2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 220 - UTILITIES › 220 ILCS 5/ - Public Utilities Act. › Article XXI - Cable and Video Competition

(220 ILCS 5/Art. XXI heading)
ARTICLE XXI.  CABLE AND VIDEO COMPETITION
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-100)
Sec. 21-100. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-101)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-101. Findings. With respect to cable and video competition, the General Assembly finds that:
(a) The economy in the State of Illinois will be     enhanced by investment in new communications, cable services, and video services infrastructure, including broadband facilities, fiber optic, and Internet protocol technologies.
(b) Cable services and video services bring important     daily benefits to Illinois consumers by providing news, education, and entertainment.
(c) Competitive cable service and video service     providers are capable of providing new video programming services and competition to Illinois consumers and of decreasing the prices for video programming services paid by Illinois consumers.
(d)  Although there has been some competitive entry     into the facilities-based video programming market since current franchising requirements in this State were enacted, further entry by facilities-based providers could benefit consumers, provided cable and video services are equitably available to all Illinois consumers at reasonable prices.
(e) The provision of competitive cable services and     video services is a matter of statewide concern that extends beyond the boundaries of individual local units of government.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, public rights-of-way are limited resources over which the municipality has a custodial duty to ensure that they are used, repaired, and maintained in a manner that best serves the public interest.
(f) The State authorization process and uniform     standards and procedures in this Article are intended to enable rapid and widespread entry by competitive providers, which will bring to Illinois consumers the benefits of video competition, including providing consumers with more choice, lower prices, higher speed and more advanced Internet access, more diverse and varied news, public information, education, and entertainment programming,  and will bring to this State and its local units of government the benefits of  new infrastructure investment, job growth, and innovation in broadband and Internet protocol technologies and deployment.
(g) Providing an incumbent cable or video service     provider with the option to secure a State-issued authorization through the termination of existing cable franchises between incumbent cable and video service providers and any local franchising authority is part of the new regulatory framework established by this Article.  This Article is intended to best ensure equal treatment and parity among providers and technologies.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-101.1)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-101.1. Applicability.  The provisions of Public Act 95-9
 shall apply only to a holder of a cable service or video service authorization issued by the Commission pursuant to this Article, and shall not apply to any person or entity that provides cable television services under a cable television franchise issued by any municipality or county pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095), unless specifically provided for herein.  A local unit of government that has an existing agreement for the provision of video services  with a company or entity that uses its telecommunications facilities to provide video service as of May 30, 2007 may continue to operate under that agreement or may, at its discretion, terminate the existing agreement and require the video provider to obtain a State-issued authorization under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-201)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-201. Definitions. As used in this Article:
(a)  "Access" means that the cable or video provider is capable of providing cable services or video services at the household address using any technology, other than direct-to-home satellite service, that
 provides 2-way
 broadband Internet capability and video programming, content, and functionality, regardless of whether any customer has ordered service or whether the owner or landlord or other responsible person has granted access to the household. If more than one technology is used, the technologies shall provide similar 2-way
 broadband Internet accessibility and similar video programming.
(b) "Basic cable or video service" means any cable or video service offering or tier that
 includes the retransmission of local television broadcast signals.
(c)  "Broadband service" means a high speed service connection to the public Internet capable of supporting, in at least one direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps) to the network demarcation point at the subscriber's premises.
(d) "Cable operator" means that term as defined in item (5) of 47 U.S.C. 522.
(e) "Cable service" means that term as defined in item (6) of 47 U.S.C. 522.
(f)  "Cable system" means that term as defined in item (7) of 47 U.S.C. 522.
(g) "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.
(h) "Competitive cable service or video service provider" means a person or entity that is providing or seeks to provide cable service or video service in an area where there is at least one incumbent cable operator.
(i) "Designated market area" means a designated market area, as determined by Nielsen Media Research and published in the 1999-2000 Nielsen Station Index Directory and Nielsen Station Index United States Television Household Estimates or any successor publication. For any designated market area that crosses State lines, only households in the portion of the designated market area that is located within the holder's telecommunications service area in the State where access to video service will be offered shall be considered.
(j)  "Footprint" means the geographic area designated by the cable service or video service provider as the geographic area in which it will offer cable services or video services during the period of its State-issued authorization.  Each footprint shall be identified in terms of either (i) exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this Act; (ii) a collection of United States Census Bureau Block numbers (13 digit); (iii) if the area is smaller than the areas identified in either (i) or (ii), by geographic information system digital boundaries meeting or exceeding national map accuracy standards; or (iv) local units of government.
(k) "Holder" means a person or entity that has received authorization to offer or provide cable or video service from the Commission pursuant to Section 21-401 of this Article.
(l) "Household" means a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the building and that
 have direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall. This definition is consistent with the United States Census Bureau, as that definition may be amended thereafter.
(m) "Incumbent cable operator" means a person or entity that provided cable services or video services in a particular area under a franchise agreement with a local unit of government pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095) on January 1, 2007.
(n) "Local franchising authority" means the local unit of government that has or requires a franchise with a cable operator, a provider of cable services, or a provider of video services to construct or operate a cable or video system or to offer cable services or video services under Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois  Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).
(o) "Local unit of government" means a city, village, incorporated town, or county.
(p) "Low-income household" means those residential households located within the holder's existing telephone service area where the average annual household income is less than $35,000, based on the United States Census Bureau estimates adjusted annually to reflect rates of change and distribution.
(q) "Public rights-of-way" means the areas on, below, or  above a public roadway, highway, street, public sidewalk,  alley, waterway, or utility easements dedicated for compatible  uses.
(r) "Service" means the provision of cable service
 or video service
 to subscribers and the interaction of subscribers with the person or entity that has received authorization to offer or provide cable or video service from the Commission pursuant to Section 21-401 of this Act.
(s) "Service provider fee" means the amount paid under Section 21-801 of this Act
 by the holder to a municipality, or in the case of an unincorporated service area to a county, for service areas within its territorial jurisdiction, but under no circumstances shall the service provider fee be paid to more than one local unit of government for the same portion of the holder's service area.
(t) "Telecommunications service area" means the area designated by the Commission as the area in which a telecommunications company was obligated to provide non-competitive local telephone service as of February 8, 1996 as incorporated into Section 13-202.5 of this Act.
(u) "Video programming" means that term as defined in item (20) of 47 U.S.C. 522.
(v) "Video service" means video programming provided by a video service provider and subscriber interaction, if any, that is required for the selection or use of such video programming services, and that
 is provided through wireline facilities located at least in part  in the public rights-of-way without regard to delivery  technology, including Internet protocol technology. This definition does not include the following: (1) any video programming provided by a commercial mobile service provider defined in subsection (d) of 47 U.S.C. 332; (2) direct-to-home satellite services defined in subsection (v) of 47 U.S.C. 303;
 or (3) any video programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content, information,  electronic mail, or other services offered over the  Internet, including Internet streaming content.
(Source: P.A. 103-360, eff. 1-1-24.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-301)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-301. Eligibility.
