SR0275 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0275 LRB095 12597 MJR 37857 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

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

WHEREAS, There are 3 rural wireless carriers in Illinois that are seeking certification as eligible telecommunications carriers; the federal universal service funding will enable these eligible telecommunications carriers to construct significant additional wireless infrastructure in rural Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Commerce Commission has certified one of these carriers and is reviewing the requests for certification of the other two; and

WHEREAS, The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service has recommended that the Federal Communications Commission impose a cap on universal service funding for rural wireless carriers seeking to expand coverage in rural areas; and

WHEREAS, This recommended cap would severely limit Federal Universal Service Fund support for Illinois' rural wireless carriers currently receiving these funds; and

WHEREAS, The proposed cap on funding would serve to undercut the purpose and objective of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 by impairing the ability of Illinois' wireless-eligible telecommunications carriers to expand infrastructure into rural Illinois so that rural and urban wireless service is equal, as promised by that Act; therefore, be it

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

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

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