(a) In accordance with the state information systems plan adopted by the commissioner and with the departmental information systems plan, the department shall
(1) advise the commissioner and the governor on matters of policy and comprehensive state planning for telecommunications services;
(2) coordinate, manage, and supervise state programs in telecommunications, including the management of those telecommunication services for the state obtained from common carriers and from the communications industry;
(3) when requested, provide technical and consulting assistance to the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of state government, to the University of Alaska, and to private noncommercial entities which request that assistance in facility procurement and leasing and in identifying long-range goals and objectives for the state and its political subdivisions in all aspects of telecommunications, including public, educational, and instructional telecommunications;
(4) prepare and maintain a state comprehensive telecommunications development plan to further state telecommunications development and to meet state telecommunications needs and prepare and maintain a comprehensive inventory of all state communications facilities;
(5) whenever feasible, procure services from private enterprise or certified and franchised utilities and contract for the construction, management, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications systems, and develop a procurement policy consistent with AS 36.30 (State Procurement Code); the procurement policy must seek to achieve the maximum benefit to the public, and methods of procurement, including lease, purchase, rental, or combinations of lease, purchase, and rental, must be selected on the basis of factors such as the ratio of long-range costs versus benefits, life cycle costing, and the costs to the communications industry to the extent that these costs may affect local and long distance basic telephone rates; procurement, contracting, construction, and maintenance under this paragraph is governed by AS 36.30;
(6) provide information and assistance to state agencies to promote governmental coordination and unity in the preparation of agency plans and programs involving the use of telecommunications;
(7) apply for and accept federal and private money, property, or assistance, that may be appropriated, granted, or otherwise made available to the department and use and disburse money and property for purposes consistent with AS 44.21.305 - 44.21.330 and AS 44.21.256 - 44.21.290, subject to reasonable limitations imposed by the grantor;
(8) participate with other governmental units in planning, and assist local governments and governmental conferences and councils in the state in planning and coordinating their activities relating to telecommunications;
(9) provide for the orderly transition to new telecommunications services and systems by state agencies;
(10) serve as a clearinghouse for information, data, and other materials that may be necessary or helpful to federal, state, or local governmental agencies in the development of telecommunication systems;
(11) coordinate department services and activities with those of other state departments and agencies to the fullest extent possible to avoid unnecessary duplication; and
(12) provide that all activities of the department are responsive to state statutes and regulations, and to the regulations and rulings of the Federal Communications Commission.
(b) The department may
(1) coordinate its functions with local, regional, state, and federal officials, private groups and individuals, and with officials of other countries, provinces, and states;
(2) enter into contracts and subcontracts on behalf of the state to carry out the provisions of AS 44.21.305 - AS 44.21.330;
(3) act for the state in the initiation, investigation, and evaluation of, or participation in, programs related to the purposes of the department that involve more than one government or governmental unit;
(4) on behalf of the state, apply for, accept, and expend gifts or grants made to the state if the gifts or grants are for the purposes of furthering the objectives of the department;
(5) hold public hearings to obtain information for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of AS 44.21.305 - 44.21.330; and
(6) provide telecommunication services to commercial entities for television broadcast and charge for those services.
(c) The department may not attempt to influence or affect the content or airing of program material.
Structure Alaska Statutes