220 ILCS 80/15

(220 ILCS 80/15)

Sec. 15. Broadband Advisory Council; members of Council; administrative support.

(a) The Broadband Advisory Council is hereby established. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall house the Council and provide administrative, personnel, and technical support services.

(b) The Council shall consist of the following 25 voting members:

(1) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair of the Council;

(2) the Secretary of Innovation and Technology or his or her designee;

(3) the Director of Aging or his or her designee;

(4) the Attorney General or his or her designee;

(5) the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission or his or her designee;

(6) one member appointed by the Director of Healthcare and Family Services to represent the needs of disabled citizens;

(7) one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nominated by the president of a statewide organization representing electric cooperatives;

(8) one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nominated by the executive director of a statewide organization representing municipalities;

(9) one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nominated by the president of a statewide organization representing libraries;

(10) one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nominated by the president of a statewide organization representing public housing authorities;

(11) one member appointed by the Chair of the Illinois Community College Board;

(12) one member appointed by the Chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education;

(13) one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nominated by the president of the State's largest general farm organization;

(14) one member appointed by the Director of Aging and nominated by an organization representing Illinois' senior population with a membership of at least 1,500,000;

(15) seven members to represent broadband providers for 3-year terms appointed by the Governor as follows:

(A) one member representing an incumbent local exchange carrier that serves rural areas;

(B) one member representing an incumbent local exchange carrier that serves urban areas;

(C) one member representing wireless carriers that offer broadband Internet access;

(D) one member representing cable companies that serve Illinois;

(E) one member representing a statewide rural broadband association;

(F) one member representing a telecommunications carrier issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a certificate of service authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission, whose principal place of business is located in east central Illinois and who is engaged in providing broadband access in rural areas through the installation of broadband lines that connect telecommunications facilities to other telecommunications facilities or to end-users; and

(G) one member representing satellite providers; and

(16) four members to represent underrepresented and ethnically diverse communities for 3-year terms appointed by the Governor as follows:

(A) one member from a community-based organization representing the interests of African-American or Black individuals;

(B) one member from a community-based organization representing the interests of Hispanic or Latino individuals;

(C) one member from a community-based organization representing the interests of Asian-American or Pacific Islander individuals; and

(D) one member from a community-based organization representing the interests of ethnically diverse individuals.

(c) In addition to the 25 voting members of the Council, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one non-voting member of the Council.

(d) All voting and non-voting members must be appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this Act.

(e) The members shall select a vice chair from their number. In the absence of the chair, the vice chair shall serve as chair. The Council shall appoint a secretary-treasurer who need not be a member of the Council and who, among other tasks or functions designated by the Council, shall keep records of its proceedings.

(f) The Council may appoint working groups to investigate and make recommendations to the full Council. Members of these working groups need not be members of the Council.

(g) Nine voting members of the Council constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a simple majority of those members present is necessary for any action taken by vote of the Council.

(h) The Council shall conduct its first meeting within 30 days after all members have been appointed. The Council shall meet quarterly after its first meeting. Additional hearings and public meetings are permitted at the discretion of the members. The Council may meet in person or through video or audio conference.

(i) Members shall serve without compensation and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(Source: P.A. 102-247, eff. 1-1-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)