The Florida Senate

364.510  Duties of the Board of Directors of the Florida Distance Learning Network.--The duties of the Board of Directors of the Florida Distance Learning Network include, but are not limited to:

(1)  Creating and facilitating the implementation of a statewide coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient advanced telecommunications services and distance education which will increase overall student access to education.

(2)  Coordinating the use of existing resources, including, but not limited to, the state's satellite transponder on Telestar 401 (the education satellite), the Sunstar Network, the SUNCOM Network, the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), Department of Management Services, Department of Corrections, and the ¹Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services' satellite communication facilities to support a statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance learning network.

(3)  Promoting interagency activities that will provide increased access to advanced telecommunication services and to distance education.

(4)  Assisting in the coordination of the utilization of the production and uplink capabilities available through Florida's public television stations, eligible facilities, independent colleges and universities, private firms, and others as may be needed.

(5)  Seeking the assistance and cooperation of Florida's cable television providers in the implementation of the statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance learning network.

(6)  Seeking the assistance and cooperation of Florida's telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student access to advanced telecommunications services and to distance learning.

(7)  Brokering and coordinating partnerships for development, acquisition, use, and distribution of distance learning.

(8)  By January 1, 1996, the board of directors shall assemble appropriate resources from its own technical staff to develop a needs assessment report which shall be included in the plan describing the overall advanced telecommunications services needs of education, libraries, and teaching and rural hospitals. The needs assessment report shall take into consideration any needs assessment recently conducted by any state agency or eligible facility. Such needs assessment report shall also consider interoperability of different technologies needed for delivery of advanced telecommunications services.

(9)  Developing and maintaining a plan for using technology to improve the delivery of and access to education. The plan shall be developed by March 1, 1996, and be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The plan shall describe what advance telecommunication services shall be delivered, address the needs of all educational and health care delivery systems, and shall include the following:

(a)  A component on advanced telecommunications services and on distance learning in which education and health care programs, reports of programs, and accountability data are currently delivered to individuals located in diverse settings, including, but not limited to, eligible facilities, state agencies, community facilities, businesses, and homes. This component must consider existing public and private networks and communications systems and their potential in delivering advanced telecommunications services and distance learning applications.

(b)  A component on existing rules and statutes related to the use of technology, including recommendations for consolidation and any modifications necessary to provide a statewide policy framework for using technology and telecommunications in education and health care.

(c)  A statewide inventory of state-owned telecommunications receiving and transmitting equipment that could be used to assist with the distance learning network.

History.--s. 31, ch. 95-403.

¹Note.--The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services was redesignated as the Department of Children and Family Services by s. 5, ch. 96-403, and the Department of Health was created by s. 8, ch. 96-403.