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Public Act 103-0826 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning regulation. | ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly: | ||||
Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing | ||||
Section 13-506.2 as follows: | ||||
(220 ILCS 5/13-506.2) | ||||
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026) | ||||
Sec. 13-506.2. Market regulation for competitive retail | ||||
services. | ||||
(a) Definitions. As used in this Section: | ||||
(1) "Electing Provider" means a telecommunications | ||||
carrier that is subject to either rate regulation pursuant | ||||
to Section 13-504 or Section 13-505 or alternative | ||||
regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 and that elects to | ||||
have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive | ||||
retail telecommunications services solely determined and | ||||
regulated pursuant to the terms of this Article. | ||||
(2) "Basic local exchange service" means either a | ||||
stand-alone residence network access line and per-call | ||||
usage or, for any geographic area in which such | ||||
stand-alone service is not offered, a stand-alone flat | ||||
rate residence network access line for which local calls | ||||
are not charged for frequency or duration. Extended Area |
Service shall be included in basic local exchange service. | ||
(3) "Existing customer" means a residential customer | ||
who was subscribing to one of the optional packages | ||
described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the | ||
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General | ||
Assembly. A customer who was subscribing to one of the | ||
optional packages on that date but stops subscribing | ||
thereafter shall not be considered an "existing customer" | ||
as of the date the customer stopped subscribing to the | ||
optional package, unless the stoppage is temporary and | ||
caused by the customer changing service address locations, | ||
or unless the customer resumes subscribing and is eligible | ||
to receive discounts on monthly telephone service under | ||
the federal Lifeline program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart | ||
E. | ||
(4) "New customer" means a residential customer who | ||
was not subscribing to one of the optional packages | ||
described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the | ||
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General | ||
Assembly and who is eligible to receive discounts on | ||
monthly telephone service under the federal Lifeline | ||
program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E. | ||
(b) Election for market regulation. Notwithstanding any | ||
other provision of this Act, an Electing Provider may elect to | ||
have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive | ||
retail telecommunications services solely determined and |
regulated pursuant to the terms of this Section by filing | ||
written notice of its election for market regulation with the | ||
Commission. The notice of election shall designate the | ||
geographic area of the Electing Provider's service territory | ||
where the market regulation shall apply, either on a | ||
state-wide basis or in one or more specified Market Service | ||
Areas ("MSA") or Exchange areas. An Electing Provider shall | ||
not make an election for market regulation under this Section | ||
unless it commits in its written notice of election for market | ||
regulation to fulfill the conditions and requirements in this | ||
Section in each geographic area in which market regulation is | ||
elected. Immediately upon filing the notice of election for | ||
market regulation, the Electing Provider shall be subject to | ||
the jurisdiction of the Commission to the extent expressly | ||
provided in this Section. | ||
(c) Competitive classification. Market regulation shall be | ||
available for competitive retail telecommunications services | ||
as provided in this subsection. | ||
(1) For geographic areas in which telecommunications | ||
services provided by the Electing Provider were classified | ||
as competitive either through legislative action or a | ||
tariff filing pursuant to Section 13-502 prior to January | ||
1, 2010, and that are included in the Electing Provider's | ||
notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this | ||
Section, such services, and all recurring and nonrecurring | ||
charges associated with, related to or used in connection |
with such services, shall be classified as competitive | ||
without further Commission review. For services classified | ||
as competitive pursuant to this subsection, the | ||
requirements or conditions in any order or decision | ||
rendered by the Commission pursuant to Section 13-502 | ||
prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | ||
96th General Assembly, except for the commitments made by | ||
