The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) draft proposal regarding the elimination of mandatory simulcasting requirements for television broadcasters transitioning to ATSC 3.0 has been met with careful support from various industry organizations. While the proposition doesn't establish the firm transition deadlines that some broadcasters desired, it does represent a significant step forward.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) acknowledged the commission's October notice of proposed rulemaking as “an important inflection point” while emphasizing the need for regulatory certainty. It’s worth noting that in February 2025, NAB had requested the FCC for mandatory conversion deadlines: February 2028 for stations in the top 55 markets and February 2030 for remaining stations. However, the commission's proposal maintains a voluntary, market-driven approach.
“The FCC’s draft notice comes on the heels of new investment in ATSC 3.0 across the government and industry,” stated Alex Siciliano, NAB senior vice president of communications, in an Oct. 9 blog post. He highlighted a $744,000 Department of Transportation contract awarded to NAB for field testing of Broadcast Positioning System technology, leveraging NextGen TV signals to enhance GPS.
The proposed changes would allow broadcasters to end ATSC 1.0 transmissions at their own pace, also removing requirements that programming on both formats be substantially similar. According to the NAB, over 125 stations in 77 markets, encompassing around 75 percent of U.S. households, are currently broadcasting with the ATSC 3.0 standard.
Pearl TV, a consortium that aided in developing the ATSC 3.0 standard and has coordinated market launches since the FCC authorized the technology in 2017, views the proposal as confirmation that the transition is entering its final stage. “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,” stated Anne Schelle, the organization’s managing director.
Schelle emphasized the standard’s potential to boost local broadcasting’s competitiveness against streaming platforms, while also improving emergency alerts and public safety communications. Pearl TV has been actively collaborating with broadcasters on market deployments and working with device manufacturers to develop features leveraging the standard’s capabilities.
The ATSC, the standards development organization responsible for the technical specifications, adopted a neutral stance regarding the proceeding. Madeleine Noland, ATSC president, noted that the organization sees the proposal as initiating necessary conversations about transition acceleration while maintaining the group’s 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 does leave some intricate technical and policy issues unresolved. The commission is seeking feedback on potentially mandating ATSC 3.0 tuners in television sets, how to tackle digital rights management encryption impacting signal accessibility on certain certified devices, and the possibility of extending must-carry obligations to ATSC 3.0 transmissions. The notice also requests insights on accessibility requirements, consumer equipment subsidy programs, and whether minimum broadcast service standards should specify how much spectrum is dedicated to free over-the-air programming versus datacasting or other services enabled by the standard’s internet protocol architecture.
The proceeding doesn't suggest specific transition deadlines, but rather seeks input 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.” The deadlines for public comments will be established, with initial comments due 60 days after Federal Register publication and replies due 90 days thereafter. The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal towards the end of October.