Whether you’re new to public, education, government (PEG) stations or have been involved for years, questions about how they work always come up. Some stations can be stricter than they need to be, while others aren’t strict enough. So, finding the right balance is key. The main goal of a PEG station is to give local residents, schools, and government groups a platform to create and share content that benefits the community. It’s important to know what you can and can’t air on your PEG station to avoid fines or even losing your license. I’ll also explain what each part of PEG—public, educational, and government—means and why it matters.
The first attempt at a public access station took root in 1968, eventually becoming known as PEG (public, education, government) television. Key figures behind this initiative included George Stoney, Red Burns (from the Alternate Media Center), and Sidney Dean (City Club of New York). Did you know the first experimental public access cable channel was WSTO-TV, which launched in Stoughton, Wisconsin, in 1970, founded by Job and Janeen Burrel? It’s important to note that while KUHT-TV launched in Houston, Texas, in 1952 as a public broadcasting station, it was distinct from the later PEG concept. The premise of public-access television was to give the general public the opportunity to film and broadcast their own content—similar to how stations like PBS operate today. PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) was designed to disseminate professional content, while public-access stations were set up to provide a platform for anyone in the community to produce and share their own programming.
To start with, let’s break down what each letter in PEG means. The “P” stands for “public access,” providing a system where residents and community members can produce and air their own programs. The “E” is for “educational access,” giving schools, colleges, and other educational institutions a platform to share content such as board meetings, lectures, and student projects. Finally, the “G” represents “government access,” where local governments broadcast town council meetings, planning boards, hearings, and other civic programming. This helps towns be transparent and build trust and support within the community.
With all the different types of content that can be broadcast, it can be confusing to know what is allowed and what is not. It’s very important that your PEG station follows the licensing rules. Otherwise, it could face fines or even have its license suspended temporarily or permanently by the FCC. In some cases, stations might lose their equipment or face criminal charges for airing inappropriate adult material. Most stations understand their purpose and want to serve their community well. However, since many rely on volunteers, there can be gray areas that, if not handled properly, could cause serious problems for the station.
Your station is free to air original content created by you, your team, or local producers. Just be sure not to use copyrighted music, images, or video unless you have a proper license—and make sure you get written proof of that license from the producer. If anyone appears on screen, always get a media release form signed.
You can also air public domain content, which anyone can use without needing a license. This includes some U.S. federal content like material from NASA, the CDC or the White House. Most media published before 1929 is generally safe to use, but always double-check it.
If you use creative commons content, be aware of the license type and what it means. For example: CC0 means no restrictions, CC-BY requires you to give credit, and CC-BY-NC means you can’t use it for commercial purposes. Remember, these rules only apply to the specific creative commons license you’re using, so make sure you understand the exact terms to stay compliant. It might seem obvious but always verify any license directly with the publisher or licensing agency before using the content.
Stations are welcome to use royalty-free licensed media where you or the producer has paid for legal use—sources like Artlist, Storyblocks, Envato, Pexels, and others (always check the terms). Make sure you confirm whether the license allows for broadcast use, and whether streaming is included or requires an additional license.
You can’t air music from CDs, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, TikTok, movies, TV show clips, images found on Google, memes, random videos from the internet, or anything that doesn’t come with a clear license or usage terms. If someone won’t show you a license or provide it in writing, don’t use it. Also, make sure the license isn’t for “personal use only.” A license that covers live performance doesn’t mean it’s okay for use in video or broadcast.
There’s often confusion about what a CTA (call to action) is. Since PEG is non-commercial, you must follow FCC rules. You can’t say things like: “Buy now,” “Call to book your appointment today,” or “Order now and get a discount.” But you can say: “Thanks to The JMOR Connection, Inc. for supporting our program,” “Visit jmor.com to learn more,” or “Today’s segment is brought to you by believemeachieve.com.” Think acknowledgement, not advertisement, and you’ll stay on the right side of the rules.
Also, don’t fall for the myth that using a 5-second clip automatically qualifies as fair use—it doesn’t. Fair use only applies under specific conditions like commentary, criticism, education, or parody. For example, using a 5-second clip to explain how a boat lock works may qualify, but using it just for entertainment probably won’t. I hope this article has given you some useful ways to keep your PEG station complaint, out of trouble and that you learned something from it. I would love to know what you learned. Feel free to tag back @johncmorleyserialentrepreneur with a video response and I will answer you back.
