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91_HR0508
LRB9109380JSpc
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, In 1982, Judge Harold Greene entered the Consent
3 Decree which led to the breakup of the former monopoly Bell
4 Telephone System; and
5 WHEREAS, Since the breakup of the Bell Telephone System,
6 the development of advanced technologies and Internet
7 applications have brought great benefit to Illinois
8 consumers; and
9 WHEREAS, The telecommunications industry is undergoing
10 further transformation which has resulted in a flurry of
11 mega-mergers and consolidations among companies providing
12 both traditional and non-traditional telecommunications and
13 Internet-related services; and
14 WHEREAS, The Illinois Commerce Commission has regulatory
15 authority to review and approve only certain mergers and
16 consolidations among telecommunications providers; and
17 WHEREAS, The Illinois Commerce Commission does not have
18 authority to review mergers and consolidations between long
19 distance companies and cable television companies which also
20 provide telecommunications or Internet-related services to
21 Illinois citizens; and
22 WHEREAS, The consolidation and reorganization of long
23 distance and cable television companies has not always been
24 in the best interest of Illinois citizens and, instead, has
25 resulted in the intentional unauthorized switching of
26 customers' long distance providers, confusing pricing plans
27 and, in many cases, charges for monthly service whether or
28 not long-distance calls are placed; and
29 WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of Illinois citizens
30 that the State recognize that new technologies, new
31 competitive entrants, and ongoing consolidation within the
-2- LRB9109380JSpc
1 telecommunications industry require equal application of all
2 regulations on all services providers; and
3 WHEREAS, If the Illinois Commerce Commission continues to
4 retain regulatory authority to review telecommunications
5 mergers in the future, that authority should extend to the
6 review and approval of any and all mergers and consolidations
7 of all telecommunications and Internet-related providers,
8 including long distance, cable television, and
9 Internet-related companies which have taken place since
10 January 1, 1998 or which hereafter take place; therefore, be
11 it
12 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14 the House Public Utilities Committee, or any other committee
15 given authority to work on the upcoming rewrite of the
16 Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act,
17 closely examine issues concerning the Illinois Commerce
18 Commission's authority to review and approve
19 telecommunications mergers and consolidations; and that such
20 committee make recommendations that if such authority is
21 continued in the future, that it be applied uniformly to all
22 telecommunications and Internet-related companies; and be it
23 further
24 RESOLVED, That such committee shall report its findings
25 and recommendations to the House prior to the sunset of the
26 Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act.