101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4873
 
Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Kathleen Willis
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the School Wireless Telecommunications Amplifier Act. Provides that wireless communications carriers must provide and install bidirectional amplifiers in a school upon request of a school administrator to support adequate radio or wireless telephone communications for public safety providers. Provides that willful violations of the Act are subject to the penalties and sanctions provided under the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.
  


LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
HB4873LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning telecommunications.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School 
5Wireless Telecommunications Amplifier Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions.  As used in this Act:
7    "Bidirectional amplifier" means an electronic system 
8designed to support adequate radio or wireless telephone 
9communications for public safety providers, including, but not 
10limited to, police, fire, and medical emergency professionals 
11anywhere within the school structure where students may be 
12found.  The frequency ranges that must be supported are 806 MHz 
13to 816 MHz and 856 MHz to 866 MHz.
14    "School" means a student attendance center operated by any 
15public school district or charter school or a private school 
16providing general educational services for an indefinite 
17service population.
18    "School administrator" means the superintendent of a 
19public school district, the principal of a public school 
20attendance center or charter school, or the chief executive 
21official of a private school.
22    "Wireless carrier" has the meaning ascribed to that term in 
23Section 2 of the Emergency Telephone System Act.


 
 
 
HB4873- 2 -LRB101 19132 JLS 68595 b

1    Section 10. School assistance required.  Upon the written 
2request of a school administrator, a wireless carrier shall, at 
3no cost to the school, timely provide the equipment for, the 
4installation of, and maintenance of a bidirectional amplifier 
5appropriate to the needs of the school as necessary for the 
6reasonable and effective functioning of public safety 
7providers attending to their duties within the school.  The 
8assistance shall be provided as soon as practicable, but in no 
9event more than 60 days after the written request is received.


 
10    Section 15. Penalty.  A wireless carrier that willfully 
11fails to comply with the requirements of this Act is subject to 
12the penalties and other appropriate sanctions authorized to be 
13imposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission under Article XIII 
14of the Public Utilities Act.
 
 
15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
16becoming law.