by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Last month became an active one for us, but now Congress is dealing with other issues and everything else has slowed down a-bit. So, instead of discussing actions being taken in either our federal or state governments, we are turning our attention to New Jersey for a more in-depth discussion and perspective on what is going on with all legislation and broadband deployment in the Garden State, along with technology backed by acts to aid in emergency situations.
Legislative Highlights at the 2025 JAG Conference
On May 14-15, 2025, JAG – The Jersey Access Group with be hosting its annual conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edison. The conference is aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among community media staff and independent filmmakers, government officials, educators, and manufacturers to support the growth, opportunities, and challenges affecting our state, communities, and within our industry.
On Wednesday, May 14th, we are presenting Real-time Video Updates and Information During Critical Situations. This session can help you to respond faster and make informed tactical decisions. This is critical for police, fire, and OEM situations. A panel of experts will discuss mission-critical elements such as real-time video surveillance, bonded cellular technology, using drones in the field. The panel will discuss:
- The National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the American Security Drone Act prohibiting the government from using federal funds to purchase drones made in China or certain other countries.
- The effectiveness of the collaboration between Local Government Access TV and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in disseminating messages to the community. Includes a live equipment demo.
- Bob Duthaler, President of JAG moderates this panel that includes:
- Alex Joice, VP of Solution Sales Engineering, LiveU
- John Centanni, OEM Director of East Hanover
- Louis Venezia, Bloomfield Fire Chief
- Luis Figueiredo, Detective Elizabeth Police Department
- Yervant Keshishian, Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies;
On Thursday, May 15th, we will present a Legislative Roundtable Discussion on what is currently happening nationally at the FCC and here in New Jersey.Topics include:
- The latest changes, proposals, and actions happening nationally and at the state level that may have an impact on our stations and municipalities. A panel of experts will discuss issues such as policy changes, regulatory adjustments, and newly introduced bills that might impact our world as we currently know it. Closed captioning and undertakings of the FCC regarding broadband, net neutrality, and spectrum allocation.
- The moderator will be David Garb, JAG’s Legislative Committee, Chair. Panelists include:
- Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media
- Gerry Lederer, Partner, Best, Best & Krieger LLP
Also on Thursday, May 15th, don’t miss our Legislative Luncheon where Broadband Deployment in New Jersey and The Federal Incentives Funding Them will be discussed. Clearly broadband access is not just necessary but required for so many things: information, education, employment, and entertainment. Now that federal money is being distributed to municipalities to provide broadband service to everyone, JAG members need to understand how this money is used at the local level and what it means for our stations:
- There are a variety of programs that are supposed to feed money to New Jersey municipalities—the BEAD Program, Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Universal Service Fund, H.R.278 – BROADBAND Leadership Act, H.R. 339 – Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act. We will find out where things stand with them, how it could affect us directly, and how changes in our nation’s capital might affect NJ’s broadband efforts.
- Brian Wahler, Mayor of Piscataway moderates this panel that includes:
- Robert Boyle, CEO, Planet Networks
- Joe Rivera, Manager of Broadband Access, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
- Gerry Lederer, Partner, Best, Best & Krieger LLP
- Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media
To attend these sessions and other at this year’s conference please visitjagconference.com/ to register.
NJ Legislative Actions
For 25 years, JAG has always tried to keep a watchful eye on bills both nationally and state wide that might be an issue for our municipalities and PEG channels in New Jersey. But JAG really started to be legislatively aware in 2011 when JAG mobilizes its membership within 24 hours to combat state legislation that would eliminate the requirements for telecom providers to care or support community media.
While the bill was fast tracked through the NJ Assembly it still needed to be introduced into the NJ Senate. JAG membership met with their state senators to explain the damage the bill would have on local community television. JAG was able to get enough no votes in place so that the bill never was presented before the NJ Senate for a vote. This marked a major victory in what continues to be an ongoing effort by telecommunication providers to remove any support for community media in NJ. Other notable actions on JAG’S due diligence included:
- 2015 – The NJ Board of Public Utilities was readopting, with amendments, the rules for the “Regulations of Cable Television – N.J.A.C.-14:18”. JAG put in objections stating why certain changes would not work.
