Nab Fires Back At Industry Coalition Opposing Atsc 3 0 Mandate

The National Association of Broadcasters responded sharply to industry opposition against its ATSC 3.0 transition petition, accusing cable companies and consumer electronics groups of “protecting their turf” rather than serving the public interest. In a July 7 blog post, NAB Chief Legal Officer Rick Kaplan dismissed objections raised by six industry groups during a recent Federal Communications Commission meeting as “reflexive, innovation-blocking” efforts from “the usual suspects.”... Six industry groups tell FCC to reject NAB’s ATSC 3.0 transition plan NAB’s petition requests a two-phase timeline requiring 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 proposal also seeks mandatory ATSC 3.0 tuners in new television sets. Kaplan challenged the coalition’s cost arguments, particularly CTA’s analysis showing ATSC 3.0-capable televisions cost an average of $157 more than ATSC 1.0-only models.

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.

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,”...

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.” OTI, along with Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, and other public interest groups, oppose the National Association of Broadcaster’s (NABO) proposal to mandate a nationwide transition to a new digital over-the-air TV standard (ATSC 3.0)—thereby... NAB’s plan is deeply flawed and prioritizes broadcaster profits and control at the expense of the public interest. The Commission must not authorize this under the guise of modernization.

The public interest cannot be served by creating technological barriers to reception of free broadcast signals. Historically, the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadcast priorities have included the universality, affordability, and openness of access to over-the-air content. Any mandatory transition to a new standard must preserve these values. It must ensure universal and equitable access to service; strong and enforceable public interest obligations; affordable and interoperable reception equipment; non-discriminatory access to devices and content; robust privacy protections; and the safeguarding of fair... Unless these concerns are addressed, we urge the Commission to reject the NAB petition. The proposal by NAB to mandate a nationwide transition to ATSC 3.0 by 2030 imposes significant and unjustifiable burdens on American consumers.

While broadcasters stand to benefit from expanded commercial opportunities—including targeted advertising, datacasting, and retransmission fees—consumers are asked to absorb the costs of new equipment, navigate technical complexities, and potentially lose access to free over-the-air... This cost-shifting is neither equitable nor consistent with the Commission’s longstanding obligation to ensure universal, affordable access to essential communications services. It also marks a shift in policy from the previous analog-to-digital broadcast transition, where Congress, in the Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, made a subsidy available to every household to cover... For millions of Americans—particularly those in low-income households, rural communities, tribal areas, or elder populations—broadcast television remains a primary or exclusive source of news, educational content, emergency alerts, and entertainment. These communities are least likely to upgrade their hardware frequently and are disproportionately affected by costs associated with new tuners, incompatible televisions, or internet-enabled features. These issues are compounded by the pervasive and inappropriate incorporation of Digital Rights Management (DRM) into the ATSC 3.0 standard, which fundamentally contradicts the Commission’s mandate to promote access, localism, and diversity.

To that end, while the NAB’s petition should be denied, the FCC should condition any eventual transition on the implementation of a robust consumer protection plan, including: 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 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 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 The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a new rule that would require all television broadcasters to fully shut off their current ATSC 1.0 broadcast signals in... The proposal, sent to the FCC and its chairman Brendan Carr on Tuesday, would require broadcasters in the top 55 TV markets to wind down their ATSC 1.0 signal by 2028, with the remaining... “Taking into account annual viewing patterns, it is feasible and desirable for the top 55 markets to complete a transition to ATSC 3.0 on a single date in February 2028,” the NAB wrote in... “An additional 18-24 months would provide sufficient time for all remaining stations to complete the work necessary to transmit in ATSC 3.0.

Therefore, NAB proposes that the remaining markets should transition in or before February 2030.” The NAB represents the commercial TV and radio industry, including major broadcasters like Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair, the E. W. Scripps Company and TEGNA. The group says many of its member broadcasters have already launched ATSC 3.0 signals that reach more than 80 percent of the United States. Those signals not only allow for better reception of high-definition — and, eventually, ultra high-definition (UHD/4K) — video signals, but also includes advanced datacasting capabilities, such as the ability to target consumers with personalized...

But most consumers have not updated their TV sets to take full advantage of the new broadcast standard, and no rules exist that force TV set manufacturers to integrate NextGen TV tuners in their... Only around 10 percent of new TVs shipped in 2024 contained NextGen TV tuners, even though major TV manufacturers like Hisense, Sony and Samsung have committed to making TVs that are compatible with ATSC...

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