Rep. Kurt M. Granberg

congratulates Gretchen Wilson on her success in music.

Mourns the death of Judy Shannon.

Congratulates Rick Hummel on the occasion of his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Congratulates Vi Strobe of Centralia on her 104th birthday, July 10, 2007.

Congratulates William Norwood for his many accomplishments in the aviation field and his continuous work within his community.

Congratulates the hard workers that make Spassfest a yearly event celebrated by many and wishes the citizens of Germantown a great time as they enjoy Spassfest.

Congratulates Dr. H. Goff Thompson on the occasion of being named the 2007 Rural Practitioner of the Year by the Illinois Rural Health Association.

Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, shall enlist a nonprofit corporation to implement a comprehensive, statewide high speed Internet deployment strategy and adoption initiative. Specifies the duties of the nonprofit organization. Provides that nothing in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law shall be construed as giving the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology. Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used, subject to appropriation, by the Lieutenant Governor for purposes of providing grants to the nonprofit organization enlisted under the Law. Provides that on the effective date of the Law, all moneys in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund which have not already been distributed or ordered distributed by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall be transferred to the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund. Contains other provisions concerning local governmental entities who undertake local broadband projects. Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a telecommunications carrier that is not subject to regulation under an alternative regulation plan pursuant to specified provisions may reduce the rate or charge for a noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality offered to customers on a separate, stand-alone basis or as part of a bundled service offering by filing with the Commission a tariff that shows the reduced rate or charge and all applicable terms and conditions of the noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality or bundled offering. Provides that provisions concerning basic local exchange service quality and the consumer complaint resolution process do not apply to telephone cooperatives. Changes the repeal date of the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009.

Mourns the death of Chicago Police Officer Jose Vazquez of Chicago.

Mourns the death of Andy Kindle of Centralia.