News

December 4, 2025 – Anywave Broadcast Inc.("Anywave") participated in the testing of ATSC 3.0  translators at the Heartland Video Systems (HVS) Interop event, held November 10-14 at HVS  headquarters in Plymouth, WI.  

Testing was conducted using ATSC 3.0 RF signals supplied by HVS, complete with signaling  tables signed with certificates. It is a mandatory part of the ATSC 3.0 standard that signaling  tables are cryptographically signed for security and authentication. If any of that signaling is to  be modified for the translator output, then editing and re-signing in the translator is necessary.  

Anywave has been at the forefront of ATSC 3.0 technology for the broadcast signal chain, and  has worked diligently to produce products that meet broadcasters’ needs and adhere to the  standard’s requirements. As a leading supplier of TV tranlators for many years, solving the ATSC  3.0 translator challenges was an important development. 

David Neff, General Manager of Anywave commented, “We were very pleased to be invited to  the Interop by Heartland to verify the operation and performance of our 3.0 translator. With  the signed signaling requirement, 3.0 translators can be a lot more complicated than their 1.0  counterparts. Essentially, a 3.0 translator requires a demodulator, a 3.0 exciter, and many of  the functions of a broadcast gateway. Fortunately for Anywave, we have all of that capability in  one box, our AW9200 Exciter+ product. So, while this was technically an interop designed to  test equipment interoperability with other gear, Anywave includes all 3.0 translator functions in 

the one unit – RF input to RF output. That eliminates any finger pointing if things don’t work – we make it all, end to end!” 

The Anywave ATSC 3.0 translator functionality was tested and proven at the interop. For more  information on the Anywave Exciter+, which is the basis of the 3.0 translator, click on the link  below: 

https://anywavecom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Anywave-Exciter-Plus-Product Specification-11-25.pdf 

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About Anywave 

Anywave was established in 2007. The company's core technical team has extensive experience  in the development of digital TV technologies. Anywave has made significant contributions to  various digital TV standards around the world. Based on its innovative technologies in Direct  Digital RF, Adaptive Digital Pre-Correction, and Echo Cancellation, the company has  independently developed a series of high-performance digital TV transmission system  equipment and has become a leading supplier in the digital broadcast market. Anywave  manufactures transmitters of all power levels: low, medium and high; and all frequencies: VHF  band I, band III and UHF; plus air and liquid cooled. The company has a modern manufacturing  facility and an experienced technical support team. Anywave can provide customers not only  with reliable products, but also with optimum system solutions helping to reduce network  construction and operating costs, improve signal coverage, increase the emission efficiency,  and enhance system stability. For more information, visit: http://anywavecom.net/ 

Contact information: 

David Neff, General Manager – 412-400-0408
Anywave Broadcast Inc. david.neff@anywaveus.com

The FCC’s pending Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the ATSC 3.0 transition raises several issues that directly impact LPTV operators. ATBA intends to submit comments once the government reopens.

Key issues under review include:

• Digital Rights Management (DRM): Ongoing concerns about content availability on consumer devices.
• Spectrum Use: Maintaining a commitment to free, over-the-air service.
• LPTV Participation in Test Markets: Ensuring inclusion in pilot and test programs.
• Receiver Mandates: Whether to support or monitor a potential tuner requirement.

Transition Deadlines: Supporting a firm timeline for full power while distinguishing LPTV flexibility.

November 12, 2025 — Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition from Radio Communications Corporation (RCC), ending the company’s legal challenge to the FCC’s implementation of the 2023 Low Power Protection Act (LPPA).

The petition sought to expand Class A eligibility beyond what Congress authorized - an upgrade limited by statute to markets of up to 95,000 households. RCC argued that Congress intended the LPPA to allow broader upgrades nationwide. Both the FCC and the D.C. Circuit disagreed, citing clear legislative limits.

In June, the D.C. Circuit ruled unanimously that “RCC’s convoluted reading of these statutory provisions is plainly incorrect.” The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case effectively upholds that decision.

Bottom line: The FCC’s current interpretation stands. Only stations meeting the statutory criteria will qualify for Class A protection under the LPPA.

ATBA Chair Kristina Bruni commented, “While this case garnered some attention, iit reflects an isolated situation rather than the broader interests of the LPTV community. ATBA continues to focus on forward-looking advocacy - ensuring that low power television remains part of America’s next-generation broadcast landscape.”

PLYMOUTH, Wis. — October 16, 2025 — Heartland Video Systems, Inc. (HVS), a premier video systems integration, consulting, and expert ATSC 3.0 implementation firm announced that it has recently completed configuration of the New Mexico PBS encoding system, powered by Ateme’s advanced encoder technology, with live Artificial Intelligence (AI) language translation solution for the station’s ATSC 3.0 OTA broadcast signal. The process is completed virtually in real time through cloud translation services from LingoPal.  

New Mexico PBS operates two OTA stations, KNME-TV licensed to Albuquerque and KNMD-TV licensed to Santa Fe.  New Mexico PBS created their own ATSC 3.0 Lighthouse when KNMD-TV transitioned to ATSC 3.0 in June of 2021.  That conversion included a full solution from HVS, including an Ateme encoder that processes 2x HD programs and 3x SD programs, which is a simulcast of programming available on KNME-TV.  New Mexico PBS and HVS have continued to evolve the functions and capabilities of the ATSC 3.0 OTA system over the last several years, most recently to provide AI-powered language translation.