- 2015 – White Paper #6 request, U.S. Representatives Greg Walden and Fred Upton wanted information on the “Reasons for the Continued Existence of (PEG) – Public, Education & Government Television Stations”. JAG created a 10 point response and sent to both Representatives, along with Rep. Pallone and Lance.
- 2016 – At the request of the FCC, JAG responded with input on Multichannel Video Programming Distributers regarding channel line-up placement. The fight to get HD and not being allowed to place PEG content information on programming guides was paramount, since everyone else was able to acquire it.
Though not legislative, but notable, on our 20th anniversary during the pandemic of 2020, PEG became a spark for allowing communications to flow from leadership down to the residents who needed the information the most. Our member stations found new ways to reach their communities. PEG carried virtual town council meetings, the Governor’s entire daily press conferences, and health crisis related updates from their local officials, and other informational programming desperately needed through the ordeal. This gave our municipal members and PEG channels a chance to prove just how valuable they were to citizens.
In our 25th year, JAG continues to represent the interests of municipal and community television channels in both Trenton and Washington. Our efforts on behalf of our members have never been more important.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 March 2025: News from Trenton & Washington, DC – Changes in the FCC
Posted: March 24, 2025 by Doug Seidel
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
Last month became an active one for us, but now Congress is dealing with other issues and everything else has slowed down a-bit. So, instead of discussing actions being taken in either our federal or state governments, we are turning our attention to New Jersey for a more in-depth discussion and perspective on what is going on with all legislation and broadband deployment in the Garden State, along with technology backed by acts to aid in emergency situations.
Legislative Highlights at the 2025 JAG Conference
On May 14-15, 2025, JAG – The Jersey Access Group with be hosting its annual conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edison. The conference is aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among community media staff and independent filmmakers, government officials, educators, and manufacturers to support the growth, opportunities, and challenges affecting our state, communities, and within our industry.
On Wednesday, May 14th, we are presenting Real-time Video Updates and Information During Critical Situations. This session can help you to respond faster and make informed tactical decisions. This is critical for police, fire, and OEM situations. A panel of experts will discuss mission-critical elements such as real-time video surveillance, bonded cellular technology, using drones in the field. The panel will discuss:
On Thursday, May 15th, we will present a Legislative Roundtable Discussion on what is currently happening nationally at the FCC and here in New Jersey.Topics include:
Also on Thursday, May 15th, don’t miss our Legislative Luncheon where Broadband Deployment in New Jersey and The Federal Incentives Funding Them will be discussed. Clearly broadband access is not just necessary but required for so many things: information, education, employment, and entertainment. Now that federal money is being distributed to municipalities to provide broadband service to everyone, JAG members need to understand how this money is used at the local level and what it means for our stations:
To attend these sessions and other at this year’s conference please visitjagconference.com/ to register.
NJ Legislative Actions
For 25 years, JAG has always tried to keep a watchful eye on bills both nationally and state wide that might be an issue for our municipalities and PEG channels in New Jersey. But JAG really started to be legislatively aware in 2011 when JAG mobilizes its membership within 24 hours to combat state legislation that would eliminate the requirements for telecom providers to care or support community media.
While the bill was fast tracked through the NJ Assembly it still needed to be introduced into the NJ Senate. JAG membership met with their state senators to explain the damage the bill would have on local community television. JAG was able to get enough no votes in place so that the bill never was presented before the NJ Senate for a vote. This marked a major victory in what continues to be an ongoing effort by telecommunication providers to remove any support for community media in NJ. Other notable actions on JAG’S due diligence included:
Though not legislative, but notable, on our 20th anniversary during the pandemic of 2020, PEG became a spark for allowing communications to flow from leadership down to the residents who needed the information the most. Our member stations found new ways to reach their communities. PEG carried virtual town council meetings, the Governor’s entire daily press conferences, and health crisis related updates from their local officials, and other informational programming desperately needed through the ordeal. This gave our municipal members and PEG channels a chance to prove just how valuable they were to citizens.
In our 25th year, JAG continues to represent the interests of municipal and community television channels in both Trenton and Washington. Our efforts on behalf of our members have never been more important.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