103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2603

 

Introduced 10/18/2023, by Sen. Jason Plummer

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/17-1000 new

    Amends the Electric Cooperatives And Municipal Systems Article of the Public Utilities Act. Allows an electric cooperative organized to provided rural electric power to provide broadband service by using an easement owned, held, or used by the electric cooperative. Requires the electric cooperative to provide notice to the property owner on which the easement is located 3 months prior to beginning construction on the easement that the electric cooperative intends to use the easement for broadband purposes.


LRB103 33306 LNS 63116 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2603LRB103 33306 LNS 63116 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5Section 17-1000 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/17-1000 new)
7    Sec. 17-1000. Rural electric cooperatives providing
8broadband services using easements.
9    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
10        (1) a goal of the State is to make available to its
11    citizens affordable, reliable, and state-of-the-art
12    Internet communications through the expansion, extension,
13    and general availability of broadband services and
14    technology, and to encourage the adoption of broadband by
15    all citizens;
16        (2) although broadband access has been extended to
17    many urban areas of the State, many rural areas remain
18    unserved; and
19        (3) fair and equitable access to 21st century
20    technology is essential to job retention and economic
21    growth opportunities.
22    (b) As used in this Section:
23    "Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed

 

 

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1telecommunications equipment and technologies necessary to
2provide high-speed Internet access and other advanced
3telecommunications services for end users.
4    "Broadband service" means any service that provides
5advanced telecommunications capability and Internet access.
6    (c) An electric cooperative organized to provide rural
7electric power may, on behalf of itself, its subsidiary, or a
8business partner, provide broadband service by using an
9easement owned, held, or used by the electric cooperative. An
10existing easement does not limit the type, size, or amount of
11broadband infrastructure that may be used to provide broadband
12services, nor is an electric cooperative required to obtain
13additional easements or pay additional compensation to a
14property owner who is a party to an existing easement
15agreement in order to provide broadband services.
16    (d) To exercise the rights granted under this Section, the
17electric cooperative must provide notice to the property owner
18on which the easement is located 3 months prior to beginning
19construction on the easement that the electric cooperative
20intends to use the easement for broadband purposes. The notice
21must be sent by certified mail to the last known address of the
22property owner of the property on which the easement is
23located. The notice must include:
24        (1) the name and mailing address of the electric
25    cooperative;
26        (2) a narrative describing the nature and purpose of

 

 

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1    the intended easement use;
2        (3) a description of any trenching or other
3    underground work expected to result from the intended use,
4    including the anticipated time frame for the work; and
5        (4) a telephone number of an electric cooperative
6    employee to contact regarding the easement.