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Let Your Voice Be Heard: The FCC Is Deciding the Future of Free TV

The Federal Communications Commission is currently weighing a decision that could fundamentally change how we receive over-the-air television. In a recent publication, the FCC opened a comment period to discuss the eventual "sunset" of the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard. While the transition to the new ATSC 3.0 "NextGen TV" standard promises better picture quality and audio, it has come with a significant catch that is causing headaches for cord-cutters everywhere: encryption.

The Problem With Encryption

For decades, broadcast television has been transmitted over the public airwaves in the clear. If you had an antenna and a tuner, you could watch. However, the new ATSC 3.0 standard allows broadcasters to encrypt their signals. This Digital Rights Management (DRM) acts as a digital lock, restricting which devices can decode the picture.

This shift threatens to turn "free TV" into a gatekept service controlled entirely by broadcasters. It specifically targets the "gateway" devices that many cord-cutters rely on -- network tuners that capture the signal and stream it to other rooms in the house. If the signal is locked to a specific television or certified device, the ability to enjoy a whole-home DVR setup or watch local news on your tablet in the kitchen could disappear.

Why the Sunset Matters

Currently, this encryption is an annoyance, but it is not fatal because broadcasters are required to simulcast their channels in the old, unencrypted ATSC 1.0 format. However, the FCC is now actively asking for input on when they should allow stations to turn off those old signals.

If the "sunset" of ATSC 1.0 happens before the encryption issues with ATSC 3.0 are resolved, millions of existing televisions and popular DVR devices -- specifically TiVo, Tablo, Air TV, and HDHomeRun units -- could effectively go dark. The hardware you own today would be rendered obsolete, not because it can't receive the signal, but because it isn't allowed to unlock it.

A Warning for Local Markets

This danger is especially acute for viewers in markets that have not yet launched NextGen TV. I'm in the Savannah, GA area, and they haven't. It's possible your area hasn't either. In early adopter cities, stations were forced to run both old and new signals simultaneously for years. But under the proposed rules, stations in markets that are "late to the party" could potentially fast-track the transition. They might launch the new, encrypted ATSC 3.0 signal and shut down the old ATSC 1.0 signal much sooner than expected to cut costs.

If you live in a market that is still waiting for NextGen TV, do not assume you have a 5-year safety buffer. The rules are changing, and your "old" TV could lose access faster than you think.

How to Make Your Voice Heard

There is still time to impact this decision. The FCC is accepting public comments on this specific docket until February 18, 2026. Tech journalist Lon Seidman from the YouTube channel Lon.TV has released an excellent guide on exactly how to file your comment to ensure it is part of the official record.



[YouTube]

In the video, Seidman walks through the specific steps for navigating the FCC website, including which docket number to use and how to upload evidence of your own devices failing to decrypt channels. He emphasizes that comments should focus on personal experiences with hardware failures rather than speculation.

My Streaming Life involves staying informed on issues that affect our access to content, and I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to watch this tutorial and let the FCC know that the public airwaves should remain open and accessible to all.

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