October 2023

ACP Connects NJ

NJ State Library and NJ Department of Health partner to assist eligible NJ residents with enrolling in federal Affordable Broadband Benefit

The New Jersey State Library (NJSL), an affiliate of Thomas Edison State University, and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) have partnered to launch ACP Connects NJ to help build awareness and participation in New Jersey for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a national broadband affordability initiative of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helps households afford the broadband they need for work, school, health care, and more.

NJSL received a federal ACP grant for $400,000 from the FCC to support New Jersey households struggling to afford internet service. NJSL and NJDOH will collaborate with other community partners, including food pantries and Federally Qualified Health Centers, to host enrollment and outreach events. The ACP Connects NJ initiative will concentrate on communities in Central and South Jersey.

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Municipal Television

JAG helps municipalities with local cable TV stations and beyond

It wasn’t all that long ago when people watched television programs on cable television and Netflix delivered DVDs to their mailbox. Back in those “good old days” cable operators gave municipalities the ability to communicate with their residents on a local cable channel that was provided through a local franchise, in exchange for the cable companies use of the local rights-of-way. The municipality provided a feed to the cable company and residents could tune in to the cable channel assigned to see their municipal meetings and community bulletin boards.

But over the years, these channels have evolved to include better graphics, high quality video, and expanded coverage of local events like high school sports, ribbon cutting ceremonies, commemorative parades, and much more. A lot of these channels are now becoming available on the high-definition cable lineup. With the power of local franchise negotiations and agreements, more channels continue to become available in HD. The Jersey Access Group, known as JAG, an affiliate of the NJ State League of Municipalities, is a leader in keeping up with both technology and legislation pertaining to local media.

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Conference Preview

Join your peers in Local Government at the League Conference in Atlantic City November 14 - 16. The 108th League Conference will provide education and the opportunities to check out the latest services and products, and it’s also an important tool for networking with municipal officials from around the state along with state-level officials at events held throughout the meeting.

To view preview, visit page 55 (with subscription).

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About NJ Municipalities

NJ Municipalities serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on municipal affairs, new initiatives and changing legislation for public officials in New Jersey. This magazine has been a news source for local government organizations for over 100 years and is available in print and digital format. Published monthly, with the exception of July, August and September.

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NJ Municipalities welcomes member articles, information and op-eds. Visit the League website for information on submitting an editorial, or Email Amy Spiezio, Managing Editor.

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