Daily Ex Parte
PEARL, Sinclair, Tolka Telecom, and Weigel (ATSC 3.0 Transition / Weigel on A3SA), SHLB Coalition, American Library Association, EdLiNC (USF, E-Rate and Rural Health Care)
Filers
Pearl TV, Sinclair, Tolka Telecommunications — Mandated Transition to 3.0
SHLB Coalition, American Library Association, EdLiNC — Universal Service Fund (USF), with a focus on the E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) program
Weigel Broadcasting Co. — Mandated Transition to 3.0
Pearl TV
Proceeding(s): 16-142
Date of Meeting: September 02, 2025
Date Disseminated: September 04, 2025
Participants:
Alex Day, Vice President of Business Development, Tolka Telecommunications
Anne Schelle, Pearl TV
Patrick McFadden, Sinclair Broadcasting
Gerard J. Waldron, Covington & Burling LLP (Counsel for Pearl TV)
Met with FCC Media Bureau staff:
Hillary DeNigro
Maria Mullarkey
Evan Morris
Evan Baranoff
Lyle Elder
Mark Colombo
Summary of Discussion:
The discussion centered on the necessity for the FCC to establish a firm transition date for the end of the ATSC 3.0 transition to stimulate the consumer equipment market, specifically for converter boxes.
Alex Day of Tolka Telecommunications, an Atlanta-based company with global operations, presented arguments based on his company's international experience. He stated that in markets such as Italy, Brazil, and Indonesia, the availability of affordable converter boxes did not increase until the respective governments set a firm deadline for their digital television transitions. Once a deadline was established, equipment companies and their supply chains were motivated to accelerate production and deliver converter boxes at compelling prices for consumers.
Mr. Day argued that the FCC should follow this international precedent. He expressed confidence that if a firm transition date were set in the U.S., the consumer electronics market would respond by making a range of converter boxes available at affordable prices. He suggested these prices would be comparable to the government-mandated digital-to-analog converter boxes from 2009, which sold for approximately $60 in today's dollars.
In response to a question from FCC staff, Mr. Day confirmed that Tolka's devices have the capability for over-the-air (OTA) software upgrades, though this feature has not yet been needed. Representatives from Pearl TV added that such an OTA upgrade could be facilitated by just one broadcaster in a market, leveraging the data distribution capabilities of existing broadcaster groups.
Additionally, Pearl TV and Mr. Day discussed the NEXTGEN TV logo certification program and content security protocols. They explained that these systems work together to ensure that consumers who purchase certified and security-verified devices will have reliable access to broadcasters' content.
The meeting concluded with Mr. Day reiterating that a clear signal from the FCC in the form of a firm deadline is critical to accelerate the development and availability of consumer converter devices for ATSC 3.0 programming.
Source: [NOTICE OF EXPARTE, Pearl TV, https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/109042193201680/1]
SHLB Coalition, American Library Association, EdLiNC
Proceeding(s): 25-133, 02-6, 96-45, 97-21, 13-184, 17-310, 02-60
Date of Meeting: September 2, 2025
Date Disseminated: September 05, 2025
Participants:
Joey Wender, Executive Director, Schools Health and Libraries (SHLB) Broadband Coalition
Megan Janicki, Deputy Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, American Library Association (ALA)
Noelle Ellerson Ng, Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer, AASA, The School Superintendents Association
Jon Bernstein, President, Bernstein Strategy Group
Callie Coker, Legal Advisor to FCC Chairman Carr
Summary of Discussion:
Representatives from the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, American Library Association (ALA), and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, met with Callie Coker, Legal Advisor to FCC Chairman Carr, to discuss the future of the Universal Service Fund (USF), with a focus on the E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) programs.
The coalition began by emphasizing the critical and ongoing importance of the E-Rate and RHC programs for schools, libraries, and healthcare clinics nationwide. They stressed the need for increased bandwidth and speed at these anchor institutions, noting how many aspects of education and operations now depend on reliable internet access.
A central point of the discussion was the urgent need for USF contribution reform. The participants voiced their strong support for the FCC and the Congressional USF Working Group to modernize and expand the contribution base to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fund.
The coalition also highlighted several specific proposals, previously submitted in the Delete, Delete, Delete docket (GN 25-133), aimed at streamlining and modernizing the E-Rate and RHC programs.
For the E-Rate Program, the proposed changes include:
Eliminating FCC Form 486.
