Harrisonville Telephone Co. v. Illinois Commerce Commission

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) appeals the decision of the appellate court in favor of the Illinois Independent Telephone Association and six rural telephone companies or local exchange carriers (LECs). The central issue here is what the Illinois General Assembly meant when it ordered the ICC to establish a “universal service support fund” (USF) in section 13 — 301(d) of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/13 — 301(d) (West 2002)). Did the legislature intend for the fund to support all rural telephone lines, or only a single line for each residence or business? We agree with the…