by Doug Seidel

A few things going on and coming up in JAG.

If you have not seen the news, New Jersey’s PBS will soon be run by Montclair State University. JAG has a great working relationship with the university. Stay tuned for information on how we might be able to work with them and the great opportunities that may come with collaboration.

by Doug Seidel

Thank you!

Thank you everyone that came out for the JAG Conference. It is always refreshing to see everyone enjoying themselves over the two days.

by Doug Seidel

As I write this, our legislative committee is down in Washington DC for Hill Day. They are discussing the potential consequences of HR 2289 and looking for support from our representatives to vote against it. Meetings are set up with Congressman Thomas Kean Jr and Senator Andy Kim’s offices. Stay tuned for updates

by Doug Seidel

That’s right, we have a new JAG president. Our much exalted (and exhausted) KING of JAG has been dethroned. Please, join me in thanking Bob Duthaler for 18 years of exceptional service and leadership as JAG president. These are big shoes to fill, and I hope to live up to the examples set by our past leaders.

by Doug Seidel

That’s right, we have a new JAG president. Our much exalted (and exhausted) KING of JAG has been dethroned. Please, join me in thanking Bob Duthaler for 18 years of exceptional service and leadership as JAG president. These are big shoes to fill, and I hope to live up to the examples set by our past leaders.

by Doug Seidel

That’s right, we have a new JAG president. Our much exalted (and exhausted) KING of JAG has been dethroned. Please, join me in thanking Bob Duthaler for 18 years of exceptional service and leadership as JAG president. These are big shoes to fill, and I hope to live up to the examples set by our past leaders.

by Bob Duthaler

JAG board elections were held at the December 3, 2025 general meeting. Elected to the JAG Board of Trustees were:

Don Smith, Station Manager, Cranford TV 35

Craig Yetsko, Station Manager, North Brunswick TV

Gina Forbes, Station Manager, Woodbridge TV

by Bob Duthaler

JAG will be voting for three board positions at the general meeting Wednesday, December 3. Stephanie Gibbons and Rick Gearhart will not seek reelection. Don Smith will once again be running.

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.

by Bob Duthaler

I also want to take a moment to congratulate and thank the JAG Board for taking swift action during a recent crisis. Several of our member channels discovered that their PEG channels had been moved without notice into what we’ve come to call “Cable Siberia.” Many of our Altice/Cablevision stations woke up to find their channels relocated from the spots they had occupied for decades—some for over 30 years. Municipalities were not notified, consumers were caught off guard, and the changes created immediate confusion.