Conservative Groups Take Aim At Atsc 3 0 Tuner Mandate Nab Pushes Back

Conservative groups and the Consumer Technology Association argued in reply comments filed by Friday’s deadline that a mandatory transition to ATSC 3.0, as NAB proposed, would fly in the face of FCC Chairman Brendan... In its own comments, NAB argued that a mandate is necessary for broadcast competition, saying it's no different from the DTV transition. Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today! “At a moment when Chairman Carr and the FCC seek to slash regulatory red tape, the NAB proposal would encumber one of the most dynamic sectors of America’s economy in more red tape,” said... NAB’s plan “imposes a heavy-handed regulatory scheme that conflicts with the Trump Administration and FCC’s laudable commitment to deregulation, competition, and market innovation,” said the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

Digital Liberty pointed out that NAB’s call to force a transition runs exactly counter to its arguments for ownership deregulation. "Granting the petition would only impose on other market actors the same type of outdated, needless regulation that afflicts the broadcast industry at present, a regulatory capture play that no agency of the federal... Let’s call this what it is: An assault on consumer freedom.” A coalition of 13 conservative organizations has filed formal opposition with the Federal Communications Commission against the National Association of Broadcasters‘ petition to mandate adoption of ATSC 3.0 technology, arguing that market forces should... The July 10 filing, led by Americans for Tax Reform and including groups such as Digital Liberty, the Innovation Economy Alliance and Citizens Against Government Waste, contends that the current voluntary adoption approach has... “More than three out of every four Americans have access to ATSC 3.0,” the coalition states in their letter to the FCC.

“It is available in more than 80 markets in parallel to ATSC 1.0 technology delivering digital television.” The opposition represents the latest salvo in an escalating debate over the future of Next Generation Television technology. Former FCC commissioner criticizes proposed NextGen TV mandates 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. I’ve been following the rough rollout of ATSC 3.0—also known as NextGenTV—for a while now, and this week the transition hit another bump in the road. A dispute over tuner mandates has surfaced between two key players in the process: the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which represents electronics manufacturers, and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which represents TV broadcasters. I dive into this in my latest video.

The disagreement is notable because these two organizations have worked closely to get this new standard off the ground. Even the NextGenTV logo consumers see on compatible equipment is a registered trademark of the CTA, not the NAB. Recently, the NAB asked the FCC to push the transition forward, proposing a 2028 cutoff for the current standard in major markets. That proposal included several desired mandates. One, which I mentioned previously, would require manufacturers to include ATSC 3.0 tuners in TVs well before that deadline. But there were a few other items tucked into the request.

For instance, the NAB wants the FCC to require that remotes with buttons for services like Netflix also have buttons for broadcast TV. They also want broadcast content to be featured prominently in on-screen menus—right up there with paid placements from streaming platforms. This is where the CTA pushed back. Gary Shapiro, CTA’s CEO, took to LinkedIn with a public response. He accused the NAB of trying to force an unpopular product on consumers and manufacturers. He noted that less than 10% of Americans rely on antennas for TV and argued that these mandates would increase costs for everyone, especially at a time when affordability is a concern.

The CTA also began lobbying FCC commissioners directly. They brought along cost comparisons, pointing out that TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners are significantly more expensive. They argue that additional costs—like those tied to licensing and DRM requirements—are part of why manufacturers are reluctant to include these tuners in their products. Six groups said they had different perspectives but ‘one goal’ in urging the regulator to ‘deny NAB’s requests’ When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

WASHINGTON—Representatives from six trade groups representing tech, pay TV, broadband, LPTV and other sectors recently met with Federal Communications Commission staff to detail their opposition to the "Petition for Rulemaking and Future of Television... “This diverse group of stakeholders represents different aspects of the television marketplace, and each is on record individually opposing NAB’s Petition,” the groups said in a letter to the FCC summarizing the meeting. “Each participating organization has a different perspective, but we all have a common goal. We respectfully urge the Commission to deny NAB’s requests.” In a February filing, the NAB proposed the FCC mandate a two-phase transition deadline. In the first phase of the NAB proposal, full-power stations in the top 55 markets (reaching about 70% of viewers) would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 (i.e., end ATSC 1.0 simulcasting)...

In the second phase of the NAB proposal, stations in the remaining markets would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2030. The NAB is also asking that ATSC 3.0 tuners be mandated in all new TV sets. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has taken a significant step toward ensuring a smooth transition to ATSC 3.0 by filing a petition urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a clear timeline... This move aims to address the growing uncertainty surrounding the transition process and provide broadcasters—particularly Low Power Television (LPTV) stations—with the guidance they need to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape. ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, is a transformative technology that enhances over-the-air broadcasting with improved video quality, immersive audio, better signal reception, and interactive features. The standard also allows for advanced emergency alerting and datacasting capabilities, which could revolutionize how broadcasters engage with their audiences.

For LPTV stations, the adoption of ATSC 3.0 presents both challenges and opportunities. While the new standard promises better service and monetization potential, the lack of a definitive transition timeline has left many stations hesitant to invest in upgrades. The NAB’s petition seeks to eliminate this uncertainty by pushing for a structured, well-defined migration plan. The NAB’s petition highlights several critical areas that require immediate regulatory attention: A Firm Transition Deadline: NAB is requesting the FCC set a clear deadline for the industry-wide adoption of ATSC 3.0, ensuring that broadcasters have a predictable roadmap. 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 with...

The stakeholders, including the Consumer Technology Association, Public Knowledge, NCTA, ACA Connects, American Television Alliance and LPTV Broadcasters Association, detailed their objections to NAB’s February petition in a July 1 letter to the FCC. The petition requests a two-phase transition deadline that would require full-power stations in the top 55 markets to end ATSC 1.0 simulcasting by February 2028, with remaining markets following by February 2030. The Consumer Technology Association reiterated its position that the transition to ATSC 3.0 should remain voluntary, arguing that “a mandatory transition to ATSC 3.0 would harm consumers by imposing real costs for consumers, stifling... Brian Markwalter, CTA’s senior vice president of research and standards, and Rachel Nemeth, senior director of regulatory affairs, represented the organization at the meeting. Fourteen groups signed a letter Thursday urging the FCC to reject NAB’s push for an ATSC 3.0 tuner mandate. The groups -- which include Digital Liberty, Americans for Tax Reform, the James Madison Institute and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, as…

Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today! Fourteen groups signed a letter Thursday urging the FCC to reject NAB's push for an ATSC 3.0 tuner mandate. The groups -- which include Digital Liberty, Americans for Tax Reform, the James Madison Institute and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, as... The media landscape stands at an inflection point. Traditional broadcasting, built on scheduled linear content delivery, faces disruption from AI-powered platforms that adapt dynamically to individual viewer preferences.

Yet this challenge contains within it an unprecedented opportunity. ATSC 3.0—the “NextGen TV” standard—provides broadcasters with the technical foundation to transform their operations from passive content distributors into inte… The Broadcast Standards Association (ATSC) has named Luiz Fausto as Vice President of Standards Development, succeeding longtime ATSC Vice President Jerry Whitaker, who is retiring at the end of August. Fausto previously worked at Brazil’s Globo TV Network, holding several engineering positions since 2006, most recently serving as Technology Regulatory Specialist. At ATSC, he will oversee standards development processes, guide industry adoption … Broadcasters possess assets that digital-native platforms lack

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