the Electing Provider in such order or decision concerning | ||
the optional packages required in subsection (d) of this | ||
Section and basic local exchange service as defined in | ||
this Section, shall no longer be in effect and no | ||
Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under | ||
Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or | ||
maintained with respect to such services, charges, | ||
requirements, or conditions. If an Electing Provider has | ||
ceased providing optional packages to customers pursuant | ||
to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, the commitments | ||
made by the Electing Provider in such order or decision | ||
concerning the optional packages under subsection (d) of | ||
this Section shall no longer be in effect and no | ||
Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under | ||
Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or | ||
maintained with respect to such packages. | ||
(2) For those geographic areas in which residential | ||
local exchange telecommunications services have not been | ||
classified as competitive as of the effective date of this |
amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, all | ||
telecommunications services provided to residential and | ||
business end users by an Electing Provider in the | ||
geographic area that is included in its notice of election | ||
pursuant to subsection (b) shall be classified as | ||
competitive for purposes of this Article without further | ||
Commission review. | ||
(3) If an Electing Provider was previously subject to | ||
alternative regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 of | ||
this Article, the alternative regulation plan shall | ||
terminate in whole for all services subject to that plan | ||
and be of no force or effect, without further Commission | ||
review or action, when the Electing Provider's residential | ||
local exchange telecommunications service in each MSA in | ||
its telecommunications service area in the State has been | ||
classified as competitive pursuant to either subdivision | ||
(c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section. | ||
(4) The service packages described in Section 13-518 | ||
shall be classified as competitive for purposes of this | ||
Section if offered by an Electing Provider in a geographic | ||
area in which local exchange telecommunications service | ||
has been classified as competitive pursuant to either | ||
subdivision (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section. | ||
(5) Where a service, or its functional equivalent, or | ||
a substitute service offered by a carrier that is not an | ||
Electing Provider or the incumbent local exchange carrier |
for that area is also being offered by an Electing | ||
Provider for some identifiable class or group of customers | ||
in an exchange, group of exchanges, or some other clearly | ||
defined geographical area, the service offered by a | ||
carrier that is not an Electing Provider or the incumbent | ||
local exchange carrier for that area shall be classified | ||
as competitive without further Commission review. | ||
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, | ||
retail telecommunications services classified as | ||
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision | ||
(c)(5) of this Section shall have their rates, terms, and | ||
conditions solely determined and regulated pursuant to the | ||
terms of this Section in the same manner and to the same | ||
extent as the competitive retail telecommunications | ||
services of an Electing Provider, except that subsections | ||
(d), (g), and (j) of this Section shall not apply to a | ||
carrier that is not an Electing Provider or to the | ||
competitive telecommunications services of a carrier that | ||
is not an Electing Provider. The access services of a | ||
carrier that is not an Electing Provider shall remain | ||
subject to Section 13-900.2. The requirements in | ||
subdivision (e)(3) of this Section shall not apply to | ||
retail telecommunications services classified as | ||
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision | ||
(c)(5) of this Section, except that, upon request from the | ||
Commission, the telecommunications carrier providing |
competitive retail telecommunications services shall | ||
provide a report showing the number of credits and | ||
exemptions for the requested time period. | ||
(d) Consumer choice safe harbor options. | ||
(1) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an | ||
Electing Provider in each of the MSA or Exchange areas | ||
classified as competitive pursuant to subdivision (c)(1) | ||
or (c)(2) of this Section shall offer to all residential | ||
customers who choose to subscribe the following optional | ||
packages of services priced at the same rate levels in | ||
effect on January 1, 2010: | ||
(A) A basic package, which shall consist of a | ||
