2007 Minnesota Code
Chapters 237 - 238 Telecommunications
Chapter 237 Telephone, Telegraph, Telecommunications
Section 237.19 MUNICIPAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.

237.19 MUNICIPAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
Any municipality shall have the right to own and operate a telephone exchange within its
own borders, subject to the provisions of this chapter. It may construct such plant, or purchase an
existing plant by agreement with the owner, or where it cannot agree with the owner on price,
it may acquire an existing plant by condemnation, as hereinafter provided, but in no case shall
a municipality construct or purchase such a plant or proceed to acquire an existing plant by
condemnation until such action by it is authorized by a majority of the electors voting upon the
proposition at a general election or a special election called for that purpose, and if the proposal
is to construct a new exchange where an exchange already exists, it shall not be authorized to
do so unless 65 percent of those voting thereon vote in favor of the undertaking. A municipality
that owns and operates a telephone exchange may enter into a joint venture as a partner or
shareholder with a telecommunications organization to provide telecommunications services
within its service area.
History: (5302) 1915 c 152 s 16; 1991 c 79 s 1