Kutzner Receives Lechner Award

Posted on June 2, 2014 in ATSC News

Congratulations to James A Kutzner, the 2014 recipient of the ATSC’s highest technical honor, the Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award, which was presented during the ATSC Broadcast Television Conference last month in Washington.

Kutzner, who retired earlier this year as Senior Director of Advanced Technology at PBS capping a stellar career in broadcasting, is a past member of the ATSC Board and former chairman of the ATSC Technology and Standards Group 3 on the development of the next-generation ATSC 3.0 standard.

“Throughout his career, Jim Kutzner brought his outstanding technical and management skills to the table to advance broadcast TV technology. He’s a thoughtful, conscientious leader whose calm and steady presence has facilitated industry agreement,” said ATSC President Mark Richer.

“I am honored to be selected, and I really believe that this isn’t an individual award,” Kutzner said after the award was announced.  “It’s a team award for all of the people I’ve worked with over the years – the Vice Chairs, Specialist Group leadership, Ad-Hoc Committee chairs, and also Jerry Whitaker who manages details as a secretary.  As I looked around the room, there were not only past Lechner Award winners but also many other individuals who have the potential to be similarly recognized.”

Richer, concluded: “Jim’s leadership in the ATSC has been extraordinary.”  Among his many contributions, Kutzner served as Vice Chairman of the ATSC Implementation Subcommittee, Chairman of the ATSC T3/S9 Subgroup on Field Testing, and Chairman of the ATSC Ad Hoc Group on DTV Field Test Measurement and Methodology. As Chairman of the ATSC 3.0 Planning Team, he led efforts to identify the opportunities and challenges that would be brought about by the development of a next-generation DTV system. Then, as TG-3 Chairman, Kutzner successfully launched the development of ATSC 3.0.

Posted in ATSC News