In a note from the Chairwoman of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday (12/29) offered a year in review essay outlining all of the achievements of the Commission seen during 2023.
While heavy on 5G and broadband issues, Rosenworcel did highlight two initiatives impacting television and radio broadcasters, respectively. As she explained, “We want spectrum policies that nurture a vibrant broadcasting sector.”
She pointed to the April 2023 launch of the public-private Future of TV initiative as one achievement worth noting.
The initiative seeks to establish a roadmap for transitioning to a new broadcast standard “that enables the offering of enhanced and innovative new services to consumers.”
Rosenworcel is referring to the continued voluntary rollout of NEXTGEN TV signals powered by ATSC 3.0 “lighthouse” stations. New York just saw the attention of stations including WPIX-11; Chicago is ready to light up NEXTGEN TV in a matter of days.
She also noted how, in March 2023, the FCC “voted to protect consumers from surprises on their cable and satellite TV bills” by proposing operators provide the “all-in” price on bills and promotional materials. Just days ago, the Commission moved ahead with a NPRM to eliminate early termination fees, which Rosenworcel believes “make it costlier for cable and satellite TV subscribers to switch service, and billing cycle fees, which require consumers to pay for services they no longer receive.”
The Chairwoman also took note of an expansion of broadcast service to the public by granting over 75 applications for construction permits for new non-commercial FM stations, in addition to the opening of a Low Power FM new station application window.
There was no specific mention of commercial AM or FM radio stations, at a time when the NAB made it its mission in 2023 to ensure kHz-band broadcasts are easily accessible from all factory-installed audio entertainment systems for vehicles sold in the U.S.
Lastly, Rosenworcel says the FCC “acted to support broadcast innovation by proposing changes to the digital FM technical rules with the goal of improving signal quality and coverage.”
The comments came as Rosenworcel discussed work on improving cybersecurity, making broadband access universal, and ending annoying “robocalls” once and for all.
Lastly, while 2023 marked the arrival of a new Commissioner at the Commission, Anna Gómez, it will also be remembered for the loss of an iconic Chairman.
On May 6, 2023, Newton Minow died at age 97. “During his time as President Kennedy’s Chairman of the agency and in the decades since he left office, he reminded us that wanting better and more representative communications is worth fighting for because it strengthens our communities and our country,” Rosenworcel remarked. “We are grateful for his service, and we will continue to honor his memory by working hard to ensure everyone, everywhere is connected.”
Minow is remembered for his comment that TV was “a vast wasteland” of programming at the time of his reign at the FCC, in the early 1960s.
