(20 ILCS 405/405-270) (was 20 ILCS 405/67.18)

Sec. 405-270. Broadcast communications services. To provide for and coordinate broadcast communications services for State agencies and, when requested and when in the best interests of the State, for units of federal or local governments and public and not-for-profit institutions of primary, secondary, and higher education. The Department may make use of its satellite uplink available to interested parties not associated with State government provided that State government usage shall have first priority. For this purpose the Department shall have the power and duty to do all of the following:

(1) Provide for and control the procurement, retention, installation, and maintenance of video recording, satellite uplink, public information, and broadcast communications equipment or services used by State agencies in the interest of efficiency and economy.

(2) (Blank).

(3) Establish charges (i) for video recording, satellite uplink, public information, and broadcast communication services for State agencies and, when requested, for units of federal or local government and public and not-for-profit institutions of primary, secondary, or higher education and (ii) for use of the Department's satellite uplink by parties not associated with State government. Entities charged for these services shall reimburse the Department.

(4) Instruct all State agencies to report their usage of video recording, satellite uplink, public information, and broadcast communication services regularly to the Department in the manner the Director may prescribe.

(5) Analyze the present and future aims and needs of all State agencies in the area of video recording, satellite uplink, public information, and broadcast communications services and plan to serve those aims and needs in the most effective and efficient manner.

(6) Provide video recording, satellite uplink, public information, and broadcast communications services.

(7) Establish the administrative organization within the Department that is required to accomplish the purpose of this Section.

The Department is authorized, in consultation with the Department of Innovation and Technology, to conduct a study for the purpose of determining technical, engineering, and management specifications for the networking, compatible connection, or shared use of existing and future public and private owned television broadcast and reception facilities, including but not limited to terrestrial microwave, fiber optic, and satellite, for broadcast and reception of educational, governmental, and business programs, and to implement those specifications.

However, the Department may not control or interfere with the input of content into the broadcast communications systems by the several State agencies or units of federal or local government, or public or not-for-profit institutions of primary, secondary, and higher education, or users of the Department's satellite uplink.

As used in this Section, the term "State agencies" means all departments, officers, commissions, boards, institutions, and bodies politic and corporate of the State except (i) the judicial branch, including, without limitation, the several courts of the State, the offices of the clerk of the supreme court and the clerks of the appellate court, and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and (ii) the General Assembly, legislative service agencies, and all officers of the General Assembly.

This Section does not apply to the procurement of Next Generation 9-1-1 service as governed by Section 15.6b of the Emergency Telephone System Act.

In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any provision of the Department of Innovation and Technology Act, the Department of Innovation and Technology Act shall be controlling.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 1-1-16; 100-611, eff. 7-20-18.)