Ccagw Joins Coalition Opposing The Nab Mandated Transition To Atsc 3 0

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 5:03 AM

ccagw joins coalition opposing the nab mandated transition to atsc 3 0

We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to reject the National Association of Broadcasters’ petition to force competitors to use their preferred technology. While broadcasters operate under the strain of onerous regulation dating from the Second World War, new mandates on other technologies are not the solution. NAB petitioned the Commission to mandate the adoption of Next Generation Television (Next Gen TV) with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards, despite widespread adoption already. Next Gen TV is already operating on ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 technologies available for broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributers (cable and satellite) should they choose to use it. And they have chosen. More than three out of every four Americans have access to ATSC 3.0.

It is available in more than 80 markets in parallel to ATSC 1.0 technology delivering digital television. The argument that this is even a problem demanding the Commission’s intervention is flimsy given this fact. By any reasonable standard, this is a success. Under the Commission’s original 2017 report and order authorizing ATSC 3.0, broadcasters are allowed use the new standard on a “voluntary, market-driven basis.” The Commission should maintain its voluntary, market-driven adoption policy that has... NAB effectively asks the FCC to do their job for them by mandating ATSC adoption in the remaining markets to reach the untapped 25 percent or so of the population. In what is unfortunately a tale as old as time, they would rather use the government to limit genuine competition by forcing their competitors to adopt their standards, ironically in the name of “competition,”...

The landscape of free over-the-air (OTA) television is on the brink of a dramatic transformation. Local station owners affiliated with ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, backed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), have petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to phase out the aging ATSC 1.0 broadcasting standard... If approved, this shift could end free access to ABC, CBS, FOX, & NBC for millions of viewers know it—unless they upgrade their equipment. The NAB’s proposal outlines a two-phase timeline for the transition. By February 2028, stations in the top 55 U.S. markets, covering roughly 70% of households, would switch entirely to ATSC 3.0.

The remaining markets would follow suit by February 2030. This hard deadline aims to streamline a process that has lingered in a dual-broadcast limbo, with stations simulcasting in both ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 to accommodate viewers with older TVs. For broadcasters, maintaining both standards is a costly burden—one they’re eager to shed. Yet doing so will also mean millions of people will find their TVs unable to access ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC unless they upgrade. This will also mean many DVRs for your antenna will stop working because of DRM and the lack of a 3.0 tuner. So far, according to Pearl TV, 15 million tuners with ATSC 3.0 have been sold to over 133 million American households in the United States.

So, at most, just 11% of American households have an ATSC 3.0 tuner, assuming each runner was sold to a different household. ATSC 3.0 promises significant upgrades for viewers willing to adapt. Known as NextGen TV, it delivers sharper picture quality with higher frame rates and high dynamic range, alongside interactive features that personalize the viewing experience. Beyond entertainment, the technology supports innovations like the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS), a potential GPS alternative that could bolster national security by addressing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. These benefits, however, come with a catch: most current TVs lack ATSC 3.0 receivers, leaving many consumers unprepared. The cable industry, led by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), is pushing back against a proposal by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to mandate a nationwide transition to ATSC 3.0, also...

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday, NCTA argued that the proposed mandate would impose significant costs on consumers and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) while offering little benefit due... ATSC 3.0 promises enhanced picture and sound quality, interactive applications, and hyper-localized content, such as targeted advertising and programming. Since the FCC authorized a voluntary transition in 2017, over 80 markets have adopted ATSC 3.0 while maintaining ATSC 1.0 broadcasts to ensure compatibility. However, the NAB’s February petition urges the FCC to accelerate the process, requiring stations in the top 55 markets—covering roughly 70% of the U.S. population—to fully transition by February 2028, with remaining stations following by 2030. The NAB also seeks mandates for ATSC 3.0 tuners in TVs by 2028 and updates to MVPD carriage rules.

