Fcc Opens Comment Period On Nab S Atsc 3 0 Nextgen Tv Petition

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 4:09 AM

fcc opens comment period on nab s atsc 3 0 nextgen tv petition

The Federal Communications Commission has formally opened a comment period on a petition from the National Association of Broadcasters requesting a mandated timeline to sunset the ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard in favor of ATSC... In a public notice released April 7, the FCC’s Media Bureau seeks feedback on the NAB’s two-phase transition plan and related proposals. The notice invites comments through May 7, with reply comments due by June 6. Broadcast industry urges clear regulatory path for ATSC 3.0 transition The NAB’s petition, filed Feb. 26, recommends ending ATSC 1.0 simulcasting in the top 55 markets by February 2028, with a full national transition by February 2030.

It also calls for a mandate requiring all new television receivers to include ATSC 3.0 tuners, citing the All Channel Receiver Act of 1962 as statutory authority. NAB proposes 2028 ATSC 3.0 deadline for major markets, full transition by 2030 On April 7, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Public Notice seeking comment on the Petition for Rulemaking (the Petition) filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) asking the... Comments are due on May 7, 2025. Reply comments are due June 6, 2025. On February 6, 2025, NAB filed the Petition, seeking to accelerate the transition to Next Gen TV.

In the Petition, NAB proposes a two-phased transition. For the first phase, full-power stations in the top 55 markets would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2028 (with limited waivers for smaller and noncommercial stations). Stations in the remaining markets would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2030. The Petition includes additional proposals to facilitate the transition. For example, NAB proposes that the FCC amend section 15.117 of its rules to require that all TV broadcast receivers include ATSC 3.0 tuners. NAB also asks the Commission to consider the need for updates to MVPD carriage rules and the FCC’s rules addressing broadcast transmission standards.

In addition to seeking comment on these issues, the FCC also invites comment on the Future of Television Initiative Report (the Report), which NAB filed on January 17, 2025. The Report summarizes discussions and progress made during the transition from the current ATSC 1.0 standard to ATSC 3.0. In February, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) asked the FCC to set a deadline for shutting down ATSC 1.0 and transitioning to ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV. Now, the FCC is seeking comments on the proposal, as well as any other potential issues that should be discussed before the transition. The NAB suggested a two-phase plan. First, they asked 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. Comments can be submitted here, where you can also read the comments of other interested parties. In the document seeking comments, the FCC notes that it received thousands of complaints from consumers about Digital Rights Management encryption on ATSC 3.0 signals which could block consumers from watching programming. The FCC asks “What steps can or should the industry and/or the Commission take to ensure broadcasters are able to protect their content and signal, while also ensuring viewers are able to continue to... Individuals and companies are also seeking comments about additional issues with moving to ATSC 3.0, specifically mentioning a few potential barriers to the transition, including:

The agency is asking for comments on a NAB proposal that the FCC approve a transition to ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in the top 55 markets in 2028 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. WASHINGTON—The Federal Communication Commission’s Media Bureau has issued a Notice seeking comments on a major filing by the National Association of Broadcasters that proposes significant rule changes to speed up the transition to NextGen... The issue is an important one for broadcasters who have united around the view that a fairly swift transition to broadcasting exclusively in ATSC 3.0 will provide them with the spectrum needed to achieve... Currently, stations are typically using one station in the market to broadcast 3.0 signals while the others continue to provide ATSC 1.0 feeds.

In a February filing, the NAB proposed that the Commission mandate a two-phased transition deadline. In the first phase of the NAB proposal, full-power stations in the top 55 markets (reaching about 70 percent of viewers) would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 (i.e., end ATSC 1.0... 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 full NAB filing can be found here. 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. The Federal Communications Commission has issued a Public Notice requesting comment on the Petition for Rulemaking regarding the transition to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) and on the Report summarizing the Future of Television Initiative... In its Petition, the NAB proposes a two-phased transition deadline whereby full-power stations in the top 55 markets would be required to fully transition to ATSC 3.0 in February 2028, and stations in the... The NAB also asks the FCC to amend its rules to require that all TV broadcast receivers include 3.0 tuners and to remove the requirement to include ATSC 1.0 tuners after the transition. The FCC is now seeking comment on these and other suggestions to accelerate deployment. Future of Television Initiative Report (FOTVI)

NAB launched the FOTVI in April 2023 to convene stakeholders to create a roadmap for the transition from ATSC 1.0 protocol to ATSC 3.0. The FOTVI Report summarizes the discussions of three working groups, which addressed: 1. backwards compatibility, tuner availability, and consumer issues; On April 7, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Public Notice seeking comment on the Petition for Rulemaking (the Petition) filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) asking the... Comments are due on May 7, 2025.

Reply comments are due June 6, 2025. On February 6, 2025, NAB filed the Petition, seeking to accelerate the transition to Next Gen TV. In the Petition, NAB proposes a two-phased transition. For the first phase, full-power stations in the top 55 markets would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2028 (with limited waivers for smaller and noncommercial stations). Stations in the remaining markets would be required to transition fully to ATSC 3.0 in February 2030. The Petition includes additional proposals to facilitate the transition.

For example, NAB proposes that the FCC amend section 15.117 of its rules to require that all TV broadcast receivers include ATSC 3.0 tuners. NAB also asks the Commission to consider the need for updates to MVPD carriage rules and the FCC’s rules addressing broadcast transmission standards. In addition to seeking comment on these issues, the FCC also invites comment on the Future of Television Initiative Report (the Report), which NAB filed on January 17, 2025. The Report summarizes discussions and progress made during the transition from the current ATSC 1.0 standard to ATSC 3.0. CFXGATE = window.CFXGATE || {}; CFXGATE.ajaxurl = 'https://www.cablefax.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'; CFXGATE.pageTemplate = '/code/wp-content/themes/cablefax2019/page.php'; CFXGATE.id = '502225'; CFXGATE.action = 'get_premium_content'; CFXGATE.cb = Math.floor(Math.random() * 1e16); //cachebuster jQuery.ajax({ method: "POST", url: CFXGATE.ajaxurl + '?cb=' + CFXGATE.cb, xhrFields: {... In a public notice released April 7, the FCC’s Media Bureau seeks feedback on the NAB’s two-phase transition plan and related proposals.

The notice invites comments through May 7, with reply comments due by June 6. Join the World’s Largest Association of Christian Communicators PO Box 77704Washington, DC 20013 USAPhone: (202) 543-0073

Fcc Opens Comment Period On Nab S Atsc 3 0 Nextgen Tv Petition

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