Nab S Atsc 3 0 Petition The Push For A Clear Transition Timeline

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 2:06 AM

nab s atsc 3 0 petition the push for a clear transition timeline

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 The National Association of Broadcasters has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to set a firm timeline for the shutdown of ATSC 1.0 broadcasts, aiming to complete the industry’s transition to NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0)... The petition proposes a two-phase transition plan: full conversion of the top 55 television markets — representing approximately 70% of the U.S. population — by February 2028, followed by the remaining markets by February 2030. CTA pushes back against NextGen TV mandate proposal from NAB ATSC 3.0, already launched in markets covering about 76% of the country, offers enhanced video and audio quality, interactive services, and new datacasting capabilities that could generate significant revenue opportunities.

“I think the FCC is going to be extremely pro-innovation and giving broadcasters the flexibility to launch in more markets,” said Rob Folliard, SVP, government relations & distribution for Gray Television, in an interview... “There really has to be a hard cutoff date… This is important for the industry. This is how broadcast television survives into the next decade.” Accelerating the Transition to Next Gen TV - What Should Happen Next? NAB recently filed a petition with the FCC urging the agency to establish a clear, industry-wide transition plan for the full deployment of ATSC 3.0. The presenters are the principal authors of the petition and will summarize the petition, the benefits of establishing a firm transition schedule, and identify some of the next steps necessary to successfully complete the...

The NAB press release is available here: NAB Files Petition with FCC to Establish Clear Transition Plan for Next Gen TV Anyone may register to attend: AFCCE Members, Potential Members, or anyone with an interest in the future of Broadcast Television. Public broadcasters won’t have to adopt ATSC 3.0 anytime soon if they don’t want to. That’s the biggest takeaway from the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking for ATSC 3.0, also known as Next Gen TV. While the commission wants to strip away some regulations that could hinder support for the new broadcast standard, for now it’s stopped short of setting cutoff dates for the existing ATSC 1.0 standard or... The FCC will likely vote on its proposed rules next year.

The lack of an ATSC 3.0 mandate should come as a relief for public broadcasters that aren’t prepared to upgrade, but some broadcasters believe that the new standard won’t go anywhere without a clearer... “If you don’t mandate it, it’s probably not going to happen,” Franz Joachim, CEO at New Mexico PBS and former chair of America’s Public Television Stations, said in an interview. ATSC 3.0 uses an IP-based architecture to broadcast information over the public airwaves, similar to how data flows over the internet. It also makes broadcasts more efficient by using newer compression formats such as High Efficiency Video Coding. 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. Free, over-the-air television broadcasting stands at a crossroads. Nearly a decade after the industry first proposed transitioning to Next Generation Television (Next Gen TV or ATSC 3.0), we’ve made impressive progress – but the final leap to complete adoption now requires the...

Today, NAB filed a petition to get us to the finish line. Since 2016, when major industry organizations including NAB first petitioned the FCC, Next Gen TV has transformed from vision to reality. Today, it reaches over 75% of the U.S. population across more than 80 television markets, all while broadcasters continue to provide ATSC 1.0 service without any additional spectrum. The results speak for themselves. Since receiving FCC authorization in 2017, Next Gen TV has delivered:

And the best part is, because it’s over-the-air broadcasting, these new features are delivered for free to viewers. All you need is a Next Gen-capable TV and an antenna. There are no monthly subscription fees. Despite this progress, the broadcast industry faces what FCC Chairman Brendan Carr calls a “break glass moment.”. As competitive pressures mount from streaming services and other platforms, completing the transition to ATSC 3.0 has become essential for the industry’s future and the public’s benefit. Without immediate, decisive action, we risk missing our window of opportunity to ensure that free, local, over-the-air television remains a strong, high-quality option for consumers.

Nab S Atsc 3 0 Petition The Push For A Clear Transition Timeline

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