stand-alone residential network access line and 30 | ||
local calls. If the Electing Provider offers a | ||
stand-alone residential access line and local usage on | ||
a per call basis, the price for the basic package shall | ||
be the Electing Provider's applicable price in effect | ||
on January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access | ||
line and 30 local calls, additional calls over 30 | ||
calls shall be provided at the current per call rate. | ||
However, this basic package is not required if | ||
stand-alone residential network access lines or | ||
per-call local usage are not offered by the Electing | ||
Provider in the geographic area on January 1, 2010 or | ||
if the Electing Provider has not increased its | ||
stand-alone network access line and local usage rates, |
including Extended Area Service rates, since January | ||
1, 2010. | ||
(B) An extra package, which shall consist of | ||
residential basic local exchange network access line | ||
and unlimited local calls. The price for the extra | ||
package shall be the Electing Provider's applicable | ||
price in effect on January 1, 2010 for a residential | ||
access line with unlimited local calls. | ||
(C) A plus package, which shall consist of | ||
residential basic local exchange network access line, | ||
unlimited local calls, and the customer's choice of 2 | ||
vertical services offered by the Electing Provider. | ||
The term "vertical services" as used in this | ||
subsection, includes, but is not limited to, call | ||
waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling, caller ID, | ||
call tracing, automatic callback, repeat dialing, and | ||
voicemail. The price for the plus package shall be the | ||
Electing Provider's applicable price in effect on | ||
January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access | ||
line with unlimited local calls and 2 times the | ||
average price for the vertical features included in | ||
the package. | ||
(2) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, for | ||
those geographic areas in which local exchange | ||
telecommunications services were classified as competitive | ||
on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th |
General Assembly, an Electing Provider in each such MSA or | ||
Exchange area shall be subject to the same terms and | ||
conditions as provided in commitments made by the Electing | ||
Provider in connection with such previous competitive | ||
classifications, which shall apply with equal force under | ||
this Section, except as follows: (i) the limits on price | ||
increases on the optional packages required by this | ||
Section shall be extended consistent with subsection | ||
(d)(1) of this Section and (ii) the price for the extra | ||
package required by subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be reduced | ||
by one dollar from the price in effect on January 1, 2010. | ||
In addition, if an Electing Provider obtains a competitive | ||
classification pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and (c)(2), | ||
the price for the optional packages shall be determined in | ||
such area in compliance with subsection (d)(1), except the | ||
price for the plus package required by subsection (d)(1) | ||
(C) shall be the lower of the price for such area or the | ||
price of the plus package in effect on January 1, 2010 for | ||
areas classified as competitive pursuant to subsection | ||
(c)(1). | ||
(3) To the extent that the requirements in Section | ||
13-518 applied to a telecommunications carrier prior to | ||
the effective date of this Section and that | ||
telecommunications carrier becomes an Electing Provider in | ||
accordance with the provisions of this Section, the | ||
requirements in Section 13-518 shall cease to apply to |
that Electing Provider in those geographic areas included | ||
in the Electing Provider's notice of election pursuant to | ||
subsection (b) of this Section. | ||
(4) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an | ||
Electing Provider shall make the optional packages | ||
required by this subsection and stand-alone residential | ||
network access lines and local usage, where offered, | ||
readily available to the public by providing information, | ||
in a clear manner, to residential customers. Information | ||
shall be made available on a website, and an Electing | ||
Provider shall provide notification to its customers every | ||
6 months, provided that notification may consist of a bill | ||
page message that provides an objective description of the | ||
safe harbor options that includes a telephone number and | ||
website address where the customer may obtain additional | ||
information about the packages from the Electing Provider. | ||
The optional packages shall be offered on a monthly basis | ||
with no term of service requirement. An Electing Provider | ||
shall allow online electronic ordering of the optional | ||
