The FCC issued a Public Notice to streamline the transition to NextGen TV, clarifying the approval process for stations upgrading to the ATSC 3.0 standard.
The notice encourages voluntary adoption by allowing faster approvals if 95% of the audience retains access to the old signal through a partner station.
Major broadcasters' demands for a mandatory shutdown of old signals and 3.0 tuners in new TVs remain unaddressed, leaving the transition's future uncertain.
The FCC's move signals a preference for a slow, voluntary transition over costly mandates, with no firm deadline for a full switch to NextGen TV.
The Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice to help speed up the broadcast transition to NextGen TV, but the move stops short of the major regulatory changes that large broadcasters have been pushing for. The action clarifies and streamlines the approval process for stations upgrading to the new standard, but sidesteps the more controversial debate over a mandatory shutdown of the old signals.
A little less red tape: The notice primarily offers procedural clarifications to encourage voluntary adoption of the ATSC 3.0 standard. It reaffirms that broadcasters can get faster approvals if they ensure 95% of their audience retains access to the old signal through a partner station, and reminds them that they only need to simulcast their primary channel, freeing up bandwidth for new features.
The official word: FCC Chair Brendan Carr framed the guidance as a way to "ensure that broadcasters stay competitive well into the future." The stated goal is to provide flexibility for the industry to innovate while maintaining its core public service obligations during the transition.
Kicking the can: While the FCC calls it an acceleration, the action avoids the industry's larger—and more controversial—demands. Major broadcasters have been lobbying for a firm sunset date to turn off old ATSC 1.0 broadcasts and a mandate for 3.0 tuners in all new TVs. Those proposals have seen significant pushback from smaller broadcasters and consumer tech companies, leaving the transition's future uncertain.
The move signals the FCC's preference for a slow, voluntary transition over imposing costly mandates. Without a firm deadline to switch, the road to a full NextGen TV future remains long and stuck in regulatory limbo.
Also on our radar: In other news affecting broadcasters, the FCC recently adopted its 2025 budget, which includes a slight increase in the regulatory fees TV stations are required to pay. The commission's cautious approach to mandates is also not new; in 2023, it acted to extend the sunset date for certain transition rules through mid-2027, further evidence of the long-term, incremental nature of this shift.
