§ 16-61-2 - Authority established. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-61-2

   § 16-61-2  Authority established. –(a) There is created a public telecommunications authority, sometimes referredto as the "authority", which shall be and is constituted a public corporation,empowered to sue and be sued in its own name, to have a corporate seal, and toexercise all the powers, in addition to those specifically enumerated in thischapter, usually appertaining to public corporations entrusted with control ofpublic telecommunications property and functions. The authority shall exercisethe authority previously vested in the board of regents for education withrelation to educational television. The authority shall be protected fromsudden changes in membership and reversal of policy by having staggered termsfor its public members. Upon its organization the authority shall be investedwith the legal title (in trust for the state) to all licenses and property,real and personal, now owned by and/or under the control or in custody of theboard of regents for education for the use of publicly owned educationaltelevision.

   (b) The authority is empowered to hold and operate thatproperty in trust for the state, and to acquire, hold, and dispose of thatproperty and other like property as deemed necessary for the execution of itscorporate purposes. The authority is made successor to all powers, rights,duties, and privileges formerly belonging to the board of regents for educationpertaining to publicly owned educational television.