     (220 ILCS 5/13-401.1 new)
6     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
7     Sec. 13-401.1. Interconnected voice over Internet protocol
8 (VoIP) service provider registration.
9     (a) An Interconnected VoIP provider providing fixed or
10 non-nomadic service in Illinois on December 1, 2010 shall
11 register with the Commission no later than January 1, 2011. All
12 other Interconnected VoIP providers providing fixed or
13 non-nomadic service in Illinois shall register with the
14 Commission at least 30 days before providing service in
15 Illinois. The Commission shall prescribe a registration form no
16 later than October 1, 2010. The registration form prescribed by
17 the Commission shall only require the following information:
18         (1) the provider's legal name and any name under which
19     the provider does or will do business in Illinois, as
20     authorized by the Secretary of State;
21         (2) the provider's address and telephone number, along
22     with contact information for the person responsible for
23     ongoing communications with the Commission;
24         (3) a description of the provider's dispute resolution
25     process and, if any, the telephone number to initiate the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 17 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     dispute resolution process; and
2         (4) a description of each exchange of a local exchange
3     company, in whole or in part, or the cities, towns, or
4     geographic areas, in whole or in part, in which the
5     provider is offering or proposes to offer Interconnected
6     VoIP service.
7     A provider must notify the Commission of any change in the
8 information identified in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), or (4) of
9 this subsection (a) within 5 business days after any such
10 change.
11     (b) A provider shall charge and collect from its end-user
12 customers, and remit to the appropriate authority, fees and
13 surcharges in the same manner as are charged and collected upon
14 end-user customers of local exchange telecommunications
15 service and remitted by local exchange telecommunications
16 companies for local enhanced 9-1-1 surcharges.
17     (c) A provider may designate information that it submits in
18 its registration form or subsequent reports as confidential or
19 proprietary, provided that the provider states the reasons the
20 confidential designation is necessary. The Commission shall
21 provide adequate protection for such information pursuant to
22 Section 4-404 of this Act. If the Commission or any other party
23 seeks public disclosure of information designated as
24 confidential, the Commission shall consider the confidential
25 designation in a proceeding under the Illinois Administrative
26 Procedure Act, and the burden of proof to demonstrate that the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 18 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 designated information is confidential shall be upon the
2 provider. Designated information shall remain confidential
3 pending the Commission's determination of whether the
4 information is entitled to confidential treatment. Information
5 designated as confidential shall be provided to local units of
6 government for purposes of assessing compliance with this
7 Article as permitted under a protective order issued by the
8 Commission pursuant to the Commission's rules and to the
9 Attorney General pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney
10 General Act. Information designated as confidential under this
11 Section or determined to be confidential upon Commission review
12 shall only be disclosed pursuant to a valid and enforceable
13 subpoena or court order or as required by the Freedom of
14 Information Act.
15     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
16 contrary, the Commission shall have the authority, after notice
17 and hearing, to revoke or suspend the registration of any
18 provider that fails to comply with the requirements of this
19 Section.
20     (e) The provisions of this Section are severable under
21 Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
22     (220 ILCS 5/13-406)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-406)
23     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
24     Sec. 13-406. Abandonment of service. No telecommunications
25 carrier offering or providing noncompetitive

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 19 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 telecommunications service pursuant to a valid Certificate of
2 Service Authority or certificate of public convenience and
3 necessity shall discontinue or abandon such service once
4 initiated until and unless it shall demonstrate, and the
5 Commission finds, after notice and hearing, that such
6 discontinuance or abandonment will not deprive customers of any
7 necessary or essential telecommunications service or access
8 thereto and is not otherwise contrary to the public interest.
9 No telecommunications carrier offering or providing
10 competitive telecommunications service shall completely
11 discontinue or abandon such service to an identifiable class or
12 group of customers once initiated except upon 60 30 days notice
13 to the Commission and affected customers. The Commission may,
14 upon its own motion or upon complaint, investigate the proposed
15 discontinuance or abandonment of a competitive
16 telecommunications service and may, after notice and hearing,
17 prohibit such proposed discontinuance or abandonment if the
18 Commission finds that it would be contrary to the public
19 interest. If the Commission does not provide notice of a
20 hearing within 60 calendar days after the notification or holds
21 a hearing and fails to find that the proposed discontinuation
22 or abandonment would be contrary to the public interest, the
23 provider may discontinue or abandon such service after
24 providing at least 30 days notice to affected customers.
25 (Source: P.A. 84-1063.)
 

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 20 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (220 ILCS 5/13-407)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-407)
2     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
3     Sec. 13-407. Commission study and report. The Commission
4 shall monitor and analyze patterns of entry and exit and
5 changes in patterns of entry and exit for each relevant market
6 for telecommunications services, including emerging high speed
7 telecommunications markets and broadband services. The
8 Commission , and shall include its findings together with
9 appropriate recommendations for legislative action in its
10 annual report to the General Assembly. The Commission shall
11 provide an analysis of entry and exit, along with changes in
12 patterns of entry and exit, for broadband services in its
13 annual report to the General Assembly.
14     In preparing its annual report, the Commission may obtain
15 any information on broadband services that has been collected
16 or is in the possession of the Department of Commerce and
17 Economic Opportunity pursuant to the High Speed Internet
18 Services and Information Technology Act. The Commission shall
19 coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic
20 Opportunity in collecting information to avoid a duplication of
21 efforts.
22     The Commission shall also monitor and analyze the status of
23 deployment of services to consumers, and any resulting "digital
24 divisions" between consumers, including any changes or trends
25 therein. The Commission shall include its findings together
26 with appropriate recommendations for legislative action in its

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 21 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 annual report to the General Assembly. In preparing this
2 analysis the Commission shall evaluate information provided by
3 certificated telecommunications carriers, registered
4 Interconnected VoIP providers, and Facilities-based Providers
5 of Broadband Connections to End User Locations that pertains to
6 the state of competition in telecommunications markets
7 including, but not limited to:
8         (1) the number and type of firms providing
9     telecommunications services and , including broadband
10     telecommunications services, within the State;
11         (2) the telecommunications services offered by these
12     firms to both retail and wholesale customers;
13         (3) the extent to which customers and other providers
14     are purchasing the firms' telecommunications services; and
15         (4) the technologies or methods by which these firms
16     provide these services, including descriptions of
17     technologies in place and under development, and the degree
18     to which firms rely on other wholesale providers to provide
19     service to their own customers. ; and
20         (5) the tariffed retail and wholesale prices for
21     services provided by these firms.
22     The Commission shall at a minimum assess the variability in
23 this information according to geography, examining variability
24 by exchange, wirecenter, or zip code, and by customer class,
25 examining, at a minimum, the variability between residential
26 and small, medium, and large business customers. The Commission

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 22 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 shall provide an analysis of market trends by collecting this
2 information from certificated telecommunications carriers,
3 registered Interconnected VoIP providers, and Facilities-based
4 Providers of Broadband Connections to End User Locations firms
5 providing telecommunications services within the State. The
6 Commission shall also collect all information, in a format
7 determined by the Commission, that the Commission deems
8 necessary to assist in monitoring and analyzing the
9 telecommunications markets and broadband market, along with
10 and the status of competition and deployment of
11 telecommunications services and broadband services to
12 consumers in the State.
13     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
14 certificated telecommunications carriers and registered
15 Interconnected VoIP providers shall report to the Commission
16 such information, with the exception of broadband information,
17 requested by the Commission necessary to satisfy the reporting
18 requirements of items (1) through (4) of this Section. The
19 Commission may coordinate and work with the Department of
20 Commerce and Economic Opportunity to avoid duplication of
21 collection of information that is collected pursuant to the
22 High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Act.
23     For the purposes of this Section:
24         "Broadband connections" include wired lines or
25     wireless channels that enable the end user to receive
26     information from or send information to the Internet at

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 23 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least
2     one direction.
3         "End user" includes a residential, business,
4     institutional, or government entity who uses broadband
5     services for its own purposes and who does not resell such
6     services to other entities or incorporate such services
7     into retail Internet-access services. For purposes of this
8     Section, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is not an end
9     user of a broadband connection.
10         "Facilities-based Provider of Broadband Connections to
11     End User Locations" means an entity that meets any of the
12     following conditions:
13             (i) It owns the portion of the physical facility
14         that terminates at the end user location.
15             (ii) It obtains unbundled network elements (UNEs),
16         special access lines, or other leased facilities that
17         terminate at the end user location and provisions or
18         equips them as broadband.
19             (iii) It provisions or equips a broadband wireless
20         channel to the end user location over licensed or
21         unlicensed spectrum.
22         "Facilities-based Provider of Broadband Connections to
23     End User Locations" does not include providers of
24     terrestrial fixed wireless services (such as Wi-Fi and
25     other wireless Ethernet, or wireless local area network,
26     applications) that only enable local distribution and

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 24 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     sharing of a premises broadband facility and does not
2     include air-to-ground services.
3 (Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01.)
 
4     (220 ILCS 5/13-503)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-503)
5     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
6     Sec. 13-503. Information available to the public. With
7 respect to rates or other charges made, demanded or received
8 for any telecommunications service offered, provided or to be
9 provided, whether such service is competitive or
10 noncompetitive, telecommunications carriers shall comply with
11 the publication and filing provisions of Sections 9-101, 9-102,
12 and 9-103. Telecommunications carriers shall make all tariffs
13 available electronically to the public without requiring a
14 password or other means of registration. A telecommunications
15 carrier's website shall, if applicable, provide in a
16 conspicuous manner information on the rates, charges, terms,
17 and conditions of service available and a toll-free telephone
18 number that may be used to contact an agent for assistance with
19 obtaining rate or other charge information or the terms and
20 conditions of service.
21 (Source: P.A. 84-1063.)
 
22     (220 ILCS 5/13-505)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-505)
23     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
24     Sec. 13-505. Rate changes; competitive services. (a) Any

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 25 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 proposed increase or decrease in rates or charges, or proposed
2 change in any classification or tariff resulting in an increase
3 or decrease in rates or charges, for a competitive
4 telecommunications service shall be permitted upon the filing
5 of the proposed rate, charge, classification, or tariff. Notice
6 Prior notice of an increase shall be given, no later than the
7 prior billing cycle, to all potentially affected customers by
8 mail, publication in a newspaper of general circulation, or
9 equivalent means of notice, including electronic if the
10 customer has elected electronic billing.
11     (b) If a hearing is held pursuant to Section 9-250
12 regarding the reasonableness of an increase in the rates or
13 charges of a competitive local exchange service, then the
14 telecommunications carrier providing the service shall have
15 the burden of proof to establish the justness and
16 reasonableness of the proposed rate or charge.
17 (Source: P.A. 90-185, eff. 7-23-97.)
 
