The Free State Foundation has released a policy paper urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to resist mandates for NextGen TV adoption (ATSC 3.0). Authored by former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, the paper argues that a mandated shift would impose significant costs on broadcasters, manufacturers, and consumers without demonstrable public benefits.
O’Rielly contends that a government-mandated transition would render the current ATSC 1.0 system obsolete, necessitating NextGen tuners in all new televisions sold in the U.S. and forcing over-the-air viewers to purchase new equipment. He notes that some broadcasters oppose the transition and would be compelled to upgrade their infrastructure under a mandate. Further, cable and satellite distributors would face substantial costs, requiring either equipment to down-convert signals or complete device replacements for their customers. “Everyone should know who would ultimately pick up the tab for all these added mandates: American consumers,” O’Rielly wrote.
The paper also questions the technology's practical benefits. While acknowledging improved audio and video quality, O’Rielly points out that many anticipated business opportunities related to ATSC 3.0, such as data services, primarily serve private rather than public interests. The paper contrasts proposed mandates with the Trump administration's deregulatory approach, which O’Rielly says favored fewer restrictions on broadcasters. He concludes that the FCC should let market forces determine ATSC 3.0’s success rather than intervening to support the transition. O’Rielly is an adjunct senior fellow at the Free State Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank.