A/327, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”Approved: 13 August 2026

This document provides recommended practices for the ATSC 3.0 physical layer protocol standards specified by A/321 and A/322. The intent of this document is to make recommendations for physical layer operating modes so that readers can make informed decisions about physical layer configurations. Also, this document provides some implementation guidelines to aid with flexible configurations of physical layer design resources in transmitter and receiver manufacturers’ equipment.

Download current version: A/327:2026-08, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 13 August 2026.

Previous Versions

There are multiple versions of this document. Please be sure to download the desired version. For amendments, the text includes a list of changes, the rationale for the changes, and compatibility considerations. The following documents are listed by date, with the most recent first.

2026

Download A/327:2026-04, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 14 April 2026.

Download A/327:2026-04 Amendment No. 1, “Errata and Signal Propagation”, 13 August 2026.

Download A/327:2026-03, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 9 March 2026.

2025

Download A/327:2025-07, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 17 July 2025.

Download A/327:2025-07 Amendment No. 1, “TDM of ATSC with Other Broadcasting Systems”, approved 9 March 2026.

Download A/327:2025-06, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 26 June 2025.

Download: A/327:2025-02, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 24 February 2025.

Download A/327:2025-02 Amendment No. 1, “MIMO System Performance Estimation”, approved 26 June 2025.

2024

Download: A/327:2024-12, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 3 December 2024.

Download A/327:2024-04, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 3 April 2024.

Download A/327:2024-04 Amendment No. 1, “SISO Operation of MIMO-Capable Transmitters”, approved 3 December 2024.

Download A/327:2024-04 Amendment No. 2, “TxID Code Assignments”, approved 24 February 2025.

2023

Download A/327:2023-06, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 16 June 2023.

Download A/327:2023-03, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 28 March 2023.

Download A/327:2023-03 Amendment No. 1, “PHY Profiles”, approved 16 June 2023.

2022

Download A/327:2022-12, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, 1 December 2022.

Download A/327:2022-03, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, published 31 March 2022.

Download A/327:2022-03 Amendment No. 1, “Field Issues Annex”, approved 1 December 2022.

2021

Download A/327:2021, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, approved 25 January 2021.

2020

Download A/327:2020, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol”, approved 30 January 2020.

2018

Download A/327:2018, “Guidelines for the Physical Layer Protocol“, approved 2 October 2018.

Download A/327: 2018 Amendment No. 1, “BSID”, approved 26 November 2019.