The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) faces significant pushback against a proposal that would let low-power television (LPTV) stations transition to 5G datacasting services. Major players in the broadcast industry have voiced concerns regarding potential interference, the lack of compatible devices, and the impact on public service mandates.
HC2 Broadcasting initially petitioned the FCC, suggesting LPTV stations voluntarily adopt 5G Broadcast transmission standards. Their proposal involved dedicating the entire 6 MHz spectrum to 5G services, retaining only one free-to-air broadcast signal. However, this sparked immediate opposition.
Sinclair Broadcasting Group argued that HC2 failed to address potential interference issues. "HC2 makes no effort to demonstrate that its proposal will not cause harmful interference to other services, including broadcast television transmitting in either ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0," Sinclair stated. They emphasized the difference in waveforms between 5G Broadcast and existing ATSC standards, highlighting the lack of evidence supporting HC2's claim of no interference.
ATSC President Madeleine Noland also expressed concerns, pointing out misconceptions about device compatibility. "Those who support the Petition repeatedly imply that 5G Broadcast can be received by ‘ubiquitous’ 5G devices. This is misleading," Noland wrote, stating that "No commercially available smartphones or tablets that we are aware of in the U.S. market can receive 5G Broadcast transmissions." The ATSC directly refuted HC2's claim that any 5G mobile device could receive 5G Broadcast signals.
Sinclair further cited Brazil's evaluation of broadcast technologies, where 5G Broadcast wasn't even selected for field testing due to inferior performance compared to ATSC 3.0. Sinclair noted ATSC 3.0's superior spectral efficiency and performance advantages.
Beyond technical issues, Sinclair raised policy concerns about potentially eliminating broadcast television requirements for LPTV stations, arguing this would eliminate public interest obligations. Despite the opposition, HC2's proposal has garnered support from some LPTV operators and Qualcomm, who emphasized potential innovation and public safety benefits.
HC2 clarified that their proposal includes safeguards for existing broadcast obligations, requiring at least one free-to-air broadcast video signal using the 5G Broadcast standard. They also highlighted successful experimental testing demonstrating emergency alert capabilities.
The debate underscores the broader shift in television viewership, with HC2 citing Nielsen data showing streaming services surpassing broadcast and cable viewership in May 2025. This highlights the ongoing discussion about the future of broadcast technology and spectrum utilization.