(a) A person or entity seeking to provide cable service or video service in this State after June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9)
 shall either (1) obtain a State-issued authorization pursuant to Section 21-401
 of the Public Utilities
 Act (220 ILCS 5/21-401); (2) obtain authorization pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11); or (3) obtain authorization pursuant to Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).
(b) An incumbent cable operator shall be eligible to apply for a State-issued authorization as provided in subsection (c) of this Section.  Upon expiration of its current franchise agreement, an incumbent cable operator may obtain State authorization from the Commission pursuant to this Article or may pursue a franchise renewal with the appropriate local franchise authority under State and federal law.   An incumbent cable operator and any successor-in-interest that receives a State-issued authorization shall be obligated to provide access to cable services or video services within any local unit of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for the local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9).
(c)(1) An incumbent cable operator may elect to terminate its agreement with the local franchising authority and obtain a State-issued authorization by providing written notice to the Commission and the affected local franchising authority and any entity authorized by that franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access at least 180 days prior to its filing an application for a State-issued authorization.  The existing agreement shall be terminated on the date that the Commission issues the State-issued authorization.
(2) An incumbent cable operator that elects to terminate an existing agreement with a local franchising authority under this Section is responsible for remitting to the affected local franchising authority and any entity designated by that local franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access before the 46th day after the date the agreement is terminated any accrued but unpaid fees due under the terminated agreement.  If that incumbent cable operator has credit remaining from prepaid franchise fees, such amount of the remaining credit may be deducted from any future fees the incumbent cable operator must pay to the local franchising authority pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 21-801 of this Act.
(3) An incumbent cable operator that elects to terminate an existing agreement with a local franchising authority under this Section shall pay the affected local franchising authority and any entity designated by that franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access, at the time that they would have been due, all monetary payments for public, education, or government access that would have been due during the remaining term of the agreement had it not been terminated as provided in this paragraph.  All payments made by an incumbent cable operator pursuant to the previous sentence of this paragraph may be credited against the fees that that operator owes under item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 21-801
 of this Act.
(d) For purposes of this Article, the Commission shall be the franchising authority for cable service or video service providers that apply for and obtain a State-issued authorization under this Article with regard to the footprint covered by such authorization. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, holders using telecommunications facilities to provide cable service or video service are not obligated to provide that service outside the holder's telecommunications service  area.
(e) Any person or entity that applies for and obtains a State-issued authorization under this Article shall not be subject to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095), except as provided in this Article.  Except as provided under this Article, neither the Commission nor any local unit of government may require a person or entity that has applied for and obtained a State-issued authorization to obtain a separate franchise or pay any franchise fee on cable service or video service.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-401)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-401. Applications.
(a)(1)  A person or entity seeking to provide cable service or video service pursuant to this Article shall not use the public rights-of-way for the installation or construction of facilities for the provision of cable service or video service or offer cable service or video service until it has obtained a State-issued authorization to offer or provide cable or video service under this Section, except as provided for in item (2) of this subsection (a). All cable or video providers offering or providing service in this State shall have authorization pursuant to either (i) the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 (220 ILCS 5/21-100 et seq.); (ii) Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11); or (iii) Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).
(2)  Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a local unit of government from granting a permit to a person or entity for the use of the public rights-of-way to install or construct facilities to provide cable service or video service, at its sole discretion.  No unit of local government shall be liable for denial or delay of a permit prior to the issuance of a State-issued authorization.
(b) The application to the Commission for State-issued authorization shall contain a completed affidavit submitted by the applicant and signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant affirming all of the following:
(1) That the applicant has filed or will timely file     with the Federal Communications Commission all forms required by that agency in advance of offering cable service or video service in this State.
(2) That the applicant agrees to comply with all     applicable federal and State statutes and regulations.
(3) That the applicant agrees to comply with all     applicable local unit of government regulations.
(4) An exact description of the cable service or     video service area where the cable service or video service will be offered during the term of the State-issued authorization.  The service area shall be identified in terms of either (i) exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this Act; (ii) a collection of United States Census Bureau Block numbers (13 digit); (iii) if the area is smaller than the areas identified in either (i) or (ii), by geographic information system digital boundaries meeting or exceeding national map accuracy standards; or (iv) local unit of government.   The description shall include the number of low-income households within the service area or footprint. If an applicant is an incumbent cable operator, the incumbent cable operator and any successor-in-interest shall be obligated to provide access to cable services or video services within any local units of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for the local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9),  and its application shall provide a description of an area no smaller than the service areas contained in its franchise or franchises  within the jurisdiction of the local unit of government in which it seeks to offer cable or video service.
(5) The location and telephone number of the     applicant's principal place of business within this State and the names of the applicant's principal executive officers who are responsible for communications concerning the application and the services to be offered pursuant to the application, the applicant's legal name, and any name or names under which the applicant does or will provide cable services or video services in this State.
(6) A certification that the applicant has     concurrently delivered a copy of the application to all local units of government that include all or any part of the service area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b)  within such local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries.
(7) The expected date that cable service or video     service will be initially offered in the area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b). In the event that a holder does not offer cable services or video services within 3  months after the expected date, it shall amend its application and update the expected date service will be offered and explain the delay in offering cable services or video services.
(8) For any entity that received State-issued     authorization prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly as a cable operator and that intends to proceed as a cable operator under this Article, the entity shall file a written affidavit with the Commission and shall serve a copy of the affidavit with any local units of government affected by the authorization within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly stating that the holder will be providing cable service under the State-issued authorization.
The application shall include adequate assurance that the applicant possesses the financial, managerial, legal, and technical qualifications necessary to construct and operate the proposed system, to promptly repair any damage to the public right-of-way caused by the applicant, and to pay the cost of removal of its facilities.  To accomplish these requirements, the applicant may, at the time the applicant seeks to use the public rights-of-way in that jurisdiction, be required by the State of Illinois or
 later be required by the local unit of government, or both, to post a bond, produce a certificate of insurance, or otherwise demonstrate its financial responsibility.
The application shall include the applicant's general standards related to customer service required by Section 22-501 of this Act, which shall include, but not be limited to, installation, disconnection, service and repair obligations; appointment hours; employee ID requirements; customer service telephone numbers and hours; procedures for billing, charges, deposits, refunds, and credits; procedures for termination of service; notice of deletion of programming service and changes related to transmission of programming or changes or increases in rates; use and availability of parental control or lock-out devices; complaint procedures and procedures for bill dispute resolution and a description of the rights and remedies available to consumers if the holder does not materially meet their customer service standards; and special services for customers with visual, hearing, or mobility disabilities.
(c)(1) The applicant may designate information that it submits in its application or subsequent reports as confidential or proprietary, provided that the applicant states the reasons the confidential designation is necessary.  The Commission shall provide adequate protection for such information pursuant to Section 4-404 of this Act.  If the Commission, a local unit of government, or any other party seeks public disclosure of information designated as confidential, the Commission shall consider the confidential designation in a proceeding under the Illinois Administrative Procedure
 Act, and the burden of proof to demonstrate that the designated information is confidential shall be upon the applicant.  Designated information shall remain confidential pending the Commission's determination of whether the information is entitled to confidential treatment. Information designated as confidential shall be provided to local units of government for purposes of assessing compliance with this Article as permitted under a Protective Order issued by the Commission pursuant to the Commission's rules and to the Attorney General pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act
(15 ILCS 205/6.5).   Information designated as confidential under this Section or determined to be confidential upon Commission review shall only be disclosed pursuant to a valid and enforceable subpoena or court order or as required by the Freedom of Information Act.  Nothing herein shall delay the application approval timeframes set forth in this Article.
