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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87301</law_id><section_number>56-495</section_number><catch_line>Powers granted corporation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="16">Telephone Cooperatives Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Each <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> formed under this chapter shall have power to do any and all acts or things necessary or incidental for carrying out the purpose for which it was formed, including, but not limited to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To furnish or provide <span class="dictionary">telephone service</span> or any of the facilities necessary therefor in connection with the furnishing or providing of such service with others both within and without this Commonwealth and to provide such services or facilities as may be incidental or related to providing <span class="dictionary">telephone service</span>. <a id="paragraph-312619" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To sue and be sued. <a id="paragraph-312620" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure. <a id="paragraph-312621" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To <span class="dictionary">acquire</span>, hold and dispose of property, real and personal, tangible and intangible, or interests therein and to pay therefor in cash or property or on credit, and to secure and procure payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof on such terms and conditions as the <span class="dictionary">board</span> shall determine. <a id="paragraph-312622" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To <span class="dictionary">acquire</span>, own and dispose of shares or interests in other entities engaged in communications businesses. <a id="paragraph-312623" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> To render service and to <span class="dictionary">acquire</span>, own, operate, maintain and <span class="dictionary">improve</span> a <span class="dictionary">system</span> or <span class="dictionary">systems</span>. <a id="paragraph-312624" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> To accept gifts or grants of money, or property, real or personal, from any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, <span class="dictionary">municipality</span> or <span class="dictionary">federal agency</span> and to accept voluntary and uncompensated services. <a id="paragraph-312625" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> To sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber or dispose of all or any part of its property, as hereinafter provided. <a id="paragraph-312626" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> To <span class="dictionary">contract</span> debts, borrow money and to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> or assume the payment of <span class="dictionary">bonds</span>, and other <span class="dictionary">obligations</span>. <a id="paragraph-312627" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> To fix, maintain and collect reasonable fees, rents, tolls and other charges for services rendered. <a id="paragraph-312628" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> To exercise all the powers set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers" href="/56-49/">56-49</a>, including the power of eminent domain as prescribed for other <span class="dictionary">public service corporations</span> by general <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-312629" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> To <span class="dictionary">issue</span> nonassessable nonvoting common and preferred capital stock and pay annually noncumulative dividends thereon not exceeding four percent and no <span class="dictionary">cooperative</span> operating hereunder shall pay annually more than four percent interest on membership capital. <a id="paragraph-312630" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> To perform any and all of the foregoing acts and to do any and all of the foregoing things under, through or by means of its own officers, agents and employees, or by <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> with any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, <span class="dictionary">federal agency</span> or <span class="dictionary">municipality</span>. <a id="paragraph-312631" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-495/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1950, p. 592; 1956, c. 434; 1989, c. 185; 2001, c. 386.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
