Hard to believe that yet another year is coming to a close. It’s been a busy year for JAG on both the legislative and operational ends. For me it also signifies the fact that my 15th year as JAG President is also coming to an end. However, I choose to look at all this as a new beginning. The beginning of a new year for JAG, the beginning of the twenty-fourth year of JAG’s existence and the beginning of the reorganization of the JAG board at the upcoming Trustee Meeting in January.
by Gary Campbell, Station Manager/Producer, Newark TV
In today’s competitive television, cable and streaming market, government-access television Newark TV-78 is producing high quality content for the largest city in New Jersey–Newark. Newark continues to shine in public safety, affordable housing, the arts, equitable growth and empowering residents. Mayor Ras Baraka says that in 2023 we are finally experiencing the Newark Renaissance that has been in motion for over fifty years, and TV78 has been there to help the city achieve its goals.
On January 19th, the 5th Circuit Appellate Court tried to decide if it should toss out a ruling that upholds the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund. The judges expressed their objections about the constitutionality of the practice of using an outside company to collect fees for the telecom assistance programs.
by Bill Bennett, Media Solutions & Accounts Manager
Your municipality’s broadcasts are key to informing your residents about what matters in their community, and ENCO has products that make your content more accessible to a broader audience with economical, automated Closed Captions and in-room CART displays. We can also help make your productions and playout more reliable via our acquisition of RUSHWORKS, a world-class computer-based video production and playout maker. All this is available via a single, consolidated package with unified US-based support.
It is now officially the start of the Holiday Season, starting with Thanksgiving just ending. This also means there are just slightly more than 30 days until the new year starts. Every year at my house, the kids get ready to celebrate Christmas and they start working on their Christmas List, although as they get older the gifts become more expensive! The same can be said for running your station or JAG as an organization.
New York City has a step-brother, and it’s called Newark. The locals call it “Nork.” Newark is New Jersey’s largest city by population, known for its vibrant arts scene and one of America’s oldest. It was founded in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans and led by Robert Treat.
This past June, a newsletter was sent to inform you of a bill that was passed out of the Congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee, titled the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023(H.R. 3557). JAG, along with our national partners, believe this bill would be a serious detriment to every municipality in our state.
We have learned at the end of September that the Committee’s Majority leadership has shared a draft committee report to go along with H.R. 3557. This is typically the next step in the process for bills going to the Rules Committee and eventually the House floor sooner, not later.
Posted: December 15, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Legislative Update December 2023: News from Washington DC
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Closed Captioning / ADA Requirements
Where it Currently Stands for PEG
Recently, there has been concern regarding the Closed Captioning of PEG programming, and if the PEG community will be mandated to offer captioning.
Our partners at the Alliance for Community Media have some thoughts to ponder about where things currently stand on this issue.
Posted: December 1, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Spotlight: Newark – Quality Content at Newark 78
by Gary Campbell, Station Manager/Producer, Newark TV
In today’s competitive television, cable and streaming market, government-access television Newark TV-78 is producing high quality content for the largest city in New Jersey–Newark. Newark continues to shine in public safety, affordable housing, the arts, equitable growth and empowering residents. Mayor Ras Baraka says that in 2023 we are finally experiencing the Newark Renaissance that has been in motion for over fifty years, and TV78 has been there to help the city achieve its goals.
Posted: December 1, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Legislative Update November 2023: News from Washington DC
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Senate confirms Anna Gomez to FCC
T
Universal Service Fund – Latest Update
On January 19th, the 5th Circuit Appellate Court tried to decide if it should toss out a ruling that upholds the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund. The judges expressed their objections about the constitutionality of the practice of using an outside company to collect fees for the telecom assistance programs.
Posted: December 1, 2023 by Doug Seidel
ENCO Systems- Continuous Access Realtime Translation
by Bill Bennett, Media Solutions & Accounts Manager
Your municipality’s broadcasts are key to informing your residents about what matters in their community, and ENCO has products that make your content more accessible to a broader audience with economical, automated Closed Captions and in-room CART displays. We can also help make your productions and playout more reliable via our acquisition of RUSHWORKS, a world-class computer-based video production and playout maker. All this is available via a single, consolidated package with unified US-based support.
Posted: November 8, 2023 by Doug Seidel
JAG at the League of Municipalities Next Week
Special Sessions on:
*Broadband* – Available Federal Funding,
Using Your Existing Infrastructure,
and *H.R. 3557*
The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023
&
New Ways You Can Communicate With Your Citizens Beyond the Traditional Cable Television Channels!
Posted: October 18, 2023 by Doug Seidel
JAG Schedules Three Sessions at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference
November 15, 2023
Follow the Money: The Sequel
(Joint Session with the NJ League)
10:45 AM-12:00 PM
Room 413
November 16, 2023
Using Existing Infrastructure to Enhance Broadband Deployment
(Joint Session with the NJ League)
9:00 AM-10:15 AM
November 16, 2023
Municipal Television: It’s Not Just Cable Anymore
10:45 AM-12:00 PM
Room 409
Posted: October 18, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Spotlight: Newark – Understanding Your Town: Identifying the Opportunities
By Ed Cologna, Newark TV, Station Manager
New York City has a step-brother, and it’s called Newark. The locals call it “Nork.” Newark is New Jersey’s largest city by population, known for its vibrant arts scene and one of America’s oldest. It was founded in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans and led by Robert Treat.
Posted: October 18, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Legislative Update October 2023: Updates and Reminders About H.R. 3557
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Senate confirms Anna Gomez to FCC
The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023
This past June, a newsletter was sent to inform you of a bill that was passed out of the Congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee, titled the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023 (H.R. 3557). JAG, along with our national partners, believe this bill would be a serious detriment to every municipality in our state.
We have learned at the end of September that the Committee’s Majority leadership has shared a draft committee report to go along with H.R. 3557. This is typically the next step in the process for bills going to the Rules Committee and eventually the House floor sooner, not later.