Although over 60% of Americans currently have access to Next Gen TV, some markets still face challenges, such as capital and spectrum constraints, particularly in rural and urban areas. A bipartisan group of senators have written to the FCC to ask the agency to take a more active role in enabling the transition to ATSC 3.0.
The full letter is below, but here is the shorter version:
- The FCC should prioritize the rollout of the Next Generation Television standard, or ATSC 3.0, to maintain the competitiveness and vitality of local television broadcasters.
- The adoption of ATSC 3.0 will allow for improved picture and sound quality, interactive features, advanced emergency alerting, and expanded local news, benefiting viewers.
- The FCC should take an active role in addressing the complex questions posed by the transition from ATSC 1.0 to 3.0, including ensuring that consumers with legacy TVs are not harmed by any changes, to ensure that local broadcasters can continue to serve their communities as a trusted source of local news.