18     (220 ILCS 5/13-506.2 new)
19     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
20     Sec. 13-506.2. Market regulation for competitive retail
21 services.
22     (a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
23         (1) "Electing Provider" means a telecommunications
24     carrier that is subject to either rate regulation pursuant
25     to Section 13-504 or Section 13-505 or alternative

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 26 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 and that elects to
2     have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive
3     retail telecommunications services solely determined and
4     regulated pursuant to the terms of this Article.
5         (2) "Basic local exchange service" means either a
6     stand-alone residence network access line and per-call
7     usage or, for any geographic area in which such stand-alone
8     service is not offered, a stand-alone flat rate residence
9     network access line for which local calls are not charged
10     for frequency or duration. Extended Area Service shall be
11     included in basic local exchange service.
12     (b) Election for market regulation. Notwithstanding any
13 other provision of this Act, an Electing Provider may elect to
14 have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive retail
15 telecommunications services solely determined and regulated
16 pursuant to the terms of this Section by filing written notice
17 of its election for market regulation with the Commission. The
18 notice of election shall designate the geographic area of the
19 Electing Provider's service territory where the market
20 regulation shall apply, either on a state-wide basis or in one
21 or more specified Market Service Areas ("MSA") or Exchange
22 areas. An Electing Provider shall not make an election for
23 market regulation under this Section unless it commits in its
24 written notice of election for market regulation to fulfill the
25 conditions and requirements in this Section in each geographic
26 area in which market regulation is elected. Immediately upon

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 27 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 filing the notice of election for market regulation, the
2 Electing Provider shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the
3 Commission to the extent expressly provided in this Section.
4     (c) Competitive classification. Market regulation shall
5 only be available for competitive retail telecommunications
6 services as provided in this subsection.
7         (1) For geographic areas in which telecommunications
8     services provided by the Electing Provider were classified
9     as competitive either through legislative action or a
10     tariff filing pursuant to Section 13-502 prior to January
11     1, 2010, and that are included in the Electing Provider's
12     notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this
13     Section, such services, and all recurring and nonrecurring
14     charges associated with, related to or used in connection
15     with such services, shall be classified as competitive
16     without further Commission review. For services classified
17     as competitive pursuant to this subsection, the
18     requirements or conditions in any order or decision
19     rendered by the Commission pursuant to Section 13-502 prior
20     to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
21     General Assembly, except for the commitments made by the
22     Electing Provider in such order or decision concerning the
23     optional packages required in subsection (d) of this
24     Section and basic local exchange service as defined in this
25     Section, shall no longer be in effect and no Commission
26     investigation, review, or proceeding under Section 13-502

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 28 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     shall be continued, conducted, or maintained with respect
2     to such services, charges, requirements, or conditions.
3         (2) For those geographic areas in which residential
4     local exchange telecommunications services have not been
5     classified as competitive as of the effective date of this
6     amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, all
7     telecommunications services provided to residential and
8     business end users by an Electing Provider in the
9     geographic area that is included in its notice of election
10     pursuant to subsection (b) shall be classified as
11     competitive for purposes of this Article without further
12     Commission review.
13         (3) If an Electing Provider was previously subject to
14     alternative regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 of
15     this Article, the alternative regulation plan shall
16     terminate in whole for all services subject to that plan
17     and be of no force or effect, without further Commission
18     review or action, when the Electing Provider's residential
19     local exchange telecommunications service in each MSA in
20     its telecommunications service area in the State has been
21     classified as competitive pursuant to either subdivision
22     (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section.
23         (4) The service packages described in Section 13-518
24     shall be classified as competitive for purposes of this
25     Section if offered by an Electing Provider in a geographic
26     area in which local exchange telecommunications service

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 29 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     has been classified as competitive pursuant to either
2     subdivision (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section.
3     (d) Consumer choice safe harbor options.
4         (1) An Electing Provider in each of the MSA or Exchange
5     areas classified as competitive pursuant to subdivision
6     (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section shall offer to all
7     residential customers who choose to subscribe the
8     following optional packages of services priced at the same
9     rate levels in effect on January 1, 2010:
10             (A) A basic package, which shall consist of a
11         stand-alone residential network access line and 30
12         local calls. If the Electing Provider offers a
13         stand-alone residential access line and local usage on
14         a per call basis, the price for the basic package shall
15         be the Electing Provider's applicable price in effect
16         on January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access
17         line and 30 local calls, additional calls over 30 calls
18         shall be provided at the current per call rate.
19         However, this basic package is not required if
20         stand-alone residential network access lines or
21         per-call local usage are not offered by the Electing
22         Provider in the geographic area on January 1, 2010 or
23         if the Electing Provider has not increased its
24         stand-alone network access line and local usage rates,
25         including Extended Area Service rates, since January
26         1, 2010.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 30 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1             (B) An extra package, which shall consist of
2         residential basic local exchange network access line
3         and unlimited local calls. The price for the extra
4         package shall be the Electing Provider's applicable
5         price in effect on January 1, 2010 for a residential
6         access line with unlimited local calls.
7             (C) A plus package, which shall consist of
8         residential basic local exchange network access line,
9         unlimited local calls, and the customer's choice of 2
10         vertical services offered by the Electing Provider.
11         The term "vertical services" as used in this
12         subsection, includes, but is not limited to, call
13         waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling, caller ID,
14         call tracing, automatic callback, repeat dialing, and
15         voicemail. The price for the plus package shall be the
16         Electing Provider's applicable price in effect on
17         January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access
18         line with unlimited local calls and 2 times the average
19         price for the vertical features included in the
20         package.
21         (2) For those geographic areas in which local exchange
22     telecommunications services were classified as competitive
23     on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
24     General Assembly, an Electing Provider in each such MSA or
25     Exchange area shall be subject to the same terms and
26     conditions as provided in commitments made by the Electing

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 31 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     Provider in connection with such previous competitive
2     classifications, which shall apply with equal force under
3     this Section, except as follows: (i) the limits on price
4     increases on the optional packages required by this Section
5     shall be extended consistent with subsection (d)(1) of this
6     Section and (ii) the price for the extra package required
7     by subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be reduced by one dollar from
8     the price in effect on January 1, 2010. In addition, if an
9     Electing Provider obtains a competitive classification
10     pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and (c)(2), the price for the
11     optional packages shall be determined in such area in
12     compliance with subsection (d)(1), except the price for the
13     plus package required by subsection (d)(1) (C) shall be the
14     lower of the price for such area or the price of the plus
15     package in effect on January 1, 2010 for areas classified
16     as competitive pursuant to subsection (c)(1).
17         (3) To the extent that the requirements in Section
18     13-518 applied to a telecommunications carrier prior to the
19     effective date of this Section and that telecommunications
20     carrier becomes an Electing Provider in accordance with the
21     provisions of this Section, the requirements in Section
22     13-518 shall cease to apply to that Electing Provider in
23     those geographic areas included in the Electing Provider's
24     notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this
25     Section.
26         (4) An Electing Provider shall make the optional

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 32 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     packages required by this subsection and stand-alone
2     residential network access lines and local usage, where
3     offered, readily available to the public by providing
4     information, in a clear manner, to residential customers.
5     Information shall be made available on a website, and an
6     Electing Provider shall provide notification to its
7     customers every 6 months, provided that notification may
8     consist of a bill page message that provides an objective
9     description of the safe harbor options that includes a
10     telephone number and website address where the customer may
11     obtain additional information about the packages from the
12     Electing Provider. The optional packages shall be offered
13     on a monthly basis with no term of service requirement. An
14     Electing Provider shall allow online electronic ordering
15     of the optional packages and stand-alone residential
16     network access lines and local usage, where offered, on its
17     website in a manner similar to the online electronic
18     ordering of its other residential services.
19         (5) An Electing Provider shall comply with the
20     Commission's existing rules, regulations, and notices in
21     Title 83, Part 735 of the Illinois Administrative Code when
22     offering or providing the optional packages required by
23     this subsection (d) and stand-alone residential network
24     access lines.
25         (6) An Electing Provider shall provide to the
26     Commission semi-annual subscribership reports as of June

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 33 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     30 and December 31 that contain the number of its customers
2     subscribing to each of the consumer choice safe harbor
3     packages required by subsection (d)(1) of this Section and
4     the number of its customers subscribing to retail
5     residential basic local exchange service as defined in
6     subsection (a)(2) of this Section. The first semi-annual
7     reports shall be made on April 1, 2011 for December 31,
8     2010, and on September 1, 2011 for June 30, 2011, and
9     semi-annually on April 1 and September 1 thereafter. Such
10     subscribership information shall be accorded confidential
11     and proprietary treatment upon request by the Electing
12     Provider.
13         (7) The Commission shall have the power, after notice
14     and hearing as provided in this Article, upon complaint or
15     upon its own motion, to take corrective action if the
16     requirements of this Section are not complied with by an
17     Electing Provider.
18     (e) Service quality and customer credits for basic local
19 exchange service.
20         (1) An Electing Provider shall meet the following
21     service quality standards in providing basic local
22     exchange service, which for purposes of this subsection
23     (e), includes both basic local exchange service and the
24     consumer choice safe harbor options required by subsection
25     (d) of this Section.
26             (A) Install basic local exchange service within 5

