FCC opens up ATSC 3.0 licensing
Details
Michelle Clancy
| 28 May 2019

The US comms regulator has started accepting applications from local TV broadcasters for ATSC 3.0 licences through its Licensing and Management System (LMS).

In November 2017, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules authorising television broadcasters to use the ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV transmission standard on a voluntary, market-driven basis; however, before accepting applications for Next Gen TV licences, the Bureau needed to revise the Form 2100 and modify LMS to accommodate the filing of such applications.

That task is now complete. The Bureau has revised FCC Form 2100, Schedule B (full-service television stations), Schedule D (low-power and television translator stations), and Schedule F (Class A television stations), so that broadcasters may now file applications for modification of licences to authorise the transmission of Next Gen TV broadcast signals.

All licensed full-power, Class A, low-power television (LPTV), and TV translator stations, with the exception of licenced channel sharing stations, may begin filing the Next Gen TV licence applications, the commission said.