1. A. Any county may equip and maintain television transmission and relay facilities in areas which are so remote from regular transmission points of large television stations that television reception is impossible without special equipment and in which adequate, economical and proper television is not available by private sources, if a majority of the voters voting in a referendum held pursuant to subsection B vote in favor thereof.

2. B. If on or before the fifteenth day of July in any year a petition signed by two hundred or more qualified voters of a county is filed with the circuit court of such county asking that a referendum be held on the question set forth in this subsection, then such court shall, on or before the fifteenth day of August of such year, issue an order requiring the county election officials to open the polls at the regular election to be held in November of each year on the following question:

   Shall the governing body be authorized to equip and maintain television transmission and relay facilities?

   [ ] Yes

   [ ] No

   The election shall conform in all respects with the requirements of general law.

1970, c. 139, § 15.1-526.1; 1975, c. 517; 1997, c. 587.