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 34 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         business days after receipt of an order from the
2         customer unless the customer requests an installation
3         date that is beyond 5 business days after placing the
4         order for basic service and to inform the customer of
5         the Electing Provider's duty to install service within
6         this timeframe. If installation of service is
7         requested on or by a date more than 5 business days in
8         the future, the Electing Provider shall install
9         service by the date requested.
10             (B) Restore basic local exchange service for the
11         customer within 30 hours after receiving notice that
12         the customer is out of service.
13             (C) Keep all repair and installation appointments
14         for basic local exchange service if a customer premises
15         visit requires a customer to be present. The
16         appointment window shall be either a specific time or,
17         at a maximum, a 4-hour time block during evening,
18         weekend, and normal business hours.
19             (D) Inform a customer when a repair or installation
20         appointment requires the customer to be present.
21         (2) Customers shall be credited by the Electing
22     Provider for violations of basic local exchange service
23     quality standards described in subdivision (e)(1) of this
24     Section. The credits shall be applied automatically on the
25     statement issued to the customer for the next monthly
26     billing cycle following the violation or following the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 35 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     discovery of the violation. The next monthly billing cycle
2     following the violation or the discovery of the violation
3     means the billing cycle immediately following the billing
4     cycle in process at the time of the violation or discovery
5     of the violation, provided the total time between the
6     violation or discovery of the violation and the issuance of
7     the credit shall not exceed 60 calendar days. The Electing
8     Provider is responsible for providing the credits and the
9     customer is under no obligation to request such credits.
10     The following credits shall apply:
11             (A) If an Electing Provider fails to repair an
12         out-of-service condition for basic local exchange
13         service within 30 hours, the Electing Provider shall
14         provide a credit to the customer. If the service
15         disruption is for more than 30 hours, but not more than
16         48 hours, the credit must be equal to a pro-rata
17         portion of the monthly recurring charges for all basic
18         local exchange services disrupted. If the service
19         disruption is for more than 48 hours, but not more than
20         72 hours, the credit must be equal to at least 33% of
21         one month's recurring charges for all local services
22         disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than
23         72 hours, but not more than 96 hours, the credit must
24         be equal to at least 67% of one month's recurring
25         charges for all basic local exchange services
26         disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 36 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         96 hours, but not more than 120 hours, the credit must
2         be equal to one month's recurring charges for all basic
3         local exchange services disrupted. For each day or
4         portion thereof that the service disruption continues
5         beyond the initial 120-hour period, the Electing
6         Provider shall also provide an additional credit of $20
7         per calendar day.
8             (B) If an Electing Provider fails to install basic
9         local exchange service as required under subdivision
10         (e)(1) of this Section, the Electing Provider shall
11         waive 50% of any installation charges, or in the
12         absence of an installation charge or where
13         installation is pursuant to the Link Up program, the
14         Electing Provider shall provide a credit of $25. If an
15         Electing Provider fails to install service within 10
16         business days after the service application is placed,
17         or fails to install service within 5 business days
18         after the customer's requested installation date, if
19         the requested date was more than 5 business days after
20         the date of the order, the Electing Provider shall
21         waive 100% of the installation charge, or in the
22         absence of an installation charge or where
23         installation is provided pursuant to the Link Up
24         program, the Electing Provider shall provide a credit
25         of $50. For each day that the failure to install
26         service continues beyond the initial 10 business days,

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 37 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         or beyond 5 business days after the customer's
2         requested installation date, if the requested date was
3         more than 5 business days after the date of the order,
4         the Electing Provider shall also provide an additional
5         credit of $20 per calendar day until the basic local
6         exchange service is installed.
7             (C) If an Electing Provider fails to keep a
8         scheduled repair or installation appointment when a
9         customer premises visit requires a customer to be
10         present as required under subdivision (e)(1) of this
11         Section, the Electing Provider shall credit the
12         customer $25 per missed appointment. A credit required
13         by this subdivision does not apply when the Electing
14         Provider provides the customer notice of its inability
15         to keep the appointment no later than 8:00 pm of the
16         day prior to the scheduled date of the appointment.
17             (D) Credits required by this subsection do not
18         apply if the violation of a service quality standard:
19                 (i) occurs as a result of a negligent or
20             willful act on the part of the customer;
21                 (ii) occurs as a result of a malfunction of
22             customer-owned telephone equipment or inside
23             wiring;
24                 (iii) occurs as a result of, or is extended by,
25             an emergency situation as defined in 83 Ill. Adm.
26             Code 732.10;

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 38 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1                 (iv) is extended by the Electing Provider's
2             inability to gain access to the customer's
3             premises due to the customer missing an
4             appointment, provided that the violation is not
5             further extended by the Electing Provider;
6                 (v) occurs as a result of a customer request to
7             change the scheduled appointment, provided that
8             the violation is not further extended by the
9             Electing Provider;
10                 (vi) occurs as a result of an Electing
11             Provider's right to refuse service to a customer as
12             provided in Commission rules; or
13                 (vii) occurs as a result of a lack of
14             facilities where a customer requests service at a
15             geographically remote location, where a customer
16             requests service in a geographic area where the
17             Electing Provider is not currently offering
18             service, or where there are insufficient
19             facilities to meet the customer's request for
20             service, subject to an Electing Provider's
21             obligation for reasonable facilities planning.
22         (3) Each Electing Provider shall provide to the
23     Commission on a quarterly basis and in a form suitable for
24     posting on the Commission's website in conformance with the
25     rules adopted by the Commission and in effect on April 1,
26     2010, a public report that includes the following data for

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 39 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     basic local exchange service quality of service:
2             (A) With regard to credits due in accordance with
3         subdivision (e)(2)(A) as a result of out-of-service
4         conditions lasting more than 30 hours:
5                 (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
6             credits paid;
7                 (ii) the number of credits issued for repairs
8             between 30 and 48 hours;
9                 (iii) the number of credits issued for repairs
10             between 49 and 72 hours;
11                 (iv) the number of credits issued for repairs
12             between 73 and 96 hours;
13                 (v) the number of credits used for repairs
14             between 97 and 120 hours;
15                 (vi) the number of credits issued for repairs
16             greater than 120 hours; and
17                 (vii) the number of exemptions claimed for
18             each of the categories identified in subdivision
19             (e)(2)(D).
20             (B) With regard to credits due in accordance with
21         subdivision (e)(2)(B) as a result of failure to install
22         basic local exchange service:
23                 (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
24             credits paid;
25                 (ii) the number of installations after 5
26             business days;

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 40 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1                 (iii) the number of installations after 10
2             business days;
3                 (iv) the number of installations after 11
4             business days; and
5                 (v) the number of exemptions claimed for each
6             of the categories identified in subdivision
7             (e)(2)(D).
8             (C) With regard to credits due in accordance with
9         subdivision (e)(2)(C) as a result of missed
10         appointments:
11                 (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
12             credits paid;
13                 (ii) the number of any customers receiving
14             credits; and
15                 (iii) the number of exemptions claimed for
16             each of the categories identified in subdivision
17             (e)(2)(D).
18             (D) The Electing Provider's annual report required
19         by this subsection shall also include, for
20         informational reporting, the performance data
21         described in subdivisions (e)(2)(A), (e)(2)(B), and
22         (e)(2)(C), and trouble reports per 100 access lines
23         calculated using the Commission's existing applicable
24         rules and regulations for such measures, including the
25         requirements for service standards established in this
26         Section.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 41 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         (4) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
2     service quality rules and customer credits in this
3     subsection (e) of this Section and other enforcement
4     mechanisms, including fines and penalties authorized by
5     Section 13-305, shall apply on a nondiscriminatory basis to
6     all Electing Providers. Accordingly, notwithstanding any
7     provision of any service quality rules promulgated by the
8     Commission, any alternative regulation plan adopted by the
9     Commission, or any other order of the Commission, any
10     Electing Provider that is subject to any other order of the
11     Commission and that violates or fails to comply with the
12     service quality standards promulgated pursuant to this
13     subsection (e) or any other order of the Commission shall
14     not be subject to any fines, penalties, customer credits,
15     or enforcement mechanisms other than such fines or
16     penalties or customer credits as may be imposed by the
17     Commission in accordance with the provisions of this
18     subsection (e) and Section 13-305, which are to be
19     generally applicable to all Electing Providers. The amount
20     of any fines or penalties imposed by the Commission for
21     failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection
22     (e) shall be an appropriate amount, taking into account, at
23     a minimum, the Electing Provider's gross annual intrastate
24     revenue; the frequency, duration, and recurrence of the
25     violation; and the relative harm caused to the affected
26     customers or other users of the network. In imposing fines

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 42 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     and penalties, the Commission shall take into account
2     compensation or credits paid by the Electing Provider to
3     its customers pursuant to this subsection (e) in
4     compensation for any violation found pursuant to this
5     subsection (e), and in any event the fine or penalty shall
6     not exceed an amount equal to the maximum amount of a civil
7     penalty that may be imposed under Section 13-305.
8     (f) Commission jurisdiction upon election for market
9 regulation. Except as otherwise expressly stated in this
10 Section, the Commission shall thereafter have no jurisdiction
11 or authority over any aspect of competitive retail
12 telecommunications service of an Electing Provider in those
13 geographic areas included in the Electing Provider's notice of
14 election pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, heretofore
15 subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, including but
16 not limited to, any requirements of this Article related to the
17 terms, conditions, rates, quality of service, availability,
18 classification or any other aspect of any of the Electing
19 Provider's competitive retail telecommunications services. No
20 Electing Provider shall commit any unfair or deceptive act or
21 practice in connection with any aspect of the offering or
22 provision of any competitive retail telecommunications
23 service. Nothing in this Article shall limit or affect any
24 provisions in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
25 Practices Act with respect to any unfair or deceptive act or
26 practice by an Electing Provider.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 43 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (g) Commission authority over access services upon
2 election for market regulation.
3         (1) As part of its Notice of Election for Market
4     Regulation, the Electing Provider shall reduce its
5     intrastate switched access rates to rates no higher than
6     its interstate switched access rates in 4 installments. The
7     first reduction must be made 30 days after submission of
8     its complete application for Notice of Election for Market
9     Regulation, and the Electing Provider must reduce its
10     intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to 33%
11     of the difference between its current intrastate switched
12     access rates and its current interstate switched access
13     rates. The second reduction must be made no later than one
14     year after the first reduction, and the Electing Provider
15     must reduce its then current intrastate switched access
16     rates by an amount equal to 41% of the difference between
17     its then current intrastate switched access rates and its
18     then current interstate switched access rates. The third
19     reduction must be made no later than one year after the
20     second reduction, and the Electing Provider must reduce its
21     then current intrastate switched access rates by an amount
22     equal to 50% of the difference between its then current
23     intrastate switched access rate and its then current
24     interstate switched access rates. The fourth reduction
25     must be made on or before June 30, 2013, and the Electing
26     Provider must reduce its intrastate switched access rate to

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 44 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     mirror its then current interstate switched access rates
2     and rate structure. Following the fourth reduction, each
3     Electing Provider must continue to set its intrastate
4     switched access rates to mirror its interstate switched
5     access rates and rate structure. For purposes of this
6     subsection, the rate for intrastate switched access
7     service means the composite, per-minute rate for that
8     service, including all applicable fixed and
9     traffic-sensitive charges, including, but not limited to,
10     carrier common line charges.
11         (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection (g)
12     prohibits an Electing Provider from electing to offer
13     intrastate switched access service at rates lower than its
14     interstate switched access rates.
15         (3) The Commission shall have no authority to order an
16     Electing Provider to set its rates for intrastate switched
17     access at a level lower than its interstate switched access
18     rates.
19         (4) The Commission's authority under this subsection
20     (g) shall only apply to Electing Providers under Market
21     Regulation. The Commission's authority over switched
22     access services for all other carriers is retained under
23     Section 13-900.2 of this Act.
24     (h) Safety of service equipment and facilities.
25         (1) An Electing Provider shall furnish, provide, and
26     maintain such service instrumentalities, equipment, and

