ATSC and Allied Organizations Explore ATSC 3.0 Conformance Testing

Posted on November 1, 2016 in ATSC News

November 14 is the deadline for interested parties to respond to the ATSC’s Request for Information (RFI) related to the development of Conformance Test Suite Development and Conformity Assessment programs to support ATSC 3.0 implementation.

High-level goals of these programs include assuring a quality experience for consumers when viewing and interacting with ATSC 3.0 content, and assuring interoperability between broadcast content and receivers.

The RFI seeks input from industry experts in four areas of testing:

• Coding,
• Transmission & Reception,
• Data & Metadata, and
• Interactivity & Security.

Specifically, the RFI addresses test suites, test automation, version management, test result formats and administration. The RFI also focuses on program management, including policy and procedure development and third-party assessment plans, as well as implementation tools and experience.

The ATSC expects TV stations to begin testing in earnest in 2017, with early U.S. market deployments anticipated in the first half of 2018. To help achieve the highest quality user experience and interoperability, there’s growing industry interest in the development of test suites and tools.

The RFI responses will inform the ATSC and allied organizations as they establish a framework for conformity assessment, including initial plans and high-level budgeting. It is expected the program will eventually be administered under the auspices of one or more industry organizations.

Posted in ATSC News