The question now would be, what makes the chances of enthusiastic adoption any
different from, say, HD Radio, or the older analog stereo AM scheme? Maybe now
we'll hear more from other station groups and from CE manufacturers, to see
just how much interest they have. (Or maybe not.)
Bert
-------------------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/0031/fcc-proposes-atsc-30-deployment/280260
FCC Proposes ATSC 3.0 Deployment
February 2, 2017
By Deborah D. McAdams
WASHINGTON-A plan for voluntary adoption the "next-generation" television
broadcasting transmission standard known as ATSC 3.0 has been proposed at the
Federal Communications Commission, which represents a seminal event in the
development of the standard.
"We propose to authorize television broadcasters to use the 'Next-Generation'
broadcast television transmission standard associated with recent work of the
Advanced Television Systems Committee on a voluntary, market-driven basis,
while they continue to deliver current-generation digital television broadcast
service, using the ATSC 1.0 standard to their viewers," a 49-page Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking released today stated.
Comments will be due on the NPRM 60 days after publication in the Federal
Register; replies, 90 days after publication.
Both the National Association of Broadcasters and a spokesman for ONE Media,
the Sinclair Broadcast subsidiary and ATSC 3.0 skunkworks, welcomed the news.
"We're delighted that the commission will be issuing the rulemaking notice soon
with the significant commitment of Chairman Pai to move quickly to final
rules," said Jerry Fritz, executive vice president of ONE Media. "The benefit
for viewers and broadcasters alike are as profound as any developed in the past
90 years. The timing to implement the new standard in conjunction with the
repack is a practical and strategic imperative."
From Dennis Wharton, NAB executive vice president of communications: "NAB
strongly supports the FCC moving ahead on two proceedings of significant
importance to broadcasters-a rulemaking on Next-Gen television and an AM
revitalization order. Both items will foster technological innovation, increase
opportunities for minority and female owners, and create new and unique
services for consumers.
"Chairman Pai deserves credit for departing from the past practice of both
Republican and Democratic-controlled Commissions, and publicly releasing the
proposals early to inject greater transparency in the FCC rulemaking process.
We believe this action will provide greater clarity for stakeholders and
greater trust from the public in dealing with the FCC going forward."
TV Technology got it's behind whipped on this one by sister publication B&C's
John Eggerton, who had the scoop, plus newly installed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai
contributed a blog post on the deployment of ATSC 3.0 to B&C, in which he
states, "Broadcasting remains an indispensable part of America's communications
landscape."
Your humble servants at TV Technology will now dive into the 49-page order and
report back with details.
Addendum: Statement of Mark Richer, ATSC president:
"The development of ATSC 3.0 is a landmark in broadcasting, with hundreds of
the best technical minds in the industry working on this next generation
technology. The ATSC sees the commission's Notice as another important step
forward for Next-Gen TV. Core elements of the ATSC 3.0 standard already are
approved and proven, which we hope will give the FCC and broadcasters
confidence for voluntary implementation of ATSC 3.0. We'll look forward to
seeing how various stakeholders respond to the commission's Notice, and we're
hopeful that the NPRM process will be completed in a timely manner."
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