(2) Information regarding the location of video services that have been or are being offered to the public and aggregate information included in the reports required by this Article shall not be designated or treated as confidential.
(d)(1)    The Commission shall post all applications it receives under this Article on its web site within 5
 business days.
(2)    The Commission shall notify an applicant for a cable service or video service authorization whether the applicant's application and affidavit are complete on or before the 15th business day after the applicant submits the application. If the application and affidavit are not complete, the Commission shall state in its notice all of the reasons the application or affidavit are incomplete, and the applicant shall resubmit a complete application. The Commission shall have 30 days after submission by the applicant of a complete application and affidavit to issue the service authorization. If the Commission does not notify the applicant regarding the completeness of the application and affidavit or issue the service authorization within the time periods required under this subsection, the application and affidavit shall be considered complete and the service authorization issued upon the expiration of the 30th day.
(e)   Any authorization issued by the Commission  will expire on December 31, 2029 and shall contain or include all of the following:
(1)   A grant of authority, including an     authorization issued prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, to provide cable service or video service in the service area footprint as requested in the application, subject to the provisions of this Article in existence on the date the grant of authority was issued, and any modifications to this Article enacted at any time prior to the date in Section 21-1601 of this Act, and to the laws of the State and the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the local units of government.
(2)   A grant of authority to use, occupy, and     construct facilities in the public rights-of-way for the delivery of cable service or video service in the service area footprint, subject to the laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of this State and local units of governments.
(3)   A statement that the grant of authority is     subject to lawful operation of the cable service or video service by the applicant, its affiliated entities, or its successors-in-interest.
(e-5)    The Commission shall notify a local unit of government within 3
 business days of the grant of any authorization within a service area footprint if that authorization includes any part of the local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries and state whether the holder will be providing video service or cable service under the authorization.
(f) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section
 by the Commission may be transferred to any successor-in-interest to the applicant to which it is initially granted without further Commission action if the successor-in-interest (i) submits an  application and the information required by subsection (b) of this Section
 for the successor-in-interest and (ii) is not in violation of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation. A successor-in-interest shall file its application and notice of transfer with the Commission and the relevant local units of government no less than 15
 business days prior to the completion of the transfer. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon the notice of transfer; however, the transfer is not effective until the Commission approves the successor-in-interest's application.  A local unit of government or the Attorney General may seek to bar a transfer of ownership by filing suit in a court of competent jurisdiction predicated on the existence of a material and continuing breach of this Article by the holder, a pattern of noncompliance with customer service standards by the potential successor-in-interest, or the insolvency of the potential successor-in-interest. If a transfer is made when there are violations of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation, the successor-in-interest shall be subject to 3
 times the penalties provided for in this Article.
(g) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section by the Commission may be terminated, or its cable service or video service area footprint may be modified, by the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting notice to the Commission and to the relevant local unit of government containing a description of the change on the same terms as the initial description pursuant to item (4) of subsection (b) of this Section. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon that notice.  It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to discriminate against potential residential subscribers because of the race or income of the residents in the local area in which the group resides by terminating or modifying its cable service or video service area footprint.  It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to terminate or modify its cable service or video service area footprint if it leaves an area with no cable service or video service from any provider.
(h) The Commission's authority to administer this Article is limited to the powers and duties explicitly provided under this Article. Its authority under this Article does not   include or limit the powers and duties that the Commission has under the other Articles of this Act, the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act,
 or any other law or regulation to conduct proceedings, other than as provided in subsection (c), or has to promulgate rules or regulations. The Commission shall not have the authority to limit or expand the obligations and requirements provided in this Section or to regulate or control a person or entity to the extent that person or entity is providing cable service or video service, except as provided in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 101-639, eff. 6-12-20; 102-9, eff. 6-3-21.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-601)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-601. Public, education, and government access.  For the purposes of this Section, "programming" means content produced or provided by any person, group, governmental agency, or noncommercial public or private agency or organization.
(a) Not later than 90 days after a request by the local unit of government or its designee that has received notice under subsection (a) of Section 21-801
 of this Act, the holder shall (i) designate the same amount of capacity on its network to provide for public, education, and government access use as the incumbent cable operator is required to designate under its franchise terms in effect with a local unit of government on January 1, 2007 and (ii) retransmit to its subscribers the same number of public, education, and government access channels as the incumbent cable operator was retransmitting to subscribers on January 1, 2007.
(b) If the local unit of government produces or maintains the public education or government programming in a manner or form that is compatible with the holder's network, it shall transmit such programming to the holder in that form provided that form permits
 the holder to satisfy the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section. If the local unit of government does not produce or maintain such programming in that manner or form, then the holder shall be responsible for any changes in the form of the transmission necessary to make public, education, and government programming compatible with the technology or protocol used by the holder to deliver services. The holder shall receive programming from the local unit of government (or the local unit of government's public, education, and government programming providers) and transmit that public, education, and government programming directly to the holder's subscribers within the local unit of government's jurisdiction at no cost to the local unit of government or the public, education, and government programming providers.  If the holder is required to change the form of the transmission, the local unit of government or its designee shall provide reasonable access to the holder to allow the holder to transmit the public, education, and government programming in an economical manner subject to the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section.
(c) The holder shall provide to subscribers public, education, and government access channel capacity at equivalent visual and audio quality and equivalent functionality, from the viewing perspective of the subscriber,  to that of commercial channels carried on the holder's basic cable or video service offerings or tiers without the need for any equipment other than the equipment necessary to receive the holder's basic cable or video service offerings or tiers.
(d) The holder and an incumbent cable operator shall negotiate in good faith to interconnect their networks, if needed, for the purpose of providing public, education, and government programming. Interconnection may be accomplished by direct cable, microwave link, satellite, or other reasonable method of connection. The holder and the incumbent cable operator shall provide interconnection of the public, education, and government channels on reasonable terms and conditions and may not withhold the interconnection. If a holder and an incumbent cable operator cannot reach a mutually acceptable interconnection agreement, the local unit of government may require the incumbent cable operator to allow the holder to interconnect its network with the incumbent cable operator's network at a technically feasible point on their networks. If no technically feasible point for interconnection is available, the holder and an incumbent cable operator shall each make an interconnection available to the public, education, and government channel originators at their local origination points and shall provide the facilities necessary for the interconnection. The cost of any interconnection shall be borne by the holder unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The interconnection required by this subsection shall be completed within the 90-day deadline set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.
(e) The public, education, and government channels shall be for the exclusive use of the local unit of government or its designee to provide public, education, and government programming. The public, education, and government channels shall be used only for noncommercial purposes. However, advertising, underwriting, or sponsorship recognition may be carried on the channels for the purpose of funding public, education, and government access related activities.
