220 ILCS 5/13-301.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 220 - UTILITIES|220 ILCS 5/ - Public Utilities Act.|Article XIII - Telecommunications

 (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-301.1)(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)Sec. 13-301.1. Universal Telephone Service Assistance Program.(a) The Commission shall by rule or regulation establish a Universal  Telephone Service Assistance Program for low income residential customers.  The program shall provide for a reduction of access line charges, a  reduction of connection charges, or any other alternative assistance or program to increase  accessibility to telephone service and broadband Internet access service that the Commission deems advisable  subject to the availability of funds for the program as provided in subsections   (d) and (e).  The Commission shall establish eligibility  requirements  for benefits under the program.(b) The Commission shall adopt rules providing for enhanced enrollment for  eligible consumers to receive lifeline service.  Enhanced enrollment may  include, but is not limited to, joint marketing, joint application, or joint  processing with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Medicaid  Program, and the Food Stamp Program.  The Department of Human Services, the  Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,  upon request of the Commission, shall assist in the adoption and implementation  of those rules.  The Commission and the Department of Human Services, the  Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity    may enter into memoranda of understanding establishing the respective duties of  the Commission and the Departments in relation to enhanced enrollment.(c) In this Section:"Lifeline service" means a retail local service  offering described by 47 CFR 54.401(a), as amended.(d) The Commission shall require by rule or regulation that each  telecommunications carrier providing local exchange telecommunications  services notify its customers that if the customer wishes to participate in  the funding of the Universal Telephone Service Assistance Program he may do  so by electing to contribute, on a monthly basis, a fixed amount that will  be included in the customer's monthly bill.  The customer may cease  contributing at any time upon providing notice to the telecommunications  carrier providing local exchange telecommunications services. The notice  shall state that any contribution made will not reduce the customer's bill  for telecommunications services.  Failure to remit the amount of increased  payment will reduce the contribution accordingly.  The Commission shall  specify the monthly fixed amount or amounts that customers wishing to  contribute to the funding of the Universal Telephone Service Assistance  Program may choose from in making their contributions.  Every  telecommunications carrier providing local exchange telecommunications  services shall remit the amounts contributed in accordance with the terms  of the Universal Telephone Service Assistance Program.(e)   Amounts collected and remitted under subsection (d) may, to the extent the Commission deems advisable, be used for funding a program to be administered by the entity designated by the Commission as administrator of the Universal Telephone Service Assistance Program for educating and assisting low-income residential customers with a transition to Internet protocol-based networks and services. This program may include, but need not be limited to, measures designed to notify and educate residential customers regarding the availability of alternative voice services with access to 9-1-1, access to and use of broadband Internet access service, and pricing options. (Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)