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.