Anti-rebroadcast bill introduced in Illinois general assembly

Ill. Rep. Dan Brady

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the State Police Radio Act. Provides that a person receiving public safety voice or data communication transmitted via the facilities of the State’s public safety radio system by wire or radio shall not, without the written authority of the originator of the communication, rebroadcast the communication via any means, including radio or Internet, or otherwise divulge or publish the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning thereof. Provides that this provision does not apply to the public safety radio communication transmitted by any system station for the use of the general public, including Amber Alerts and other communications specifically intended for rebroadcast to the public. Provides that radio access to the public safety radio system within the State may only be accomplished upon receipt of written authorization granted by the appropriately licensed authority. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.

The bill is proposed by Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who has served in the assembly since 2001. He was instrumental in procuring funding for the StarCom 21 state radio system, and named named Public Official of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in 2004.