§ 16-7-5 — Duties

The commission is organized for the purpose of making the benefits of educational television available to and promoting its use by inhabitants of Alabama, and to this end it is hereby empowered and directed to survey, study and appraise the need for an overall plan for the use of television facilities available for noncommercial educational use in the state. The commission is specifically charged with the duty of controlling and supervising the use of channels reserved by the Federal Communications Commission to Alabama for noncommercial, educational use. It may designate the location of stations to utilize such channels and make rules and regulations governing the operation of such stations and the programs televised over such channels. The commission may own and operate television stations to utilize these channels, or it may contract with individuals, corporations, educational institutions or other governmental agencies for the operation of such stations. The commission is also authorized to own and operate radio stations to utilize the channels reserved for public radio within the State of Alabama.

Legislative History

(Acts 1953, No. 81, p. 124, §4; Acts 1980, No. 80-766, p. 1595, §2.)