Bill Text: IL SB0083 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Requires a wireless telecommunications carrier to comply with specified criteria with respect to consumer rights, protections, billing and billing dispute resolution procedures, and termination of service. Provides that a wireless telecommunications carrier that violates the Section violates the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-03 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB0083 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SB0083-Introduced.html

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96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2009 and 2010 SB0083 Introduced 1/30/2009, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
220 ILCS 5/13-714 new
815 ILCS 505/2Z from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z
Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Requires a wireless telecommunications carrier to comply with specified criteria with respect to consumer rights, protections, billing and billing dispute resolution procedures, and termination of service. Provides that a wireless telecommunications carrier that violates the Section violates the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning utilities.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
Section 13-714 as follows:
(220 ILCS 5/13-714 new)
Sec. 13-714. Wireless telecommunications services;
consumer rights.
(a) A wireless telecommunications carrier must comply with
all of the following:
(1) Fully disclose information to contract customers
on their terms and conditions, including, but not limited
to, fees, trial periods, taxes, and surcharges.
(2) Provide service coverage maps to customers.
(3) Agree to be monitored by the Commission for the
quality of its service.
(4) Provide that service contracts not be longer than
one year, and that any extensions be in writing and signed
by subscribers.
(5) Give written notice of any change in rate, terms,
privacy rights, or conditions of service at least 30 days
before the changes become effective.
(b) A wireless telecommunications carrier must allow

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customers to receive itemized bills and establish procedures
for customers to file complaints over billing disputes. A
wireless telecommunications carrier shall not terminate a
customer's service while a bill remains in dispute.
(c) A wireless telecommunications carrier must provide its
customers with bills that are clearly outlined to distinguish
provider charges from taxes, fees, and other charges the
carrier collects for other entities such as governments.
(d) A wireless telecommunications carrier who violates
this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of
the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2Z as follows:
(815 ILCS 505/2Z) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z)
Sec. 2Z. Violations of other Acts. Any person who knowingly
violates the Automotive Repair Act, the Automotive Collision
Repair Act, the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, the Dance
Studio Act, the Physical Fitness Services Act, the Hearing
Instrument Consumer Protection Act, the Illinois Union Label
Act, the Job Referral and Job Listing Services Consumer
Protection Act, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act,
the Credit Services Organizations Act, the Automatic Telephone
Dialers Act, the Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection
Act, the Telephone Solicitations Act, the Illinois Funeral or

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Burial Funds Act, the Cemetery Care Act, the Safe and Hygienic
Bed Act, the Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act, the High Risk Home
Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, the Mortgage Rescue Fraud
Act, subsection (a) or (b) of Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Tax
Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, subsection (a) or (b) of
Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Electronic Mail
Act, the Internet Caller Identification Act, paragraph (6) of
subsection (k) of Section 6-305 of the Illinois Vehicle Code,
Section 18d-115, 18d-120, 18d-125, 18d-135, or 18d-150 of the
Illinois Vehicle Code, Article 3 of the Residential Real
Property Disclosure Act, the Automatic Contract Renewal Act,
Section 13-714 of the Public Utilities Act, or the Personal
Information Protection Act commits an unlawful practice within
the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-13, eff. 12-6-05; 94-36, eff. 1-1-06; 94-280,
eff. 1-1-06; 94-292, eff. 1-1-06; 94-822, eff. 1-1-07; 95-413,
eff. 1-1-08; 95-562, eff. 7-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)