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 45 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     facilities as shall promote the safety, health, comfort,
2     and convenience of its patrons, employees, and public and
3     as shall be in all respects adequate, reliable, and
4     efficient without discrimination or delay. Every Electing
5     Provider shall provide service and facilities that are in
6     all respects environmentally safe.
7         (2) The Commission is authorized to conduct an
8     investigation of any Electing Provider or part thereof. The
9     investigation may examine the reasonableness, prudence, or
10     efficiency of any aspect of the Electing Provider's
11     operations or functions that may affect the adequacy,
12     safety, efficiency, or reliability of telecommunications
13     service. The Commission may conduct or order an
14     investigation only when it has reasonable grounds to
15     believe that the investigation is necessary to assure that
16     the Electing Provider is providing adequate, efficient,
17     reliable, and safe service. The Commission shall, before
18     initiating any such investigation, issue an order
19     describing the grounds for the investigation and the
20     appropriate scope and nature of the investigation, which
21     shall be reasonably related to the grounds relied upon by
22     the Commission in its order.
23     (i) Tariffs. No Electing Provider shall offer or provide
24 telecommunications service unless and until a tariff is filed
25 with the Commission that describes the nature of the service,
26 applicable rates and other charges, terms, and conditions of

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 46 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 service and the exchange, exchanges, or other geographical area
2 or areas in which the service shall be offered or provided. The
3 Commission may prescribe the form of such tariff and any
4 additional data or information that shall be included in the
5 form. Revenue from retail competitive services received from an
6 Electing Provider pursuant to such tariffs shall be gross
7 revenue for purposes of Section 2-202 of this Act.
8     (j) Application of Article VII. The provisions of Sections
9 7-101, 7-102, 7-103, 7-104, 7-204, 7-205, and 7-206 of this Act
10 are applicable to an Electing Provider offering or providing
11 retail telecommunications service, and the Commission's
12 regulation thereof, except that (1) the approval of contracts
13 and arrangements with affiliated interests required by
14 paragraph (3) of Section 7-101 shall not apply to such
15 telecommunications carriers provided that, except as provided
16 in item (2), those contracts and arrangements shall be filed
17 with the Commission; (2) affiliated interest contracts or
18 arrangements entered into by such telecommunications carriers
19 where the increased obligation thereunder does not exceed the
20 lesser of $5,000,000 or 5% of such carrier's prior annual
21 revenue from noncompetitive services are not required to be
22 filed with the Commission; and (3) any consent and approval of
23 the Commission required by Section 7-102 is not required for
24 the sale, lease, assignment, or transfer by any Electing
25 Provider of any real property that is not necessary or useful
26 in the performance of its duties to the public.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 47 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (k) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section, the
2 Commission retains its existing authority to enforce the
3 provisions, conditions, and requirements of the following
4 Sections of this Article: 13-101, 13-103, 13-201, 13-301,
5 13-301.1, 13-301.2, 13-301.3, 13-303, 13-303.5, 13-304,
6 13-305, 13-401, 13-401.1, 13-402, 13-403, 13-404, 13-404.1,
7 13-404.2, 13-405, 13-406, 13-501.5, 13-505, 13-509, 13-510,
8 13-512, 13-513, 13-514, 13-515, 13-516, 13-519, 13-702,
9 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-706, 13-707, 13-709, 13-713,
10 13-801, 13-804, 13-900, 13-900.1, 13-900.2, 13-901, 13-902,
11 and 13-903, which are fully and equally applicable to Electing
12 Providers subject to the provisions of this Section. On the
13 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General
14 Assembly, the following Sections of this Article shall cease to
15 apply to Electing Providers: 13-302, 13-405.1, 13-501, 13-502,
16 13-502.5, 13-503, 13-504, 13-505.2, 13-505.3, 13-505.4,
17 13-505.5, 13-505.6, 13-506.1, 13-507, 13-507.1, 13-508,
18 13-508.1, 13-517, 13-518, 13-601, 13-701, and 13-712.
 
19     (220 ILCS 5/13-509)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-509)
20     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
21     Sec. 13-509. Agreements for provisions of competitive
22 telecommunications services differing from tariffs. A
23 telecommunications carrier may negotiate with customers or
24 prospective customers to provide competitive
25 telecommunications service, and in so doing, may offer or agree

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 48 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 to provide such service on such terms and for such rates or
2 charges as are reasonable, without regard to any tariffs it may
3 have filed with the Commission with respect to such services.
4 Upon request of the Commission Within 30 days after executing
5 any such agreement, the telecommunications carrier shall
6 submit to the Commission written notice of a list of any such
7 agreements (which list may be filed electronically) within the
8 past year. The notice shall identify the general nature of all
9 such agreements, the parties to each agreement, and a general
10 description of differences between each agreement and the
11 related tariff. A copy of each such agreement and any cost
12 support required to be filed with the agreement by some other
13 Section of this Act shall be provided to the Commission within
14 10 business days after a request for review of the agreement is
15 made by the Commission or is made to the Commission by another
16 telecommunications carrier or by a party to such agreement.
17 Upon submitting notice to the Commission of any such agreement,
18 the telecommunications carrier shall thereafter provide
19 service according to the terms thereof, unless the Commission
20 finds, after notice and hearing, that the continued provision
21 of service pursuant to such agreement would substantially and
22 adversely affect the financial integrity of the
23 telecommunications carrier or would violate any other
24 provision of this Act.
25     Any agreement or notice entered into or submitted pursuant
26 to the provisions of this Section may, in the Commission's

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 49 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 discretion, be accorded proprietary treatment.
2 (Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01; 93-245, eff. 7-22-03.)
 
3     (220 ILCS 5/13-703)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-703)
4     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
5     Sec. 13-703. (a) The Commission shall design and implement
6 a program whereby each telecommunications carrier providing
7 local exchange service shall provide a telecommunications
8 device capable of servicing the needs of those persons with a
9 hearing or speech disability together with a single party line,
10 at no charge additional to the basic exchange rate, to any
11 subscriber who is certified as having a hearing or speech
12 disability by a licensed physician, speech-language
13 pathologist, audiologist or a qualified State agency and to any
14 subscriber which is an organization serving the needs of those
15 persons with a hearing or speech disability as determined and
16 specified by the Commission pursuant to subsection (d).
17     (b) The Commission shall design and implement a program,
18 whereby each telecommunications carrier providing local
19 exchange service shall provide a telecommunications relay
20 system, using third party intervention to connect those persons
21 having a hearing or speech disability with persons of normal
22 hearing by way of intercommunications devices and the telephone
23 system, making available reasonable access to all phases of
24 public telephone service to persons who have a hearing or
25 speech disability. In order to design a telecommunications

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 50 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 relay system which will meet the requirements of those persons
2 with a hearing or speech disability available at a reasonable
3 cost, the Commission shall initiate an investigation and
4 conduct public hearings to determine the most cost-effective
5 method of providing telecommunications relay service to those
6 persons who have a hearing or speech disability when using
7 telecommunications devices and therein solicit the advice,
8 counsel, and physical assistance of Statewide nonprofit
9 consumer organizations that serve persons with hearing or
10 speech disabilities in such hearings and during the development
11 and implementation of the system. The Commission shall phase in
12 this program, on a geographical basis, as soon as is
13 practicable, but no later than June 30, 1990.
14     (c) The Commission shall establish a rate recovery
15 mechanism, authorizing charges in an amount to be determined by
16 the Commission for each line of a subscriber to allow
17 telecommunications carriers providing local exchange service
18 to recover costs as they are incurred under this Section.
19     (d) The Commission shall determine and specify those
20 organizations serving the needs of those persons having a
21 hearing or speech disability that shall receive a
22 telecommunications device and in which offices the equipment
23 shall be installed in the case of an organization having more
24 than one office. For the purposes of this Section,
25 "organizations serving the needs of those persons with hearing
26 or speech disabilities" means centers for independent living as

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 51 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 described in Section 12a of the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation
2 Act and not-for-profit organizations whose primary purpose is
3 serving the needs of those persons with hearing or speech
4 disabilities. The Commission shall direct the
5 telecommunications carriers subject to its jurisdiction and
6 this Section to comply with its determinations and
7 specifications in this regard.
8     (e) As used in this Section, the phrase "telecommunications
9 carrier providing local exchange service" includes, without
10 otherwise limiting the meaning of the term, telecommunications
11 carriers which are purely mutual concerns, having no rates or
12 charges for services, but paying the operating expenses by
13 assessment upon the members of such a company and no other
14 person.
15     (f) Interconnected VoIP service providers in Illinois
16 shall collect and remit assessments determined in accordance
17 with this Section in a competitively neutral manner in the same
18 manner as a telecommunications carrier providing local
19 exchange service. Interconnected VoIP services shall not be
20 considered an intrastate telecommunications service for the
21 purposes of this Section in a manner inconsistent with federal
22 law or Federal Communications Commission regulation.
23     (g) The provisions of this Section are severable under
24 Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
25 (Source: P.A. 88-497.)
 

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 52 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (220 ILCS 5/13-704)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-704)
2     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
3     Sec. 13-704. Each page of a billing statement which sets
4 forth charges assessed against a customer by a
5 telecommunications carrier for telecommunications service
6 shall reflect the telephone number or customer account number
7 to which the charges are being billed. If a telecommunications
8 carrier offers electronic billing, customers may elect to have
9 their bills sent electronically. Such bills shall be
10 transmitted with instructions for payment. Information sent
11 electronically shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement in
12 this Section that such information be printed or written on a
13 customer bill. Bills may be paid electronically or by the use
14 of a customer-preferred financially accredited credit or debit
15 methodology. The billing statement shall also contain a
16 separate bill identifying the amount charged as an
17 infrastructure maintenance fee.
18 (Source: P.A. 90-154, eff. 1-1-98.)
 