(f) Public, education, and government channels shall all be carried on the holder's basic cable or video service offerings or tiers.  To the extent feasible, the public, education, and government channels shall not be separated numerically from other channels carried on the holder's basic cable or video service offerings or tiers, and the channel numbers for the public, education, and government channels shall be the same channel numbers used by the incumbent cable operator, unless prohibited by federal law. After the initial designation of public, education, and government channel numbers, the channel numbers shall not be changed without the agreement of the local unit of government or the entity to which the local unit of government has assigned responsibility for managing public, education, and government access channels, unless the change is required by federal law. Each channel shall be capable of carrying a National Television System Committee (NTSC) television signal.
(g) The holder shall provide a listing of public, education, and government channels on channel cards and menus provided to subscribers in a manner equivalent to other channels if the holder uses such cards and menus. Further, the holder shall provide a listing of public, education, and government programming on its electronic program guide if such a guide is utilized by the holder. It is the public, education, and government entity's responsibility to provide the holder or its designated agent, as determined by the holder, with program schedules and information in a timely manner.
(h) If less than 3
 public, education, and government channels are provided within the local unit of government as of January 1, 2007, a local unit of government whose jurisdiction lies within the authorized service area of the holder may initially request the holder to designate sufficient capacity for up to 3
 public, education, and government channels.  A local unit of government or its designee that seeks to add additional capacity shall give the holder a written notification specifying the number of additional channels to be used, specifying the number of channels in actual use, and verifying that the additional channels requested will be put into actual use.
(i) The holder shall, within 90 days of a request by the local unit of government or its designated public, education, or government access entity, provide sufficient capacity for an additional channel for public, education, and government access when the programming on a given access channel exceeds 40 hours per week as measured on a quarterly basis. The additional channel shall not be used for any purpose other than for carrying additional public, education, or government access programming.
(j) The public, education, and government access programmer is solely responsible for the content that it provides over designated public, education, or government channels. A holder shall not exercise any editorial control over any programming on any channel designed for public, education, or government use or on any other channel required by law or a binding agreement with the local unit of government.
(k) A holder shall not be subject to any civil or criminal liability for any program carried on any channel designated for public, education, or government use.
(l) A court of competent jurisdiction shall have exclusive jurisdiction to enforce any requirement under this Section or resolve any dispute regarding the requirements set forth in this Section, and no provider of cable service or video service may be barred from providing service or be required to terminate service as a result of that dispute or enforcement action.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-701)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-701. Emergency alert system. The holder shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Communications Commission involving the distribution and notification of federal, State, and local emergency messages over the emergency alert system applicable to cable operators.  The holder will provide a requesting local unit of government with sufficient information regarding how to submit, via telephone or web listing, a local emergency alert for distribution over its cable or video network.  To the extent that a local unit of government requires incumbent cable operators to provide emergency alert system messages or services in excess of the requirements of this Section, the holder shall comply with any such additional requirements within the jurisdiction of the local franchising authority.  The holder may provide a local emergency alert to an area larger than the boundaries of the local unit of government issuing the emergency alert.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-801)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-801. Applicable fees payable to the local unit of government.
(a) Prior to offering cable service or video service in a local unit of government's jurisdiction, a holder shall notify the local unit of  government. The notice shall be given to the local unit of government at least 10 days before the holder begins to offer cable service or video service within the boundaries of that local unit of government.
(b) In any local unit of government in which a holder offers cable service or video service on a commercial basis, the holder shall be liable for and pay the service provider fee to the local unit of government.  The local unit of government shall adopt an ordinance imposing such a fee. The holder's liability for the fee shall commence on the first day of the calendar month that is at least 30 days after the holder receives such ordinance. For any such ordinance adopted on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the holder's liability shall commence on the first day of the calendar month that is at least 30 days after the adoption of such ordinance. The ordinance shall be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to the address listed on the holder's application provided to the local unit of government pursuant to item (6) of subsection (b) of Section 21-401 of this Act.  The fee authorized by this Section shall be 5% of gross revenues or the same as the fee paid to the local unit of government by any incumbent cable operator providing cable service. The payment of the service provider fee shall be due on a quarterly basis, 45 days after the close of the calendar quarter. If mailed, the fee is considered paid on the date it is postmarked. Except as provided in this Article, the local unit of government may not demand any additional fees or charges from the holder and may not demand the use of any other calculation method other than allowed under this Article.
(c) For purposes of this Article, "gross revenues" means all consideration of any kind or nature, including, without limitation, cash, credits, property, and in-kind contributions received by the holder for the operation of a cable or video system to provide cable service or video service within the holder's cable service or video service area within the local unit of government's jurisdiction.
(1) Gross revenues shall include the following:
(i) Recurring charges for cable service or video         service.
(ii) Event-based charges for cable service or         video service, including, but not limited to, pay-per-view and video-on-demand charges.
(iii) Rental of set-top  boxes and other cable         service or video service equipment.
(iv) Service charges related to the provision of         cable service or video service, including, but not limited to, activation, installation, and repair charges.
(v)  Administrative charges related to the         provision of cable service or video service, including but not limited to service order and service termination charges.
(vi) Late payment fees or charges, insufficient         funds check charges, and other charges assessed to recover the costs of collecting delinquent payments.
(vii) A pro rata portion of all revenue derived         by the holder or its affiliates pursuant to compensation arrangements for advertising or for promotion or exhibition of any products or services derived from the operation of the holder's network to provide cable service or video service within the local unit of government's jurisdiction. The allocation shall be based on the number of subscribers in the local unit of government  divided by the total number of subscribers in relation to the relevant regional or national compensation arrangement.
(viii) Compensation received by the holder that         is derived from the operation of the holder's network to provide cable service or video service with respect to commissions that are received by the holder as compensation for promotion or exhibition of any products or services on the holder's network, such as a "home shopping" or similar channel, subject to item (ix) of this paragraph (1).
(ix)  In the case of a cable service or video         service that is bundled or integrated functionally with other services, capabilities, or applications, the portion of the holder's revenue attributable to the other services, capabilities, or applications shall be included in gross revenue unless the holder can reasonably identify the division or exclusion of the revenue from its books and records that are kept in the regular course of business.
(x)  The service provider fee permitted by         subsection (b) of this Section.
(2) Gross revenues do not include any of the     following:
(i)  Revenues not actually received, even if         billed, such as bad debt, subject to item (vi) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c).
(ii)  Refunds, discounts, or other price         adjustments that reduce the amount of gross revenues received by the holder of the State-issued authorization to the extent the refund, rebate, credit, or discount is attributable to cable service or video service.
(iii)  Regardless of whether the services are         bundled, packaged, or functionally integrated with cable service or video service, any revenues received from services not classified as cable service or video service, including, without limitation, revenue received from telecommunications services, information services, or the provision of directory or Internet advertising, including yellow pages, white pages, banner advertisement, and electronic publishing, or any other revenues attributed by the holder to noncable service or nonvideo service in accordance with the holder's books and records and records kept in the regular course of business and any applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, or orders.