packages and stand-alone residential network access lines | ||
and local usage, where offered, on its website in a manner | ||
similar to the online electronic ordering of its other | ||
residential services. | ||
(5) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an | ||
Electing Provider shall comply with the Commission's | ||
existing rules, regulations, and notices in Title 83, Part |
735 of the Illinois Administrative Code when offering or | ||
providing the optional packages required by this | ||
subsection (d) and stand-alone residential network access | ||
lines. | ||
(6) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an | ||
Electing Provider shall provide to the Commission | ||
semi-annual subscribership reports as of June 30 and | ||
December 31 that contain the number of its customers | ||
subscribing to each of the consumer choice safe harbor | ||
packages required by subsection (d)(1) of this Section and | ||
the number of its customers subscribing to retail | ||
residential basic local exchange service as defined in | ||
subsection (a)(2) of this Section. The first semi-annual | ||
reports shall be made on April 1, 2011 for December 31, | ||
2010, and on September 1, 2011 for June 30, 2011, and | ||
semi-annually on April 1 and September 1 thereafter. Such | ||
subscribership information shall be accorded confidential | ||
and proprietary treatment upon request by the Electing | ||
Provider. | ||
(7) The Commission shall have the power, after notice | ||
and hearing as provided in this Article, upon complaint or | ||
upon its own motion, to take corrective action if the | ||
requirements of this Section are not complied with by an | ||
Electing Provider. | ||
(8) On and after the effective date of this amendatory | ||
Act of the 99th General Assembly, an Electing Provider |
shall continue to offer and provide the optional packages | ||
described in this subsection (d) to existing customers and | ||
new customers. On and after July 1, 2017, an Electing | ||
Provider may immediately stop offering the optional | ||
packages described in this subsection (d) and, upon | ||
providing two notices to affected customers and to the | ||
Commission, may stop providing the optional packages | ||
described in this subsection (d) to all customers who | ||
subscribe to one of the optional packages. The first | ||
notice shall be provided at least 90 days before the date | ||
upon which the Electing Provider intends to stop providing | ||
the optional packages, and the second notice must be | ||
provided at least 30 days before that date. The first | ||
notice shall not be provided prior to July 1, 2017. Each | ||
notice must identify the date on which the Electing | ||
Provider intends to stop providing the optional packages, | ||
at least one alternative service available to the | ||
customer, and a telephone number by which the customer may | ||
contact a service representative of the Electing Provider. | ||
After July 1, 2017 with respect to new customers, and upon | ||
the expiration of the second notice period with respect to | ||
customers who were subscribing to one of the optional | ||
packages, subdivisions (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(4), (d)(5), | ||
(d)(6), and (d)(7) of this Section shall not apply to the | ||
Electing Provider. Notwithstanding any other provision of | ||
this Article, an Electing Provider that has ceased |
providing the optional packages under this subdivision | ||
(d)(8) is not subject to Section 13-301(1)(c) of this Act. | ||
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, and | ||
subject to subdivision (d)(7) of this Section, the | ||
Commission's authority over the discontinuance of the | ||
optional packages described in this subsection (d) by an | ||
Electing Provider shall be governed solely by this | ||
subsection (d)(8). | ||
(e) Service quality and customer credits for basic local | ||
exchange service. | ||
(1) An Electing Provider shall meet the following | ||
service quality standards in providing basic local | ||
exchange service, which for purposes of this subsection | ||
(e), includes both basic local exchange service and any | ||
consumer choice safe harbor options that may be required | ||
by subsection (d) of this Section. | ||
(A) Install basic local exchange service within 5 | ||
business days after receipt of an order from the | ||
customer unless the customer requests an installation | ||
date that is beyond 5 business days after placing the | ||
order for basic service and to inform the customer of | ||
the Electing Provider's duty to install service within | ||
this timeframe. If installation of service is | ||
requested on or by a date more than 5 business days in | ||
the future, the Electing Provider shall install | ||
service by the date requested. |
(B) Restore basic local exchange service for the | ||
customer within 30 hours after receiving notice that | ||
the customer is out of service. | ||