Understanding Media Licensing for PEG Stations
Posted: July 23, 2025 by Doug Seidel
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Whether you’re new to public, education, government (PEG) stations or have been involved for years, questions about how they work always come up. Some stations can be stricter than they need to be, while others aren’t strict enough. So, finding the right balance is key. The main goal of a PEG station is to give local residents, schools, and government groups a platform to create and share content that benefits the community. It’s important to know what you can and can’t air on your PEG station to avoid fines or even losing your license. I’ll also explain what each part of PEG—public, educational, and government—means and why it matters.
The first attempt at a public access station took root in 1968, eventually becoming known as PEG (public, education, government) television. Key figures behind this initiative included George Stoney, Red Burns (from the Alternate Media Center), and Sidney Dean (City Club of New York). Did you know the first experimental public access cable channel was WSTO-TV, which launched in Stoughton, Wisconsin, in 1970, founded by Job and Janeen Burrel? It’s important to note that while KUHT-TV launched in Houston, Texas, in 1952 as a public broadcasting station, it was distinct from the later PEG concept. The premise of public-access television was to give the general public the opportunity to film and broadcast their own content—similar to how stations like PBS operate today. PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) was designed to disseminate professional content, while public-access stations were set up to provide a platform for anyone in the community to produce and share their own programming.
To start with, let’s break down what each letter in PEG means. The “P” stands for “public access,” providing a system where residents and community members can produce and air their own programs. The “E” is for “educational access,” giving schools, colleges, and other educational institutions a platform to share content such as board meetings, lectures, and student projects. Finally, the “G” represents “government access,” where local governments broadcast town council meetings, planning boards, hearings, and other civic programming. This helps towns be transparent and build trust and support within the community.
With all the different types of content that can be broadcast, it can be confusing to know what is allowed and what is not. It’s very important that your PEG station follows the licensing rules. Otherwise, it could face fines or even have its license suspended temporarily or permanently by the FCC. In some cases, stations might lose their equipment or face criminal charges for airing inappropriate adult material. Most stations understand their purpose and want to serve their community well. However, since many rely on volunteers, there can be gray areas that, if not handled properly, could cause serious problems for the station.
Your station is free to air original content created by you, your team, or local producers. Just be sure not to use copyrighted music, images, or video unless you have a proper license—and make sure you get written proof of that license from the producer. If anyone appears on screen, always get a media release form signed.
You can also air public domain content, which anyone can use without needing a license. This includes some U.S. federal content like material from NASA, the CDC or the White House. Most media published before 1929 is generally safe to use, but always double-check it.
If you use creative commons content, be aware of the license type and what it means. For example: CC0 means no restrictions, CC-BY requires you to give credit, and CC-BY-NC means you can’t use it for commercial purposes. Remember, these rules only apply to the specific creative commons license you’re using, so make sure you understand the exact terms to stay compliant. It might seem obvious but always verify any license directly with the publisher or licensing agency before using the content.
Stations are welcome to use royalty-free licensed media where you or the producer has paid for legal use—sources like Artlist, Storyblocks, Envato, Pexels, and others (always check the terms). Make sure you confirm whether the license allows for broadcast use, and whether streaming is included or requires an additional license.
You can’t air music from CDs, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, TikTok, movies, TV show clips, images found on Google, memes, random videos from the internet, or anything that doesn’t come with a clear license or usage terms. If someone won’t show you a license or provide it in writing, don’t use it. Also, make sure the license isn’t for “personal use only.” A license that covers live performance doesn’t mean it’s okay for use in video or broadcast.
There’s often confusion about what a CTA (call to action) is. Since PEG is non-commercial, you must follow FCC rules. You can’t say things like: “Buy now,” “Call to book your appointment today,” or “Order now and get a discount.” But you can say: “Thanks to The JMOR Connection, Inc. for supporting our program,” “Visit jmor.com to learn more,” or “Today’s segment is brought to you by believemeachieve.com.” Think acknowledgement, not advertisement, and you’ll stay on the right side of the rules.
Also, don’t fall for the myth that using a 5-second clip automatically qualifies as fair use—it doesn’t. Fair use only applies under specific conditions like commentary, criticism, education, or parody. For example, using a 5-second clip to explain how a boat lock works may qualify, but using it just for entertainment probably won’t. I hope this article has given you some useful ways to keep your PEG station complaint, out of trouble and that you learned something from it. I would love to know what you learned. Feel free to tag back @johncmorleyserialentrepreneur with a video response and I will answer you back.
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