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Directive to FCC: Avoid Imposing ATSC 3.0 Receivers as Obligation

Government Intervention Criticized as Heavy-handed and Risky: NAB's Request for Mandatory 3.0 Tuners Scrutinized

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Labeling NAB's petition for obligatory 3.0 tuners as "overbearing and hazardous government...
Labeling NAB's petition for obligatory 3.0 tuners as "overbearing and hazardous government intrusion"

Directive to FCC: Avoid Imposing ATSC 3.0 Receivers as Obligation

Shaking Things Up: The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) stands firm against government-mandated inclusion of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 tuners in new television sets, asserting that such mandates are risky, costly, and stifle innovation. The CTA prefers a market-driven transition, citing consumer choice and free market principles as the cornerstones of their stance.

In February, CTA CEO Gary Shapiro voiced his opposition to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposing a mandate for 3.0 tuners in new TV sets. Shapiro argued that this would drive up costs and consumer frustration amid the ongoing transition to NextGen TV.

In their May 7 filing, the CTA reiterated their support for a voluntary transition to NextGen TV, having previously joined forces with NAB, America's Public Television Stations (APTS), and the AWARN Alliance to petition for authorization for voluntary use of the Next Generation TV transmission standard in 2016.

Though they support a market-led transition, the CTA is adamantly opposed to government mandates that increase costs and limit competition and choice in technology design. They argue that the NAB's proposal to mandate the inclusion of both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 tuners on all new TV broadcast receivers would take away manufacturer and consumer choice.

The CTA argues that a mandatory tuner mandate is ill-advised, as the market is already meeting demand for ATSC 3.0 tuners without government intervention. Moreover, the transition to ATSC 3.0 is not guaranteed with mandates, as consumers are increasingly viewing content across multiple platforms and devices.

According to the CTA, only a small portion of consumers currently rely on over-the-air broadcasts for their television programming. The majority of U.S. adults have access to multiple devices that provide video content, such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and portable gaming devices. Furthermore, many households subscribe to Multi-Program Video Providers (MVPDs), Streaming Video on Demand (SVOD) services, and virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (vMVPDs) in addition to viewing free streaming services.

Based on Horowitz Research data, the CTA found that homes with TV antennas dropped to 19% in 2025, and fewer than 10% of Americans rely exclusively on antennas for television viewing. The CTA also notes that more than 14 million NextGen TV-capable sets have already been purchased, and the majority of TVs shipped in the U.S. in 2028 will be ATSC 3.0 enabled on a market-driven basis.

Lastly, the CTA argues against any design mandates that would dictate device user interfaces or consumer interaction with devices, as the Commission lacks the statutory authority to exert such control. They maintain that this would be anticompetitive regulation that goes against the administration's goals for simplifying federal regulations.

  1. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) opposes government-mandated inclusion of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 tuners in new television sets due to the potential risks and costs involved.
  2. In February, CTA CEO Gary Shapiro voiced his opposition to the National Association of Broadcasters' (NAB) petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a mandate on 3.0 tuners in new TV sets.
  3. The CTA supports a market-driven transition to NextGen TV, citing consumer choice and free market principles as the foundation of their stance.
  4. In 2016, the CTA, along with other organizations like NAB, America's Public Television Stations (APTS), and the AWARN Alliance, petitioned for voluntary use of the Next Generation TV transmission standard.
  5. The CTA argues against government mandates for ATSC 3.0 tuners, claiming that the market is already meeting the demand for these tuners without intervention.
  6. The majority of U.S. adults have access to multiple devices providing video content, such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and portable gaming devices, indicating a diverse range of viewing options.
  7. According to Horowitz Research data, homes with TV antennas dropped to 19% in 2025, and fewer than 10% of Americans rely exclusively on antennas for television viewing.
  8. The CTA disagrees with design mandates that would dictate device user interfaces or consumer interaction with devices, viewing such regulations as anticompetitive and conflicting with the administration's goals for simplifying federal regulations.

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