The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is contemplating a draft proposal to remove mandatory simulcasting requirements for television broadcasters as they transition to ATSC 3.0. This move has received cautious support from industry organizations, although it doesn't establish the definite transition deadlines that some broadcasters were hoping for.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has acknowledged the commission’s October notice of proposed rulemaking as “an important inflection point,” stressing the need for regulatory certainty. While NAB had previously requested mandatory conversion deadlines, with February 2028 for stations in the top 55 markets and February 2030 for the rest, the FCC’s proposal leans towards a voluntary, market-driven approach. Alex Siciliano, NAB senior vice president of communications, highlighted new investment in ATSC 3.0 across the government and industry in an Oct. 9 blog post. He mentioned a $744,000 Department of Transportation contract awarded to NAB for field testing of Broadcast Positioning System technology, which utilizes NextGen TV signals to augment GPS.
The proposed approach would allow broadcasters to discontinue ATSC 1.0 transmissions at their own discretion, also doing away with the existing requirement that programming on both formats be substantially similar. According to NAB, more than 125 stations in 77 markets, covering approximately 75 percent of U.S. households, are currently broadcasting using the ATSC 3.0 standard.
Pearl TV, a consortium involved in the development of the ATSC 3.0 standard and the coordination of market launches since the FCC approved the technology in 2017, views the proposal as confirmation that the transition is entering its final stage. Anne Schelle, the organization’s managing director, stated that “Pearl TV and the local broadcasters commend FCC Chairman Carr for launching a new proceeding on NextGen TV that signals to the consumer technology industry, broadcasters and consumers that the final transition to next-generation broadcasting is underway.” Schelle emphasized the standard’s potential to enhance local broadcasting’s competitive position against streaming platforms, while also improving emergency alerting and public safety communications.
The ATSC, the standards development organization responsible for the technical specifications, has taken a measured approach. Madeleine Noland, ATSC president, stated that the organization sees the proposal as initiating essential conversations about transition acceleration, while maintaining its policy-neutral position. “ATSC believes it’s good that conversations are underway and that the next phase of the transition is about to begin,” Noland said. “While ATSC doesn’t advocate for specific positions, we remain focused on developing and promoting the best possible next-generation broadcast system for the United States and around the world.”
The proposal still leaves some complex technical and policy questions unanswered. The commission is seeking input on whether to mandate ATSC 3.0 tuners in television sets, how to address digital rights management encryption that has made signals inaccessible on certain certified devices, and whether to extend must-carry obligations to ATSC 3.0 transmissions. The notice also requests information on accessibility requirements, consumer equipment subsidy programs, and whether minimum broadcast service standards should specify what portion of spectrum should be allocated to free over-the-air programming versus datacasting or other services enabled by the standard’s internet protocol architecture.
The proceeding does not propose specific transition deadlines but instead asks for comments on “whether there should be an eventual sunset of 1.0 broadcasting and if so, whether the sunset of 1.0 should be tied to a date certain or specific market conditions.” Public comment deadlines will be set 60 days after Federal Register publication for initial comments and 90 days for replies. The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal at the end of October.