2010 Rhode Island Code
Title 16 Education
CHAPTER 16-61 Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority
§ 16-61-6 Powers and duties of authority.

§ 16-61-6 Powers and duties of authority. – (a) The authority shall be empowered to:

(1) Adopt and amend and repeal suitable bylaws for the management of its affairs;

(2) Adopt and use the official seal and alter it at its pleasure;

(3) Maintain an office at any place or places within the state that it may designate;

(4) Establish, own, and operate noncommercial educational television or radio broadcasting stations, one or more public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications networks or systems, and interconnection and program production facilities;

(5) Apply for, receive, and hold any authorizations and licenses and assignments and reassignments of channels from the federal communications commission (FCC) as may be necessary to conduct its operations; and prepare and file and prosecute before the FCC all applications, reports, or other documents or requests for authorization of any type necessary or appropriate to achieve the authorized purposes of the authority;

(6) Provide coordination and information on matters relating to public broadcasting telecommunications among the agencies of the state government, all facets of Rhode Island public education and individual associations, and institutions working in these fields both within and without the state;

(7) Establish state wide equipment compatibility policies and determine the method of interconnection to be employed within the state's public broadcasting system;

(8) Assume responsibility for establishing broad programming philosophy which will encourage diversity, quality, and excellence of programming which is released via its facilities. The general manager shall be responsible for implementing programming policy in accordance with the rules and regulations of the federal communications commission;

(9) Provide appropriate advisory assistance to other agencies of the state and local and regional groups regarding public broadcasting techniques, planning, budgeting, and related issues;

(10) Make to the governor and the legislature any recommendations that the authority deems necessary with regard to appropriations relating to public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications equipment and facilities;

(11) Subject to the approval of the governor, receive and administer gifts, contributions, and funds from public and private sources to be expended for public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications operations, facilities, and programming consistent with furthering the purposes of the authority;

(12) Cooperate with federal agencies for the purpose of obtaining matching and other federal funds and providing public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications facilities throughout the state and to make any reports that may be required of the state. The authority shall provide appropriate advisory assistance to local school districts and others on these matters;

(13) Contract with program production organizations, individuals, and noncommercial educational television and radio stations within and without the state to produce or to procure educational television or radio programs for use by noncommercial stations within the state;

(14) Establish and maintain a library and archives of educational television and radio programs and related materials, disseminate information about those programs and make suitable arrangements for the use of the programs and materials by colleges, universities, schools, and noncommercial television and radio stations;

(15) Conduct explorations, research, demonstrations, or training in matters related to public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications in the state, directly or through contracts with appropriate agencies, organizations, or individuals, or by grants to nonprofit, noncommercial organizations such as colleges, universities, schools, and noncommercial television and radio stations;

(16) Acquire, subject to the provisions of the general laws, through lease, purchase, or other means, real and other property and to hold and use this property for public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications purposes;

(17) Contract, subject to the provisions of the general laws, for the construction, repair, maintenance, and operations of public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications facilities including program production center, stations, and interconnection facilities;

(18) Make arrangements, where appropriate, with companies or other agencies and institutions operating suitable interconnection facilities (e.g., landlines or satellites);

(19) Be empowered to set and collect reasonable fees for services provided through contracts with agencies, companies, organizations, and individuals;

(20) Make reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(21) Manage and operate public, education and government (PEG) access studios in compliance with rules promulgated by the division of public utilities and carriers.

(22) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the authority, approved by the authority, and conducted by the chair of the authority. The authority may approve the use of any authority or staff members or other individuals to assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2; and the committee's rules and regulations. The director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act [March 29, 2006], prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2.

(b) In carrying out its powers and duties under this section, the authority shall be empowered to enter into contracts or agreements with any nonprofit entity for the operations in whole or in part of the public telecommunications functions assigned to it by this chapter.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1981, ch. 32, § 4; P.L. 1986, ch. 287, art. 8, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 14, § 7; P.L. 2006, ch. 16, § 7; P.L. 2006, ch. 590, § 1.)