FCC Extends ATSC 3.0 Substantially Similar Sunset for 4 More Years

The FCC approved a draft ATSC 3.0 order with sunset dates for the substantially similar and A/322 physical layer requirements (see 2304070045) and is expected to release it soon, FCC and industry officials told us. The order extends the substantially similar requirement for four years, and will require the FCC to examine the progress of the new standard one year before the sunset date. The order also similarly extends the physical layer requirement. The substantially similar requirement had been set to end in July. The A/322 physical layer was to sunset in March, but that was temporarily stayed by the agency earlier this year.

Along with the sunsets, the order will allow broadcasters to file for special temporary authority to host each other’s multicast channels -- called lateral hosting -- while transitioning markets to ATSC 3.0, industry officials said. Broadcasters had been concerned the agency would require a waiver process to grant such arrangements, which would have bogged down the transition. The American Television Alliance pushed for an individual waiver process.

The substantially similar rule requires broadcasters' 1.0 streams to contain largely the same content as their 3.0 streams, and was intended to prevent broadcasters from degrading their 1.0 content to push viewers to 3.0. Broadcasters said the requirement slows the 3.0 transition because every market must have the capacity to support identical 1.0 and 3.0 content for each broadcaster.

Broadcasters had widely expected the substantially similar requirement to be extended but expressed concern about whether the extension would have a specific end date. The FCC’s Republicans are seen as supporting a specific sunset date, while Democratic offices were concerned an automatic sunset could lead to some consumers being left behind. The draft version of the order originally circulated on the 10th floor had no defined sunset dates. Broadcasters told us they're pleased with the four-year extension and the timing means it's possible the industry could be nearly fully transitioned to 3.0 by the sunset date. “We appreciate the efforts of the Commission to accelerate the deployment of NextGen Broadcasting,” said Jerald Fritz, One Media executive vice president-strategic and legal affairs. "That includes providing certainty that aspects of the transition that constrain the full use of NextGen capacity will end.

Having a date certain for the sunset provides assurances to the consumer electronics industry that the 3.0 transition will continue, so companies should commit to producing 3.0-ready devices, broadcasters said. Those are the same effects broadcasters are looking for from the public/private ATSC 3.0 task force. The Future of TV Initiative had its first meeting last week. “The initial meeting was for all three working groups to come together to review agendas, tasks, and goal for the next year,” said a short recap of the initial meeting from the LPTV Broadcasters Association. The Future of TV Initiative’s meetings are closed to the press. “It was painfully obvious that both LPTV and PBS stations are overlooked in the ATSC 3.0 transition process. Our goal is to change that!” said the LPTVBA.