WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAB on Thursday filed an ex parte brief with the FCC that outlined details of a meeting with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in which the broadcast media industry’s biggest advocacy group requested the Commission launch an internal task force focused on accelerating the broadcast TV industry’s transition to the ATSC 3.0 standard.
There’s more.
During the meeting, NAB members, as noted in the ex parte filing submitted by NAB Deputy General Counsel Patrick McFadden, offered a set of issues for the task force’s focus, as well as a proposed timeframe for engagement.
In short, the NAB is urging Rosenworcel to launch an internal ATSC 3.0 task force to accelerate the broadcast TV industry’s critical transition from the current digital standard, which is being done on a voluntary basis.
It follows a January 25, 2023 letter from NAB Chief Legal Officer and EVP/Legal and Regulatory Affairs Rick Kaplan to the NAB that first expressed the need to move expeditiously on speeding up the transition timetable.
And, it also served as the NAB’s first publicly stated conclusion that “it is essential that the Commission dedicate staff to deal with the many issues the Commission, viewers, and the broadcast industry will face in the coming weeks, months, and years ahead.”
In the NAB’s view, a successful transition to ATSC 3.0, which powers NEXTGEN TV, “is vital to ensure that the Commission does not unwittingly widen the digital divide by preventing broadcasters from providing their free, over-the-air viewers the same quality of service competitive paid services offer.”
Who should be on the internal task force? The NAB suggests consumer advocates from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, those with experience in rolling out new, innovative technologies (such as the Office of Engineering and Technology or the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau), public safety professionals from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to address alerting and other ATSC 3.0 features, International Bureau staff that engage with international governing bodies to ensure that the U.S. maintains its standing as a leader in broadcasting, and representatives from the Office of Economics and Analytics to address market incentives.
“As the issues associated with a nationwide modernization of broadcast infrastructure become more complex, Commission leadership is required,” the NAB argues. “Ultimately, a successful ATSC 3.0 transition is critical to ensuring that viewers continue to have access to a competitive, free, over-the-air option for video programming. There is thus no more important issue for broadcast television viewers and the broadcast television industry.”
Accordingly, the NAB stresses, the Commission should make the ATSC 3.0 transition its top priority – rather than merely one issue among many. Thus, a dedicated team of FCC staff is the best solution. “Any other approach risks consigning viewers who rely on broadcast television to a second-class, eventually uncompetitive service,” the NAB argues.
Rosenworcel also received from the NAB a set of issues “that demand the task force’s near-term attention, as well as proposed timeframes for the task force’s engagement.”
This includes:
- Developing and adopting a plan for a successful transition (9-12 months)
- Facilitating stations launching ATSC 3.0 in the near term (starting immediately)
- Streamlining rules on ATSC 3.0 stations (6-12 months)
This includes the FCC’s authorization of the voluntary use of advanced compression for broadcasters’ primary signals to help preserve service as capacity is increasingly limited.