NCTA’s filing sharply criticized the proposal, calling it “heavy-handed government intervention” unwarranted in today’s competitive video marketplace. The group highlighted the slow pace of the voluntary transition, noting that only 138 of the 1,767 full-power U.S. stations currently broadcast in ATSC 3.0, according to RabbitEars data. Additionally, only 4.5% of TVs in U.S. households are equipped to receive ATSC 3.0 signals, reflecting low consumer demand for compatible devices. “The exciting and innovative services broadcasters promised—superior reception, mobile viewing, enhanced public safety, and interactive content—have been slow to materialize,” NCTA stated.

“Consumers have shown little demand for ATSC 3.0 televisions or converter boxes.” The cable industry also raised concerns about the lack of backward compatibility with existing MVPD systems. NCTA members, including major cable operators, would need to invest heavily in new infrastructure to carry ATSC 3.0 signals. One member estimated costs in the tens of millions for new transceivers alone, a burden that could drive up cable service prices at a time when operators are already losing subscribers to streaming platforms. “The broadcast industry chose a non-backward compatible technology,” NCTA argued, asserting that the costs should not be passed on to MVPDs or consumers. 340B Patients Act would worsen 340B abuses by enriching large hospitals and middlemen at the expense of the patients in need.

Pocket rescissions are a legal, effective way to cut wasteful spending, limit bureaucracy, and fulfill Trump’s efficiency agenda. MFN policies harm innovation and raise costs; 340B reforms stop hospitals and pharmacies from profiting at patients' expense. Vague 340B rules enable hospitals to exploit the program, profiting off patients and insurers while driving up drug costs. Vague 340B rules enable hospitals to exploit the program, profiting off patients and insurers while driving up drug costs. Consumer advocacy groups and technology manufacturers are opposing broadcasters’ efforts to make the transition to ATSC 3.0 mandatory. They warn that such requirements could increase consumers’ costs while stifling innovation in television technology.

The Consumer Technology Association and Public Knowledge filed a joint letter with the Federal Communications Commission on September 2, opposing a petition from the National Association of Broadcasters that seeks regulatory support for accelerating... LPTV association calls NAB’s NextGen TV transition plan ‘crony capitalism’ The organizations met with Commissioner Trusty’s office on August 28 to discuss their concerns about NAB’s proposal, which would effectively require all televisions to include ATSC 3.0 tuners to access encrypted broadcast content. “It would be harmful to consumers to mandate that all televisions add an ATSC 3.0 tuner because of the increased manufacturing cost to implement for all a feature that only some want,” CTA stated... Americans for Tax Reform joined a coalition of 16 organizations in a letter to the FCC opposing broadcast TV mandates. Currently, Next Generation Television (Next Gen TV) operates on what is known as the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 1.0 to ATSC 3.0.

The National Association of Broadcasters has submitted a petition to force competitors into using the more updated ATSC 3.0 rather than letting market forces determine what technology is used. This coalition urges the FCC to reject this petition as needless overregulation already strangles the broadcasters. NAB petitioned the Commission to mandate the adoption of Next Generation Television (Next Gen TV) with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards, despite widespread adoption already. Next Gen TV is already operating on ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 technologies available for broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributers (cable and satellite) should they choose to use it. The adoption of ATSC 3.0 is already well underway, with 75% of Americans already having access to ATSC 3.0. Intervention to force the adoption of ATSC 3.0 is unnecessary while the market is naturally adopting this technology without mandates.

The Commission should maintain its voluntary, market-driven adoption policy that has reached the vast majority of Americans, not embrace a mandate just to reach the small minority of markets broadcasters have struggled to penetrate. NAB effectively asks the FCC to do their job for them by mandating ATSC adoption in the remaining markets to reach the untapped 25 percent or so of the population. Save this article for later! Login or create a Free Member Profile to bookmark it. A coalition of six industry groups representing consumer electronics, pay TV operators and broadcasters formally opposed the National Association of Broadcasters’ petition for a mandatory transition to ATSC 3.0 during a June 27 meeting... This article was originally posted on newscaststudio.com

