The Florida Senate

229.8051  Public broadcasting program system.--

(1)  There is created a public broadcasting program system for the state. The Department of Education shall administer this program system pursuant to policies adopted by the Commissioner of Education. This program system must complement and share resources with the instructional programming service of the Department of Education and educational UHF, VHF, ITFS, and FM stations in the state. The program system must include:

(a)  Support for existing Corporation for Public Broadcasting qualified program system educational radio and television stations and new stations meeting Corporation for Public Broadcasting qualifications and providing a first service to an audience that does not currently receive a broadcast signal or providing a significant new program service as defined by rule by the Commissioner of Education.

(b)  Maintenance of quality broadcast capability for educational stations that are part of the program system.

(c)  Interconnection of all educational stations that are part of the program system for simultaneous broadcast and of such stations with all universities and other institutions as necessary for sharing of resources and delivery of programming.

(d)  Establishment and maintenance of a capability for statewide program distribution with facilities and staff, provided such facilities and staff complement and strengthen existing or future educational television and radio stations in accordance with paragraph (a) and s. 229.805(3)(c).

(e)  Provision of both statewide programming funds and station programming support for educational television and educational radio to meet statewide priorities. Priorities for station programming need not be the same as priorities for programming to be used statewide. Station programming may include, but shall not be limited to, citizens' participation programs, music and fine arts programs, coverage of public hearings and governmental meetings, equal air time for political candidates, and other public interest programming.

(2)  The Department of Education is assigned responsibility for implementing the provisions of this section pursuant to ¹part III of chapter 287 and is authorized to employ personnel, acquire equipment and facilities, and perform all duties necessary for carrying out the purposes and objectives of this section.

(3)  The Commissioner of Education shall adopt rules for the proper enforcement and carrying out of these provisions.

History.--ss. 1, 2, ch. 73-293; ss. 10, 11, ch. 73-338; s. 2, ch. 80-124; s. 2, ch. 81-5; s. 31, ch. 91-55; s. 102, ch. 97-190.

¹Note.--The sections that made up part III of chapter 287 were transferred to chapter 282 in 1983.