Section 7.202. Authority Board.
The Authority is directed
by a board of five members who serve terms of two years. Until appointment
of a majority of the board the Authority. s affairs are managed by its highest
ranking staff person.
Section 7.203. Authority policy.
The board establishes,
and supervises adherence to, Authority policy. A final Authority decision
concerning programming is subject to review by the board.
Section 7.204. Broadcast standards.
(1) Subject to reasonable regulation by the board, Authority policy and activities conform to the following broadcast standards:
(a) reasonable access for the expression of opinion;
(b) the opportunity to reply to criticism;
(c) conformity to law;
(d) respect for community standards of decency;
(e) independent, fair, and balanced reporting of the news.
(2) Authority policy allows for the presentation of a commercial broadcast message for a fee.
Section 7.205. Access.
(1) To ensure access the Authority adheres to the following:
(a) A candidate for elective office has free access to the use of broadcast facilities. A program submitted for broadcasting by a candidate is broadcast as submitted without preview or censorship or follow-up commentary by the Authority. A program submitted by a candidate may relate to any issue of public interest. Upon conclusion of program by a candidate, there is an announcement disclaiming Government and Authority responsibility for the views expressed.
(b) The Authority gives an individual or representative of an identifiable group who holds views on an issue of public importance contrary to broadcasted views a reasonable opportunity to present his view.
(c) The Authority gives an individual or identifiable group which is the subject of criticism, argument or debate during a broadcast an opportunity to respond to the criticism, argument or debate. The responding broadcast is of a duration, and is broadcast at hours, calculated to:
(1) reach the same audience as likely heard the original broadcast; and
(2) achieve a timely and adequate response or rebuttal.
(2) In giving timely and equal access to an entitled person, the Authority may decline to interrupt regularly scheduled broadcast programming.
Section 7.206. Authority staff.
The Authority has staff
positions determined by the board and funded by law, including an Authority
Manager nominated and appointed by the board with the advice and consent of the
Legislature. The Authority Manager is the highest ranking staff person and
is responsible for the operation of the Authority, subject to board
control.
Section 7.207. Report.
Eighteen months following
the Code's taking effect the Governor reports to the Legislature the Executive's
then current broadcasting activities and the feasibility and desirability of a
transfer of broadcasting functions to the Authority.