(iv)  The sale of cable services or video         services for resale in which the purchaser is required to collect the service provider fee from the purchaser's subscribers to the extent the purchaser certifies in writing that it will resell the service within the local unit of government's jurisdiction and pay the fee permitted by subsection (b) of this Section  with respect to the service.
(v) Any tax or fee of general applicability         imposed upon the subscribers or the transaction by a city, State, federal, or any other governmental entity and collected by the holder of the State-issued authorization and required to be remitted to the taxing entity, including sales and use taxes.
(vi) Security deposits collected from subscribers.
(vii) Amounts paid by subscribers to "home         shopping" or similar vendors for merchandise sold through any home shopping channel offered as part of the cable service or video service.
(viii) Any revenues received from video         programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the Internet, including Internet streaming content.
(3) Revenue of an affiliate of a holder shall be     included in the calculation of gross revenues to the extent the treatment of the revenue as revenue of the affiliate rather than the holder has the effect of evading the payment of the fee permitted by subsection (b) of this Section  which would otherwise be paid by the cable service or video service.
(d)(1) Except for a holder providing cable service that is subject to the fee in subsection (i) of this Section, the holder shall pay to the local unit of government or the entity designated by that local unit of government to manage public, education, and government access, upon request as support for public, education, and government access, a fee equal to no less than (i) 1% of gross revenues or (ii) if greater, the percentage of gross revenues that incumbent cable operators pay to the local unit of government or its designee for public, education, and government access support in the local unit of government's jurisdiction.   For purposes of item (ii) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), the percentage of gross revenues that all incumbent cable operators pay shall be equal to the annual sum of the payments that incumbent cable operators in the service area are obligated to pay by franchises and agreements or by contracts with the local government designee for public, education and government access in effect on January 1, 2007, including the total of any lump sum payments required to be made over the term of each franchise or agreement divided by the number of years of the applicable term, divided by the annual sum of such incumbent cable operator's or operators'
gross revenues during the immediately prior calendar year.  The sum of payments includes any payments that an incumbent cable operator is required to pay pursuant to item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 21-301.
(2)  A local unit of government may require all holders of a State-issued authorization and all cable operators franchised by that local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of this Section)
 in the franchise area to provide to the local unit of government, or to the entity designated by that local unit of government to manage public, education, and government access, information sufficient to calculate the public, education, and government access equivalent fee and any credits under paragraph (1) of this subsection (d).
(3) The fee shall be due on a quarterly basis and paid 45 days after the close of the calendar quarter. Each payment shall include a statement explaining the basis for the calculation of the fee.  If mailed, the fee is considered paid on the date it is postmarked. The liability of the holder for payment of the fee under this subsection shall commence on the same date as the payment of the service provider fee pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.
(e) The holder may identify and collect the amount of the service provider fee as a separate line item on the regular bill of each subscriber.
(f) The holder may identify and collect the amount of the public, education, and government   programming support fee as a separate line item on the regular bill of each subscriber.
(g) All determinations and computations under this Section shall be made pursuant to the definition of gross revenues set forth in this Section and shall  be made pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles.
(h) Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed to exempt a holder from any tax that is or may later be imposed by the local unit of government, including any tax that is or may later be required to be paid by or through the holder with respect to cable service or video service.  A State-issued authorization shall not affect any requirement of the holder with respect to payment of the local unit of government's simplified municipal telecommunications tax or any other tax as it applies to any telephone service provided by the holder.  A State-issued authorization shall not affect any requirement of the holder with respect to payment of the local unit of government's 911 or E911 fees, taxes, or charges.
(i) Except for a municipality having a population of 2,000,000 or more, the fee imposed under paragraph (1) of subsection (d) by a local unit of government against a holder who is a cable operator shall be as follows:
(1) the fee shall be collected and paid only for     capital costs that are considered lawful under Subchapter VI of the federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and as implemented by the Federal Communications Commission;
(2) the local unit of government shall impose any fee     by ordinance; and
(3) the fee may not exceed 1% of gross revenue; if,     however, on the date that an incumbent cable operator files an application under Section 21-401, the incumbent cable operator is operating under a franchise agreement that imposes a fee for support for capital costs for public, education, and government access facilities obligations in excess of 1% of gross revenue, then the cable operator shall continue to provide support for capital costs for public, education, and government access facilities obligations at the rate stated in such agreement. (Source: P.A. 103-360, eff. 1-1-24.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-901)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-901. Audits.
(a) A
holder
that
has
received
State-issued
authorization
under
this
Article
is
subject
to
an
audit
of
its
service
provider
fees
derived
from
the
provision
of
cable
or
video
services
to
subscribers
within
any
part
of
the
local
unit
of
government
which
is
located
in
the
holder's
service
territory.
Any
such
audit
shall
be
conducted
by
the
local
unit
of
government
or
its
agent
for
the
sole
purpose
of
determining
any
overpayment
or
underpayment
of
the
holder's
service
provider
fee
to
the
local
unit
of
government.
(b) Beginning
on
or
after
the
effective
date
of
this
amendatory
Act
of
the
99th
General
Assembly,
any
audit
conducted
pursuant
to
this
Section
by
a
local
government
shall
be
governed
by
Section
11-42-11.05
of
the
Illinois Municipal
Code
or
Section
5-1095.1
of
the
Counties
Code.
(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1001)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-1001. Local unit of government authority.
(a) The holder of a State-issued authorization shall comply with all the applicable construction and technical standards and right-of-way occupancy standards set forth in a local unit of government's code of ordinances relating to the use of public rights-of-way, pole attachments, permit obligations, indemnification, performance bonds, penalties, or liquidated damages. The applicable requirements for a holder that is using its existing telecommunications network or constructing a telecommunications network shall be the same requirements that the local unit of government imposes on telecommunications providers in its jurisdiction. The applicable requirements for a holder that is using or constructing a cable system shall be the same requirements the local unit of government imposes on other cable operators in its jurisdiction.
(b) A local unit of government shall allow the holder to install, construct, operate, maintain, and remove a cable service, video service, or telecommunications network within a public right-of-way and shall provide the holder with open, comparable, nondiscriminatory, and competitively neutral access to the public right-of-way on the same terms applicable to other cable service or video service providers or cable operators in its jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, if a local unit of government is permitted by law to require the holder of a State authorization to seek a permit to install, construct, operate, maintain, or remove its cable service, video service, or telecommunications network within a public right-of-way, those permits shall be deemed granted within 45 days after being submitted, if not otherwise acted upon by the local unit of government, provided the holder complies with the requirements applicable to the holder in its jurisdiction.
(c) A local unit of government may impose reasonable terms, but it may not discriminate against the holder with respect to any of the following:
(1) The authorization or placement of a cable     service, video service, or telecommunications network or equipment in public rights-of-way.
(2) Access to a building.
(3) A local unit of government utility pole     attachment.
(d) If a local unit of government imposes a permit fee on incumbent cable operators, it may impose a permit fee on the holder only to the extent it imposes such a fee on incumbent cable operators.  In all other cases, these fees may not exceed the actual, direct costs incurred by the local unit of government for issuing the relevant permit. In no event may a fee under this Section be levied if the holder already has paid a permit fee of any kind in connection with the same activity that would otherwise be covered by the permit fee under this Section provided no additional equipment, work, function, or other burden is added to the existing activity for which the permit was issued.
