HB5770 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 21200 JLS 71768 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5770

Introduced , by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 80/25 new

Amends the Broadband Advisory Council Act. Directs the Council to develop a plan to provide access to broadband services at no cost to all residents of this State. Provides that the Office of Broadband within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall support and assist the Council in the development of the plan. Requires that priority be given to zip codes identified as having high levels of poverty and areas lacking the infrastructure necessary to meet requirements for high-speed access to the Internet. Requires the Council to identify existing and new streams of State revenue necessary to implement the plan. Provides that the Council shall report the plan and recommendations for legislation necessary to implement the plan to the General Assembly by March 31, 2021. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Broadband Advisory Council Act is amended by adding Section 25 as follows:

(220 ILCS 80/25 new)

Sec. 25. Universal no-cost broadband Internet access.

(a) In furtherance of the purposes of this Act to expand broadband service to unserved rural and urban areas of this State and to achieve universal broadband service and Internet access for the residents of this State, the Broadband Advisory Council shall develop a plan for the provision of free access by all residents of this State to broadband service. The Office of Broadband within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall support and assist the Council in the development of the plan.

(b) The plan must give priority to establishing access to broadband service in zip codes identified as having high levels of poverty and in the areas of the State without the infrastructure necessary to meet the requirements for high-speed access to the Internet. To the extent possible, the plan shall coordinate with, incorporate, and expand the initiatives established in the Connect Illinois Broadband Strategic Plan. The Council's plan shall identify existing and new streams of State revenue to underwrite the creation of necessary infrastructure and provide unlimited broadband Internet access, without charge, to all residents of the State. The Council's plan shall include a schedule for its implementation by July 1, 2022.

(c) The Council shall report the plan and recommendations for any necessary legislation to the General Assembly no later than March 31, 2021.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.