93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6576


 
Introduced 2/6/2004, by Monique D. Davis
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













55 ILCS 5/5-1096.5 new






65 ILCS 5/11-42-11.2 new










    Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a community antenna television franchisee may not terminate service to any customer unless  the franchisee first sends written notice of termination to the customer through the U.S. mail, return receipt requested, which states the date of the termination. Provides that the franchisee must provide a refund to each customer that is subject to a service
interruption caused by
conditions that are in the franchisee's control. Provides that no franchisee may charge more than $50 per month for any cable service.
















LRB093 21215 BDD 47317 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB6576

LRB093 21215 BDD 47317 b






1
    AN ACT concerning the regulation of cable television.

 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3
represented in the General Assembly:


 
4
    Section 5. The Counties Code is amended  by adding Section 
5
5-1096.5 as follows:
 
6
    (55 ILCS 5/5-1096.5  new)
7
    Sec. 5-1096.5. Community antenna television systems; 
8
consumer
protection.
9
    (a) A community antenna television franchisee may not 
10
terminate service to any customer unless  the franchisee sends 
11
written notice of termination to the customer through the U.S. 
12
mail, return receipt requested. The notice must state which 
13
date the service will be terminated, which may not be less than 
14
10 days after the date that the customer receives the notice.
15
    (b) The franchisee must provide a refund to each customer 
16
that is subject to a service
interruption caused by
conditions 
17
that are in the franchisee's control. The refund shall be
for 
18
the entire day on which the interruption occurs and for each 
19
additional day
the interruption continues. The refund shall 
20
apply to all services
interrupted.  In the case of an outage, 
21
the franchisee
must provide a refund regardless of whether the 
22
customer requests a
refund or otherwise contacts the 
23
franchisee. In the case of a service
interruption that is not 
24
part of an outage, the franchisee must provide a refund if the 
25
customer requests a refund or otherwise
contacts the franchisee 
26
about the service interruption. Refund checks must be
issued 
27
promptly, but no later than either (i) the customer's next 
28
billing cycle
following resolution of the request or
30 days, 
29
whichever is earlier, or (ii) upon the return of the equipment

30
supplied
by the franchisee if the service is terminated.
31
    (c) No franchisee may charge more than $50 per month for 
32
any cable service.
 
 


 






HB6576
- 2 -
LRB093 21215 BDD 47317 b




1
    Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended  by 
2
adding Section 11-42-11.2 as follows:
 
3
    (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11.2  new)
4
    Sec. 11-42-11.2. Community antenna television systems; 
5
consumer
protection.
6
    (a) A community antenna television franchisee may not 
7
terminate service to any customer unless  the franchisee sends 
8
written notice of termination to the customer through the U.S. 
9
mail, return receipt requested. The notice must state which 
10
date the service will be terminated, which may not be less than 
11
10 days after the date that the customer receives the notice.
12
    (b) The franchisee must provide a refund to each customer 
13
that is subject to a service
interruption caused by
conditions 
14
that are in the franchisee's control. The refund shall be
for 
15
the entire day on which the interruption occurs and for each 
16
additional day
the interruption continues. The refund shall 
17
apply to all services
interrupted.  In the case of an outage, 
18
the franchisee
must provide a refund regardless of whether the 
19
customer requests a
refund or otherwise contacts the 
20
franchisee. In the case of a service
interruption that is not 
21
part of an outage, the franchisee must provide a refund if the 
22
customer requests a refund or otherwise
contacts the franchisee 
23
about the service interruption. Refund checks must be
issued 
24
promptly, but no later than either (i) the customer's next 
25
billing cycle
following resolution of the request or
30 days, 
26
whichever is earlier, or (ii) upon the return of the equipment

27
supplied
by the franchisee if the service is terminated.
28
    (c) No franchisee may charge more than $50 per month for 
29
any cable service.