Illinois 95th Regular Session Status: Passed House 1 D cosponsors

HB 754 — INTERNET SERVICE-HIGH SPEED

Last action — Session Sine Die

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 95th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Creates the Connect Illinois Act. Establishes the Illinois Broadband Development Authority to coordinate the spread of broadband telecommunications technology in Illinois in order to achieve competition, affordability, and universal broadband service and to secure the State's telecommunications and economic future. Repeals the Act and dissolves the Authority on January 1, 2012.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

185 added · 155 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent version of the bill, now called the "High-Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Act," replaces the previous title. It emphasizes the importance of high-speed internet in enhancing economic development, public safety, and overall quality of life in communities. This change highlights a renewed focus on partnerships between public and private sectors to improve internet services, which is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and supporting local needs.

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*LRB09510377WGH30592b* HB0754 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois and 2008 HB0754 Introduced 2/7/2007, by Rep.
HB0754 Engrossed LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b AN ACT concerning telecommunications.
Constance A.
Howard SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act Creates the Connect Illinois Act.
Establishes the Illinois Broadband Development Authority to coordinate the spread of broadband telecommunications technology in Illinois in order to achieve competition, affordability, and universal broadband service and to secure the State’s telecommunications and economic future.
Repeals the Act and dissolves the Authority on January 1, 2012.
LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR HB0754 LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b AN ACT concerning telecommunications.
This Act may be cited as the Connect Illinois Act.
This Act may be cited as the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Act.
Legislative purpose.
Findings.
The General Assembly finds that the future economic vitality of the State of Illinois depends on participation in the growing global information economy and, for this reason, a State authority coordinating the spread of broadband telecommunications technology is in the economic interest of the people of Illinois.
With respect to high speed Internet services and information technology, the General Assembly finds the following:
The General Assembly further finds that current State telecommunications policy does not encourage the rapid and widespread deployment of state-of-the-art broadband technology and that Illinois and the United States as a whole have fallen drastically behind other states and nations in the capacity, the availability, and the affordability of broadband services.
(1) The deployment and adoption of high speed Internet services and information technology has resulted in enhanced economic development and public safety for the State’s communities, improved health care and educational opportunities, and a better quality of life for the State’s residents.
The purpose of this Act is to accomplish the goals of competition, affordability, and universal broadband service and to secure the State’s telecommunications and economic future.
(2) Continued progress in the deployment and adoption of high speed Internet services and information technology is vital to ensuring that this State remains competitive and continues to create business and job growth.
(3) The State must encourage and support the partnership of the public and private sectors in the continued growth of high speed Internet and information technology for the State’s residents and businesses.
(4) Local governmental entities play a role in HB0754 Engrossed - 2 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b assessing the needs of their communities with respect to high speed Internet services and information technology.
"Authority" means the Illinois Broadband Deployment HB0754 - 2 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b Authority established under this Act.
"Nonprofit organization" means an organization that (i) is a nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of that Code;
"Broadband" means any technology that provides bidirectional communications transmissions at speeds of at least one megabit per second (1 Mbps).
(ii) has no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
"Broadband deployment" means the spread of any technology that provides bidirectional communications transmissions at speeds of at least 1 Mbps.
and (iii) is organized under, subject to, and has all the powers and duties of a not-for-profit corporation under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.
"Telecommunications infrastructure" means all of the physical components of the transmission of data and voice communication.
Illinois Broadband Deployment Authority.
Connect IL.
(a) The Illinois Broadband Deployment Authority is created as a body politic and corporate.
(a) Notwithstanding any other statute, the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, shall authorize the creation of a nonprofit corporation called Connect IL to implement a comprehensive, statewide high speed Internet deployment strategy and demand creation initiative with the purpose of:
The Authority shall consist of a 12-member board of directors as follows:
(1) ensuring that all State residents and businesses have access to affordable and reliable high speed Internet service;
(1) The Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve as both the chairman and a voting member of the board.