(C) Keep all repair and installation appointments | ||
for basic local exchange service if a customer | ||
premises visit requires a customer to be present. The | ||
appointment window shall be either a specific time or, | ||
at a maximum, a 4-hour time block during evening, | ||
weekend, and normal business hours. | ||
(D) Inform a customer when a repair or | ||
installation appointment requires the customer to be | ||
present. | ||
(2) Customers shall be credited by the Electing | ||
Provider for violations of basic local exchange service | ||
quality standards described in subdivision (e)(1) of this | ||
Section. The credits shall be applied automatically on the | ||
statement issued to the customer for the next monthly | ||
billing cycle following the violation or following the | ||
discovery of the violation. The next monthly billing cycle | ||
following the violation or the discovery of the violation | ||
means the billing cycle immediately following the billing | ||
cycle in process at the time of the violation or discovery | ||
of the violation, provided the total time between the | ||
violation or discovery of the violation and the issuance | ||
of the credit shall not exceed 60 calendar days. The | ||
Electing Provider is responsible for providing the credits |
and the customer is under no obligation to request such | ||
credits. The following credits shall apply: | ||
(A) If an Electing Provider fails to repair an | ||
out-of-service condition for basic local exchange | ||
service within 30 hours, the Electing Provider shall | ||
provide a credit to the customer. If the service | ||
disruption is for more than 30 hours, but not more than | ||
48 hours, the credit must be equal to a pro-rata | ||
portion of the monthly recurring charges for all basic | ||
local exchange services disrupted. If the service | ||
disruption is for more than 48 hours, but not more than | ||
72 hours, the credit must be equal to at least 33% of | ||
one month's recurring charges for all local services | ||
disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than | ||
72 hours, but not more than 96 hours, the credit must | ||
be equal to at least 67% of one month's recurring | ||
charges for all basic local exchange services | ||
disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than | ||
96 hours, but not more than 120 hours, the credit must | ||
be equal to one month's recurring charges for all | ||
basic local exchange services disrupted. For each day | ||
or portion thereof that the service disruption | ||
continues beyond the initial 120-hour period, the | ||
Electing Provider shall also provide an additional | ||
credit of $20 per calendar day. | ||
(B) If an Electing Provider fails to install basic |
local exchange service as required under subdivision | ||
(e)(1) of this Section, the Electing Provider shall | ||
waive 50% of any installation charges, or in the | ||
absence of an installation charge or where | ||
installation is pursuant to the Link Up program, the | ||
Electing Provider shall provide a credit of $25. If an | ||
Electing Provider fails to install service within 10 | ||
business days after the service application is placed, | ||
or fails to install service within 5 business days | ||
after the customer's requested installation date, if | ||
the requested date was more than 5 business days after | ||
the date of the order, the Electing Provider shall | ||
waive 100% of the installation charge, or in the | ||
absence of an installation charge or where | ||
installation is provided pursuant to the Link Up | ||
program, the Electing Provider shall provide a credit | ||
of $50. For each day that the failure to install | ||
service continues beyond the initial 10 business days, | ||
or beyond 5 business days after the customer's | ||
requested installation date, if the requested date was | ||
more than 5 business days after the date of the order, | ||
the Electing Provider shall also provide an additional | ||
credit of $20 per calendar day until the basic local | ||
exchange service is installed. | ||
(C) If an Electing Provider fails to keep a | ||
scheduled repair or installation appointment when a |
customer premises visit requires a customer to be | ||
present as required under subdivision (e)(1) of this | ||
Section, the Electing Provider shall credit the | ||
customer $25 per missed appointment. A credit required | ||
by this subdivision does not apply when the Electing | ||
Provider provides the customer notice of its inability | ||
to keep the appointment no later than 8:00 pm of the | ||
day prior to the scheduled date of the appointment. | ||
(D) Credits required by this subsection do not | ||
apply if the violation of a service quality standard: | ||
(i) occurs as a result of a negligent or | ||
willful act on the part of the customer; | ||
(ii) occurs as a result of a malfunction of | ||
customer-owned telephone equipment or inside | ||
