The LPTV Broadcasters Association has issued a strong warning to federal regulators about the potentially devastating impact of mandatory certification fees for ATSC 3.0 on small television stations. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dated August 22, the organization stated that the security requirements of this next-generation broadcast standard impose substantial fees that many smaller operators simply cannot afford. This issue, largely absent from public discourse, centers on the necessity for broadcasters to purchase digital certificates from the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority and its partner Eonti Inc. to broadcast using the new standard.
“These costs, often kept opaque during advocacy for an ATSC 3.0 mandate, could prove unaffordable for many small stations, potentially forcing many smaller TV broadcasters to go out of business,” wrote Frank Copsidas, president and founder of the LPTV Broadcasters Association. The security framework, developed by major networks including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBCUniversal and Univision, alongside the Pearl TV consortium (Sinclair and Nexstar among others), mandates these certificates to verify broadcast authenticity and prevent tampering. Each transmitter needs two certificates annually, resulting in continuous operational costs.
While precise pricing remains confidential, Eonti only provides fee schedules upon request, demanding payment prior to issuance. These certification costs add to the already considerable hardware expenses, easily exceeding $300,000 per site for basic ATSC 3.0 setups. For low-power stations serving niche audiences and operating on tight budgets, these added expenses present a significant hurdle. The LPTV Broadcasters Association represents about 75% of licensed US television stations, but many operate with smaller coverage and significantly less revenue than their full-power counterparts.
This warning comes as Pearl TV and the National Association of Broadcasters urge the FCC to mandate ATSC 3.0 tuners in new televisions by 2028, phasing out ATSC 1.0 in major markets by 2030. Copsidas criticized the lack of transparency surrounding certification costs within these advocacy efforts. “The focus of these efforts has been on requiring new TVs to include ATSC 3.0 tuners by 2028, accelerating adoption and phasing out ATSC 1.0 in major markets by 2030,” he wrote. “Yet, discussions of A3SA/Eonti licensing fees are conspicuously absent from these advocacy efforts.”
The security measures are a direct consequence of ATSC 3.0’s advanced features like 4K resolution, improved audio, mobile viewing, and targeted advertising. These features necessitate signal signing via digital certificates and offer optional content encryption through systems like Widevine. ATSC 3.0 receivers are programmed to reject uncertified signals, creating a compatibility problem for stations that cannot afford certification.
The Consumer Technology Association has previously suggested that if a transition is mandated, “the Federal Government or Full Power Broadcasters must absorb the cost of the transition for LPTV stations.” The National Association of Broadcasters has proposed a fund to assist small stations. Without such support, the LPTV Broadcasters Association warns that many low-power stations may cease operations, potentially diminishing local programming and driving viewers toward paid services. “If unaddressed, this could spell the ‘death’ of free OTA TV as we know it,” Copsidas wrote. The organization proposes either allowing stations to continue using ATSC 1.0 or any standard serving the public interest.
While the FCC hasn't set a deadline for LPTV stations’ ATSC 3.0 transition, some full-power stations have started simulcasting in both standards during a voluntary transition period.