Pearl and A3SA Defend ATSC 3.0 Security Program
The ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA) has a “uniform set of policies that applies equally and objectively to all manufacturers of a particular device type,” and it's interested in bringing gateway devices to market, said Pearl TV and A3SA in a meeting with acting Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone and other bureau staff last week, according to an ex parte filing posted Tuesday. Recent filings at the agency have accused the A3SA of using encryption requirements (see 2508180062) to block ATSC 3.0 device manufacturers (see 2507220075).
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“A3SA’s system has been licensed across six TV manufacturers, and several [set-top box] manufacturers that resulted in over 15 million receivers in the market today providing high quality content to consumers,” said Tuesday's filing. A3SA “makes available a platform and infrastructure for content security, establishes implementation compliance rules, facilitates interoperability between broadcasters and devices, and provides a means for third party certification or self-certification.”
Pearl and A3SA said the real issue blocking those device makers is the uncertainty about when the ATSC 3.0 transition will end, which “necessarily holds back their commitment to develop and manufacture dongles and similar conversion devices.” The FCC should “move forward promptly” to issue an NPRM on the 3.0 transition, the filing said.