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What’s new: The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has asked the Federal Communications Commission to require television stations to start using the ATSC 3.0 standard for broadcast. The ATSC 3.0 signals will include the Broadcast Positioning System, a PNT service. The petition filed yesterday asks that broadcasters:
- In the top 55 markets (serving about 70% of the U.S. population) be required to start by February of 2028,
- In all other markets use the standard on or before Feburary 2030.
Why it’s important: Terrestrial alternatives to GPS have much different failure modes and can complement and backup space-based signals. BPS is also important as it utilizes existing infrastructure and signals are planned to be provided w/o charge.
What else to know:
- BPS still needs a GPS-independent timing source – though that is not a tech challenge.
- At NAB Show next month BPS will be demonstrated with eLoran as its independent timing source
- NAB Show will also include a panel of RNT Foundation members, led by Dr Pat Diamond and including RNTF Director Gen William Shelton (USAF, ret), discussing the need for alternate PNT and BPS.
