Off-Air Television Broadcast Recording
Faculty members may record programs off-air at their own homes to use in the classroom as long as (1) they meet all of the requirements for educational off-air recordings set out below, (2) they keep complete records of the recording and use of the materials, and (3) they provide Audio Visual Services with the recording and use information.
All off-air recordings by a faculty member at home are subject to the following rules:
- The material must be shown as part of a face-to-face instructional program by students, instructors, or guest lecturers in a classroom or instructional location. The showing must be limited to students enrolled in the class and their instructors. The showing may not be for entertainment.
- A recording may be used once by an instructor during class within the first ten (10) consecutive school days after the recording date. If necessary for instructional reinforcement, the recording may be used once more during the first ten (10) consecutive school days after the recording date.
- All recordings will be kept in Audio Visual Services and will be signed out to the faculty member for classroom use. All recordings must be returned to Audio Visual Services after the class is concluded. The recording may be used after the first ten consecutive school days and before the 45th calendar day after the recording date only for curriculum evaluation purposes.
- Audio Visual Services will erase all recordings on or before the 45th calendar day after the recording date, unless the faculty member obtains the written permission or a licensing agreement from the copyright owner.
- Any other proposed use for the off-air recording requires the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
- Only programs broadcast free to the public may be off-air recorded without permission. Cable programs, such as ESPN, C-SPAN and CNN, are not broadcast free to the public.
- Off-air recordings need not be viewed in their entirety, but they may not be altered or physically or electronically combined.
- Off-air recordings must include the copyright notice recorded on the broadcast program. In addition, the Library staff must place a copyright warning on the material and cover of the copy produced.
- The Library is permitted to copy and to lend a limited number of copies of any audiovisual news program if (1) the Library obtains no commercial advantage from the copying; (2) the Library is available to others outside the College who are doing research in a specialized field; and (3) the reproduction or distribution contains a notice of copyright.
- Faculty members may retain off-air broadcasts after the 45-day period or use them for other purposes if they obtain permission from the copyright holder.
- PBS: The taping of shows from Public Broadcasting (PBS) is probably acceptable, as long as you meet the off-air recording requirements in the policy. Some state PBS networks and individual stations have negotiated for the right for teachers to retain PBS shows for up to a year. Check with the local PBS station to verify its policy as to off-air recording. Audio Visual Services staff will assist with this as needed.
