HR0550

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, 
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through the establishment of the Federal Universal Service 
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Fund, was intended to promote the availability of quality 
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services at just, reasonable, and affordable prices, increased 
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access to advanced telecommunications services throughout the 
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Nation, and the availability of quality services to all 
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consumers, including those in low-income, rural, insular, and 
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high-cost areas, at rates that are reasonably comparable to 
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those charged in urban areas; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The intended goals of that legislation have not 
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been met in the State of Illinois, and many of Illinois' 
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communities have no wireless services or inadequate wireless 
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service; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The failure to achieve the goals of improved and 
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high-quality services has, and will continue to have, a direct 
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and substantial negative impact on the health and safety of the 
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people living and working in Illinois' rural areas; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The failure to achieve this goal of high-quality 
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wireless services at just, reasonable, and affordable rates to 
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everyone is a very significant barrier to the economic 
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development of much of rural Illinois; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, There are 2 rural wireless carriers in Illinois 
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that are seeking certification as eligible telecommunications 
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carriers; the federal universal service funding will enable 
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these eligible telecommunications carriers to construct 
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significant additional wireless infrastructure in rural 
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Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Commerce Commission has certified 
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one of these carriers and is reviewing the request for 
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certification of the other; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal 
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Service has recommended that the Federal Communications 
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Commission impose a cap on universal service funding for rural 
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wireless carriers seeking to expand coverage in rural areas; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, This recommended cap would severely limit Federal 
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Universal Service Fund support for Illinois' rural wireless 
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carriers currently receiving these funds; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The proposed cap on funding would serve to 
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undercut the purpose and objective of the federal 
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Telecommunications Act of 1996 by impairing the ability of 
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Illinois' wireless-eligible telecommunications carriers to 
 


 






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expand infrastructure into rural Illinois so that rural and 
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urban wireless service is equal, as promised by that Act; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Federal Communications Commission to reject the cap 
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proposed by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to repeal 
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the cap if it is adopted by the Federal Communications 
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Commission; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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delivered to the Honorable Kevin J. Martin, Chairman of the 
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Federal Communications Commission, the President pro tempore  
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of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States 
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House of Representatives and to each member of the Illinois 
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congressional delegation.