IL SB1437

Creates the Universal Broadband Act and establishes the Office of Broadband Access within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to oversee construction, development, and operation of a statewide retail broadband network.

Defines reliable broadband service as speeds of at least 100 megabits per second for downloads and 20 megabits per second for uploads with latency sufficient for real-time interactive applications.

Authorizes the Office to contract with entities to acquire goods and services, enter partnerships with local governments, and prioritize service connections in unserved or underserved communities.

Creates the Universal Broadband Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, funded by state appropriations, federal broadband deployment money, service rates and fees, infrastructure use fees, and other legal sources.

Requires the Department to adopt rules for implementing the Act and sets a goal for expanding reliable broadband service statewide by the year 2040.