HB3684 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB3684

Introduced 2/24/2005, by Rep. James H. Meyer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.640 new

Creates the Illinois Universal Broadband Act. Establishes the Illinois Universal Broadband Commission (IUBC) in order to expand broadband service throughout Illinois, with the eventual goal of providing 100% service to all U.S. census tracts located within the State. Authorizes the IUBC to make revolving loans from the Illinois Universal Broadband Fund to private-sector entities for the provision of broadband service to underserved areas. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Universal Broadband Fund.

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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Universal Broadband Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Broadband" means a transmission facility and related infrastructure and equipment having a bandwidth capable of simultaneously transmitting multiple channels of data and information, including, but not limited to, voice, video, audio, and digital content from the Internet to an end user.

"Fund" means the Illinois Universal Broadband Fund.

"IUBC" means the Illinois Universal Broadband Commission.

"Underserved area" means any U.S. census tract without wired access to broadband service.

Section 10. Illinois Universal Broadband Commission. The Illinois Universal Broadband Commission is established in order to expand broadband service throughout Illinois, with the eventual goal of providing 100% service to all U.S. census tracts located within the State. The IUBC shall consist of 6 members as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) one member appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(3) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(5) one member appointed by the Governor;

(6) one member appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the single largest telecommunications provider in Illinois as measured by gross sales of service reported to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The term of each of member shall be as follows, as determined by the members by lot: 2 members shall serve for 1 year, 2 members shall serve for 2 years, 1 member shall serve for 3 years, and 1 member shall serve for 4 years. All subsequently appointed members shall serve 4-year terms, except that appointments to fill a vacancy of the initial term shall complete the term of the initial member that vacated the office. The members shall elect a chairperson and a secretary from among the members.

Section 15. Powers. The IUBC has the following powers:

(1) To borrow money under its corporate name.

(2) To start up and operate a broadband service expansion program.

(3) To monitor and administer loans from the Illinois Universal Broadband Fund.

(4) To hire an executive director and permanent staff.

Section 20. Illinois Universal Broadband Fund. The Illinois Universal Broadband Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to appropriation, the IUBC shall make revolving loans from the Fund to private-sector entities for the provision of broadband service to underserved areas. The rate of interest to be charged on those loans shall not exceed the most recent rate of market interest posted by the mean of all quasi-independent entities issuing debt bearing the name and moral obligation of the State in their corporate names.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.640 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.640 new)

Sec. 5.640. The Illinois Universal Broadband Fund.