19     (220 ILCS 5/13-712)
20     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
21     Sec. 13-712. Basic local exchange service quality;
22 customer credits.
23     (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that every
24 telecommunications carrier meet minimum service quality
25 standards in providing basic local exchange service on a

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 53 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 non-discriminatory basis to all classes of customers.
2     (b) Definitions:
3         (1) (Blank) "Alternative telephone service" means,
4     except where technically impracticable, a wireless
5     telephone capable of making local calls, and may also
6     include, but is not limited to, call forwarding, voice
7     mail, or paging services.
8         (2) "Basic local exchange service" means residential
9     and business lines used for local exchange
10     telecommunications service as defined in Section 13-204 of
11     this Act, excluding:
12             (A) services that employ advanced
13         telecommunications capability as defined in Section
14         706(c)(1) of the federal Telecommunications Act of
15         1996;
16             (B) vertical services;
17             (C) company official lines; and
18             (D) records work only.
19         (3) "Link Up" refers to the Link Up Assistance program
20     defined and established at 47 C.F.R. Section 54.411 et seq.
21     as amended.
22     (c) The Commission shall promulgate service quality rules
23 for basic local exchange service, which may include fines,
24 penalties, customer credits, and other enforcement mechanisms.
25 In developing such service quality rules, the Commission shall
26 consider, at a minimum, the carrier's gross annual intrastate

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 54 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 revenue; the frequency, duration, and recurrence of the
2 violation; and the relative harm caused to the affected
3 customer or other users of the network. In imposing fines, the
4 Commission shall take into account compensation or credits paid
5 by the telecommunications carrier to its customers pursuant to
6 this Section in compensation for the violation found pursuant
7 to this Section. These rules shall become effective within one
8 year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
9 92nd General Assembly.
10     (d) The rules shall, at a minimum, require each
11 telecommunications carrier to do all of the following:
12         (1) Install basic local exchange service within 5
13     business days after receipt of an order from the customer
14     unless the customer requests an installation date that is
15     beyond 5 business days after placing the order for basic
16     service and to inform the customer of its duty to install
17     service within this timeframe. If installation of service
18     is requested on or by a date more than 5 business days in
19     the future, the telecommunications carrier shall install
20     service by the date requested. A telecommunications
21     carrier offering basic local exchange service utilizing
22     the network or network elements of another carrier shall
23     install new lines for basic local exchange service within 3
24     business days after provisioning of the line or lines by
25     the carrier whose network or network elements are being
26     utilized is complete. This subdivision (d)(1) does not

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 55 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     apply to the migration of a customer between
2     telecommunications carriers, so long as the customer
3     maintains dial tone.
4         (2) Restore basic local exchange service for a customer
5     within 30 24 hours of receiving notice that a customer is
6     out of service. This provision applies to service
7     disruptions that occur when a customer switches existing
8     basic local exchange service from one carrier to another.
9         (3) Keep all repair and installation appointments for
10     basic local exchange service, when a customer premises
11     visit requires a customer to be present.
12         (4) Inform a customer when a repair or installation
13     appointment requires the customer to be present.
14     (e) The rules shall include provisions for customers to be
15 credited by the telecommunications carrier for violations of
16 basic local exchange service quality standards as described in
17 subsection (d). The credits shall be applied on the statement
18 issued to the customer for the next monthly billing cycle
19 following the violation or following the discovery of the
20 violation. The performance levels established in subsection
21 (c) are solely for the purposes of consumer credits and shall
22 not be used as performance levels for the purposes of assessing
23 penalties under Section 13-305. At a minimum, the rules shall
24 include the following:
25         (1) If a carrier fails to repair an out-of-service
26     condition for basic local exchange service within 30 24

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 56 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     hours, the carrier shall provide a credit to the customer.
2     If the service disruption is for over 30 hours but less
3     than 48 hours or less, the credit must be equal to a
4     pro-rata portion of the monthly recurring charges for all
5     local services disrupted. If the service disruption is for
6     more than 48 hours, but not more than 72 hours, the credit
7     must be equal to at least 33% of one month's recurring
8     charges for all local services disrupted. If the service
9     disruption is for more than 72 hours, but not more than 96
10     hours, the credit must be equal to at least 67% of one
11     month's recurring charges for all local services
12     disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than 96
13     hours, but not more than 120 hours, the credit must be
14     equal to one month's recurring charges for all local
15     services disrupted. For each day or portion thereof that
16     the service disruption continues beyond the initial
17     120-hour period, the carrier shall also provide either
18     alternative telephone service or an additional credit of
19     $20 per day, at the customers option.
20         (2) If a carrier fails to install basic local exchange
21     service as required under subdivision (d)(1), the carrier
22     shall waive 50% of any installation charges, or in the
23     absence of an installation charge or where installation is
24     pursuant to the Link Up program, the carrier shall provide
25     a credit of $25. If a carrier fails to install service
26     within 10 business days after the service application is

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 57 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     placed, or fails to install service within 5 business days
2     after the customer's requested installation date, if the
3     requested date was more than 5 business days after the date
4     of the order, the carrier shall waive 100% of the
5     installation charge, or in the absence of an installation
6     charge or where installation is provided pursuant to the
7     Link Up program, the carrier shall provide a credit of $50.
8     For each day that the failure to install service continues
9     beyond the initial 10 business days, or beyond 5 business
10     days after the customer's requested installation date, if
11     the requested date was more than 5 business days after the
12     date of the order, the carrier shall also provide either
13     alternative telephone service or an additional credit of
14     $20 per day, at the customer's option until service is
15     installed.
16         (3) If a carrier fails to keep a scheduled repair or
17     installation appointment when a customer premises visit
18     requires a customer to be present, the carrier shall credit
19     the customer $25 $50 per missed appointment. A credit
20     required by this subsection does not apply when the carrier
21     provides the customer with 24-hour notice of its inability
22     to keep the appointment no later than 8 p.m. of the day
23     prior to the scheduled date of the appointment.
24         (4) If the violation of a basic local exchange service
25     quality standard is caused by a carrier other than the
26     carrier providing retail service to the customer, the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 58 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     carrier providing retail service to the customer shall
2     credit the customer as provided in this Section. The
3     carrier causing the violation shall reimburse the carrier
4     providing retail service the amount credited the customer.
5     When applicable, an interconnection agreement shall govern
6     compensation between the carrier causing the violation, in
7     whole or in part, and the retail carrier providing the
8     credit to the customer.
9         (5) (Blank) When alternative telephone service is
10     appropriate, the customer may select one of the alternative
11     telephone services offered by the carrier. The alternative
12     telephone service shall be provided at no cost to the
13     customer for the provision of local service.
14         (6) Credits required by this subsection do not apply if
15     the violation of a service quality standard:
16             (i) occurs as a result of a negligent or willful
17         act on the part of the customer;
18             (ii) occurs as a result of a malfunction of
19         customer-owned telephone equipment or inside wiring;
20             (iii) occurs as a result of, or is extended by, an
21         emergency situation as defined in Commission rules;
22             (iv) is extended by the carrier's inability to gain
23         access to the customer's premises due to the customer
24         missing an appointment, provided that the violation is
25         not further extended by the carrier;
26             (v) occurs as a result of a customer request to

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 59 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         change the scheduled appointment, provided that the
2         violation is not further extended by the carrier;
3             (vi) occurs as a result of a carrier's right to
4         refuse service to a customer as provided in Commission
5         rules; or
6             (vii) occurs as a result of a lack of facilities
7         where a customer requests service at a geographically
8         remote location, a customer requests service in a
9         geographic area where the carrier is not currently
10         offering service, or there are insufficient facilities
11         to meet the customer's request for service, subject to
12         a carrier's obligation for reasonable facilities
13         planning.
14         (7) The provisions of this subsection are cumulative
15     and shall not in any way diminish or replace other civil or
16     administrative remedies available to a customer or a class
17     of customers.
18     (f) The rules shall require each telecommunications
19 carrier to provide to the Commission, on a quarterly basis and
20 in a form suitable for posting on the Commission's website, a
21 public report that includes performance data for basic local
22 exchange service quality of service. The performance data shall
23 be disaggregated for each geographic area and each customer
24 class of the State for which the telecommunications carrier
25 internally monitored performance data as of a date 120 days
26 preceding the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 60 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 General Assembly. The report shall include, at a minimum,
2 performance data on basic local exchange service
3 installations, lines out of service for more than 30 24 hours,
4 carrier response to customer calls, trouble reports, and missed
5 repair and installation commitments.
6     (g) The Commission shall establish and implement carrier to
7 carrier wholesale service quality rules and establish remedies
8 to ensure enforcement of the rules.
9 (Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01.)
 
10     (220 ILCS 5/13-804 new)
11     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
12     Sec. 13-804. Broadband investment. Increased investment
13 into broadband infrastructure is critical to the economic
14 development of this State and a key component to the retention
15 of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs. The removal of
16 regulatory uncertainty will attract greater private-sector
17 investment in broadband infrastructure. Notwithstanding other
18 provisions of this Article:
19         (A) the Commission shall have the authority to certify
20     providers of wireless services, including, but not limited
21     to, private radio service, public mobile service, or
22     commercial mobile service, as those terms are defined in 47
23     U.S.C. 332 on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
24     the 96th General Assembly or as amended thereafter, to
25     provide telecommunications services in Illinois;

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 61 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         (B) the Commission shall have the authority to certify
2     providers of wireless services, including, but not limited
3     to, private radio service, public mobile service, or
4     commercial mobile service, as those terms are defined in 47
5     U.S.C. 332 on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
6     the 96th General Assembly or as amended thereafter, as
7     eligible telecommunications carriers in Illinois, as that
8     term has the meaning prescribed in 47 U.S.C. 214 on the
9     effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General
10     Assembly or as amended thereafter;
11         (C) the Commission shall have the authority to register
12     providers of fixed or non-nomadic Interconnected VoIP
13     service as Interconnected VoIP service providers in
14     Illinois in accordance with Section 401.1 of this Article;
15         (D) the Commission shall have the authority to require
16     providers of Interconnected VoIP service to participate in
17     hearing and speech disability programs; and
18         (E) the Commission shall have the authority to access
19     information provided to the non-profit organization under
20     Section 20 of the High Speed Internet Services and
21     Information Technology Act, provided the Commission enters
22     into a proprietary and confidentiality agreement governing
23     such information.
24     Except to the extent expressly permitted by and consistent
25 with federal law, the regulations of the Federal Communications
26 Commission, this Article, Article XXI or XXII of this Act, or

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 62 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the
2 Commission shall not regulate the rates, terms, conditions,
3 quality of service, availability, classification, or any other
4 aspect of service regarding (i) broadband services, (ii)
5 Interconnected VoIP services, (iii) information services, as
6 defined in 47 U.S.C. 153(20) on the effective date of this
7 amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly or as amended
8 thereafter, or (iv) wireless services, including, but not
9 limited to, private radio service, public mobile service, or
10 commercial mobile service, as those terms are defined in 47
11 U.S.C. 332 on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
12 96th General Assembly or as amended thereafter.
 
13     (220 ILCS 5/13-900.1 new)
14     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
15     Sec. 13-900.1. Authority over 9-1-1 rates and terms of
16 service. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
17 the Commission retains its full authority over the rates and
18 service quality as they apply to 9-1-1 system providers,
19 including the Commission's existing authority over
20 interconnection with 9-1-1 system providers and 9-1-1 systems.
21 The rates, terms, and conditions for 9-1-1 service shall be
22 tariffed and shall be provided in the manner prescribed by this
23 Act and shall be subject to the applicable laws, including
24 rules or regulations adopted and orders issued by the
25 Commission or the Federal Communications Commission. The

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 63 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 Commission retains this full authority regardless of the
2 technologies utilized or deployed by 9-1-1 system providers.
 
