The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has publicly opposed a proposal from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) that would make ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, tuners mandatory in all new televisions. In a May 7 filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the CTA cautioned that such a regulation would lead to higher prices for consumers, hinder technological advancement within the industry, and contradict the voluntary transition plan initially established for ATSC 3.0.
The CTA, representing numerous technology manufacturers and a co-founder of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, continues to support the ATSC 3.0 standard and its progression as a voluntary upgrade in cooperation with broadcasters. The organization contends that government intervention would be counterproductive and inconsistent with earlier joint agreements made in a 2016 petition by CTA, NAB, America’s Public Television Stations, and the AWARN Alliance.
The CTA underscored that the television market is currently thriving without government mandates. Manufacturers are voluntarily producing over 14 million TVs equipped with ATSC 3.0 capabilities, with six manufacturers already offering such sets. The CTA projects that the majority of TVs sold in the U.S. by 2028 will support ATSC 3.0.
The CTA's filing cited research showing that only a small fraction of households (approximately 19%) utilize TV antennas, with fewer than 10% relying solely on them. A price comparison was also presented, demonstrating that ATSC 3.0-enabled TVs are more expensive than comparable models lacking this technology; a sample search revealed that ATSC 3.0 sets averaged $833, versus $676 for models with only ATSC 1.0 tuners.
Furthermore, the CTA opposed design regulations proposed by the NAB, which would require remote controls or user interfaces to prioritize access to broadcast services. The CTA argued that the FCC lacks the legal authority for such mandates and warned that they would obstruct market-driven innovation in user interface design. While acknowledging the accessibility improvements offered by ATSC 3.0, such as multiple audio streams and enhanced closed captioning, the CTA asserted that these features should not be subject to regulatory requirements.
The CTA concluded by urging the FCC to maintain the voluntary nature of the NextGen TV transition and to avoid mandates that could place undue burdens on consumers and manufacturers. It characterized the proposal as inconsistent with the administration’s recent pro-deregulation executive orders and cautioned against government intervention before broadcasters can prove sufficient consumer demand for ATSC 3.0 services across the nation.