§ 3051. Formation

(a) Two or more towns and cities may elect to form a communications union district for the delivery of communications services and the operation of a communications plant, which district shall be a body politic and corporate.

(b) A town or city electing to form a district under this chapter shall submit to the eligible voters of such municipality a proposition in substantially the following form: "Shall the Town of ______ enter into a communications union district to be known as ______ , under the provisions of 30 V.S.A. chapter 82?" at an annual or special meeting of such town or city.

(c) Additional towns or cities may be admitted to the district in the manner provided in section 3082 of this chapter.

(d) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Communications plant" means any and all parts of any communications system owned by the district, whether using wires, cables, fiber optics, wireless, other technologies, or a combination thereof, and used for the purpose of transporting or storing information, in whatever forms, directions, and media, together with any improvements thereto hereafter constructed or acquired, and all other facilities, equipment, and appurtenances necessary or appropriate to such system. However, the term "communications plant" and any regulatory implications or any restrictions under this chapter regarding a "communications plant" shall not apply to facilities or portions of any communications facilities intended for use by, and solely used by, a district member and its own officers and employees in the operation of municipal departments or systems of which such communications are merely an ancillary component.

(2) "Communications union district" or "district" means a communications union district formed under this chapter.

(3) "District member" or "member municipality" means a town or city that elects to form or join a communications union district under this chapter.

(4) "Governing board" or "board" means the governing board of the communications union district as established under this chapter. (Added 2015, No. 41, § 20, eff. June 1, 2015.)