(2) achieving improved technology literacy, increased computer ownership, and home high speed Internet use among HB0754 Engrossed - 3 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b State residents and businesses;
(2) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or the Director’s designee.
(3) establishing and empowering local technology planning teams in each county to plan for improved technology use across multiple community sectors;
(3) The Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee.
and (4) establishing and sustaining an environment ripe for high speed Internet access and technology investment statewide.
(4) The Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee.
(b) Connect IL’s governing board shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, and shall not exceed 11 members, with a maximum of 6 representing the private sector and a maximum of 5 representing the government and nonprofit sectors.
(5) The Executive Director of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, or the Executive Director’s designee.
Four of the private sector members shall be from the largest incumbent local exchange carriers, one shall be from the cable television industry, and one shall be from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry.
(6) The Director of the Illinois Finance Authority, or HB0754 - 3 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b the Director’s designee.
Members representing the public sector shall include one member from a public Illinois university, one member that represents Community Technology Centers, one member from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, one member from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, and one member from the Department of Central Management Services.
(7) Two members appointed by the Governor.
The board shall select its chairperson to serve a 2-year term.
(8) One member appointed by each of the following:
(c) In lieu of, or in addition to creating a nonprofit, the Lieutenant Governor, with the Broadband Deployment Council’s advice, shall enlist an existing nonprofit organization that HB0754 Engrossed - 4 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b has an established competency and proven record of working with public and private sectors to accomplish wide-scale deployment and adoption of broadband and information technology.
the Senate President, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader.
Appointments to the board shall be made with consideration of the geographic, gender, and racial diversity of the State.
The board shall include members representing rural areas, underserved urban areas, consumer interests, community interests, and commercial interests, including competitive local exchange carriers.
Members of the board of directors shall serve 2-year terms.
The board of directors shall meet at least quarterly.
The board shall have the power to make and amend bylaws for its operation.
All members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the Authority.
(b) The board of directors may seek input from State agencies not represented on the board, including, but not limited to, the State Board of Education, the Illinois Century Network Policy Committee, and the Department of Central Management Services, if input from those agencies is needed by the board to make decisions about the activities of the Authority.
(c) The General Assembly shall appropriate to the Authority the funding necessary to select only those employees necessary HB0754 - 4 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b for the activities of the Authority, to fund the daily operations of the Authority, and to cover the travel expenses of the Authority.
Powers and duties.
Duties of Connect IL.
The Authority shall have all of the following powers and duties:
(a) The high speed Internet deployment strategy and demand creation initiative to be performed by the nonprofit organization shall include, but not be limited to, the following actions:
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(1) To seek and distribute private, State, and federal funding, including grants, loans, or general appropriations, for the purpose of broadband deployment.
(1) Create a geographic statewide inventory of high speed Internet service and other relevant broadband and information technology services.
(2) To continually assess and catalog the telecommunications infrastructure of the State of Illinois for the purpose of determining the present and future needs of the State with respect to realizing the goals of competition, affordability, universal service, and securing the State’s telecommunications and economic future.
The inventory shall:
This includes creating and maintaining a comprehensive map of the telecommunications infrastructure in the State.
(A) identify geographic gaps in high speed Internet service through a method of GIS mapping of service availability and GIS analysis at the census block level;
For this purpose, the Authority shall have the power to collect data from facilities-based telecommunications companies operating in the State.
and (B) provide a baseline assessment of statewide high speed Internet deployment in terms of percentage of Illinois households with high speed Internet availability.
The comprehensive map may be created by the Authority or contracted to another entity by the Authority.
(2) Track and identify, through customer interviews and surveys and other publicly available sources, statewide residential and business adoption of high speed Internet, computers, and related information technology and any barriers to adoption.
(3) To encourage and participate in the coordination of private and public telecommunications development, including local and State efforts to realize the goals of competition, affordability, universal service, and HB0754 - 5 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b securing the State’s telecommunications and economic future.
