NAB is shifting its staff to prioritize the development and deployment of the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS), an ATSC 3.0-based U.S. backup for GPS that's seen by broadcasters as an important justification for shifting U.S. consumers to 3.0. “By investing more resources in BPS, we are accelerating a technology that strengthens national resilience while creating meaningful long-term opportunities for our members,” said NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt in a release Tuesday.
The News/Media Alliance names Elena Muehlenbeck, formerly Bipartisan Policy Center, as CFO, replacing Robert Walden, who retires Dec. 31 ... ATSC elects Javier Ruano, Televes USA, to its board, effective Jan. 1, replacing Richard Friedel, Broadcast.Advocate, and reelects Adam Goldberg, Sony Electronics; Anne Schelle, Pearl TV; and John Taylor, LG Electronics USA.
Nexstar and Tegna want the FCC to waive the nationwide TV station ownership cap, along with local ownership limits in 23 markets, if those rules remain in effect when the agency decides on the companies' $6.2 billion merger, said transfer of control applications submitted Tuesday.
Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro praised the FCC for not proposing a tuner mandate or mandatory transition in the ATSC 3.0 NPRM on Tuesday (see 2510280024).
With one of the FCC's largest monthly agendas in recent years -- nine items -- the commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved everything from a major revamp of the agency's satellite and earth station approvals process to a proposal to end simulcast requirements for the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard. But three items were adopted Tuesday over the dissents of minority Commissioner Anna Gomez. She said the broadband labels further NPRM was "one of the most anti-consumer items I have ever seen." She also dissented on the prison-calling order and NPRM (see 2510280045) and the wireless direct final rule.
The FCC is expected to hold its open meeting Tuesday as scheduled, despite the government shutdown, said Chairman Brendan Carr and other agency officials in interviews. “The plan is to move forward with an in-person October open meeting as scheduled,” an FCC spokesperson told us.
The Consumer Technology Association's ex parte meeting with the FCC to discuss ATSC 3.0 took place Monday (see 2510220047)
The Consumer Technology Association “remains concerned” about NAB’s proposal for an ATSC 3.0 tuner mandate, the trade group said in a meeting Monday with aides to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Media Bureau staff, according to an ex parte filing in docket 16-142. The group praised the FCC’s draft ATSC 3.0 further NPRM for asking questions about consumer costs and technical feasibility of the 3.0 transition.
More consolidation among local broadcast stations is a must for survival, but beyond a change in ownership, it will also bring a change in how stations operate, station group owners said Wednesday at NAB’s annual New York City show. They also said the ATSC 3.0 transition needs a deadline for exiting 1.0 that the FCC will support.
The FCC’s draft further NPRM on ATSC 3.0 is seen by broadcasters as an indication of Chairman Brendan Carr’s good intentions toward the industry, but 3.0 opponents said the item highlights concerns about encryption, privacy and spectrum use.