{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-raises-questions-about-privacy-consumer-impact-atsc-30-broadcast", "Dingell Raises Questions about Privacy, Consumer Impact of ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Standard in Letter to FCC Chairman", "2017-11-08", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Dingell", "D000624", "debbiedingell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai raising questions about the new broadcast technology standard, ATSC 3.0, and the privacy implications it will have on consumers across the country. Dingell asked questions about what types of information would be collected from consumers to implement targeted advertisements under the new standard, and how the data would be handled and protected to ensure consumers\u2019 privacy. She also asked how many television sets will be obsolete when the new standard is fully implemented. Dingell also sent a similar letter to Gordon Smith, CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).\n\u00a0\n\u201cBroadcasters and other stakeholders deserve credit in developing this new standard that will undoubtedly bring significant benefits to consumers including more localized safety warnings and improved picture quality,\u201d wrote Dingell. \u201cHowever, ATSC 3.0 is also much more comprehensive than just improving picture quality and safety warnings. It is my understanding that the new standard also contemplates targeted advertisements that would be \u2018relevant to you and what you actually might want to see.\u2019 This raises questions about how advertisers and broadcasters will gather the demographic information from consumers which are necessary to do targeted advertisements, and what privacy protections will be in place for consumers. It is also my understanding that ATSC 3.0 will not be backwards-compatible, which means consumers will be forced to replace their televisions if it is widely adopted.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDingell also noted that the word \u201cprivacy\u201d is not mentioned a single time in the entire ATSC 3.0 draft order released by the FCC, and argued that the Commission\u2019s technical review of the order cannot be separated from a review of privacy and security concerns.\u00a0 The FCC is set to consider the draft order during an Open Commission Meeting on November 16, 2017.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis continues a troubling pattern of indifference at the FCC towards consumer privacy,\u201d Dingell continued. \u201cTo better address these concerns, I respectfully request answers to the following questions so that we call better understand the impacts of ATSC 3.0 on the consumer and how the FCC intends to consider privacy issues moving forward.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe full letter to Chairman Pai can be read here and below.\n\u00a0\nNovember 8, 2017\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai\nChairman\u00a0\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street SW\u00a0\nWashington, DC 20554\n\u00a0\nDear Chairman Pai:\n\u00a0\nThis letter is regarding what could be an exciting new broadcast technology standard, ATSC 3.0, and the implications it will have on consumers across the country.\u00a0 Broadcasters and other stakeholders deserve credit in developing this new standard that will undoubtedly bring significant benefits to consumers including more localized safety warnings and improved picture quality.\u00a0 Enhancing these capabilities will help our nation\u2019s broadcasters perform their critically important mission of providing the American peo ple with free over-the-air programming.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nHowever, ATSC 3.0 is also much more comprehensive than just improving picture quality and safety warnings.\u00a0 It is my understanding that the new standard also contemplates targeted advertisements that would be \u201crelevant to you and what you actually might want to see.\u201d\u00a0 This raises questions about how advertisers and broadcasters will gather the demographic information from consumers which are necessary to do targeted advertisements, and what privacy protections will be in place for consumers.\u00a0 It is also my understanding that ATSC 3.0 will not be backwards-compatible, which means consumers will be forced to replace their televisions if it is widely adopted.\u00a0 \u00a0\n\u00a0\nWhile there are undoubtedly critical benefits of ATSC 3.0, we deserve to have a complete understanding of the overall impacts of this new standard.\u00a0 We should be having a robust dialogue about the privacy implications of this new standard as well as ensuring we are doing everything possible for consumers in any transition.\u00a0 This is critically important and very timely as the Commission is set to consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking authorizing the use of ATSC 3.0 during the Open Commission Meeting on November 16, 2017.\u00a0 \u00a0Although privacy concerns were raised in the record, it was not addressed at all in the draft order released by the Commission.\u00a0 In fact, the word \u201cprivacy\u201d is not even mentioned a single time in the entire draft order the FCC will soon take up.