wiring; | ||
(iii) occurs as a result of, or is extended | ||
by, an emergency situation as defined in 83 Ill. | ||
Adm. Code 732.10; | ||
(iv) is extended by the Electing Provider's | ||
inability to gain access to the customer's | ||
premises due to the customer missing an | ||
appointment, provided that the violation is not | ||
further extended by the Electing Provider; | ||
(v) occurs as a result of a customer request | ||
to change the scheduled appointment, provided that | ||
the violation is not further extended by the |
Electing Provider; | ||
(vi) occurs as a result of an Electing | ||
Provider's right to refuse service to a customer | ||
as provided in Commission rules; or | ||
(vii) occurs as a result of a lack of | ||
facilities where a customer requests service at a | ||
geographically remote location, where a customer | ||
requests service in a geographic area where the | ||
Electing Provider is not currently offering | ||
service, or where there are insufficient | ||
facilities to meet the customer's request for | ||
service, subject to an Electing Provider's | ||
obligation for reasonable facilities planning. | ||
(3) Each Electing Provider shall provide to the | ||
Commission on a quarterly basis and in a form suitable for | ||
posting on the Commission's website in conformance with | ||
the rules adopted by the Commission and in effect on April | ||
1, 2010, a public report that includes the following data | ||
for basic local exchange service quality of service: | ||
(A) With regard to credits due in accordance with | ||
subdivision (e)(2)(A) as a result of out-of-service | ||
conditions lasting more than 30 hours: | ||
(i) the total dollar amount of any customer | ||
credits paid; | ||
(ii) the number of credits issued for repairs | ||
between 30 and 48 hours; |
(iii) the number of credits issued for repairs | ||
between 49 and 72 hours; | ||
(iv) the number of credits issued for repairs | ||
between 73 and 96 hours; | ||
(v) the number of credits used for repairs | ||
between 97 and 120 hours; | ||
(vi) the number of credits issued for repairs | ||
greater than 120 hours; and | ||
(vii) the number of exemptions claimed for | ||
each of the categories identified in subdivision | ||
(e)(2)(D). | ||
(B) With regard to credits due in accordance with | ||
subdivision (e)(2)(B) as a result of failure to | ||
install basic local exchange service: | ||
(i) the total dollar amount of any customer | ||
credits paid; | ||
(ii) the number of installations after 5 | ||
business days; | ||
(iii) the number of installations after 10 | ||
business days; | ||
(iv) the number of installations after 11 | ||
business days; and | ||
(v) the number of exemptions claimed for each | ||
of the categories identified in subdivision | ||
(e)(2)(D). | ||
(C) With regard to credits due in accordance with |
subdivision (e)(2)(C) as a result of missed | ||
appointments: | ||
(i) the total dollar amount of any customer | ||
credits paid; | ||
(ii) the number of any customers receiving | ||
credits; and | ||
(iii) the number of exemptions claimed for | ||
each of the categories identified in subdivision | ||
(e)(2)(D). | ||
(D) The Electing Provider's annual report required | ||
by this subsection shall also include, for | ||
informational reporting, the performance data | ||
described in subdivisions (e)(2)(A), (e)(2)(B), and | ||
(e)(2)(C), and trouble reports per 100 access lines | ||
calculated using the Commission's existing applicable | ||
rules and regulations for such measures, including the | ||
requirements for service standards established in this | ||
Section. | ||
(4) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the | ||
service quality rules and customer credits in this | ||
subsection (e) of this Section and other enforcement | ||
mechanisms, including fines and penalties authorized by | ||
Section 13-305, shall apply on a nondiscriminatory basis | ||
to all Electing Providers. Accordingly, notwithstanding | ||
any provision of any service quality rules promulgated by | ||
the Commission, any alternative regulation plan adopted by |
the Commission, or any other order of the Commission, any | ||
Electing Provider that is subject to any other order of | ||
the Commission and that violates or fails to comply with | ||
the service quality standards promulgated pursuant to this | ||
subsection (e) or any other order of the Commission shall | ||
not be subject to any fines, penalties, customer credits, | ||
or enforcement mechanisms other than such fines or | ||
penalties or customer credits as may be imposed by the | ||
Commission in accordance with the provisions of this | ||
subsection (e) and Section 13-305, which are to be | ||
generally applicable to all Electing Providers. The amount | ||
of any fines or penalties imposed by the Commission for | ||
failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection | ||
(e) shall be an appropriate amount, taking into account, | ||