(e) Nothing in this Article shall affect the rights that any holder has under Section 4 of the Telephone Line Right of Way Act (220 ILCS 65/4).
(f) In addition to the other requirements in this Section, if the holder installs, upgrades, constructs, operates, maintains, and removes facilities or equipment within a public right-of-way to provide cable service or video service, it shall comply with the following:
(1) The holder must locate its equipment in the     right-of-way as to cause only minimum interference with the  use of streets, alleys, and other public ways and places, and to cause only minimum impact upon and interference with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the said streets, alleys, or other public ways.  No fixtures shall be placed in any public ways in such a manner to interfere with the usual travel on such public ways, nor  shall such fixtures or equipment limit the visibility of vehicular or  pedestrian traffic, or both.
(2)  The holder shall  comply with a local unit of     government's reasonable requests to place equipment on public property where possible and promptly comply with local unit of government direction with respect to the location and screening of equipment and facilities.  In constructing or upgrading its cable or video network in the right-of-way, the holder shall use the smallest suitable equipment enclosures and power pedestals and cabinets then in use by the holder for the application.
(3) The holder's construction practices shall be in     accordance with all applicable Sections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, as well as all applicable State laws, including the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and local codes, where applicable, as adopted by the local unit of government. All installation of electronic equipment shall be of a permanent nature, durable, and, where applicable, installed in accordance with the provisions of the National Electrical Safety Code of the National Bureau of Standards and National Electrical Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
(4) The holder shall not interfere with the local     unit of government's performance of public works.  Nothing in the State-issued authorization shall be in preference or hindrance to the right of the local unit of government to perform or carry on any public works or public improvements of any kind.  The holder expressly agrees that it shall, at its own expense, protect, support, temporarily disconnect, relocate in the same street or other public place, or remove from such street or other public place any of the network, system, facilities, or equipment when required to do so by the local unit of government because of necessary public health, safety, and welfare improvements.  In the event a holder and other users of a public right-of-way, including incumbent cable operators or utilities, are required to relocate and compensation is paid to the users of such public right-of-way, such parties shall be treated equally with respect to such compensation.
(5) The holder shall comply with all local units of     government inspection requirements.  The making of post-construction, subsequent or  periodic inspections, or both, or the failure to do so shall not operate to relieve the holder of any responsibility, obligation, or liability.
(6) The holder shall maintain insurance or provide     evidence of self insurance as required by an applicable ordinance of the local unit of government.
(7) The holder shall reimburse all reasonable     make-ready expenses, including aerial and underground installation expenses requested by the holder to the local unit of government within 30  days of billing to the holder, provided that such charges shall be at the same rates as charges to others for the same or similar services.
(8) The holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the     local unit of government and all  boards, officers, employees, and representatives thereof from all claims, demands, causes of action, liability, judgments, costs and expenses, or losses for injury or death to persons or damage to property owned by, and Worker's Compensation claims against any parties indemnified herein, arising out of, caused by, or as a result of the holder's construction, lines, cable, erection, maintenance, use or presence of, or removal of any poles, wires, conduit, appurtenances thereto, or equipment or attachments thereto.  The holder, however, shall not indemnify the local unit of government for any liabilities, damages, cost, and expense resulting from the willful misconduct, or negligence of the local unit of government, its officers, employees, and agents.  The obligations imposed pursuant to this Section by a local unit of government shall be competitively neutral.
(9) The holder, upon request, shall provide the local     unit of government with information describing the location of the cable service or video service facilities and equipment located in the unit of local government's rights-of-way pursuant to its State-issued authorization.  If designated by the holder as confidential, such information provided pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act and shall not be disclosed by the unit of local government to any third party without the written consent of the holder.
(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1101)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-1101. Requirements to provide video services.
(a) The holder of a State-issued authorization shall not deny access to cable service or video service to any potential residential subscribers because of the race or income of the residents in the local area in which the potential subscribers reside.
(b) (Blank).
(c)(1) If the holder of a State-issued authorization is using telecommunications facilities to provide cable or video service and has more than 1,000,000 telecommunications access lines in this State, the holder shall provide access to its cable or video service to a number of households equal to at least 35% of the households in the holder's telecommunications service area in the State within 3 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission and to a number not less than 50% of these households within 5 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission; provided that the holder of a State-issued authorization is not required to meet the 50% requirement in this paragraph (1)
 until 2 years after at least 15% of the households with access to the holder's video service subscribe to the service for 6 consecutive months.
The holder's obligation to provide such access in the State shall be distributed, as the holder determines, within 3
 designated market areas, one in each of the northeastern, central, and southwestern portions of the holder's telecommunications service area in the State. The designated market area for the northeastern portion shall consist of 2
 separate and distinct reporting areas: (i) a city with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, and (ii) all other local units of government on a combined basis within such designated market area in which it offers video service.
If any state, in which a holder subject to this subsection (c) or one of its affiliates provides or seeks to provide cable or video service, adopts a law permitting state-issued authorization or statewide franchises to provide cable or video service that requires a cable or video provider to offer service to more than 35% of the households in the cable or video provider's service area in that state within 3 years, holders subject to this subsection (c) shall provide service in this State to the same percentage of households within 3 years of adoption of such law in that state.
Furthermore, if any state, in which a holder subject to this subsection (c) or one of its affiliates provides or seeks to provide cable or video service, adopts a law requiring a holder of a state-issued authorization or statewide franchises to offer cable or video service to more than 35% of its households if  less than 15%  of the households with access to the holder's video service subscribe to the service for 6 consecutive months, then  as a precondition to further build-out, holders subject to this subsection (c) shall be subject to the same  percentage of service subscription in meeting its obligation to provide service to 50% of the households in this State.
(2) Within 3 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission, at least 30% of the total households with access to the holder's cable or video service shall be low-income.
Within each designated market area listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), the holder's obligation to offer service to low-income households shall be measured by each exchange, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this
 Act in which the holder chooses to provide cable or video service.  The holder is under no obligation to serve or provide access to an entire exchange; however, in addition to the statewide obligation to provide low-income access provided by this Section, in each exchange in which the holder chooses to provide cable or video service, the holder shall provide access to a percentage of low-income households that is at least equal to the percentage of the total low-income households within that exchange.
(d)(1) All other holders shall only provide access to one or more exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this
 Act, or to local units of government and shall provide access to their cable or video service to a number of households equal to 35% of the households in the exchange or local unit of government within 3 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission and to a number not less than 50% of these households within 5 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission, provided that if the holder is an incumbent cable operator or any successor-in-interest company, it shall be obligated to provide access to cable or video services within the jurisdiction of a local unit of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for that local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9).
(2) Within 3 years after the date a holder receives a State-issued authorization from the Commission, at least 30% of the total households with access to the holder's cable or video service shall be low-income.
