March Luncheon Nab Fcc Petition On Atsc 3 0 Implementation

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 2:06 AM

march luncheon nab fcc petition on atsc 3 0 implementation

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. Local broadcasters keep you connected and informed. Learn about how we serve Americans every day, the economic impact we have on local communities, read stories of broadcasters' public service and more. Local television and radio stations played an indispensable role in 2024 connecting communities to trusted journalism and verified information during an election year.

Take a look back at all that we accomplished together in 2024. Questions? NAB members can call our free Legal Hotline to learn more about legislation, filings and updates from Washington. Call: (866) 682-0276 Email: legal@nab.org Join our team of broadcast advocates. When legislative issues arise that could impact your station and career, we'll reach out and give you simple steps to contact your legislators.

Sign Up Today March 11, 2025 07.41 Europe/London By Robert Briel The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to establish a clear, industry-wide transition plan for the full deployment of Next Gen TV... The proposal outlines a two-phased transition while modernizing regulatory requirements to support consumer access and innovation. “Next Gen TV is already transforming the viewing experience, delivering superior picture quality, immersive audio, interactive features, hyper-localized programming and cutting-edge public safety capabilities, all while keeping local television free and accessible,” said NAB... “Broadcasters have invested significantly in this transition, but outdated regulations threaten to stall progress.

A clear transition plan will ensure every American benefits from the full potential of Next Gen TV while also allowing broadcasters to remain competitive in a media marketplace where Big Tech operates unchecked.” 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; The voluntary, market-by-market transition to the ATSC 3.0 standard has reached a critical juncture, and the broadcast industry’s leading advocate is now demanding a finite end to the process. The NAB’s Petition marks the official start of a new, potentially contentious, phase in the evolution of over-the-air television, shifting the debate from "how" to "how soon."

If you need to stay up to date with live email updates when filings hit the FCC's ECFS, check out docket-rocket.io. Create an account to set up email alerts for dockets or filers you care about. For instance, if you want an email alert when the NAB files in any proceeding on ECFS, Docket Rocket alerts will send you an email to access an AI-generated summary of the filing as... Thanks for reading Docket Rocket’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has formally asked the Federal Communications Commission to set a hard deadline to shut down legacy ATSC 1.0 broadcasts.

On February 26, 2025, the NAB submitted a detailed Petition for Rulemaking in the Authorizing Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard proceeding (GN Docket No. 16-142). 1 Arguing that the transition risks stalling without decisive Commission action, the NAB proposes a coordinated, industry-wide plan to complete the migration to ATSC 3.0. The petition asserts that while Next Gen TV service is now available to over 75% of the U.S. population, the parallel requirement to maintain ATSC 1.0 simulcasts creates spectrum constraints and market uncertainty that stifle investment and innovation.

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. 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. 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.

March Luncheon Nab Fcc Petition On Atsc 3 0 Implementation

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