3     (220 ILCS 5/13-900.2 new)
4     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
5     Sec. 13-900.2. Access services.
6     (a) This Section shall apply to switched access rates
7 charged by all carriers other than Electing Providers whose
8 switched access rates are governed by subsection (g) of Section
9 13-506.2 of this Act.
10     (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this
11 Section, the rates of any telecommunications carrier,
12 including, but not limited to, competitive local exchange
13 carriers, providing intrastate switched access service shall
14 be reduced to rates no higher than the carrier's rates for
15 interstate switched access service as follows:
16         (1) by January 1, 2011, each telecommunications
17     carrier must reduce its intrastate switched access rates by
18     an amount equal to 50% of the difference between its then
19     current intrastate switched access rates and its then
20     current interstate switched access rates;
21         (2) by January 1, 2012, each telecommunications
22     carrier must further reduce its intrastate switched access
23     rates by an amount equal to 50% of the difference between
24     its then current intrastate switched access rates and its
25     then current interstate switched access rates;

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 64 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         (3) by July 1, 2012, each telecommunications carrier
2     must reduce its intrastate switched access rates to mirror
3     its then current interstate switched access rates and rate
4     structure.
5     Following 24 months after the effective date of this
6 amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, each
7 telecommunications carrier must continue to set its intrastate
8 switched access rates to mirror its interstate switched access
9 rates and rate structure. For purposes of this Section, the
10 rate for intrastate switched access service means the
11 composite, per-minute rate for that service, including all
12 applicable fixed and traffic-sensitive charges, including, but
13 not limited to, carrier common line charges.
14     (c) Subsection (b) of this Section shall not apply to
15 incumbent local exchange carriers serving 35,000 or fewer
16 access lines.
17     (d) Nothing in subsection (b) of this Section prohibits a
18 telecommunications carrier from electing to offer intrastate
19 switched access service at rates lower than its interstate
20 rates.
21     (e) The Commission shall have no authority to order a
22 telecommunications carrier to set its rates for intrastate
23 switched access at a level lower than its interstate switched
24 access rates.
 
25     (220 ILCS 5/13-1200)

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 65 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2010)
2     Sec. 13-1200. Repealer. This Article is repealed July 1,
3 2013 2010.
4 (Source: P.A. 95-9, eff. 6-30-07; 96-24, eff. 6-30-09.)
 
5     (220 ILCS 5/22-501)
6     Sec. 22-501. Customer service and privacy protection. All
7 cable or video providers in this State shall comply with the
8 following customer service requirements and privacy
9 protections. The provisions of this Act shall not apply to an
10 incumbent cable operator prior to January 1, 2008. For purposes
11 of this paragraph, an incumbent cable operator means a person
12 or entity that provided cable services in a particular area
13 under a franchise agreement with a local unit of government
14 pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code or
15 Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code on January 1, 2007. A
16 master antenna television, satellite master antenna
17 television, direct broadcast satellite, multipoint
18 distribution service, and other provider of video programming
19 shall only be subject to the provisions of this Article to the
20 extent permitted by federal law.
21     The following definitions apply to the terms used in this
22 Article:
23     "Basic cable or video service" means any service offering
24 or tier that includes the retransmission of local television
25 broadcast signals.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 66 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     "Cable or video provider" means any person or entity
2 providing cable service or video service pursuant to
3 authorization under (i) the Cable and Video Competition Law of
4 2007; (ii) Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code;
5 (iii) Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code; or (iv) a master
6 antenna television, satellite master antenna television,
7 direct broadcast satellite, multipoint distribution services,
8 and other providers of video programming, whatever their
9 technology. A cable or video provider shall not include a
10 landlord providing only broadcast video programming to a
11 single-family home or other residential dwelling consisting of
12 4 units or less.
13     "Franchise" has the same meaning as found in 47 U.S.C.
14 522(9).
15     "Local unit of government" means a city, village,
16 incorporated town, or a county.
17     "Normal business hours" means those hours during which most
18 similar businesses in the geographic area of the local unit of
19 government are open to serve customers. In all cases, "normal
20 business hours" must include some evening hours at least one
21 night per week or some weekend hours.
22     "Normal operating conditions" means those service
23 conditions that are within the control of cable or video
24 providers. Those conditions that are not within the control of
25 cable or video providers include, but are not limited to,
26 natural disasters, civil disturbances, power outages,

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 67 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 telephone network outages, and severe or unusual weather
2 conditions. Those conditions that are ordinarily within the
3 control of cable or video providers include, but are not
4 limited to, special promotions, pay-per-view events, rate
5 increases, regular peak or seasonal demand periods, and
6 maintenance or upgrade of the cable service or video service
7 network.
8     "Service interruption" means the loss of picture or sound
9 on one or more cable service or video service on one or more
10 cable or video channels.
11     "Service line drop" means the point of connection between a
12 premises and the cable or video network that enables the
13 premises to receive cable service or video service.
14     (a) General customer service standards:
15         (1) Cable or video providers shall establish general
16     standards related to customer service, which shall
17     include, but not be limited to, installation,
18     disconnection, service and repair obligations; appointment
19     hours and employee ID requirements; customer service
20     telephone numbers and hours; procedures for billing,
21     charges, deposits, refunds, and credits; procedures for
22     termination of service; notice of deletion of programming
23     service; changes related to transmission of programming;
24     changes or increases in rates; the use and availability of
25     parental control or lock-out devices; the use and
26     availability of an A/B switch if applicable; complaint

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 68 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     procedures and procedures for bill dispute resolution; a
2     description of the rights and remedies available to
3     consumers if the cable or video provider does not
4     materially meet its customer service standards; and
5     special services for customers with visual, hearing, or
6     mobility disabilities.
7         (2) Cable or video providers' rates for each level of
8     service, rules, regulations, and policies related to its
9     cable service or video service described in paragraph (1)
10     of this subsection (a) must be made available to the public
11     and displayed clearly and conspicuously on the cable or
12     video provider's site on the Internet. If a promotional
13     price or a price for a specified period of time is offered,
14     the cable or video provider shall display the price at the
15     end of the promotional period or specified period of time
16     clearly and conspicuously with the display of the
17     promotional price or price for a specified period of time.
18     The cable or video provider shall provide this information
19     upon request.
20         (3) Cable or video providers shall provide notice
21     concerning their general customer service standards to all
22     customers. This notice shall be offered when service is
23     first activated and annually thereafter. The information
24     in the notice shall include all of the information
25     specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection (a), as well
26     as the following: a listing of services offered by the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 69 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     cable or video providers, which shall clearly describe
2     programming for all services and all levels of service; the
3     rates for all services and levels of service; a telephone
4     number through which customers may subscribe to, change, or
5     terminate service, request customer service, or seek
6     general or billing information; instructions on the use of
7     the cable or video services; and a description of rights
8     and remedies that the cable or video providers shall make
9     available to their customers if they do not materially meet
10     the general customer service standards described in this
11     Act.
12     (b) General customer service obligations:
13         (1) Cable or video providers shall render reasonably
14     efficient service, promptly make repairs, and interrupt
15     service only as necessary and for good cause, during
16     periods of minimum use of the system and for no more than
17     24 hours.
18         (2) All service representatives or any other person who
19     contacts customers or potential customers on behalf of the
20     cable or video provider shall have a visible identification
21     card with their name and photograph and shall orally
22     identify themselves upon first contact with the customer.
23     Customer service representatives shall orally identify
24     themselves to callers immediately following the greeting
25     during each telephone contact with the public.
26         (3) The cable or video providers shall: (i) maintain a

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 70 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     customer service facility within the boundaries of a local
2     unit of government staffed by customer service
3     representatives that have the capacity to accept payment,
4     adjust bills, and respond to repair, installation,
5     reconnection, disconnection, or other service calls and
6     distribute or receive converter boxes, remote control
7     units, digital stereo units, or other equipment related to
8     the provision of cable or video service; (ii) provide
9     customers with bill payment facilities through retail,
10     financial, or other commercial institutions located within
11     the boundaries of a local unit of government; (iii) provide
12     an address, toll-free telephone number or electronic
13     address to accept bill payments and correspondence and
14     provide secure collection boxes for the receipt of bill
15     payments and the return of equipment, provided that if a
16     cable or video provider provides secure collection boxes,
17     it shall provide a printed receipt when items are
18     deposited; or (iv) provide an address, toll-free telephone
19     number, or electronic address to accept bill payments and
20     correspondence and provide a method for customers to return
21     equipment to the cable or video provider at no cost to the
22     customer.
23         (4) In each contact with a customer, the service
24     representatives or any other person who contacts customers
25     or potential customers on behalf of the cable or video
26     provider shall state the estimated cost of the service,

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 71 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     repair, or installation orally prior to delivery of the
2     service or before any work is performed, shall provide the
3     customer with an oral statement of the total charges before
4     terminating the telephone call or other contact in which a
5     service is ordered, whether in-person or over the Internet,
6     and shall provide a written statement of the total charges
7     before leaving the location at which the work was
8     performed. In the event that the cost of service is a
9     promotional price or is for a limited period of time, the
10     cost of service at the end of the promotion or limited
11     period of time shall be disclosed.
12         (5) Cable or video providers shall provide customers a
13     minimum of 30 days' written notice before increasing rates
14     or eliminating transmission of programming and shall
15     submit the notice to the local unit of government in
16     advance of distribution to customers, provided that the
17     cable or video provider is not in violation of this
18     provision if the elimination of transmission of
19     programming was outside the control of the provider, in
20     which case the provider shall use reasonable efforts to
21     provide as much notice as possible, and any rate decrease
22     related to the elimination of transmission of programming
23     shall be applied to the date of the change.
24         (6) Cable or video providers shall provide clear visual
25     and audio reception that meets or exceeds applicable
26     Federal Communications Commission technical standards. If

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 72 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     a customer experiences poor video or audio reception due to
2     the equipment of the cable or video provider, the cable or
3     video provider shall promptly repair the problem at its own
4     expense.
5     (c) Bills, payment, and termination:
6         (1) Cable or video providers shall render monthly bills
7     that are clear, accurate, and understandable.
8         (2) Every residential customer who pays bills directly
9     to the cable or video provider shall have at least 28 days
10     from the date of the bill to pay the listed charges.
11         (3) Customer payments shall be posted promptly. When
12     the payment is sent by United States mail, payment is
13     considered paid on the date it is postmarked.
14         (4) Cable or video providers may not terminate
15     residential service for nonpayment of a bill unless the
16     cable or video provider furnishes notice of the delinquency
17     and impending termination at least 21 days prior to the
18     proposed termination. Notice of proposed termination shall
19     be mailed, postage prepaid, to the customer to whom service
20     is billed. Notice of proposed termination shall not be
21     mailed until the 29th day after the date of the bill for
22     services. Notice of delinquency and impending termination
23     may be part of a billing statement only if the notice is
24     presented in a different color than the bill and is
25     designed to be conspicuous. The cable or video providers
26     may not assess a late fee prior to the 29th day after the

