D C Memo Nab Urges Fcc To End Nextgen Tv Transition In Or Before 2030

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 2:06 AM

d c memo nab urges fcc to end nextgen tv transition in or before 2030

“The bottom line is simple: Next Gen TV is here, and it is delivering real benefits. But to realize its full promise, the FCC must take decisive action – just as it has in past technological shifts. The time for half-measures is over,” NAB said in a 31-page petition for rulemaking that underscored the complex task ahead for the agency and the nation’s 1,767 full-power TV stations. NextGen TV: The National Association of Broadcasters today handed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr an industry roadmap to complete within five years the transition to Next Generation TV service, a technology that improves not just... “The bottom line is simple: Next Gen TV is here, and it is delivering real benefits. But to realize its full promise, the FCC must take decisive action – just as it has in past technological shifts.

The time for half-measures is over,” NAB said in a 31-page petition for rulemaking that underscored the complex task ahead for the agency and the nation’s 1,767 full-power TV stations. “Absent exceptional circumstances, it is essential that all of the commercial stations in a market all transition on the same date.” The trade association for the country’s leading TV station groups, such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Inc. – wants the FCC to establish firm deadlines to transition to NextGen TV. The technology upgrade for free TV consumers promises “4K ultra high-definition video, a complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solution to address critical national security needs, [and] endless datacasting possibilities via the ‘Broadcast Internet,’”... The transition to NextGen TV has been taking place for several years but the NAB, based in Washington, D.C., needs the FCC to embrace a series of steps to bring the transition from the...

“For the U.S. to fully realize the benefits of ATSC 3.0, the FCC must take swift action to establish a coordinated, industry-wide transition plan. While broadcasters have made significant progress, continued reliance on spectrum-sharing agreements and regulatory and market uncertainties limit the full deployment of Next Gen TV services.” NAB EVP and Chief Legal Officer Rick Kaplan said... NAB called for sunsetting ATSC 1.0 in two steps. In phase one, stations in the top 55 markets – which include about 70% of the U.S. population – would transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2028, with limited waivers for smaller or noncommercial stations if necessary.

In phase two, the remaining stations would transition in or before February 2030. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the publication of a proposed rule that takes a significant step toward transitioning the country’s broadcast television standard. The vote allows the FCC to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that aims to make it easier for local TV broadcasters to switch their current digital signals off in favor of transmitting... The commercial broadcast TV industry has lobbied intensely for permission to shut off their current digital signals in favor of NextGen TV, promoting the technology as one that will allow local TV stations to... The technology puts broadcast TV stations on a more-even footing with streaming apps and services, which have offered personalized content recommendations, interactive features and targeted commercial messaging for several years, industry advocates say. A move to NextGen TV would likely require Americans to purchase new TV sets or install converter boxes in order to receive the signals.

NextGen TV-compatible equipment has been offered at physical and online stores for a few years now, but there is insignificant data on how many Americans have purchased them or how many TVs currently installed... The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make a hard deadline for shutting down ATSC 1.0 and transitioning to ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV. The petition to the FCC suggests a two-phase plan. First, they ask that stations in the top 55 markets, which cover about 70% of U.S. households, switch to ATSC 3.0 by February 2028. The second phase would have all remaining markets make the switch before February 2030.

In the petition, NAB notes that “In addition to setting a timeline, this transition requires updates to outdated rules. NAB is also calling on the FCC to modernize regulations governing television reception devices – ensuring consumers who buy new TVs can continue receiving broadcast programming – and to adjust MVPD carriage rules so... One specific rule that was outlined is that TV manufacturers need to be required to include ATSC 3.0 receivers in all new TVs, so that by the time the transition to ATSC 3.0 is... Currently, it’s not required that a TV have the receiver, so many manufacturers aren’t including them on lower end or more affordable models. Why are broadcasters pushing for the deadline? First and foremost, it’s expensive for them to broadcast with both standards.

But there are also major benefits to consumers including “better picture quality with higher frame rates and high dynamic range, interactive applications that give over-the-air viewers a more personalized experience, and groundbreaking tests of... In a regulatory push that could fundamentally alter the American television landscape, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has formally petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to establish firm deadlines for ending ATSC 1.0 broadcasts. While presented as a technological upgrade, industry experts warn this transition could potentially transform free over-the-air television into a subscription model through encryption capabilities built into the NextGen TV standard. The broadcast industry has reached what FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr described as a "break glass moment," prompting the NAB to propose a decisive timeline for completing the transition from traditional broadcasting to the NextGen... The petition outlines a two-phase approach: This structured timeline mirrors the approach taken during the analog-to-digital transition.

