Spotlight: Ocean County College Supports Television Production

by Mary Granahan, Television Production Director, Ocean County College

I’m Mary Granahan, Director of Television Production, and I’m excited to introduce you to Ocean TV-20, a full-service production studio and 24-hour station operated by Ocean County College. Our full HD studio also functions as an immersive training ground for the next generation of media professionals. So, our operations are a bit different than more traditional PEG operations.

Live and Unfiltered: What TV Can—and Can’t—Show Now

by John C. Morley, Independent Producer

The world of television is changing faster than ever. Nowhere is that more obvious than with live streaming. With smartphones in every hand and social platforms offering instant broadcasting, the line between traditional TV and online content is blurring. But, as more broadcasters go live, a big question remains: what’s allowed on TV these days—and what’s off-limits?

President’s Message: October 2025 – Preparing for ADA Title II Web and Mobile Accessibility Compliance (Closed Captioning & Audio Description)

by Bob Duthaler

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continues to evolve as technology changes. The latest updates are about to have a major impact on how state and local governments manage their online presence. The new ADA Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule require that all digital content—including websites, apps, and videos—be accessible to everyone.

By April 24, 2026, public entities serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Smaller municipalities will follow a year later, by April 24, 2027. This means that all prerecorded videos must include audio descriptions, and all video content (live or prerecorded) must include closed captions. In other words, accessibility will no longer be optional or by request; it will be required and proactive.

Legislative Update October 2025: News from Trenton & Washington, DC – Changes in the FCC

A Special Webinar held on September 29th regarding the Altice PEG Channel Switches in New Jersey, and the Surrounding Tri-State Municipalities

Around the 21st of August, all PEG Stations who are part of the Altice/Optimum cable system had their channels switched from their normal positions to the 1300-1317 spectrum. It effected the entire tri-state area and no-one received messages from Altice that this change was coming or had time to re-brand our stations to inform our residents. 

After a lot of yelling from the municipalities and other parties, all channels were switched back to their original positions by the 3rd week of September.

Below are a some points that were made from our special webinar to prepare all of us for the future, in the event this channel change is attempted again:

The New Era: NextGen TV

by John C. Morley, Independent Producer

Remember when watching local TV meant tinkering with fuzzy antennas and hoping for a clear signal? Today, the world of entertainment is evolving at lightning speed, and the most game-changing leap isn’t just happening in your favorite streaming apps—it’s coming from your hometown broadcasters. With the arrival of NextGen TV, better known as ATSC 3.0, the future of television is now free, ultra-interactive, and more immersive than ever—all powered by technology that truly bridges the best of streaming with the community focus of local broadcasting.

Smarter Broadcast Workflows – Audio & Comms Tools for PEG Stations Demo at September 24 meeting

by Yervant Keshishian Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies, Inc
Varto Technologies is proud to welcome the Jersey Access Group (JAG) to our East Rutherford facility on September 24. This year, we are highlighting solutions that address two of the most common challenges PEG broadcasters face: delivering consistently clear audio and keeping production crews connected in real time.