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Bill

SB 3994

SECURE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jason Plummer

Implements security standards, incident reporting, and resilience measures for Illinois telecom networks to protect critical infrastructure and customer data.

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Bill Summary · SB 3994

Summary of SB 3994 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

Jurisdiction: Illinois

Title: SECURE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

Primary sponsor: (Name not provided in the prompt)

Co-sponsor: Jason Plummer

This summary outlines the main purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and notable procedural elements of SB 3994, the SECURE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT, as introduced in the 104th Illinois General Assembly.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill is designed to enhance the security, reliability, and resilience of telecommunications networks within Illinois.
  • It aims to establish standards, governance, and enforcement mechanisms to reduce vulnerabilities in critical communications infrastructure and protect residents from telecommunications-related risks.

Key provisions and changes

  • Security standards for providers and networks

    • Establishes requirements for telecommunications carriers and service providers to implement specific security practices.
    • May mandate risk assessments, incident response planning, and ongoing monitoring to detect and mitigate threats to network infrastructure.
  • Critical infrastructure designation

    • Identifies certain components, facilities, or networks as critical infrastructure requiring heightened protection.
    • Could require carriers to meet enhanced regulatory scrutiny and reporting obligations for designated assets.
  • Incident reporting and response

    • Sets timelines and formats for reporting significant cyber or physical security incidents to state authorities.
    • Specifies duties for incident containment, remediation, and post-incident analysis.
  • Investment and resilience measures

    • Potentially authorizes or directs investment in security upgrades, redundancy, and disaster recovery capabilities.
    • May include grants, funding mechanisms, or public-private collaboration to bolster resilience.
  • Privacy and data protection considerations

    • Addresses handling of customer data in the context of security measures.
    • May require safeguards to protect personal information during security testing, incident response, and system modernization.
  • Enforcement and penalties

    • Outlines enforcement authority, remedies, and penalties for noncompliance.
    • Could include administrative penalties, corrective action plans, or other sanctions.
  • Interagency coordination

    • Establishes roles for state agencies (e.g., public safety, commerce, or information security offices) to coordinate security efforts and share threat intelligence.
  • Reporting and oversight

    • May require periodic reports to the General Assembly or relevant committees detailing security posture, incidents, and progress of implementation.

Who would be affected

  • Telecommunication carriers and service providers operating in Illinois
    • Obligated to implement security standards, incident reporting, and resilience measures.
  • Critical infrastructure assets and facilities within the telecommunications sector
    • Subject to designation and enhanced protections.
  • State and local government agencies and law enforcement
    • Involved in coordination, incident response, and oversight.
  • Illinois residents and customers
    • Indirectly affected through improved security and reliability of telecom services and potential privacy protections.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill likely outlines effective dates for different provisions (e.g., phased-in compliance timelines, starting with baseline standards followed by enhanced requirements).
  • Establishes regulatory authority and rulemaking processes to publish implementing regulations.
  • May include a sunset or review clause after a defined period to evaluate effectiveness.
  • Provides for periodic reporting on compliance status and security incidents to legislative committees.

Notes and considerations

  • Specific numerical thresholds (e.g., attack reporting timelines, funding amounts, or performance metrics) are not provided in the prompt. The final text would detail such figures.
  • The exact scope—whether it applies to all telecom carriers, includes wireless, wireline, VoIP, and 5G infrastructure, or focuses on particular segments—would be clarified in the bill’s definitions and sections.
  • The balance between security obligations and privacy protections will be governed by the bill’s language on data handling and confidentiality.

If you can share the full text or sections of SB 3994, I can provide a more precise, line-by-line breakdown of provisions, definitions, and fiscal impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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