WASHINGTON, May 21, 2007 –The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) Technology and Standards Group (TSG) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify potential specifications to be used for its mobile and handheld standard (ATSC-M/H). The ATSC-M/H Standard will enable delivery of television content and data to mobile and handheld devices via broadcast DTV signals. Services based on ATSC-M/H will not preclude or prevent operation of current ATSC services or have any adverse impact on legacy receiving equipment. ATSC-M/H will support a variety of services including:

• Free (advertiser supported) television content and other services delivered in real-time

• Mobile and handheld subscription-based TV

• Non-real-time content download, to playback later

• Datacasting

• Interactive television

• Real-time navigation data for in-vehicle use

The RFP is available at www.atsc.org. Preliminary responses including an overview of the proposal are due on June 21, 2007. Detailed descriptions of the proposal are due on July 6, 2007. As always, whether a proposed methodology is incorporated into an ATSC Standard is determined in accordance with the due process procedures of the ATSC.  In reaching its conclusions, the ATSC may combine various aspects of multiple proposals into a final specification.

About ATSC
The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. The ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite and semiconductor industries. The ATSC Digital Television Standard has been adopted in Canada, Mexico, the United States, South Korea and Honduras. For more information, visit www.atsc.org.

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For more information, contact Lindsay Shelton-Gross, ATSC (202) 872-9160, or lsheltongross@atsc.org