DA 20-754
Released:  July 17, 2020

Media Bureau Announces August 17, 2020, Effective Date 
of Next Gen TV Second Report & Order and Order on Reconsideration 
GN Docket No. 16-142

On June 16, 2020, the Commission released the Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration. Authorizing Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard, Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 20-72 (rel. Jun. 16, 2020) (Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration).  The document is available on the Commission’s website at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-72A1.pdf.  The document is also available electronically via the Commission’s Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS) website at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs (by FCC document number, FCC 20-72) or via the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) website at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/ (by docket number, GN Docket No. 16-142). 
  The Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration resolves the pending issues in the proceeding that authorized broadcasters to use ATSC 3.0, the “Next Generation” broadcast television (Next Gen TV) transmission standard. The Next Gen TV Second Report and Order addresses the three issues raised in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that was issued in conjunction with the first Next Gen TV Report and Order.  Specifically, it provides additional guidance to broadcasters deploying Next Gen TV that wish to receive a waiver of the local simulcasting rules, declines to permit the use of vacant broadcast channels for purposes of Next Gen TV deployment at this time, and clarifies the “significantly viewed” status of Next Gen TV stations.  The Next Gen TV Order on Reconsideration dismisses and, on alternative and independent grounds, denies the two petitions for reconsideration of the first Next Gen TV Report and Order. 
 

By this Public Notice, we announce that today the Federal Register published a summary of the Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration. Next Gen TV Order, Final Rules, 85 Fed. Reg. 43478 (July 17, 2020).  See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/17/2020-13837/authorizing-permissive-use-of-the-next-generation-broadcast-television-standard.
  The Commission stated that the Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration and associated rule changes would become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration at ¶¶ 66-67. 
  Accordingly, the Next Gen TV Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration and associated rule changes will take effect on August 17, 2020. 

For additional information, contact Evan Baranoff, Evan.Baranoff@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Policy Division, at (202) 418-7142.  Press inquiries should be directed to Janice Wise, Janice.Wise@fcc.gov, at (202) 418-8165. 

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