Weigel Broadcasting Co., the parent company of MeTV and MeTV Toons, has emerged as a vocal critic of the National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) proposal to transition from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, warning... In a series of meetings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 22, 2025, Weigel representatives expressed strong opposition to the NAB’s proposed “flash cut” deadlines, which would mandate a switch to the... In the letter Weigel Broadcasting Co said “Today, anyone with a television and antenna can get a wealth of programming for free. ATSC 3.0 changes this equation, potentially making a free service expensive, and a simple service complicated.” The letter went on to say “Consumers, primarily those in rural areas underserved in terms of content and... Weigel, a pioneer in low-power television (LPTV) and a key player in over-the-air broadcasting, argued that the transition to ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, risks undermining the simplicity and affordability of free... The company highlighted concerns that the new standard could introduce costs for consumers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where access to affordable content and connectivity is already limited.

The NAB’s roadmap for the ATSC 3.0 transition has garnered support from many broadcasters, who see the standard’s enhanced picture quality, interactivity, and potential for data services as a leap forward. However, Weigel and other LPTV operators have raised alarms about the plan’s impact on viewers and the broadcasting ecosystem. In its FCC meetings with Chairman Brendan Carr’s office, the Media Bureau, Commissioner Anna Gomez’s office, and Commissioner Nathan Trusty’s office, Weigel outlined three primary concerns: the potential cost and complexity for consumers, the... In a prior FCC filing, Weigel, which was among the first to experiment with ATSC 3.0, emphasized that it has not observed significant consumer demand for the new standard. “Broadcasting succeeds because it is free and simple,” the filing noted. “ATSC 3.0 changes this equation.” To mitigate these risks, Weigel proposed several “guardrails” to ensure the transition prioritizes viewers.

These include setting market penetration benchmarks similar to the 2009 DTV transition, ensuring a minimum portion of the ATSC 3.0 signal is dedicated to broadcasting, maintaining signal accessibility comparable to ATSC 1.0, and imposing... Weigel also urged the FCC to retain the “substantially similar” requirement for ATSC 3.0 broadcasts and continue mandating ATSC 1.0 tuners in receivers. The future of free over-the-air (OTA) television hangs in a delicate balance as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) petitions the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to phase out the ATSC 1.0 broadcasting standard in... According to recent data from Pearl TV sent to Cord Cutters News, only 15 million ATSC 3.0 tuners have been sold across an estimated 133 million U.S. households—a mere 11% adoption rate, assuming each tuner went to a unique household. This sluggish uptake raises concerns as broadcasters propose a timeline that could disrupt access to major networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC for millions of viewers who don’t upgrade their equipment.

The problem is that TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners typically cost over $1,000, and even though Pearl TV predicts 5 million of these TVs will be sold in 2025, low-income buyers who are more... Instead customers looking for a TV under $1,000 will need to buy an external tuner like an ADTH device. Sadly, DVRs like Tablo and Tivo will not work with ATSC 3.0 at this time because of the lack of ATSC 3.0 support. Update: There are a few TVs now with ATSC tuners under $1,000. That 11% adoption rate is also the best-case scenario because many of these ATSC 3.0 tuners could have been sold to the same household, bringing the number of households with ATSC 3.0 below 10%. There is no way to know exactly what percentage of American households now have ATSC 3.0 based on the available numbers, but we know at the start of 2025, 11% is the best-case scenario.

The NAB, backed by local station owners affiliated with the big four networks, has proposed a two-phase transition to ATSC 3.0. By February 2028, stations in the top 55 markets—covering roughly 70% of U.S. households—would switch entirely to the new standard. The remaining markets would follow by February 2030. The proposal aims to end the costly dual-broadcast limbo, where stations currently simulcast in both ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 to accommodate older TVs. For broadcasters, maintaining both standards strains budgets, diverting resources from innovation and quality improvements.

Ccagw Joins Coalition Opposing The Nab Mandated Transition To Atsc 3 0

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