The LPTV Broadcasters Association has alerted federal regulators to the potential for mandatory ATSC 3.0 certification fees to drive small television stations out of business, thus reducing access to free over-the-air programming. In an August 22 letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the association representing low-power television stations argued that the next-generation broadcast standard's security necessities create “substantial fees” that many small operators can't afford.
The letter underscores a frequently overlooked aspect of ATSC 3.0 implementation: broadcasters must obtain digital certificates from the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority and its affiliate Eonti Inc. to broadcast using the new standard. ATSC 3.0 receivers will not display content from uncertified transmitters without these certificates. “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,” stated Frank Copsidas, president and founder of the LPTV Broadcasters Association.
Major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBCUniversal, and Univision, along with the Pearl TV consortium (including Sinclair and Nexstar), established the security framework. This system employs digital certificates to authenticate broadcasts and prevent tampering. A typical ATSC 3.0 transmitter needs two certificates: one for the Certification Data Low-Level Signaling Table and another for SignedMultiTable signaling messages. Annual renewal of these certificates results in ongoing operational costs for stations.
While precise pricing remains confidential, Eonti only discloses fee schedules upon request, demanding payment before certificate issuance, according to the letter. These certification costs add to hardware expenses, which can exceed $300,000 per site for basic ATSC 3.0 setups. For low-power stations with limited budgets serving niche audiences, religious groups, and rural viewers, these extra costs could be insurmountable. The LPTV Broadcasters Association represents about 75% of licensed television stations in the U.S., although most have significantly smaller coverage areas and revenues than full-power stations.
This letter arrives as Pearl TV and the National Association of Broadcasters urge the FCC to mandate ATSC 3.0 tuners in new televisions by 2028 and to phase out the existing ATSC 1.0 standard in major markets by 2030. Copsidas criticized the lack of transparency regarding certification costs in 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 features are a consequence of ATSC 3.0's advanced capabilities, such as 4K resolution, enhanced audio, mobile viewing, and targeted advertising. To safeguard these features, the standard mandates signal signing using digital certificates, with optional content encryption through digital rights management (DRM) systems like Widevine. ATSC 3.0 receivers reject signals from uncertified transmitters as untrusted, either displaying no content or error messages. This security mechanism prevents unauthorized broadcasts but creates compatibility issues for stations unable to afford certification.
The Consumer Technology Association previously noted in FCC filings 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 suggested establishing a fund to assist small broadcast stations with these costs. Without such assistance, the LPTV Broadcasters Association warns that many low-power stations may shut down if forced to switch to ATSC 3.0. This could lead to fewer local programming options and push viewers toward paid streaming or cable services. “If unaddressed, this could spell the ‘death’ of free OTA TV as we know it,” Copsidas wrote. The organization supports allowing stations to continue using ATSC 1.0 indefinitely or any standard best serving their communities’ public interest. The FCC hasn't announced specific deadlines for LPTV stations to switch to ATSC 3.0, although full-power stations in some markets have begun simulcasting in both standards during a voluntary transition period.