Illinois Chambers of Commerce Call for Telecom Modernization to Keep and Create Jobs in Illinois

More Than 160 Chambers Sign Joint Letter to Gov. Quinn, Attorney General And Four Legislative Leaders

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chambers of Commerce across Illinois, including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, announced their support for legislation to modernize Illinois' telecommunications laws.  

At a press conference today at the State Capitol, the state's two largest Chambers released a joint letter addressed to the governor, attorney general and legislators statewide, urging them to support reform. More than 160 Chambers across Illinois signed the letter.

"In the current economic climate, it is vital that we find ways to keep and create jobs in Illinois.  Modernizing legislation is a way to do that without asking for one dollar of taxpayer money," said Doug Whitley, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. "The law that was first written in 1985 expires this year and Illinois needs to modernize its rules.  By updating the law, Illinois can attract more private sector investment in the broadband networks that are fueling economic growth and bring jobs back to the state."

Modernizing the law would create new jobs by promoting an economic climate that attracts private sector investment in broadband and wireless technologies, while still maintaining the consumer protections currently in place.  Transitioning the focus of Illinois' telecom rules away from copper landlines and toward market regulation would successfully drive consumer choice, competition and innovation in broadband and wireless industries.

Recent studies have shown that investment in new technologies would create jobs. One found a one to three percent increase in broadband penetration in Illinois would create 13,000 to 39,000 non-farm jobs (1); another showed that with a 7 percent increase in broadband penetration, Illinois would experience a projected 105,622 new or retained jobs (2).

Jerry Roper, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, who spoke alongside Whitley at the press conference, echoed the appeal of job growth as a critical outcome of modernizing the legislation.

"We know updating the current law would open the door for businesses and consumers alike to benefit from job and economic growth," said Roper.  "Illinois has fallen behind other states. Some, like Indiana, have moved completely to market regulation and jobs and private sector investment have followed.  If the law isn't modernized this year, Illinois will fall further behind other states.  Such a failure would be bad for jobs and economic investment in our state.  Illinois should act to attract more investment in broadband networks as they are vital economic infrastructure of the 21st century."

In addition to Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky have also moved ahead of Illinois by modernizing their telecom laws to bring private sector investment and create jobs. The Illinois Telecommunications Act was first written in 1985 and last updated in 2001. It expires on June 30, 2010.

Notes:

(1) The Discovery Institute, "Illinois' Incomplete Telecom Report Card: Remnant Telecom Regulation Threatens Jobs and Opportunity in Illinois," published March 2010

(2) CDC, Wireless substitution: National Health Interview Survey, Released Dec. 2009

About The Illinois Chamber of Commerce

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce promotes the interests of Illinois business by working to improve the state's business climate. The Illinois Chamber aggressively advocates legislation and public policies that support economic growth, and is a source of timely and reliable information on matters important to its members, Illinois employers and the general public. The Illinois Chamber also provides effective programs and services to its 3,500+ members to meet their business needs, including immediate answers to tax and human resources concerns and access to compliance seminars and publications.

About the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Since its founding in 1904 as the first regional chamber of commerce in the United States, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's mission is to make our region the most business-friendly region in America and enhance its members' success through aggressive programs of advocacy, member benefits and services, and actionable information.  The Chamber's 2,600 members employ more than 1.2 million individuals in the region.  Learn more by visiting www.chicagolandchamber.org.

SOURCE Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce