2012 -- S 2308

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LC00491

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AUTHORITY

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, and Bates

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-61-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-61 entitled "Rhode

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Island Public Telecommunications Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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      (4) Establish, own, and operate noncommercial educational television or radio

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broadcasting stations, one or more public broadcasting and public broadcasting

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telecommunications networks or systems, and interconnection and program production facilities;

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      (5) Apply for, receive, and hold any authorizations and licenses and assignments and

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reassignments of channels from the federal communications commission (FCC) as may be

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necessary to conduct its operations; and prepare and file and prosecute before the FCC all

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applications, reports, or other documents or requests for authorization of any type necessary or

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appropriate to achieve the authorized purposes of the authority;

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      (6) Provide coordination and information on matters relating to public broadcasting

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telecommunications among the agencies of the state government, all facets of Rhode Island

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public education and individual associations, and institutions working in these fields both within

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and without the state;

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      (7) Establish state wide equipment compatibility policies and determine the method of

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interconnection to be employed within the state's public broadcasting system;

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      (8) Assume responsibility for establishing broad programming philosophy which will

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encourage diversity, quality, and excellence of programming which is released via its facilities.

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The general manager shall be responsible for implementing programming policy in accordance

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with the rules and regulations of the federal communications commission;

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      (9) Provide appropriate advisory assistance to other agencies of the state and local and

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regional groups regarding public broadcasting techniques, planning, budgeting, and related

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issues;

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      (10) Make to the governor and the legislature any recommendations that the authority

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deems necessary with regard to appropriations relating to public broadcasting and public

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broadcasting telecommunications equipment and facilities;

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      (11) Subject to the approval of the governor, receive and administer gifts, contributions,

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and funds from public and private sources to be expended for public broadcasting and public

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broadcasting telecommunications operations, facilities, and programming consistent with

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furthering the purposes of the authority;

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      (12) Cooperate with federal agencies for the purpose of obtaining matching and other

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federal funds and providing public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications

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facilities throughout the state and to make any reports that may be required of the state. The

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authority shall provide appropriate advisory assistance to local school districts and others on these

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matters;

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      (13) Contract with program production organizations, individuals, and noncommercial

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educational television and radio stations within and without the state to produce or to procure

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educational television or radio programs for use by noncommercial stations within the state;

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      (14) Establish and maintain a library and archives of educational television and radio

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programs and related materials, disseminate information about those programs and make suitable

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arrangements for the use of the programs and materials by colleges, universities, schools, and

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noncommercial television and radio stations;

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      (15) Conduct explorations, research, demonstrations, or training in matters related to

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public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications in the state, directly or through

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contracts with appropriate agencies, organizations, or individuals, or by grants to nonprofit,

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noncommercial organizations such as colleges, universities, schools, and noncommercial

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television and radio stations;

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      (16) Acquire, subject to the provisions of the general laws, through lease, purchase, or

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other means, real and other property and to hold and use this property for public broadcasting and

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public broadcasting telecommunications purposes;

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      (17) Contract, subject to the provisions of the general laws, for the construction, repair,

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maintenance, and operations of public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications

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facilities including program production center, stations, and interconnection facilities;

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      (18) Make arrangements, where appropriate, with companies or other agencies and

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institutions operating suitable interconnection facilities (e.g., landlines or satellites);

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      (19) Be empowered to set and collect reasonable fees for services provided through

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contracts with agencies, companies, organizations, and individuals;

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

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      (21) Manage and operate public, education and government (PEG) access studios in

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compliance with rules promulgated by the division of public utilities and carriers.

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      (22) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six

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(6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the

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authority, approved by the authority, and conducted by the chair of the authority. The authority

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may approve the use of any authority or staff members or other individuals to assist with training.

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The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-

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46, 36-14, and 38-2; and the committee's rules and regulations. The director of the department of

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administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act [March 29, 2006]

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prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and

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38-2.

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     (23) To assume control and administration of Rhode Island Capitol television, which

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shall be operated through the Rhode Island public broadcasting corporation.

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      (b) In carrying out its powers and duties under this section, the authority shall be

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empowered to enter into contracts or agreements with any nonprofit entity for the operations in

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whole or in part of the public telecommunications functions assigned to it by this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00491

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AUTHORITY

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     This act would require the Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority to assume

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control and responsibility of Rhode Island Capitol television, which shall be administered through

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RI PBS.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00491

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