(3) Build and facilitate in each county or designated HB0754 Engrossed - 5 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b region a local technology planning team with members representing a cross section of the community, including, but not limited to, representatives of business, K-12 education, health care, libraries, higher education, community-based organizations, local government, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture.
(4) To work with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, the Illinois Finance Authority, the State Board of Education, and the Illinois Century Network Policy Committee for the purpose of ensuring consistent and efficient deployment of telecommunications services throughout Illinois.
Each team shall benchmark technology use across relevant community sectors, set goals for improved technology use within each sector, and develop a plan for achieving its goals, with specific recommendations for online application development and demand creation.
(5) To seed and fund local and regional broadband initiatives throughout the State for the purpose of supporting broadband demand by educating underserved populations in applications using computers and broadband connectivity.
(4) Collaborate with high speed Internet providers and technology companies to encourage deployment and use, especially in underserved areas, by aggregating local demand, mapping analysis, and creating market intelligence to improve the business case for providers to deploy.
(6) To work with and distribute funding to private and public telecommunications projects in matters related to the construction, acquisition, improvement, or expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.
(5) Establish a program to increase computer ownership and Internet access for disenfranchised populations across the State.
This includes, but is not limited to, acting as a liaison between broadband deployment projects and any entity controlling rights of way and other easements necessary for a given broadband project.
(b) The nonprofit organization may apply for federal grants consistent with the objectives of this Act.
(7) To give priority for financial and technical support to competitive local exchange carriers in areas in which a majority of market share is held by community HB0754 - 6 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b antenna television services and incumbent local exchange carriers.
(c) The Lieutenant Governor shall use the funds in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund to provide grants to the nonprofit organization created or enlisted under this Act.
(8) To enter into joint ventures and partnerships and to make contracts for the purposes set forth in this Act.
(d) The nonprofit organization shall have the power to HB0754 Engrossed - 6 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b obtain or to raise funds other than the grants receive from the Lieutenant Governor under this Act.
(9) To select employees to carry out the daily operations of the Authority.
(e) The nonprofit organization and its Board of Directors shall exist separately and independently from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and any other governmental entity, but shall cooperate with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, and other public or private entities it deems appropriate in carrying out its duties.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Act or any other Act to the contrary, any information that is designated confidential or proprietary by an entity providing the information to the nonprofit organization or any other entity to accomplish the objectives of this Act shall be deemed confidential, proprietary, and a trade secret and treated by the nonprofit organization, Connect IL’s governing board, or anyone else possessing the information as such and shall not be disclosed.
Repeal;
Scope of authority.
dissolution of Authority.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as giving the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology.
This Act is repealed and the Illinois Broadband Authority is dissolved on January 1, 2012.
Section 30.
High Speed Internet Services and Information HB0754 Engrossed - 7 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b Technology Fund.
(a) There is created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund, to be used, subject to appropriation, by the Lieutenant Governor for purposes of providing grants to the nonprofit organization enlisted under this Act.
(b) On the effective date of this Act, all moneys in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund which have not already been distributed or ordered distributed by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall be transferred to the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund.
Nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall affect the validity of grants issued under this Act before June 30, 2007.
Section 35.
Local broadband projects.
Any municipality or county may undertake local broadband projects and the provision of services in connection therewith;
may lease infrastructure that it owns or controls;
may aggregate customers or demand for broadband services;
may apply for and receive funds or technical assistance to undertake such projects to address the level of broadband access available to its businesses and residents.
To the extent that it seeks to serve as a retail provider of telecommunications services, the municipality or county shall be required to obtain appropriate certification from the Illinois Commerce Commission as a telecommunications carrier.
HB0754 Engrossed - 8 - LRB095 10377 WGH 30592 b Section 90.
The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.675 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.675 new) Sec.
5.675.
The High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund.
Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
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Action History

