16B.465 Minnesota network for telecommunications 
  ("MNet"). 

    Subdivision 1.    Creation.  The Minnesota network for 
 telecommunications, known as "MNet," provides voice, data, 
 video, and other telecommunications transmission services to 
 state agencies; educational institutions, including public 
 schools as defined in section 120.05, nonpublic, church or 
 religious organization schools that provide instruction in 
 compliance with sections 120.101 to 120.102, and private 
 colleges; public corporations; and state political 
 subdivisions.  It is not a telephone company for purposes of 
 chapter 237.  It shall not resell or sublease any services or 
 facilities to nonpublic entities except it may serve private 
 schools and colleges.  The commissioner has the responsibility 
 for planning, development, and operations of MNet in order to 
 provide cost-effective telecommunications transmission services 
 to MNet users. 

    Subd. 2.    Advisory council.  MNet is managed by the 
 commissioner.  Subject to section 15.059, subdivisions 1 to 4, 
 the commissioner shall appoint an advisory council to provide 
 advice in implementing and operating MNet.  The council shall 
 represent the users of MNet services and shall include 
 representatives of higher education, public and private schools, 
 state agencies, and political subdivisions. 

    Subd. 3.    Duties.  The commissioner, after 
 consultation with the office of technology, shall: 

    (1) provide voice, data, video, and other 
 telecommunications transmission services to the state and to 
 political subdivisions through an account in the 
 intertechnologies revolving fund; 

    (2) manage vendor relationships, network function, and 
 capacity planning in order to be responsive to the needs of the 
 system users; 

    (3) set rates and fees for services; 

    (4) approve contracts relating to the system; 

    (5) in consultation with the office of technology, develop 
 the system plan, including plans for the phasing of its 
 implementation and maintenance of the initial system, and the 
 annual program and fiscal plans for the system; and 

    (6) in consultation with the office of technology, develop 
 a plan for interconnection of the network with private colleges 
 and public and private schools in the state. 

    Subd. 4.    Program participation.  (a) The commissioner 
 may require the participation of state agencies, the state board 
 of education, and the board of trustees of the Minnesota state 
 colleges and universities and may request the participation of 
 the board of regents of the University of Minnesota, in the 
 planning and implementation of the network to provide 
 interconnective technologies.  The commissioner shall establish 
 reimbursement rates in cooperation with the commissioner of 
 finance to be billed to participating agencies and educational 
 institutions sufficient to cover the operating, maintenance, and 
 administrative costs of the system. 

    (b) A direct appropriation made to an educational 
 institution for usage costs associated with MNet must only be 
 used by the educational institution for payment of usage costs 
 of the network as billed by the commissioner of administration.  

    Subd. 5. Repealed, 1990 c 506 art 2 s 24 

    Subd. 6.    Appropriation.  Money appropriated for MNet 
 and fees for telecommunications services must be deposited in an 
 account in the intertechnologies fund.  Money in the account is 
 appropriated annually to the commissioner to operate 
 telecommunications services. 

    Subd. 7.    Exemption.  The system is exempt from the 
 five-year limitation on contracts set by section 16B.07, 
 subdivision 2. 

    HIST: 1989 c 246 s 2; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 64; 1990 c 594 art 1 
 s 47; 1991 c 345 art 1 s 64; 1992 c 514 s 10-12; 1994 c 634 art 
 1 s 8,9; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 12 s 1; 1996 c 398 s 15; 1997 c 202 art 
 3 s 4