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 73 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     date of the bill for service.
2         (5) Every notice of impending termination shall
3     include all of the following: the name and address of
4     customer; the amount of the delinquency; the date on which
5     payment is required to avoid termination; and the telephone
6     number of the cable or video provider's service
7     representative to make payment arrangements and to provide
8     additional information about the charges for failure to
9     return equipment and for reconnection, if any. No customer
10     may be charged a fee for termination or disconnection of
11     service, irrespective of whether the customer initiated
12     termination or disconnection or the cable or video provider
13     initiated termination or disconnection.
14         (6) Service may only be terminated on days when the
15     customer is able to reach a service representative of the
16     cable or video providers, either in person or by telephone.
17         (7) Any service terminated by a cable or video provider
18     without good cause shall be restored without any
19     reconnection fee, charge, or penalty; good cause for
20     termination includes, but is not limited to, failure to pay
21     a bill by the date specified in the notice of impending
22     termination, payment by check for which there are
23     insufficient funds, theft of service, abuse of equipment or
24     personnel, or other similar subscriber actions.
25         (8) Cable or video providers shall cease charging a
26     customer for any or all services within one business day

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 74 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     after it receives a request to immediately terminate
2     service or on the day requested by the customer if such a
3     date is at least 5 days from the date requested by the
4     customer. Nothing in this subsection (c) shall prohibit the
5     provider from billing for charges that the customer incurs
6     prior to the date of termination. Cable or video providers
7     shall issue a credit or a refund or return a deposit within
8     10 business days after the close of the customer's billing
9     cycle following the request for termination or the return
10     of equipment, if any, whichever is later.
11         (9) The customers or subscribers of a cable or video
12     provider shall be allowed to disconnect their service at
13     any time within the first 60 days after subscribing to or
14     upgrading the service. Within this 60-day period, cable or
15     video providers shall not charge or impose any fees or
16     penalties on the customer for disconnecting service,
17     including, but not limited to, any installation charge or
18     the imposition of an early termination charge, except the
19     cable or video provider may impose a charge or fee to
20     offset any rebates or credits received by the customer and
21     may impose monthly service or maintenance charges,
22     including pay-per-view and premium services charges,
23     during such 60-day period.
24         (10) Cable and video providers shall guarantee
25     customer satisfaction for new or upgraded service and the
26     customer shall receive a pro-rata credit in an amount equal

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 75 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     to the pro-rata charge for the remaining days of service
2     being disconnected or replaced upon the customers request
3     if the customer is dissatisfied with the service and
4     requests to discontinue the service within the first 60
5     days after subscribing to the upgraded service.
6     (d) Response to customer inquiries:
7         (1) Cable or video providers will maintain a toll-free
8     telephone access line that is available to customers 24
9     hours a day, 7 days a week to accept calls regarding
10     installation, termination, service, and complaints.
11     Trained, knowledgeable, qualified service representatives
12     of the cable or video providers will be available to
13     respond to customer telephone inquiries during normal
14     business hours. Customer service representatives shall be
15     able to provide credit, waive fees, schedule appointments,
16     and change billing cycles. Any difficulties that cannot be
17     resolved by the customer service representatives shall be
18     referred to a supervisor who shall make his or her best
19     efforts to resolve the issue immediately. If the supervisor
20     does not resolve the issue to the customer's satisfaction,
21     the customer shall be informed of the cable or video
22     provider's complaint procedures and procedures for billing
23     dispute resolution and given a description of the rights
24     and remedies available to customers to enforce the terms of
25     this Article, including the customer's rights to have the
26     complaint reviewed by the local unit of government, to

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 76 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     request mediation, and to review in a court of competent
2     jurisdiction.
3         (2) After normal business hours, the access line may be
4     answered by a service or an automated response system,
5     including an answering machine. Inquiries received by
6     telephone or e-mail after normal business hours shall be
7     responded to by a trained service representative on the
8     next business day. The cable or video provider shall
9     respond to a written billing inquiry within 10 days of
10     receipt of the inquiry.
11         (3) Cable or video providers shall provide customers
12     seeking non-standard installations with a total
13     installation cost estimate and an estimated date of
14     completion. The actual charge to the customer shall not
15     exceed 10% of the estimated cost without the written
16     consent of the customer.
17         (4) If the cable or video provider receives notice that
18     an unsafe condition exists with respect to its equipment,
19     it shall investigate such condition immediately and shall
20     take such measures as are necessary to remove or eliminate
21     the unsafe condition. The cable or video provider shall
22     inform the local unit of government promptly, but no later
23     than 2 hours after it receives notification of an unsafe
24     condition that it has not remedied.
25         (5) Under normal operating conditions, telephone
26     answer time by the cable or video provider's customer

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 77 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     representative, including wait time, shall not exceed 30
2     seconds when the connection is made. If the call needs to
3     be transferred, transfer time shall not exceed 30 seconds.
4     These standards shall be met no less than 90% of the time
5     under normal operating conditions, measured on a quarterly
6     basis.
7         (6) Under normal operating conditions, the cable or
8     video provider's customers will receive a busy signal less
9     than 3% of the time.
10     (e) Under normal operating conditions, each of the
11 following standards related to installations, outages, and
12 service calls will be met no less than 95% of the time measured
13 on a quarterly basis:
14         (1) Standard installations will be performed within 7
15     business days after an order has been placed. "Standard"
16     installations are those that are located up to 125 feet
17     from the existing distribution system.
18         (2) Excluding conditions beyond the control of the
19     cable or video providers, the cable or video providers will
20     begin working on "service interruptions" promptly and in no
21     event later than 24 hours after the interruption is
22     reported by the customer or otherwise becomes known to the
23     cable or video providers. Cable or video providers must
24     begin actions to correct other service problems the next
25     business day after notification of the service problem and
26     correct the problem within 48 hours after the interruption

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 78 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     is reported by the customer 95% of the time, measured on a
2     quarterly basis.
3         (3) The "appointment window" alternatives for
4     installations, service calls, and other installation
5     activities will be either a specific time or, at a maximum,
6     a 4-hour time block during evening, weekend, and normal
7     business hours. The cable or video provider may schedule
8     service calls and other installation activities outside of
9     these hours for the express convenience of the customer.
10         (4) Cable or video providers may not cancel an
11     appointment with a customer after 5:00 p.m. on the business
12     day prior to the scheduled appointment. If the cable or
13     video provider's representative is running late for an
14     appointment with a customer and will not be able to keep
15     the appointment as scheduled, the customer will be
16     contacted. The appointment will be rescheduled, as
17     necessary, at a time that is convenient for the customer,
18     even if the rescheduled appointment is not within normal
19     business hours.
20     (f) Public benefit obligation:
21         (1) All cable or video providers offering service
22     pursuant to the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007,
23     the Illinois Municipal Code, or the Counties Code shall
24     provide a free service line drop and free basic service to
25     all current and future public buildings within their
26     footprint, including, but not limited to, all local unit of

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 79 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     government buildings, public libraries, and public primary
2     and secondary schools, whether owned or leased by that
3     local unit of government ("eligible buildings"). Such
4     service shall be used in a manner consistent with the
5     government purpose for the eligible building and shall not
6     be resold.
7         (2) This obligation only applies to those cable or
8     video service providers whose cable service or video
9     service systems pass eligible buildings and its cable or
10     video service is generally available to residential
11     subscribers in the same local unit of government in which
12     the eligible building is located. The burden of providing
13     such service at each eligible building shall be shared by
14     all cable and video providers whose systems pass the
15     eligible buildings in an equitable and competitively
16     neutral manner, and nothing herein shall require
17     duplicative installations by more than one cable or video
18     provider at each eligible building. Cable or video
19     providers operating in a local unit of government shall
20     meet as necessary and determine who will provide service to
21     eligible buildings under this subsection (f). If the cable
22     or video providers are unable to reach an agreement, they
23     shall meet with the local unit of government, which shall
24     determine which cable or video providers will serve each
25     eligible building. The local unit of government shall bear
26     the costs of any inside wiring or video equipment costs not

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 80 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     ordinarily provided as part of the cable or video
2     provider's basic offering.
3     (g) After the cable or video providers have offered service
4 for one year, the cable or video providers shall make an annual
5 report to the Commission, to the local unit of government, and
6 to the Attorney General that it is meeting the standards
7 specified in this Article, identifying the number of complaints
8 it received over the prior year in the State and specifying the
9 number of complaints related to each of the following: (1)
10 billing, charges, refunds, and credits; (2) installation or
11 termination of service; (3) quality of service and repair; (4)
12 programming; and (5) miscellaneous complaints that do not fall
13 within these categories. Thereafter, the cable or video
14 providers shall also provide, upon request by the local unit of
15 government where service is offered and to the Attorney
16 General, an annual public report that includes performance data
17 described in subdivisions (5) and (6) of subsection (d) and
18 subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (e) of this Section for
19 cable services or video services. The performance data shall be
20 disaggregated for each requesting local unit of government or
21 local exchange, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of
22 this Act, in which the cable or video providers have customers.
23     (h) To the extent consistent with federal law, cable or
24 video providers shall offer the lowest-cost basic cable or
25 video service as a stand-alone service to residential customers
26 at reasonable rates. Cable or video providers shall not require

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 81 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 the subscription to any service other than the lowest-cost
2 basic service or to any telecommunications or information
3 service, as a condition of access to cable or video service,
4 including programming offered on a per channel or per program
5 basis. Cable or video providers shall not discriminate between
6 subscribers to the lowest-cost basic service, subscribers to
7 other cable services or video services, and other subscribers
8 with regard to the rates charged for cable or video programming
9 offered on a per channel or per program basis.
10     (i) To the extent consistent with federal law, cable or
11 video providers shall ensure that charges for changes in the
12 subscriber's selection of services or equipment shall be based
13 on the cost of such change and shall not exceed nominal amounts
14 when the system's configuration permits changes in service tier
15 selection to be effected solely by coded entry on a computer
16 terminal or by other similarly simple method.
17     (j) To the extent consistent with federal law, cable or
18 video providers shall have a rate structure for the provision
19 of cable or video service that is uniform throughout the area
20 within the boundaries of the local unit of government. This
21 subsection (j) is not intended to prohibit bulk discounts to
22 multiple dwelling units or to prohibit reasonable discounts to
23 senior citizens or other economically disadvantaged groups.
24     (k) To the extent consistent with federal law, cable or
25 video providers shall not charge a subscriber for any service
26 or equipment that the subscriber has not affirmatively