However, what's not prominently featured in the NAB's petition is that, unlike the previous transition, ATSC 3.0 includes robust content protection systems that could enable broadcasters to encrypt formerly free broadcasts—potentially transforming the business... While significant progress has been made—NextGen TV now reaches approximately 76% of American households—the full implications of this transition for consumer access remain underexplored in regulatory discussions. Unlike the current ATSC 1.0 standard, which guarantees free access to broadcast content, ATSC 3.0 incorporates sophisticated encryption capabilities. This technical feature would enable broadcasters to require subscription fees or one-time payments for content that has historically been available at no cost beyond the purchase of a television and antenna. (This article was originally posted on Tech TV) Quick Summary: The top 55 markets would transition to ATSC 3.0 by February 2028, the NAB roadmap proposed.

In an important regulatory push to advance NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0, the NAB has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to establish dates for shutting down the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard and switching signals to... The petition lays out the NAB’s roadmap for the transition from the current standard to ATSC 3.0. It calls for the FCC to approve a Feb. 2028 sunset for the top 55 markets and the remaining stations would make the transition by Feb. 2030 and development. NextGen TV broadcasts have been launched in markets covering about 76% of the country and have been used to launch a host of new services, including HDR feeds, Dolby Atmos and interactive services.

NextGen TV: The National Association of Broadcasters today handed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr an industry roadmap to complete within five years the transition to Next Generation TV service, a technology that improves not just... “The bottom line is simple: Next Gen TV is here, and it is delivering real benefits. But to realize its full promise, the FCC must take decisive action – just as it has in past technological shifts. The time for half-measures is over,” NAB said in a 31-page petition for rulemaking that underscored the complex task ahead for the agency and the nation’s 1,767 full-power TV stations. “Absent exceptional circumstances, it is essential that all of the commercial stations in a market all transition on the same date.” The trade association for the country’s leading TV station groups, such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Inc.

– wants the FCC to establish firm deadlines to transition to NextGen TV. The technology upgrade for free TV consumers promises “4K ultra high-definition video, a complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solution to address critical national security needs, [and] endless datacasting possibilities via the ‘Broadcast Internet,’”... The transition to NextGen TV has been taking place for several years but the NAB, based in Washington, D.C., needs the FCC to embrace a series of steps to bring the transition from the... “For the U.S. to fully realize the benefits of ATSC 3.0, the FCC must take swift action to establish a coordinated, industry-wide transition plan. While broadcasters have made significant progress, continued reliance on spectrum-sharing agreements and regulatory and market uncertainties limit the full deployment of Next Gen TV services.” NAB EVP and Chief Legal Officer Rick Kaplan said...

NAB called for sunsetting ATSC 1.0 in two steps. In phase one, stations in the top 55 markets – which include about 70% of the U.S. population – would transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2028, with limited waivers for smaller or noncommercial stations if necessary. In phase two, the remaining stations would transition in or before February 2030. The #NAB is proposing some ambitious sunset dates for ATSC 1.0 to the FCC. ATSC 1.0 is the legacy digital TV standard in the US - the sunset would push industry forward on nextgen ATSC 3.0 The proposed sunset would be phased - First sunset the top 55...

Remaining stations would transition in or before February 2030. Limited waivers could be extended to small or non-commercial TV stations, if needed. This should stir up some discussion in government and industry circles! #nextgenTV #atsc #atsc3 Federal Communications Commission National Association of Broadcasters The promise of NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) represents a technological leap forward for broadcast television. It has the potential to deliver stunning 4K video, HDR for better contrast, and many other perks across the public airwaves.

It is easily the biggest change since the switch from analog to digital back in 2009. But, the rollout has been bumpy. I spent considerable time putting the Zapperbox M1 through its paces since the fall of 2023. This device is one of the few currently able to tune both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 signals. For anyone tracking the ATSC 3.0 rollout, the elephant in the room is Digital Rights Management (DRM). Many broadcasters now airing in ATSC 3.0 encrypt their signals, arguing it’s necessary to protect high-value content like major sporting events.

This has caused widespread frustration. Many consumers who bought certified tuners found themselves locked out of channels. This is where the Zapperbox M1 gains a critical, distinct advantage. It is one of the few devices on the market today that reliably decodes all encrypted channels in all TV markets. https://lnkd.in/eXdSkuPD #broadcasttv #NEXTGENTV #ATSC3 #Television LightBox TV, the Total TV planning and workflow platform, has integrated with Caria’s API to simplify campaign execution across linear and connected TV (CTV).

The integration is already live and in active use by a major global holding group, with wider rollout to agency partners planned over the coming months. #Campaign #CTV #TV https://lnkd.in/eSQTvmAz 📡 FCC Proposes ATSC 1.0 Sunset — Is Broadcast Ready for the Leap? The FCC has released a draft rule to guide the shift from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) — a move that could reshape U.S. broadcasting. Key proposals: - Stations may choose when to end ATSC 1.0.

- Simulcasting rules could be relaxed. - Public input sought on tuner mandates, DRM, and pay TV carriage. Broadcasters want a firm sunset date. Smaller stations and consumer tech groups are pushing back. 💬 Is the industry ready for a fully IP-native broadcast future? Or are we rushing the transition?

D C Memo Nab Urges Fcc To End Nextgen Tv Transition In Or Before 2030

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