§ 16-28-4 - Advisory commission – Appointment and qualification of members. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-28-4

   § 16-28-4  Advisory commission –Appointment and qualification of members. – (a) There is created for the purposes of this chapter the Rhode Island advisorycommission on public telecommunications consisting of not less than twenty-five(25) members who shall be appointed by the governor as provided in thissection. The members of the commission shall serve three (3) year terms oruntil their successors have been appointed and duly qualified; provided, uponthe initial appointment of members to the commission and upon any expansion ofthe membership of the commission, the governor shall appoint one third (1/3) ofthe members to one year terms, one third (1/3) of the members to two (2) yearterms, and the remainder of the members to three (3) year terms.

   (b) The governor shall appoint the chairperson of thecommission who shall serve at the governor's pleasure.

   (2) Appointment shall be made in February of each year by thegovernor.

   (c) Vacancies on the commission may be filled by the governorat any time and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy.

   (d) The membership of the commission shall include one memberof each of the counties of the state and insofar as possible be broadlyrepresentative of the different educational, cultural, professional, religious,and social interests of the state.

   (e) The advisory commission, among other matters as may beappropriate, is authorized and empowered:

   (1) To advise the general manager respecting his powerspursuant to § 16-61-7, if the Rhode Island public telecommunicationsauthority has appointed a general manager; if the authority has entered into acontract or agreement with a nonprofit entity for the operation of publictelecommunications functions pursuant to § 16-61-6, then the advisorycommittee shall advise the entity concerning educational television programming.

   (2) To do any other things as may be necessary to assist thegeneral manager in carrying out the powers expressly provided for in §16-61-7.

   (f) Additionally, the advisory commission shall:

   (1) Maintain minutes of all meetings;

   (2) Delineate its goals and responsibilities;

   (3) Provide forums at state educational institutions oneducational television;

   (4) Provide for promotional activities in educationaltelevision;

   (5) Have media publicity on educational television;

   (6) Continue efforts to obtain funding both public andprivate and establishment of a transmitter needed for the operation of thestation;

   (7) Provide twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per meeting up tothree hundred dollars ($300), annually, as compensation for public members forattendance at meetings and travel expenses;

   (8) Provide a written annual report to the Rhode Islandpublic telecommunications authority of its activities.