House Sponsors: LYONS,JOSEPH-HULTGREN-MATHIAS. Short description: TELECOM CONSUMER CHOICE LAW Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Telecommunications Consumer Choice Law of 2001. Provides that all interconnection agreements between an incumbent local exchange carrier and any other telecommunications carrier must be filed with the Commerce Commission as a tariff. Allows any telecommunications carrier to order any offering from an interconnection agreement or any other tariff regardless of whether or not that telecommunications carrier has its own interconnection agreement. Establishes criteria for classification of a service as competitive. Prohibits alternative forms of regulation (non-ratemaking) for incumbent local exchange carriers that do not comply with structural separation requirements that require separate subsidiaries for the provision of competitive services. Removes exemption from the enforcement procedures applicable to certain Bell operating companies. Increases authorized penalties from $30,000 to $1,000,000. Imposes obligations upon incumbent local exchange carriers with respect to interconnection, collocation, and network elements of service. Provides for the repeal of the Telecommunications Article on July 1, 2007 rather than July 1, 2001. Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Provides that a violation of interconnection obligations by an incumbent local exchange carrier is a prima facie violation of the Act. Abolishes an exemption for certain telecommunications activities under the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: JAN-07-2003 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status