The existing KNMD-TV Ateme ATSC 3.0 encoder was re-configured by the HVS engineering team to send an SRT English-only audio stream to LingoPal’s cloud-based service.   The 5.1 English audio track (no need to send SAP audio) was processed through the AI system, which live translated the original audio into Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean tracks.  These new audio streams, delivered in 2.0 downmix mode and lip-synced with the video, were returned to the TV station’s ATSC 3.0 Ateme encoder.  HVS then published a copy of the KNME-HD service with the extra audio tracks, replacing the original KNME-HD with only English. Once configured, this solution provided seamless end-to-end audio translation services, enhancing the NextGenTV OTA broadcast experience for viewers.

“Sometimes technology advances enough to unlock features that previously could not be imagined.  The hope, in that case, is that the process isn’t too complex or require so many resources so that it can’t be readily used.  I was very pleased to find that neither drawback applied to this feature set.  The entire configuration took about an hour, not including the work LingoPal did to prep the service beforehand.  And worked as advertised the first attempt.” states Mike Schmidt, ATSC 3.0 Technologist at HVS

“New Mexico PBS is proud to be working with Heartland Video to advance the technology around delivering emergency messaging.  The benefit to our viewing audience with this project can’t be overstated. The ability to communicate with our viewers in their native language  gives us the chance to serve our complete audience with all of the important details they need in times of an emergency.” states Jason Quinn, Director of Engineering for  New Mexico PBS

“We’re proud that Ateme’s encoding technology continues to enable ATSC 3.0 innovation,” said Robin Herin, Director of Technology & Standardization, Ateme. “This collaboration with HVS, and LingoPal demonstrates how open, standards-based systems can integrate seamlessly to bring new levels of accessibility and engagement to viewers.”

"Technology is moving fast, and what unlocks it for broadcasters is the tight, day-to-day collaboration between our teams and partners like Ateme, aligning encoding, delivery, and real-time translation so it just works inside existing workflows. When we build shoulder-to-shoulder, we turn cutting-edge advances into push-button localization that opens new audiences and revenue in minutes, not months."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/schneidercasey/

Founder & CTO for Lingopal

Heartland Video Systems will be exhibiting at the National Association of Broadcasters New York event (NAB-NY) at the Javits Center in New York City, NY.  The event takes place October 22-23, 2025.  HVS will be in booth 465.

The debate over the future of broadcasting is intensifying, and at its center lies ATSC 3.0 - the next-generation standard that promises to carry free, over-the-air television into the future. Some have raised concerns about certification costs, industry control, or the pace of adoption. But it is important that policymakers, regulators, and our colleagues across the industry understand where the true interests of Low Power Television (LPTV) broadcasters lie.

Broadcasting at a Crossroads

LPTV stations are among the most diverse, community-focused broadcasters in America. From ethnic programming to religious ministries, from rural coverage to hyper-local news, LPTV fills gaps left by larger outlets. To survive in a rapidly changing media ecosystem dominated by subscription streaming and global tech platforms, we cannot stand still.

ATSC 3.0 is not just an incremental upgrade. It represents the single best opportunity in decades for LPTV to grow, modernize, and serve our communities more effectively. The new standard enables 4K resolution, immersive audio, datacasting, mobile reception, advanced emergency alerting, and new revenue opportunities like targeted advertising. In short, it gives us tools to stay relevant, competitive, and indispensable.

The Question of Costs

Yes, implementing ATSC 3.0 comes with costs. Certification, equipment, and licensing fees are part of the transition. But cost alone cannot dictate our future. Every major leap in broadcasting - from color TV to digital to high definition - has carried expenses. Each time, broadcasters adapted, innovated, and found ways to make the economics work.

The better question is not whether there are costs, but how we manage them. ATBA supports solutions that make the transition accessible for small operators: shared infrastructure, technical support, potential subsidies, and voluntary adoption for LPTV stations until the economics make sense. With industry collaboration, the financial hurdles are solvable.

Industry Unity Matters

What we cannot afford is fragmentation. Broadcasters—full power and low power alike—must present a unified vision to regulators and the public. ATSC 3.0 already incorporates the technical flexibility to support advanced applications, including compatibility with emerging technologies like 5G. Presenting these innovations as competitors rather than complements undermines the credibility of broadcasting as a whole.

The future of broadcasting depends on standards that are interoperable, secure, and widely supported. ATSC 3.0 is that standard. It is the product of years of collaboration across networks, manufacturers, and technology providers. To suggest otherwise only delays progress and confuses the public.

A Smart Transition Strategy

For full-power stations, a firm transition deadline is necessary. A deadline creates certainty, drives manufacturers to include ATSC 3.0 tuners in consumer devices, and accelerates the market shift that benefits everyone. For LPTV, flexibility should remain: voluntary adoption when resources permit, continued operation in ATSC 1.0 in the meantime, and opportunities to partner with full-power “lighthouse” stations where possible.

This balanced approach ensures that no community is left behind, while still moving the entire industry forward.

The ATBA Position

The Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance believes that ATSC 3.0 is the future of television broadcasting. It is the best opportunity our industry has to compete in a digital-first media world, to bring viewers free services with modern features, and to preserve the vital role of local stations in America’s media landscape.

We urge the Federal Communications Commission to stay the course on the transition, to recognize that LPTV broadcasters are eager to embrace 3.0 when it is practical, and to understand that unity - not fragmentation -is what will carry this industry forward.

LPTV has always been resilient. We have survived spectrum auctions, relocations, and regulatory uncertainty. We will survive the transition to ATSC 3.0 as well - and not just survive, but thrive. Because the heart of broadcasting has always been local service, innovation, and free access. ATSC 3.0 strengthens all three.

The future is clear. And the future is ATSC 3.0.