Broadcast Television Standard Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking– GN Docket No
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October 26, 2017 FCC FACT SHEET* Authorizing Permissive Use of the ‘Next Generation’ Broadcast Television Standard Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking– GN Docket No. 16-142 Background: Earlier this year, the Commission proposed to let television broadcasters use the “Next Generation” broadcast television transmission standard (Next Gen TV or ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market- driven basis. Next Gen TV is the new transmission standard developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee as the world’s first Internet Protocol-based broadcast transmission platform. What the Report and Order Would Do: • Allow television broadcasters to use Next Gen TV on a voluntary, market-driven basis. • Require broadcasters that use Next Gen TV to partner with another local station to simulcast their programming in the current digital television (DTV) transmission standard (ATSC 1.0), so that viewers will continue to receive their existing broadcast service. • For five years, require the programming aired on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast channel to be “substantially similar” to the programming aired on the ATSC 3.0 channel. This means that the programming must be the same, except for programming features that are based on the enhanced capabilities of ATSC 3.0, advertisements, and promotions for upcoming programs. • Exempt low power TV and TV translator stations from the simulcasting requirement, and permit case-by-case waivers if a station has no viable simulcast partner. • Retain mandatory carriage rights on cable and satellite systems for simulcast DTV signals, and afford Next Gen TV signals no mandatory carriage rights while the Commission requires local simulcasting. • Subject Next Gen TV signals to the public interest obligations that currently apply to television broadcasters. • Require broadcasters to provide advance on-air notifications to educate consumers about Next Gen TV service deployment and simulcasting. • Incorporate specific parts of the Next Gen TV technical standard (A/321 and A/322) into our rules and explain the methodology used to calculate interference. The A/322 requirement would apply only to a broadcaster’s primary video stream and would sunset five years from the effective date of the rules unless extended by the Commission. • Conclude that it is unnecessary to adopt a Next Gen TV tuner mandate for new television receivers. What the Further Notice Would Do: • Seek comment on issues related to exceptions and waivers of the requirement that Next Gen TV broadcasters partner with a local station to simulcast DTV signals. • Seek comment on whether to let full power broadcasters use vacant channels in the television broadcast band to encourage use of Next Gen TV. • Tentatively conclude that local simulcasting should not change the “significantly viewed” status of a Next Gen TV station for purposes of cable and satellite carriage. * This document is being released as part of a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding. Any presentations or views on the subject expressed to the Commission or its staff, including by email, must be filed in Docket No. 16-142, which may be accessed via the Electronic Comment Filing System (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/). Before filing, participants should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules, including the general prohibition on presentations (written and oral) on matters listed on the Sunshine Agenda, which is typically released a week prior to the Commission’s meeting. See 47 CFR § 1.1200 et seq. Federal Communications Commission FCC-CIRC1711-08 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of: ) ) Authorizing Permissive Use of the “Next ) GN Docket No. 16-142 Generation” Broadcast Television Standard ) ) REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING* Adopted: [] Released: [] Comment Date: [60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register] Reply Comment Date: [90 days after date of publication in the Federal Register] By the Commission: TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph # I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 II. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 4 III. AUTHORIZING VOLUNTARY DEPLOYMENT OF ATSC 3.0 ....................................................... 6 A. Authorization of Voluntary Use of ATSC 3.0 Transmissions and Treatment under the Act .......... 6 B. Local Simulcasting......................................................................................................................... 11 1. Local Simulcasting Requirement ............................................................................................ 12 2. Definition of Local Simulcasting ............................................................................................ 22 a. Programming on the 1.0 and 3.0 channels ........................................................................ 22 b. Coverage requirements for the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal .............................................. 29 c. Coverage requirements for ATSC 3.0 signal .................................................................... 39 d. Simulcast exception for LPTV and TV translator stations ............................................... 40 e. Waiver of the simulcasting and coverage requirements ................................................... 46 3. Licensing Issues ...................................................................................................................... 48 a. Licensed simulcast approach ............................................................................................ 48 b. Licensing procedure .......................................................................................................... 53 C. Temporary Use of Vacant Channels .............................................................................................. 60 * This document has been circulated for tentative consideration by the Commission at its November 2017 open meeting. The issues referenced in this document and the Commission’s ultimate resolutions of those issues remain under consideration and subject to change. This document does not constitute any official action by the Commission. However, the Chairman has determined that, in the interest of promoting the public’s ability to understand the nature and scope of issues under consideration, the public interest would be served by making this document publicly available. The Commission’s ex parte rules apply and presentations are subject to “permit-but- disclose” ex parte rules. See, e.g., 47 CFR §§ 1.1206, 1.1200(a). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules, including the general prohibition on presentations (written and oral) on matters listed on the Sunshine Agenda, which is typically released a week prior to the Commission’s meeting. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200(a), 1.1203. Federal Communications Commission FCC-CIRC1711-08 D. MVPD Carriage ............................................................................................................................. 61 1. Mandatory Carriage of Next Gen TV Stations ........................................................................ 62 a. Only 1.0 Channel Has Mandatory Carriage Rights .......................................................... 63 b. Rights of Relocated 1.0 Simulcast Channel ...................................................................... 70 c. Notice to MVPDs About Relocation of 1.0 Simulcast Channel ....................................... 75 2. Retransmission Consent Issues ............................................................................................... 77 E. FCC Public Interest Obligations and Other FCC Rules ................................................................. 79 1. Applicability of Public Interest Obligations and Other Broadcast Rules to Next Gen TV ............................................................................................................................................ 80 2. Next Gen TV Tuner Mandate .................................................................................................. 83 3. On-Air Notice to Consumers About Deployment of ATSC 3.0 Service and ATSC 1.0 Simulcasting ............................................................................................................................ 86 4. Ancillary and Supplementary Services ................................................................................... 91 5. Interplay with Post-Incentive Auction Transition / Repack .................................................... 93 F. Technical Issues ............................................................................................................................. 94 1. Incorporation by Reference of Technical Standards ............................................................... 95 2. Service and Interference Protection ....................................................................................... 105 a. Interference Protection of ATSC 1.0 (DTV) Signals ...................................................... 106 b. Service and Interference Protection of ATSC 3.0 Signals .............................................. 107 (i) Preservation of Service ............................................................................................