at a minimum, the Electing Provider's gross annual | ||
intrastate revenue; the frequency, duration, and | ||
recurrence of the violation; and the relative harm caused | ||
to the affected customers or other users of the network. | ||
In imposing fines and penalties, the Commission shall take | ||
into account compensation or credits paid by the Electing | ||
Provider to its customers pursuant to this subsection (e) | ||
in compensation for any violation found pursuant to this | ||
subsection (e), and in any event the fine or penalty shall | ||
not exceed an amount equal to the maximum amount of a civil | ||
penalty that may be imposed under Section 13-305. | ||
(5) An Electing Provider in each of the MSA or |
Exchange areas classified as competitive pursuant to | ||
subsection (c) of this Section shall fulfill the | ||
requirements in subdivision (e)(3) of this Section for 3 | ||
years after its notice of election becomes effective. | ||
After such 3 years, the requirements in subdivision (e)(3) | ||
of this Section shall not apply to such Electing Provider, | ||
except that, upon request from the Commission, the | ||
Electing Provider shall provide a report showing the | ||
number of credits and exemptions for the requested time | ||
period. | ||
(f) Commission jurisdiction over competitive retail | ||
telecommunications services. Except as otherwise expressly | ||
stated in this Section, the Commission shall thereafter have | ||
no jurisdiction or authority over any aspect of competitive | ||
retail telecommunications service of an Electing Provider in | ||
those geographic areas included in the Electing Provider's | ||
notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section | ||
or of a retail telecommunications service classified as | ||
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) | ||
of this Section, heretofore subject to the jurisdiction of the | ||
Commission, including but not limited to, any requirements of | ||
this Article related to the terms, conditions, rates, quality | ||
of service, availability, classification or any other aspect | ||
of any competitive retail telecommunications services. No | ||
telecommunications carrier shall commit any unfair or | ||
deceptive act or practice in connection with any aspect of the |
offering or provision of any competitive retail | ||
telecommunications service. Nothing in this Article shall | ||
limit or affect any provisions in the Consumer Fraud and | ||
Deceptive Business Practices Act with respect to any unfair or | ||
deceptive act or practice by a telecommunications carrier. | ||
(g) Commission authority over access services upon | ||
election for market regulation. | ||
(1) As part of its Notice of Election for Market | ||
Regulation, the Electing Provider shall reduce its | ||
intrastate switched access rates to rates no higher than | ||
its interstate switched access rates in 4 installments. | ||
The first reduction must be made 30 days after submission | ||
of its complete application for Notice of Election for | ||
Market Regulation, and the Electing Provider must reduce | ||
its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to | ||
33% of the difference between its current intrastate | ||
switched access rates and its current interstate switched | ||
access rates. The second reduction must be made no later | ||
than one year after the first reduction, and the Electing | ||
Provider must reduce its then current intrastate switched | ||
access rates by an amount equal to 41% of the difference | ||
between its then current intrastate switched access rates | ||
and its then current interstate switched access rates. The | ||
third reduction must be made no later than one year after | ||
the second reduction, and the Electing Provider must | ||
reduce its then current intrastate switched access rates |
by an amount equal to 50% of the difference between its | ||
then current intrastate switched access rate and its then | ||
current interstate switched access rates. The fourth | ||
reduction must be made on or before June 30, 2013, and the | ||
Electing Provider must reduce its intrastate switched | ||
access rate to mirror its then current interstate switched | ||
access rates and rate structure. Following the fourth | ||
reduction, each Electing Provider must continue to set its | ||
intrastate switched access rates to mirror its interstate | ||
switched access rates and rate structure. For purposes of | ||
this subsection, the rate for intrastate switched access | ||
service means the composite, per-minute rate for that | ||
service, including all applicable fixed and | ||
traffic-sensitive charges, including, but not limited to, | ||
carrier common line charges. | ||
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection (g) | ||
prohibits an Electing Provider from electing to offer | ||
intrastate switched access service at rates lower than its | ||