Removing the "extraordinary circumstance" standard for invoice deadline waivers.
Deleting the USAC post-audit requirement for "policies and procedures."
Removing the statement that Demand Payment Letters cannot be appealed.
Reforming program rules that hinder applicants from transitioning between service providers or from increasing their bandwidth.
Resolving confusion caused by the Form 470 drop-down menu categories.
Exempting purchases of E-Rate eligible services and equipment under $10,000 (pre-discount) from FCC bidding requirements, while still being subject to local school and library bidding rules.
For the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, the proposed changes include:
Deleting rule section 54.605, which outlines Methods 1, 2, and 3 for determining Telecom Program rural rates.
Deleting rule section 54.622(i)(3) related to the approval of "evergreen" contracts.
The meeting concluded with the participants inviting Chairman Carr and his staff to visit local schools and libraries. They reaffirmed the vital importance of the USF programs and offered their organizations as partners in the reform process.
Source: [NOTICE OF EXPARTE, SHLB Coalition, American Library Association, EdLiNC, https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10904276878760/1]
Weigel Broadcasting Co.
Proceeding(s): 16-142
Date of Meeting: September 03, 2025
Date Disseminated: September 05, 2025
Participants: Representatives of Weigel Broadcasting Co.:
Evan Fieldman, Executive Vice President
Kyle Walker, Vice President, Technology
Weigel representatives met in two separate meetings with:
Chairman Carr's Office and the Media Bureau:
Erin Boone
Hillary DeNigro
Maria Mullarkey
Evan Morris
Evan Baranoff
Lyle Elder
Mark Colombo
Commissioner Trusty's Office:
Marcus Maher
Summary of Discussion:
Representatives from Weigel Broadcasting Co. met with FCC staff to express opposition to the mandated "flash cut" transition to ATSC 3.0 proposed by the NAB and to highlight significant concerns regarding the role and power of the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA).
Weigel outlined three primary concerns with a forced transition to ATSC 3.0:
It transforms a free and simple service into one that is expensive and complicated for consumers.
It creates an incentive for broadcasters to degrade free over-the-air signals in favor of lucrative non-broadcast services like pay television and private data delivery.
It will disproportionately harm consumers in rural and underserved areas who rely most on free television.
The central focus of the discussion was on A3SA, a private entity founded by major broadcast networks and Pearl TV (a consortium of large broadcast station groups). Weigel argued that A3SA has become the de facto gatekeeper for ATSC 3.0 broadcasting, effectively usurping the FCC's licensing authority.
The argument, supported by a presentation, is as follows:
DRM Enforcement: To display DRM-encrypted signals from major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX), television manufacturers (e.g., Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL, Hisense) are compelled to enter into agreements with A3SA and have their devices "A3SA certified."
Signal Signing Certificate Requirement: A key condition of A3SA certification is that receivers must look for an A3SA-issued signal signing certificate from all broadcast stations. This requirement applies even to stations that do not use any DRM encryption. In the current ATSC 1.0 standard, no such requirement exists.
"High Noon" Testing and Results: Weigel conducted "High Noon" testing on August 20, 2025. The results showed that most A3SA-certified devices failed to display the signal of a station that did not have an active A3SA-issued certificate. The presentation included photographic evidence of the user experience on various devices:
HiSense and TCL models displayed a warning message but still allowed the user to view the channel.
A Sony model displayed a more severe message stating, "Due to security concerns, this channel can't be viewed..."
A Zinwell set-top box showed an "Unsigned Service" error, blocking the channel completely.
Conclusion on A3SA's Power: Weigel asserted that this system gives A3SA the power to effectively take any FCC-licensed station off the air for a significant portion of viewers by simply revoking its certificate. This could happen for any reason A3SA chooses, making a station's ability to broadcast dependent on a private entity rather than its FCC license.
To address these concerns, Weigel proposed five specific remedies:
Delete the signal signing certificate requirement from the ATSC 3.0 standard.
Prohibit private organizations like A3SA from usurping the FCC's licensing authority.
Do not mandate a forced transition to ATSC 3.0.
Maintain the "substantially similar" rule to protect content for viewers.
Adopt guardrails, such as Weigel's proposed "Broadcast PLP" (Physical Layer Pipe), to ensure sufficient spectrum is reserved for a robust free, over-the-air television ecosystem.
Source: [NOTICE OF EXPARTE, Weigel Broadcasting Co., https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/109040737226794/1; https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/109040737226794/2]