The Authority is hereby authorized and empowered:

1. To accept, assume and control the television channels assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to the State of Oklahoma for educational purposes;

2. To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

3. To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;

4. To maintain an office at such place or places within the state as it may designate;

5. To sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded; provided, however, that any and all actions, at law or in equity, against the Authority shall be brought in the county in which the principal office of the Authority shall be located, or in the county of the residence of the plaintiff, or in the county where the cause of action arose;

6. To construct, maintain, repair and operate television facilities which with their access connections are designated ultimately to extend to and include all sections and areas of the State of Oklahoma;

7. To issue revenue bonds of the Authority, payable solely from dedicated revenues, for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of needed facilities;

8. To fix and revise from time to time any necessary charges for the use of any facilities;

9. To pay for the annual cost of the operation, maintenance and repair of such facilities;

10. To pay as and when due the principal and interest on the revenue certificates or bonds issued to pay for such facilities;

11. To accumulate and maintain such reserves as are provided for in the resolution or trust indenture under which such bonds are issued or secured;

12. To acquire, hold, or dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this act;

13. To acquire in the name of the Authority by purchase or otherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the right of condemnation in manner hereinafter provided, such public or private lands, rights-of-way, property, rights, easements, and interests, as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this article; and it is the intent of the Legislature that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by this article shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as practicable;

14. To designate, except as is provided for herein, the locations; and to establish, limit and control such points of ingress to and egress from each facility as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Authority to insure the proper operation and maintenance of such facility;

15. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this article, and to employ consulting engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their compensation;

16. To receive appropriations from the State Legislature and accept from any federal agency grants for or in aid of the construction and operation of any project; provided, the acceptance of such grants or appropriations will not reduce the amount of federal aid for other education in this state; and to receive and accept aid or contributions from any source of either money, property, labor, or other things of value;

17. To do any and all things necessary to comply with rules, regulations, or requirements of the Federal Communications Commission or any other federal agency administering any law enacted by the Congress of the United States to aid or encourage education;

18. To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted in this article.

It shall be unlawful for any member, officer, or employee of the Authority to transact with the Authority, either directly or indirectly, any business for profit of such member, officer, or employee; and any person, firm or corporation knowingly participating therein shall be equally liable for violation of this provision.

The term “business for profit” shall include, but not be limited to, the acceptance or payment of any fee, commission, gift or consideration to such member, officer or employee.

Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 23-106, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 576, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 416, eff. July 1, 1999.

NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 576 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.