interstate switched access rates. | ||
(3) The Commission shall have no authority to order an | ||
Electing Provider to set its rates for intrastate switched | ||
access at a level lower than its interstate switched | ||
access rates. | ||
(4) The Commission's authority under this subsection | ||
(g) shall only apply to Electing Providers under Market | ||
Regulation. The Commission's authority over switched |
access services for all other carriers is retained under | ||
Section 13-900.2 of this Act. | ||
(h) Safety of service equipment and facilities. | ||
(1) An Electing Provider shall furnish, provide, and | ||
maintain such service instrumentalities, equipment, and | ||
facilities as shall promote the safety, health, comfort, | ||
and convenience of its patrons, employees, and public and | ||
as shall be in all respects adequate, reliable, and | ||
efficient without discrimination or delay. Every Electing | ||
Provider shall provide service and facilities that are in | ||
all respects environmentally safe. | ||
(2) The Commission is authorized to conduct an | ||
investigation of any Electing Provider or part thereof. | ||
The investigation may examine the reasonableness, | ||
prudence, or efficiency of any aspect of the Electing | ||
Provider's operations or functions that may affect the | ||
adequacy, safety, efficiency, or reliability of | ||
telecommunications service. The Commission may conduct or | ||
order an investigation only when it has reasonable grounds | ||
to believe that the investigation is necessary to assure | ||
that the Electing Provider is providing adequate, | ||
efficient, reliable, and safe service. The Commission | ||
shall, before initiating any such investigation, issue an | ||
order describing the grounds for the investigation and the | ||
appropriate scope and nature of the investigation, which | ||
shall be reasonably related to the grounds relied upon by |
the Commission in its order. | ||
(i) (Blank). | ||
(j) Application of Article VII. The provisions of Sections | ||
7-101, 7-102, 7-104, 7-204, 7-205, and 7-206 of this Act are | ||
applicable to an Electing Provider offering or providing | ||
retail telecommunications service, and the Commission's | ||
regulation thereof, except that (1) the approval of contracts | ||
and arrangements with affiliated interests required by | ||
paragraph (3) of Section 7-101 shall not apply to such | ||
telecommunications carriers provided that, except as provided | ||
in item (2), those contracts and arrangements shall be filed | ||
with the Commission; (2) affiliated interest contracts or | ||
arrangements entered into by such telecommunications carriers | ||
where the increased obligation thereunder does not exceed the | ||
lesser of $5,000,000 or 5% of such carrier's prior annual | ||
revenue from noncompetitive services are not required to be | ||
filed with the Commission; and (3) any consent and approval of | ||
the Commission required by Section 7-102 is not required for | ||
the sale, lease, assignment, or transfer by any Electing | ||
Provider of any property that is not necessary or useful in the | ||
performance of its duties to the public. | ||
(k) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section, the | ||
Commission retains its existing authority to enforce the | ||
provisions, conditions, and requirements of the following | ||
Sections of this Article: 13-101, 13-103, 13-201, 13-301, | ||
13-301.1, 13-301.2, 13-301.3, 13-303, 13-303.5, 13-304, |
13-305, 13-401, 13-401.1, 13-402, 13-403, 13-404, 13-404.1, | ||
13-404.2, 13-405, 13-406, 13-501, 13-501.5, 13-503, 13-505, | ||
13-509, 13-510, 13-512, 13-513, 13-514, 13-515, 13-516, | ||
13-519, 13-702, 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-706, 13-707, | ||
13-709, 13-713, 13-801, 13-802.1, 13-804, 13-900, 13-900.1, | ||
13-900.2, 13-901, 13-902, and 13-903, which are fully and | ||
equally applicable to Electing Providers and to | ||
telecommunications carriers providing retail | ||
telecommunications service classified as competitive pursuant | ||
to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) of this Section | ||
subject to the provisions of this Section. On the effective | ||
date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the | ||
following Sections of this Article shall cease to apply to | ||
Electing Providers and to telecommunications carriers | ||
providing retail telecommunications service classified as | ||
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) | ||
of this Section: 13-302, 13-405.1, 13-502, 13-502.5, 13-504, | ||
13-505.2, 13-505.3, 13-505.4, 13-505.5, 13-505.6, 13-506.1, | ||
13-507, 13-507.1, 13-508, 13-508.1, 13-517, 13-518, 13-601, | ||
13-701, and 13-712. | ||
(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17; | ||
100-840, eff. 8-13-18 .) | ||
(220 ILCS 5/13-301.1 rep.) | ||
Section 10. The Public Utilities Act is amended by | ||
repealing Section 13-301.1. |