\u00a0 You further noted in recent testimony that the FCC is only considering the technical standards associated with ATSC 3.0, but this technical review cannot be separated from a review of privacy and security concerns.\u00a0 That is in fact the meaning of the phrase \u201cprivacy and security by design.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThis continues a troubling pattern of indifference at the FCC towards consumer privacy.\u00a0 To better address these concerns, I respectfully request answers to the following questions so that we call better understand the impacts of ATSC 3.0 on the consumer and how the FCC intends to consider privacy issues moving forward.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n1. You noted in response to my questions at a recent FCC Oversight Hearing before the House Committee on Communications and Technology that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will have a role in overseeing the privacy of ATSC 3.0 users.\u00a0 Has FCC staff coordinated with FTC staff to discuss these issues to ensure the FCC does not approve a technical standard that fails to adequately protect consumers\u2019 privacy or security?\n\u00a0\n2. It is my understanding that there are several different business models for targeted advertisements under ATSC 3.0.\u00a0 One model includes building transmitters similar to cell towers around the DMA to do regional advertising.\u00a0 I understand this is a very capital intensive process with a high operating expense, but that it would not require the collection of personal information from consumers.\u00a0 Is that correct?\u00a0 If no personal information from consumers is required, what standards will be applied to determine whether my constituents would choose to see targeted advertisements or not?\n\u00a0\n3. It is my understanding that a second business model for targeted advertisements involves delivery via the internet.\u00a0 In this scenario will the age, sex, address, and other demographic information would be collected in order to deliver targeted advertising?\u00a0 Would consumers have to provide consent in order for their data to be collected?\u00a0 Could they choose not to provide their demographic information and not receive targeted advertisements but still receive the enhanced picture quality and public safety communications?\u00a0 If a consumer decides to provide their personal information, who is responsible for protecting it?\n\u00a0\n4. It is my understanding that another business model would use an encrypted signal, even for over-the-air television broadcasts that have traditionally been free.\u00a0 Would this require consumers to use some sort of encryption key to access the signal?\u00a0 Would such a key require a consumer to enter their age, address, gender, and other demographic information?\u00a0 If the free over-the-air signal is encrypted and needs demographic information from a consumer to access it, do you still consider this service to be \u201cfree\u201d in your opinion?\n\u00a0\n5. There have been media reports that ATSC 3.0 would allow for better collection of audience data and would use this information as a sales tool for the advertisers, rather than relying on Nielsen or other measurement data.\u00a0 Will the new standards permit broadcasters to collect data on age, sex, income, address, or any other personal information?\u00a0 How will they be permitted to use this information?\u00a0 Will consumers be able to opt-out of having their data collected for this purpose?\n\u00a0\n6. It appears that new ATSC 3.0-capable TV sets could be susceptible to hacking, malware, and other potential computer viruses that could lead to predatory advertising instead of legitimate commercials.\u00a0 Is there anything contained in the proposal to address this potential problem?\n\u00a0\n7. How many TV sets are in the country today, and what will happen to them when ATSC 3.0 is deployed?\u00a0 How many TV sets will need to be replaced when broadcasters are not required to carry both the current ATSC 1.0 signal and the new ATSC 3.0 signal?\u00a0 What would you estimate the approximate cost to consumers to replace these sets?\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThank you for your attention to these important issues.\u00a0 Answers to my questions will help give the American people confidence that we are adequately considering all of the impacts this new standards will have on consumers.\u00a0 I look forward to receiving your response and please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDebbie Dingell\nMember of Congress\n\u00a0\nCC: The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Michael O\u2019Reilly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Greg Walden, Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Frank Pallone, Ranking Member, House Committee on Energy and\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Commerce", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-raises-questions-about-privacy-consumer-impact-atsc-30-broadcast"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5460089780390263, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}