Within each designated exchange, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this
 Act, or local unit of government listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), the holder's obligation to offer service to low-income households shall be measured by each exchange or local unit of government in which the holder chooses to provide cable or video service.  Except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), the holder is under no obligation to serve or provide access to an entire exchange or local unit of government; however, in addition to the statewide obligation to provide low-income access provided by this Section, in each exchange or local unit of government in which the holder chooses to provide cable or video service, the holder shall provide access to a percentage of low-income households that is at least equal to the percentage of the total low-income households within that exchange or local unit of government.
(e) A holder subject to subsection (c) of this Section shall provide wireline broadband service, defined as wireline service, capable of supporting, in at least one direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps),  to the network demarcation point at the subscriber's premises, to a number of households equal to 90% of the households in the holder's telecommunications service area by December 31, 2008, or shall pay within 30 days of December 31, 2008 a sum of $15,000,000 to the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund established pursuant to Section 13-301.3 of this Act, or any successor fund established by the General Assembly.   In that event the holder is required to make a payment pursuant to this subsection (e), the holder shall have no further accounting for this payment, which shall be used in any part of the State for the purposes established in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund or for broadband deployment.
(f) The holder of a State-issued authorization may satisfy the requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of this Section through the use of any technology, which shall not include direct-to-home satellite service, that offers service, functionality, and content that is demonstrably similar to that provided through the holder's video service system.
(g) In any investigation into or complaint alleging that the holder of a State-issued authorization has failed to meet the requirements of this Section, the following factors may be considered in justification or mitigation or as justification for an extension of time to meet the requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of this Section:
(1) The inability to obtain access to public and     private rights-of-way under reasonable terms and conditions.
(2) Barriers to competition arising from existing     exclusive service arrangements in developments or buildings.
(3) The inability to access developments or buildings     using reasonable technical solutions under commercially  reasonable terms and conditions.
(4) Natural disasters.
(5) Other factors beyond the control of the holder.
(h)    If the holder relies on the factors identified in subsection (g) of this Section in response to an investigation or complaint, the holder shall demonstrate the following:
(1) what substantial effort the holder of a     State-issued authorization has taken to meet the requirements of subsection  (a) or (c) of this Section;
(2) which portions of subsection (g) of this Section     apply; and
(3) the number of days it has been delayed or the     requirements it cannot perform as a consequence of subsection (g) of this Section.
(i) The factors in subsection (g) of this Section may be considered by the Attorney General or by a court of competent jurisdiction in determining whether the holder is in violation of this Article.
(j) Every holder of a State-issued authorization, no later than April 1, 2009, and annually no later than April 1 thereafter, shall report to the Commission for each of the service areas as described in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section in which it provides access to its video service in the State, the following information:
(1) Cable service and video service information:
(A) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area within each designated market area as described in subsection (c) of this Section or exchange or local unit of government as described in subsection (d) of this Section in which it offers video service.
(B) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area within each designated market area as described in subsection (c) of this Section or exchange or local unit of government as described in subsection (d) of this Section that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(C) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area in the State.
(D) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area in the State that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(2) Low-income household information:
(A) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area within each designated market area as described in subsection (c) of this Section, as further identified in terms of exchanges, or exchange or local unit of government as described in subsection (d) of this Section  in which it offers video service.
(B) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area within each designated market area as described in subsection (c) of this Section, as further identified in terms of exchanges, or exchange or local unit of government as described in subsection (d) of this Section in the State  that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(C) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area in the State.
(D) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area in the State that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(j-5) The requirements of subsection (c) of this Section shall be satisfied upon the filing of an annual report with the Commission in compliance with subsection (j) of this Section, including an annual report filed prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, that demonstrates the holder of the authorization has satisfied  the requirements of  subsection (c) of this Section for each of the service areas  in which it provides access to its cable service or video service in the State.  Notwithstanding the continued application of this Article to the holder, upon satisfaction of the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section,  only the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section 21-1101 of this Act and the following reporting requirements shall continue to apply to such holder:
(1) Cable service and video service information:
(A) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area within each designated market area in which it offers cable service  or video service.
(B) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area within each designated market area that are offered access to cable service  or video service by the holder.
(C) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area in the State.
(D) The number of households in the holder's         telecommunications service area in the State that are offered access to cable service or  video service by the holder.
(E) The exchanges or local units of government in         which the holder added cable service or video service in the prior year.
(2) Low-income household information:
(A) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area within each designated market area in which it offers video service.
(B) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area within each designated market area that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(C) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area in the State.
(D) The number of low-income households in the         holder's telecommunications service area in the State that are offered access to video service by the holder.
(j-10) The requirements of subsection (d) of this Section shall be satisfied upon the filing of an annual report with the Commission in compliance with subsection (j) of this Section, including an annual report filed prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, that demonstrates the holder of the authorization has satisfied  the requirements of  subsection (d) of this Section for each of the service areas  in which it provides access to its cable service or video service in the State. Notwithstanding the continued application of this Article to the holder, upon satisfaction of the requirements of subsection (d) of this Section, only the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section and  the following reporting requirements shall continue to apply to such holder:
(1) Cable service and video service information:
(A) The number of households in the holder's         footprint in which it offers cable service or video service.
(B) The number of households in the holder's         footprint that are offered access to cable service or video service by the holder.
(C) The exchanges or local units of government in         which the holder added cable service or video service in the prior year.
(2) Low-income household information:
(A) The number of low-income households in the         holder's footprint in which it offers cable service or video service.
(B) The number of low-income households in the         holder's footprint that are offered access to cable service or video service by the holder.
(k)    The Commission, within 30 days of receiving the first report from holders under this Section, and annually no later than July 1 thereafter, shall submit to the General Assembly a report that includes, based on year-end data, the information submitted by holders pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsections (j), (j-5), and (j-10)
 of this Section. The Commission shall make this report available to any member of the public or any local unit of government upon request. All information submitted to the Commission and designated by holders as confidential and proprietary shall be subject to the disclosure provisions in subsection (c) of Section 21-401 of this Act.  No individually identifiable customer information shall be subject to public disclosure.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1201)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-1201. Multiple-unit dwellings; interference with holder prohibited.
(a)  Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor an agent or representative nor an assignee, grantee, licensee, or similar holders of rights, including easements, in any multiple-unit residential dwelling (the "owner, agent or representative") shall unreasonably interfere with the right of any tenant or lawful resident thereof to receive cable service or video service installation or maintenance from a holder of a State-issued authorization, or related service that includes, but is not limited to, voice service, Internet access or other broadband services (alone or in combination) provided over the holder's cable services or video services facilities;  provided, however, the owner, agent, or representative may require just and reasonable compensation from the holder for its access to and use of such property to provide installation, operation, maintenance, or removal of such cable service or video service or related services. For purposes of this Section, "access to and use of such property" shall be provided in a nondiscriminatory manner to all cable and video providers offering or providing services at such property and includes common areas of such multiple-unit dwelling, inside wire in the individual unit of any tenant or lawful resident thereof that orders or receives such service and the right to use and connect to building infrastructure, including but not limited to existing cables, wiring, conduit or inner duct, to provide cable service or video service or related services.  If there is a dispute regarding the just compensation for such access and use, the owner, agent, or representative shall obtain the payment of just compensation from the holder pursuant to the process and procedures applicable to an owner and franchisee in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of Section 11-42-11.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11.1).
