Comments Due: May 7, 2025
Reply Comments Due: June 6, 2025
On April 7, 2025, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). In the Petition, NAB proposes that the Commission mandate a specific timeline for broadcasters to transition to the NextGen TV standard, also called ATSC 3.0. NextGen TV was developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) with the intent to eventually replace the current digital television standard, TSC 1.0. NextGen TV is currently being broadcast by many stations across the country alongside their ATSC 1.0 signals. The timeline being proposed for the transition is February 2028 for the top 55 television markets, and February 2030 for all other markets.
FCC also seeks comment on a report, filed by NAB on January 17, 2025, that summarizes the discussions and progress made through the Future of Television Initiative (FOTVI). FOTVI is a group of consumer and industry participants led by NAB to guide the next steps of the transition to NextGen TV.
The FCC’s existing accessibility requirements will apply to NextGen TV. The FOTVI Report discusses on pages 31-32 NextGen TV’s potential accessibility-related enhancements, such as:
• Multiple audio tracks so that audio description does not compete with other language tracks
• Improved audio quality for audio description
• Improved captioning with more options for viewers who prefer abbreviated captions, e.g., children and those whose first language is not English
• Access for those whose first language is American Sign Language (ASL) through the incorporation of ASL for televised programming
Link to the Public Notice:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/mb-seeks-comment-petition-rulemaking-nextgen-tv-proceeding
Link to the NAB Petition:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10226086607681
Link to the FOTVI Report:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10117024732259
For additional information, contact Evan Baranoff, Media Bureau, Policy Division, at (202) 418-7142, or via e-mail at Evan.Baranoff@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in ASL may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).