by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
The Jersey Access Group has represented the interests of municipal, educational, and community television channels for 25 years. Our efforts on behalf of our members have never been more important. JAG’s Legislative Committee has kept a watchful eye on bills—both nationally and statewide—that include potential issues for JAG members, their communities, and their operations.
Olivia Trusty Confirmed by Senate as FCC Commissioner
From NATOA:
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Olivia Trusty as a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner for the term that expired on June 30, 2025. She was also reappointed for a term of five years which started on July 1, 2025. The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) recognizes Ms. Trusty’s years of dedicated public service as a staff member of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, and the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
In an April 9, 2025, statement to the Senate, Commissioner Trusty promised to work with “Congress and the Administration to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet services for all Americans; protect consumers from illegal robocalls; strengthen the security of the nation’s telecommunications’ networks; and restore America’s leadership in next-generation communications technologies.”
NATOA looks forward to working with Commissioner Trusty on issues of interest to local governments. NATOA is the nonpartisan local government association supporting our members by advocating for broadband deployment, digital equity, cable services, Public, Educational and Governmental Access (PEG) Television, public safety communications and the preservation of local authority in our public rights of way (PROW.)
Delete, Delete, Delete: FCC Approves Rules to Remove and Streamline Cable Rate Regulations
From the FCC:
On June 26, 2025, the FCC adopted rules that will deliver on the administration’s call for agencies to unleash prosperity through deregulation, by removing from its cable rate regulations approximately 27 pages, 11,475 words, 77 rules or requirements, and 8 forms. This action is one of the first steps in the FCC’s deregulation initiative, “Delete, Delete, Delete,” designed to promote dynamism in American telecommunications by facilitating network modernization, infrastructure development, and performance innovation.
Many of the FCC’s rules governing cable rate regulation have been rendered obsolete or unworkable due to the sunset of cable programming service tier rate regulation and the passage of time. In 2018, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to review and update its rate regulations to reduce the administrative burdens on the cable industry, franchising authorities, and the Commission. This adopted Report and Order implements these proposed changes, which will foster flexibility and innovation in this highly competitive industry. These rules will help to increase government efficiency by:
- Eliminating unnecessary forms and rules
- Reducing unnecessary burdens on cable operators by deregulating cable equipment not used exclusively to receive the basic service tier
- Empowering small businesses by exempting them from rate regulation
- Declining to extend rate regulation to commercial establishments
- Modernizing rules to account for the sunset of cable programming service tier rate regulation in determining basic service tier rates and to simplify and streamline the remaining regulations.
The Protecting Community Television Act, S-1994/HR-3805
As reported last month, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Representative Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, announced the introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act, S-1994 and HR-3805.
If passed, this legislation would undo rulemaking from the first Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that effectively limited the resources available for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels.
Under the Communications Act, cable companies negotiate franchise agreements with local governments to provide cable services in a community. The Act caps franchise fees that a cable company pays to the local government at 5% of its revenue. This revenue helps fund PEG stations, as well as other community services (e.g. public libraries and emergency responders). In addition, cable companies historically paid up to 5% cap and provided additional, in-kind support to the community, such as free cable service to schools or access to building studios.
In 2019, the FCC issued a new rule that counted those in-kind contributions towards the 5% cap, meaning cable companies could reduce their cash payments by claiming the value of those services. With fewer cash resources, local governments were forced to choose between investing in PEG programming or supporting other public services. The result has been less funding for PEG stations.
The legislation has already been co-sponsored by Democratic Leader Schumer (D-N.Y), and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Me.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
The Protecting Community Television Act has also been endorsed by the Alliance for Community Media, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National League of Cities, MassAccess, and Maine Community Media Association.
JAG (Jersey Access Group) is an organization that advocates, promotes, and preserves the right to media production, distribution, civic engagement, and education in support of diverse community voices, through Public, Educational and Government access facilities and other forms of media.
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Legislative Update July 2025: News from Trenton & Washington, DC – Changes in the FCC
Posted: July 23, 2025 by Doug Seidel
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
The Jersey Access Group has represented the interests of municipal, educational, and community television channels for 25 years. Our efforts on behalf of our members have never been more important. JAG’s Legislative Committee has kept a watchful eye on bills—both nationally and statewide—that include potential issues for JAG members, their communities, and their operations.
Olivia Trusty Confirmed by Senate as FCC Commissioner
From NATOA:
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Olivia Trusty as a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner for the term that expired on June 30, 2025. She was also reappointed for a term of five years which started on July 1, 2025. The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) recognizes Ms. Trusty’s years of dedicated public service as a staff member of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, and the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
In an April 9, 2025, statement to the Senate, Commissioner Trusty promised to work with “Congress and the Administration to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet services for all Americans; protect consumers from illegal robocalls; strengthen the security of the nation’s telecommunications’ networks; and restore America’s leadership in next-generation communications technologies.”
NATOA looks forward to working with Commissioner Trusty on issues of interest to local governments. NATOA is the nonpartisan local government association supporting our members by advocating for broadband deployment, digital equity, cable services, Public, Educational and Governmental Access (PEG) Television, public safety communications and the preservation of local authority in our public rights of way (PROW.)
Delete, Delete, Delete: FCC Approves Rules to Remove and Streamline Cable Rate Regulations
From the FCC:
On June 26, 2025, the FCC adopted rules that will deliver on the administration’s call for agencies to unleash prosperity through deregulation, by removing from its cable rate regulations approximately 27 pages, 11,475 words, 77 rules or requirements, and 8 forms. This action is one of the first steps in the FCC’s deregulation initiative, “Delete, Delete, Delete,” designed to promote dynamism in American telecommunications by facilitating network modernization, infrastructure development, and performance innovation.
Many of the FCC’s rules governing cable rate regulation have been rendered obsolete or unworkable due to the sunset of cable programming service tier rate regulation and the passage of time. In 2018, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to review and update its rate regulations to reduce the administrative burdens on the cable industry, franchising authorities, and the Commission. This adopted Report and Order implements these proposed changes, which will foster flexibility and innovation in this highly competitive industry. These rules will help to increase government efficiency by:
The Protecting Community Television Act, S-1994/HR-3805
As reported last month, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Representative Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, announced the introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act, S-1994 and HR-3805.
If passed, this legislation would undo rulemaking from the first Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that effectively limited the resources available for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels.
Under the Communications Act, cable companies negotiate franchise agreements with local governments to provide cable services in a community. The Act caps franchise fees that a cable company pays to the local government at 5% of its revenue. This revenue helps fund PEG stations, as well as other community services (e.g. public libraries and emergency responders). In addition, cable companies historically paid up to 5% cap and provided additional, in-kind support to the community, such as free cable service to schools or access to building studios.
In 2019, the FCC issued a new rule that counted those in-kind contributions towards the 5% cap, meaning cable companies could reduce their cash payments by claiming the value of those services. With fewer cash resources, local governments were forced to choose between investing in PEG programming or supporting other public services. The result has been less funding for PEG stations.
The legislation has already been co-sponsored by Democratic Leader Schumer (D-N.Y), and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Me.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
The Protecting Community Television Act has also been endorsed by the Alliance for Community Media, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National League of Cities, MassAccess, and Maine Community Media Association.
JAG (Jersey Access Group) is an organization that advocates, promotes, and preserves the right to media production, distribution, civic engagement, and education in support of diverse community voices, through Public, Educational and Government access facilities and other forms of media.
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Category: Latest JAG News, Legislation/Regulation