Last month we talked a little about how PEG Television Channels showed their true value to our individual communities during the pandemic. We all embarked on a “fast tracked” learning curve in order to deliver important information and programming to our audiences.
Local governments, schools, small businesses, community organizations and of course, our residents, all benefited immensely because of the endeavors of their individual access channels.
Over the decades, PEG Television Channels have demonstrated their value to the communities they serve. We have been challenged over and over again to get our vital information out to our local viewing audiences, especially in times of crisis. But there has never been anything more challenging than during the past pandemic. It was the access stations that found ways to get their individual messages directly out to their communities.
A couple weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that millions of American households have signed up for broadband internet credits through a provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill called the Affordable Connectivity Program. This bill passed in November of 2021 and White House officials are calling it an example of the administration’s efforts to lower costs for Americans amid the high inflation that has swept our nation.
To continue our discussion into the possibility of having OTT providers such as Hulu and Netflix pay franchise fees in exchange for their use of the public rights-of-way, along comes a couple of stories from Reuters news about this very issue.
Last month we talked about the legal action which has begun here in New Jersey against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations.
Last month we talked about legal action that has begun here in New Jersey against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations.
The following is from the law firm Kessler, Topaz, Meltzer & Check, LLP, who are leading this action. It is a brief summary of the factual allegations and procedural history of Borough of Longport and Township of Irvington v. Netflix, Inc. and Hulu, LLC, No. 2:21-cv-15303-SRC-MAH (D.N.J.) (the “Netflix/Hulu Litigation”).
Legal action has begun to take hold all across the country and even here in New Jersey. Communities are beginning to fight back against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations believed owed to them as required by franchising laws and the New Jersey Cable Television Act, N.J. Rev. Stat. § 48:5A-1.
The information that follows is from Nancy L. Werner, General Counsel for NATOA and explains what is happening and why these actions are taking place.
After years of frenzied federal activity in the communications space, particularly by the Federal Communications Commission, 2021 was a relatively slow year for local governments in terms of battling proposals that would harm community interests and PEG access operations. On the flip side, this reprieve also meant that little has been done to curb the harmful impacts of past laws and decisions. So, what will 2022 bring?
by Ken Fellman, Of Council, Helmer, Conley and Kasselman, PA
Ken Fellman
As Americans have spent a significant amount of time on the internet during the pandemic, the federal government has created several programs addressing broadband deployment. Here, we address two major Congressional initiatives that provide significant funding to expand broadband networks. On March 11th, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which allocates funding to state, county, and municipal governments, and establishes that state and local governments receiving this funding may use it “to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.” As of this writing (August 12, 2021), the House will be considering the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the Senate, which establishes a $42,450,000,000 grant program to states who in turn award subgrants to local governments and other entities for broadband and other infrastructure projects.
As most of you should be aware at this point, Verizon came before the Board of Public Utilities in September 2020 for the Franchise Renewal. The stakeholders and public were given a chance to speak at this meeting. Dave Garb and I constructed a letter that we sent to the BPU (see below), and I …
Posted: October 25, 2022 by Doug Seidel
A Retrospective on the Importance of PEG – The Full Picture
Last month we talked a little about how PEG Television Channels showed their true value to our individual communities during the pandemic. We all embarked on a “fast tracked” learning curve in order to deliver important information and programming to our audiences.
Local governments, schools, small businesses, community organizations and of course, our residents, all benefited immensely because of the endeavors of their individual access channels.
Posted: September 22, 2022 by bduthaler
A Retrospect of the Importance of PEG and News from the FCC
Over the decades, PEG Television Channels have demonstrated their value to the communities they serve. We have been challenged over and over again to get our vital information out to our local viewing audiences, especially in times of crisis. But there has never been anything more challenging than during the past pandemic. It was the access stations that found ways to get their individual messages directly out to their communities.
Posted: August 18, 2022 by bduthaler
The Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
A couple weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that millions of American households have signed up for broadband internet credits through a provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill called the Affordable Connectivity Program. This bill passed in November of 2021 and White House officials are calling it an example of the administration’s efforts to lower costs for Americans amid the high inflation that has swept our nation.
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
Could Hulu and Netflix pay franchise fees?
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
To continue our discussion into the possibility of having OTT providers such as Hulu and Netflix pay franchise fees in exchange for their use of the public rights-of-way, along comes a couple of stories from Reuters news about this very issue.
Posted: June 9, 2022 by bduthaler
Straight from Ask the Lawyers Session at the Eastern Video Expo
By Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Last month we talked about the legal action which has begun here in New Jersey against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations.
Posted: May 13, 2022 by bduthaler
State Video Franchising Laws and the Legal Actions Taking Place in New Jersey
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Last month we talked about legal action that has begun here in New Jersey against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations.
The following is from the law firm Kessler, Topaz, Meltzer & Check, LLP, who are leading this action. It is a brief summary of the factual allegations and procedural history of Borough of Longport and Township of Irvington v. Netflix, Inc. and Hulu, LLC, No. 2:21-cv-15303-SRC-MAH (D.N.J.) (the “Netflix/Hulu Litigation”).
Posted: April 12, 2022 by bduthaler
State Video Franchising Laws and the Legal Actions Taking Place in New Jersey
by Nancy Werner, General Counsel for NATOA
Legal action has begun to take hold all across the country and even here in New Jersey. Communities are beginning to fight back against over-the-top service providers and their franchise fee obligations believed owed to them as required by franchising laws and the New Jersey Cable Television Act, N.J. Rev. Stat. § 48:5A-1.
The information that follows is from Nancy L. Werner, General Counsel for NATOA and explains what is happening and why these actions are taking place.
Posted: January 18, 2022 by bduthaler
Federal Communications Law and Policy: What to Expect in 2022
After years of frenzied federal activity in the communications space, particularly by the Federal Communications Commission, 2021 was a relatively slow year for local governments in terms of battling proposals that would harm community interests and PEG access operations. On the flip side, this reprieve also meant that little has been done to curb the harmful impacts of past laws and decisions. So, what will 2022 bring?
Posted: August 31, 2021 by Doug Seidel
Understanding Broadband Grants
by Ken Fellman, Of Council, Helmer, Conley and Kasselman, PA
As Americans have spent a significant amount of time on the internet during the pandemic, the federal government has created several programs addressing broadband deployment. Here, we address two major Congressional initiatives that provide significant funding to expand broadband networks. On March 11th, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which allocates funding to state, county, and municipal governments, and establishes that state and local governments receiving this funding may use it “to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.” As of this writing (August 12, 2021), the House will be considering the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the Senate, which establishes a $42,450,000,000 grant program to states who in turn award subgrants to local governments and other entities for broadband and other infrastructure projects.
Posted: January 28, 2021 by JAG News
Comments on the Statewide Renewal of Verizon – Update
As most of you should be aware at this point, Verizon came before the Board of Public Utilities in September 2020 for the Franchise Renewal. The stakeholders and public were given a chance to speak at this meeting. Dave Garb and I constructed a letter that we sent to the BPU (see below), and I …