(b)  Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor an agent or representative shall ask, demand, or receive any additional payment, service, or gratuity in any form from any tenant or lawful resident thereof as a condition for permitting or cooperating with the installation of a cable service or video service or related services to the dwelling unit occupied by a tenant or resident requesting such service.
(c)  Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor an agent or representative shall penalize, charge, or surcharge a tenant or resident, forfeit or threaten to forfeit any right of such tenant or resident, or discriminate in any way against such tenant or resident who requests or receives cable service or video service or related services from a holder.
(d)  Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor an agent or representative from requiring that a holder's facilities conform to reasonable conditions necessary to protect safety, functioning, appearance, and value of premises or the convenience and safety of persons or property.
(e) The owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling or an agent or representative may require a holder to agree to indemnify the owner, or his agents or representatives, for damages or from liability for damages caused by the installation, operation, maintenance, or removal of cable service or video service facilities.
(f)  For purposes of this Section, "multiple-unit dwelling" or "such property" means a multiple dwelling unit building (such as an apartment building, condominium building, or cooperative) and any other centrally managed residential real estate development (such as a gated community, mobile home park, or garden apartment); provided however, that multiple-unit dwelling shall not include time share units, academic campuses and dormitories, military bases, hotels, rooming houses, prisons, jails, halfway houses, nursing homes or other assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1301)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-1301. Enforcement; penalties.
(a) The Attorney General is responsible for administering and ensuring holders' compliance with this Article, provided that nothing in this Article shall deprive local units of government of the right to enforce applicable rights and obligations.
(b) The Attorney General may conduct an investigation regarding possible violations by holders of this Article including, without limitation, the issuance of subpoenas to:
(1) require the holder to file a statement or report     or to answer interrogatories in writing as to all information relevant to the alleged violations;
(2) examine, under oath, any person who possesses     knowledge or information related to the alleged violations; and
(3)   examine any record, book, document, account, or     paper related to the alleged violation.
(c)  If the Attorney General determines that there is a reason to believe that a holder has violated or is about to violate this Article, the Attorney General may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the People of the State against the holder to obtain temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief and civil penalties for any act, policy, or practice by the holder that violates this Article.
(d)  If a court orders a holder to make payments to the Attorney General and the payments are to be used for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General or if a holder agrees to make payments to the Attorney General for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General as part of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, then the moneys paid under any of the conditions described in this subsection (d) shall be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered  and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund. Moneys in the  Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, for the performance of any function pertaining to the exercise of the duties to the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, enforcement of any law of this State and conducting public education programs; however, any moneys in the Fund that are required by the court to be used for a particular purpose shall be used for that purpose.
(e) In an action against a holder brought pursuant to this Article, the Attorney General may seek the assessment of one or more of the following civil monetary penalties in any action filed under this Article where the holder violates this Article and does not remedy the violation within 30 days of notice by the Attorney General:
(1)  Any holder that violates or fails to comply with     any of the provisions of this Article or of its State-issued authorization shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $30,000 for each and every offense, or 0.00825%  of the holder's gross revenues, as defined in Section 21-801 of this Act, whichever is greater.   Every violation of the provisions of this Article by a holder is a separate and distinct offense, provided that if the same act or omission violates more than one provision of this Article, only one penalty or cumulative penalty may be imposed for such act or omission. In the case of a continuing violation, each day's continuance thereof shall be a separate and distinct offense, provided that the cumulative penalty for any continuing violation shall not exceed $500,000 per year, and provided further that these limits shall not apply where the violation was intentional and either (i) created substantial risk to the safety of the cable service or video service provider's employees or customers or the public or (ii) was intended to cause economic benefits to accrue to the violator.
(2)  The holder's State-issued authorization may be     suspended or revoked if the holder fails to comply with the provisions of this Article after a reasonable time to achieve compliance has passed.
(3) If the holder is in violation of Section 21-1101     of this Act, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, a fine not to exceed 3% of the holder's total monthly gross revenue, as that term is defined in this Article, shall be imposed for each month from the date of violation until the date that compliance is achieved.
(4) Nothing in this Section shall limit or affect the     powers of the Attorney General to enforce the provisions of this Article, Section 22-501 of this Act, or the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1401)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
Sec. 21-1401. Home rule.
(a) The provisions of this Article are a limitation of home rule powers under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
(b) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to limit or deny a home rule unit's power to tax as set forth in Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1501)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 23, 2026)
Sec. 21-1501. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, this Article shall be enforced only by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1502)
Sec. 21-1502. Renewal upon repeal of Article. This Section shall apply only to holders who received their State-issued authorization as a cable operator.  In the event this Article 21 is repealed, the cable operator may seek a renewal under 47 U.S.C. 546 subject to the following:
(1) Each municipality or county in which a cable     operator provided service under the State-issued authorization shall be the franchising authority with respect to any right of renewal under 47 U.S.C. 546 and the provisions of this Section shall apply during the renewal process.
(2) If the cable operator  was an incumbent cable     operator in the local unit of government immediately prior to obtaining a State-issued authorization, then the terms of the local franchise agreement under which the incumbent cable operator operated shall be effective until the later of: (A) the expiration of what would have been the remaining term of the agreement at the time of the termination of the local franchise agreement pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 21-301 of this Act or (B) the expiration of the renewal process under 47 U.S.C. 546.
(3) If the cable operator was not an incumbent cable     operator in the service territory immediately prior to the issuance of the State-issued authorization, then the State-issued authorization shall continue in effect until the expiration of the renewal process under 47 U.S.C. 546.
(4) In seeking a renewal under this Section, the     cable operator must provide the following information to the local franchising authority:
(A) the number of subscribers within the         franchise area;
(B) the number of eligible local government         buildings that have access to cable services;
(C) the statistical records of performance under         the standards established by the Cable and Video Customer Protection Law;
(D) cable system improvement and construction         plans during the term of the proposed franchise; and
(E) the proposed level of support for public,         educational, and governmental access programming.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1503)
Sec. 21-1503. Continuation of Article; validation.
(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly manifests the intention of the General Assembly to extend the repeal of this Article and have this Article  continue in effect until December 31, 2020.
(b) This Article shall be deemed to have been in continuous effect since July 1, 2017 and it shall continue to be in effect henceforward until it is otherwise lawfully repealed. All previously enacted amendments to this Article taking effect on or after July 1, 2017, are hereby validated. All actions taken in reliance on or under this Article  by  the Illinois Commerce Commission or any other person or entity are hereby validated.
(c) In order to ensure the continuing effectiveness of this Article, it is set forth in full and reenacted by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. Striking and underscoring are used only to show changes being made to the base text. This reenactment is intended as a continuation of this Article. It is not intended to supersede any amendment to this Article that is enacted by the 100th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
(220 ILCS 5/21-1601)
Sec. 21-1601. Repealer.  Sections 21-101 through 21-1501 of this Article are repealed December 31, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 101-639, eff. 6-12-20; 102-9, eff. 6-3-21.)