Paul Sassone

Let me see if I have this straight:

A new law is necessary when legislators discover there is a problem affecting the citizens they serve. The legislative body then passes a law to solve that problem.

What legislatures don’t — or shouldn’t— do is pass laws that have only one beneficiary. That is a perversion of the legislative process.

But that’s what the Illinois General Assembly has done. It couldn’t agree on a budget for years, but it fell all over itself passing a law that would allow AT&T to disconnect 1.2 million landline customers.

This law answers no public need. Landlines hurt no one. There is no public outcry to rid Illinois of landlines. No, the law only makes it possible for AT&T to make larger profits.

This law creates problems for Illinois residents — the very opposite of what legislation should do.

The cell phones and other electronic devices that replace landlines are complicated to use, a real problem for the elderly and persons with medical conditions. Cell phone reception often is bad and

unreliable. This is a problem for rural residents and persons whose medical monitoring devices are linked to phones. Cost of cell phones and contracts is a problem for low-income persons.

The number of Illinoisans this law hurts — 1.2 million — is not negligible. Why should a million suffer to benefit one?

This law still needs to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The prognosis is not good. Similar laws are in effect in 19 other states.

The Citizen Utility Board (CUB) has promised it will try to convince the FCC not to approve the law.

Should that be unsuccessful, there is a provision in the law that requires AT&T to notify customers before they shut off landline services.

These customers can then appeal to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) says it will assist consumers with their appeals.

Maybe that’s the way to frustrate this bad law — every landline user should appeal. That would indefinitely postpone the elimination of landline phones, perhaps.

Oh, yes, a lagniappe of this new law is the increase in fees for 911 service. The monthly fee outside Chicago will go from 87 cents to $1.50. In Chicago, the fee goes from $3.90 to $5.

Isn’t it nice to see our legislators working together?

–General Assembly is disconnected about landlines–