  1. Session Sine Die

  2. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2008; Substantive House Bills Out of Committee

  3. Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg

  4. Sponsor Removed Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg

  5. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg

  6. Referred to Rules

  7. First Reading

  8. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Gary Forby

  9. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  10. Arrive in Senate

  11. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. David Reis

  12. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Richard T. Bradley

  13. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 116-000-000

  14. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  15. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted by Voice Vote

  16. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jim Watson

  17. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Ruth Munson

  18. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Eddie Washington

  19. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000

  20. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  21. Second Reading - Short Debate

  22. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  23. Second Reading - Short Debate

  24. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

  25. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Constance A. Howard

  26. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Julie Hamos

  27. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  28. Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Computer Technology Committee; 005-000-000

  29. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Computer Technology Committee; by Voice Vote

  30. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Computer Technology Committee

  31. Assigned to Computer Technology Committee

  32. Referred to Rules Committee

  33. First Reading

  34. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Constance A. Howard

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 182 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (182)

182 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 182 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading

Passed 116 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 104001
Republican 4000
Democrat 8001
Total 116002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (118)
Member Party Vote
Hamos — Yea
Jefferies — Yea
Jefferson — Yea
Nekritz — Yea
McAuliffe — Yea
Lyons — Yea
McCarthy — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Meyer — Yea
Moffitt — Yea
Molaro — Yea
Munson — Yea
Myers — Yea
Osmond — Yea
Riley — Yea
Tryon — Yea
Turner — Yea
McGuire — Yea
Verschoore — Yea
Wait — Yea
Bradley, John — Yea
Bradley, Richard — Yea
Brady — Yea
Mitchell, Bill — Yea
Mitchell, Jerry — Yea
Burke — Yea
Sullivan — Yea
Hannig — Yea
Harris — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Coladipietro — Yea
Cole — Yea
Colvin — Yea
Coulson — Yea
Eddy — Yea
Flider — Yea
Flowers — Yea
Fortner — Yea
Franks — Yea
Fritchey — Yea
Froehlich — Yea
Golar — Yea
Gordon — Yea
Graham — Yea
Granberg — Yea
Hassert — Yea
Watson — Yea
Howard — Yea
Madigan — Yea
Davis, Monique — Yea
Patterson — Not Voting
Pihos — Yea
Washington — Yea
Winters — Yea
Yarbrough — Yea
Younge — Yea
Cross — Yea
Cultra — Yea
Currie — Yea
Holbrook — Yea
Jakobsson — Yea
Kosel — Yea
Krause — Yea
Lang — Yea
Leitch — Yea
Reitz — Yea
Dugan — Yea
Dunkin — Yea
Dunn — Yea
Durkin — Yea
Osterman — Yea
Phelps — Yea
Poe — Yea
Pritchard — Yea
Ramey — Yea
Reboletti — Yea
Reis — Yea
Ryg — Yea
Sacia — Yea
Saviano — Yea
Schmitz — Yea
Schock — Yea
Scully — Yea
Sommer — Yea
Soto — Yea
Lindner — Yea
Acevedo — Yea
Arroyo — Yea
Bassi — Yea
Beaubien — Yea
Beiser — Yea
Mathias — Yea
Bellock — Yea
Berrios — Yea
Mautino — Yea
Biggins — Yea
Black — Yea
Boland — Yea
May — Yea
Bost — Yea
Brauer — Yea
Brosnahan — Yea
D'Amico — Yea
Mulligan — Yea
Chapa LaVia — Yea
Fred Crespo Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
La Shawn K. Ford Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Not Voting
Nicholas K. Smith Democrat Yea
Patrick J. Joyce Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Yea
Sara Feigenholtz Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Yea
Brad Stephens Republican Yea
Chapin Rose Republican Yea
Chris Miller Republican Yea
Jil Tracy Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

transportation technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 754 do?
Creates the Connect Illinois Act. Establishes the Illinois Broadband Development Authority to coordinate the spread of broadband telecommunications technology in Illinois in order to achieve competition, affordability, and universal broadband service and to secure the State's telecommunications and economic future. Repeals the Act and dissolves the Authority on January 1, 2012.
Who sponsors HB 754?
HB 754 is sponsored by Terra Costa Howard (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 754?
This bill died with 95th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 754?
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