48:23-7 - Powers of authority - New Jersey Statutes

48:23-7.  Powers of authority
    The authority shall have the power to:

    a.  Adopt and from time to time amend and repeal suitable by-laws for the management of its affairs;

    b.  Adopt and use the official seal and alter the same at its pleasure;

     c.  Maintain an office at such place or places within the State as it may designate;

     d.  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;

    e.  Apply for, receive, and hold such 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;

    f.  Provide co-ordination and information on matters relating to public broadcasting telecommunications among the agencies of the State Government, all  facets of New Jersey public education and individuals, associations, and institutions working in these fields both within and without the State;

    g.  Establish State-wide equipment compatibility policies and determine the  method of interconnection to be employed within the State's public broadcasting  system;

    h.  Assume responsibility for the character, diversity, quality, and excellence of programming which is released via its licensed facilities, provided that programs or series of programs of a controversial nature shall be  presented with balance, fairness and equity;

    i.  Provide appropriate advisory assistance to other agencies of the State and local and regional groups regarding public broadcasting techniques, planning, budgeting, and related issues;

    j.  Make to the Governor and the Legislature such recommendations as the authority deems necessary with regard to appropriations relative to public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications equipment and facilities;

    k.  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;

      l  .  Co-operate 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 such reports as may be required of the State.  The authority shall likewise provide appropriate advisory assistance to local school districts and others on  such matters;

    m.  Contract with program production organizations, individuals, and noncommercial educational television and radio stations within and without the State to produce, or otherwise to procure, educational television or radio programs for use by noncommercial stations within the State;

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

      o  .  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;

    p.  Acquire, subject to the provisions of P.L.1954, chapter 48, through lease, purchase, or otherwise real and other property and to hold and use this property for public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications purposes;

    q.  Contract, subject to the provisions of P.L.1954, chapter 48, for the construction, repair, maintenance, and operations of public broadcasting and public broadcasting telecommunications facilities including program production center, stations, and interconnection facilities;

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

    s.  Make reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act.

     L.1968, c. 405, s. 7, eff. Jan. 13, 1969.