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 82 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 requested by name. For purposes of this subsection (k), a
2 subscriber's failure to refuse a cable or video provider's
3 proposal to provide service or equipment shall not be deemed to
4 be an affirmative request for such service or equipment.
5     (l) No contract or service agreement containing an early
6 termination clause offering residential cable services or
7 video services or any bundle including such services shall be
8 for a term longer than 2 years one year. Any contract or
9 service offering with a term of service that contains an early
10 termination fee shall limit the early termination fee to not
11 more than the value of any additional goods or services
12 provided with the cable or video services, the amount of the
13 discount reflected in the price for cable services or video
14 services for the period during which the consumer benefited
15 from the discount, or a declining fee based on the remainder of
16 the contract term.
17     (m) Cable or video providers shall not discriminate in the
18 provision of services for the hearing and visually impaired,
19 and shall comply with the accessibility requirements of 47
20 U.S.C. 613. Cable or video providers shall deliver and pick-up
21 or provide customers with pre-paid shipping and packaging for
22 the return of converters and other necessary equipment at the
23 home of customers with disabilities. Cable or video providers
24 shall provide free use of a converter or remote control unit to
25 mobility impaired customers.
26     (n)(1) To the extent consistent with federal law, cable or

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 83 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 video providers shall comply with the provisions of 47 U.S.C.
2 532(h) and (j). The cable or video providers shall not exercise
3 any editorial control over any video programming provided
4 pursuant to this Section, or in any other way consider the
5 content of such programming, except that a cable or video
6 provider may refuse to transmit any leased access program or
7 portion of a leased access program that contains obscenity,
8 indecency, or nudity and may consider such content to the
9 minimum extent necessary to establish a reasonable price for
10 the commercial use of designated channel capacity by an
11 unaffiliated person. This subsection (n) shall permit cable or
12 video providers to enforce prospectively a written and
13 published policy of prohibiting programming that the cable or
14 video provider reasonably believes describes or depicts sexual
15 or excretory activities or organs in a patently offensive
16 manner as measured by contemporary community standards.
17         (2) Upon customer request, the cable or video provider
18     shall, without charge, fully scramble or otherwise fully
19     block the audio and video programming of each channel
20     carrying such programming so that a person who is not a
21     subscriber does not receive the channel or programming.
22         (3) In providing sexually explicit adult programming
23     or other programming that is indecent on any channel of its
24     service primarily dedicated to sexually oriented
25     programming, the cable or video provider shall fully
26     scramble or otherwise fully block the video and audio

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 84 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     portion of such channel so that a person who is not a
2     subscriber to such channel or programming does not receive
3     it.
4         (4) Scramble means to rearrange the content of the
5     signal of the programming so that the programming cannot be
6     viewed or heard in an understandable manner.
7     (o) Cable or video providers will maintain a listing,
8 specific to the level of street address, of the areas where its
9 cable or video services are available. Customers who inquire
10 about purchasing cable or video service shall be informed about
11 whether the cable or video provider's cable or video services
12 are currently available to them at their specific location.
13     (p) Cable or video providers shall not disclose the name,
14 address, telephone number or other personally identifying
15 information of a cable service or video service customer to be
16 used in mailing lists or to be used for other commercial
17 purposes not reasonably related to the conduct of its business
18 unless the cable or video provider has provided to the customer
19 a notice, separately or included in any other customer service
20 notice, that clearly and conspicuously describes the
21 customer's ability to prohibit the disclosure. Cable or video
22 providers shall provide an address and telephone number for a
23 customer to use without a toll charge to prevent disclosure of
24 the customer's name and address in mailing lists or for other
25 commercial purposes not reasonably related to the conduct of
26 its business to other businesses or affiliates of the cable or

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 85 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 video provider. Cable or video providers shall comply with the
2 consumer privacy requirements of the Communications Consumer
3 Privacy Act, the Restricted Call Registry Act, and 47 U.S.C.
4 551 that are in effect as of June 30, 2007 (the effective date
5 of Public Act 95-9) and as amended thereafter.
6     (q) Cable or video providers shall implement an informal
7 process for handling inquiries from local units of government
8 and customers concerning billing issues, service issues,
9 privacy concerns, and other consumer complaints. In the event
10 that an issue is not resolved through this informal process, a
11 local unit of government or the customer may request nonbinding
12 mediation with the cable or video provider, with each party to
13 bear its own costs of such mediation. Selection of the mediator
14 will be by mutual agreement, and preference will be given to
15 mediation services that do not charge the consumer for their
16 services. In the event that the informal process does not
17 produce a satisfactory result to the customer or the local unit
18 of government, enforcement may be pursued as provided in
19 subdivision (4) of subsection (r) of this Section.
20     (r) The Attorney General and the local unit of government
21 may enforce all of the customer service and privacy protection
22 standards of this Section with respect to complaints received
23 from residents within the local unit of government's
24 jurisdiction, but it may not adopt or seek to enforce any
25 additional or different customer service or performance
26 standards under any other authority or provision of law.

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 86 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1         (1) The local unit of government may, by ordinance,
2     provide a schedule of penalties for any material breach of
3     this Section by cable or video providers in addition to the
4     penalties provided herein. No monetary penalties shall be
5     assessed for a material breach if it is out of the
6     reasonable control of the cable or video providers or its
7     affiliate. Monetary penalties adopted in an ordinance
8     pursuant to this Section shall apply on a competitively
9     neutral basis to all providers of cable service or video
10     service within the local unit of government's
11     jurisdiction. In no event shall the penalties imposed under
12     this subsection (r) exceed $750 for each day of the
13     material breach, and these penalties shall not exceed
14     $25,000 for each occurrence of a material breach per
15     customer.
16         (2) For purposes of this Section, "material breach"
17     means any substantial failure of a cable or video service
18     provider to comply with service quality and other standards
19     specified in any provision of this Act. The Attorney
20     General or the local unit of government shall give the
21     cable or video provider written notice of any alleged
22     material breaches of this Act and allow such provider at
23     least 30 days from receipt of the notice to remedy the
24     specified material breach.
25         (3) A material breach, for the purposes of assessing
26     penalties, shall be deemed to have occurred for each day

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 87 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     that a material breach has not been remedied by the cable
2     service or video service provider after the expiration of
3     the period specified in subdivision (2) of this subsection
4     (r) in each local unit of government's jurisdiction,
5     irrespective of the number of customers affected.
6         (4) Any customer, the Attorney General, or a local unit
7     of government may pursue alleged violations of this Act by
8     the cable or video provider in a court of competent
9     jurisdiction. A cable or video provider may seek judicial
10     review of a decision of a local unit of government imposing
11     penalties in a court of competent jurisdiction. No local
12     unit of government shall be subject to suit for damages or
13     other relief based upon its action in connection with its
14     enforcement or review of any of the terms, conditions, and
15     rights contained in this Act except a court may require the
16     return of any penalty it finds was not properly assessed or
17     imposed.
18     (s) Cable or video providers shall credit customers for
19 violations in the amounts stated herein. The credits shall be
20 applied on the statement issued to the customer for the next
21 monthly billing cycle following the violation or following the
22 discovery of the violation. Cable or video providers are
23 responsible for providing the credits described herein and the
24 customer is under no obligation to request the credit. If the
25 customer is no longer taking service from the cable or video
26 provider, the credit amount will be refunded to the customer by

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 88 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1 check within 30 days of the termination of service. A local
2 unit of government may, by ordinance, adopt a schedule of
3 credits payable directly to customers for breach of the
4 customer service standards and obligations contained in this
5 Article, provided the schedule of customer credits applies on a
6 competitively neutral basis to all providers of cable service
7 or video service in the local unit of government's jurisdiction
8 and the credits are not greater than the credits provided in
9 this Section.
10         (1) Failure to provide notice of customer service
11     standards upon initiation of service: $25.00.
12         (2) Failure to install service within 7 days: Waiver of
13     50% of the installation fee or the monthly fee for the
14     lowest-cost basic service, whichever is greater. Failure
15     to install service within 14 days: Waiver of 100% of the
16     installation fee or the monthly fee for the lowest-cost
17     basic service, whichever is greater.
18         (3) Failure to remedy service interruptions or poor
19     video or audio service quality within 48 hours: Pro-rata
20     credit of total regular monthly charges equal to the number
21     of days of the service interruption.
22         (4) Failure to keep an appointment or to notify the
23     customer prior to the close of business on the business day
24     prior to the scheduled appointment: $25.00.
25         (5) Violation of privacy protections: $150.00.
26         (6) Failure to comply with scrambling requirements:

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 89 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     $50.00 per month.
2         (7) Violation of customer service and billing
3     standards in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section:
4     $25.00 per occurrence.
5         (8) Violation of the bundling rules in subsection (h)
6     of this Section: $25.00 per month.
7     (t) The enforcement powers granted to the Attorney General
8 in Article XXI of this Act shall apply to this Article, except
9 that the Attorney General may not seek penalties for violation
10 of this Article other than in the amounts specified herein.
11 Nothing in this Section shall limit or affect the powers of the
12 Attorney General to enforce the provisions of Article XXI of
13 this Act or the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices
14 Act.
15     (u) This Article applies to all cable and video providers
16 in the State, including but not limited to those operating
17 under a local franchise as that term is used in 47 U.S.C.
18 522(9), those operating under authorization pursuant to
19 Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code, those
20 operating under authorization pursuant to Section 5-1095 of the
21 Counties Code, and those operating under a State-issued
22 authorization pursuant to Article XXI of this Act.
23 (Source: P.A. 95-9, eff. 6-30-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)
 
24     (220 ILCS 5/13-402.1 rep.)
25     (220 ILCS 5/13-408 rep.)

 

 

SB0107 Enrolled - 90 - LRB096 05740 MJR 15810 b

1     (220 ILCS 5/13-409 rep.)
2     (220 ILCS 5/13-505.1 rep.)
3     (220 ILCS 5/13-505.7 rep.)
4     (220 ILCS 5/13-506 rep.)
5     (220 ILCS 5/13-511 rep.)
6     (220 ILCS 5/13-802 rep.)
7     Section 15. The Public Utilities Act is amended by
8 repealing Sections 13-402.1, 13-408, 13-409, 13-505.1,
9 13-505.7, 13-506, 13-511, and 13-802.
 
10     Section 90. Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 96th
11 General Assembly shall be construed or interpreted to abate,
12 suspend, alter, or otherwise affect (i) any decision or (ii)
13 any condition that is rendered by the Illinois Commerce
14 Commission pursuant to Section 7-204 of the Illinois Public
15 Utilities Act between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2010.
 
16     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17 becoming law.