Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all members of the public have an equal opportunity to address the Board and to reaffirm the Board’s commitment to services informed by public input.

Policy

Meetings of the UETN Governing Board, UEN Advisory Council and Telehealth Services Advisory Council are open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held via videoconferencing and in person at:

Delores Dore Eccles Broadcast Center
University of Utah
101 Wasatch Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

The Board has adopted the following procedure for public comment during its meetings and meetings of the Advisory Councils. If you would like to provide public comment at a meeting, please contact the Board Secretary, Denise Elwood, at 801-581-3099 or delwood@media.utah.edu prior to the meeting.

From time-to-time meetings may be closed in accordance with state law for reasons that will be listed on the agenda prior to each meeting.

Statutory Reference

Utah Open and Public Meeting Act (UCA 52-4-1)

Communications Act of 1943, as amended (47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq)

Public Broadcasting Act (47 U.S.C. § 396)

Definitions

“Advisory Council” means the UEN Advisory Council and Telehealth Services Advisory Council. For brevity, references to “Board” shall include “Councils” in this policy.

“Agenda” means the topics slated for Board discussion and action during their meeting. Agendas will be posted 24 hours before each meeting.

“Board” means the UETN Governing Board. Members are designated in state law (UCA 53B-17-105) and intended to be representative of the broader community served by UETN. For brevity, “Board” shall include “Councils” in this public comment policy.

“Comment” means an oral statement provided by a member of the public wishing to express their views to the UETN Board. Written comments for the Board may also be submitted online and will be forwarded to the Board chair or designee to summarize or convey in a meeting at their discretion.

“Commenter” means a named or anonymous individual wishing to express their views to the UETN Board. Commenters wishing to remain anonymous may substitute a general marker (e.g., Person A).

“Councils” means both the Telehealth Services Advisory Council and the Utah Education Network (UEN) Advisory Council.

Procedure

1. The Board will set aside time on their meeting agenda for public comment.
2. Individuals wishing to make public comment at a meeting must contact the Board Secretary, Denise Elwood, at 801-581-3099 or delwood@media.utah.edu prior to the meeting.
3. Commenters may register using their name or remain anonymous, substituting a general marker (e.g., Person A).
4. The public comment period will be limited to ten minutes but may be extended at the discretion of the Board Chair.
5. Each person wishing to make a public comment is limited to 2 minutes and is limited to speaking just once. Written comments may also be submitted online and sent to the Board chair or designee to convey to the Board, at the chair’s discretion.
6. Comments should be limited to matters over which UETN has authority, but as a public service organization the Board will receive comments about any topic even if that topic is not on the meeting agenda.
7. While addressing the Board it is requested (though not required) that the Commenter state their name and topic before speaking. Alternatively, Commenters may remain anonymous or substitute a general identifier (e.g., Person A).
8. Speakers will be courteous in their language and presentation.
9. Only one speaker will be acknowledged at a time. Groups should designate a spokesperson to express the group’s comments.
10. At the discretion of the Board Chair, a topic raised by the public may be discussed during an open meeting, even if the topic raised by the public was not included in the [meeting] agenda. UCA 52-4-202(6)(b). Only items set forth on the agenda can be acted upon by the Board.
11. The Board will not respond to questions during the meeting but may follow up with an emailed response.
12. Persons exhibiting disruptive behavior to the extent that orderly conduct is seriously compromised will be removed from the meeting. (UCA 52-4-301)

Adopted by the UETN Board February 11, 2022