Your TV might get a lot more expensive if federal regulators get their way. And a Nevada conservative group is saying “not so fast.”
Citizen Outreach, the Las Vegas-based organization led by Chuck Muth, has joined 18 other conservative groups in pushing back against proposed federal mandates for Next Generation Television. The coalition submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission during the public comment period that closed on January 20, 2026.
What’s at Stake
The FCC is considering whether to force broadcasters and TV manufacturers to adopt new ATSC 3.0 technology, also called Next Gen TV. This is the latest broadcast standard that promises better picture quality, improved sound, and interactive features.
The technology is already spreading on its own. More than three out of four Americans can already access ATSC 3.0. It’s available in over 80 markets across the country. By any reasonable measure, the market is working.
Government Mandate vs. Market Choice
The coalition letter couldn’t be clearer about where conservatives should stand on this issue.
The groups wrote:
“We urge the Federal Communications Commission to reject any adoption mandates for Next Generation Television.”
Why? Because broadcasters are already operating under regulations dating back to World War II. Adding new mandates on top of that pile of red tape isn’t the solution.
The letter points out something important. Video accessibility is a good goal. But the market has already delivered it. Consumers who need these features have purchasing power, and businesses have responded.
The Success Story the FCC Wants to Ignore
Under the FCC’s own 2017 rules, broadcasters can use the new standard on a “voluntary, market-driven basis.” And guess what? It worked. The vast majority of Americans now have access to this technology without any government mandate.
Think about that for a moment. The free market delivered advanced TV technology to 75 percent of the country. No mandates. No heavy-handed regulations. Just businesses competing to serve customers.
Who’s Fighting This Fight
Citizen Outreach joined an impressive coalition of conservative organizations. The list reads like a who’s who of limited government advocacy: Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Citizens Against Government Waste, the Taxpayer Protection Alliance, and the American Legislative Exchange Council.
These aren’t fringe groups. They’re mainstream conservative-leaning organizations that understand how markets work better than government bureaucrats.
What Critics Are Saying
Some broadcasters want the FCC to set hard deadlines for switching to the new technology. The National Association of Broadcasters proposed forcing stations in the top 55 markets to fully transition to ATSC 3.0 by February 2028.
Consumer groups worry about encryption and whether private companies will control who can watch free, over-the-air television. Some smaller broadcasters say they can’t afford the upgrades without government help.
The Real Solution
The coalition has a better idea. Instead of piling on new mandates, the FCC should remove old regulations. The agency is already pursuing this through its “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative that cuts unnecessary rules.
Getting rid of outdated regulations makes technology cheaper and more widely available. It lets real market competition decide which technologies survive and thrive. That’s exactly what the FCC did in 2017 when it allowed voluntary adoption of ATSC 3.0.
Why This Matters to You
TV mandates might not sound like a huge deal. But they touch on core conservative principles.
First, it’s about limited government. Should federal bureaucrats force businesses to adopt specific technologies? Or should companies make those decisions based on what their customers want?
Second, it’s about free markets. The market is already delivering this technology without mandates. Why fix what isn’t broken?
Third, it’s about costs. Mandates mean higher prices for broadcasters, TV manufacturers, and ultimately consumers. That’s money coming out of your pocket to satisfy government planners.
What Happens Next
The FCC received more than 900 comments during the public input period. Now, commissioners will review those comments and decide whether to impose mandates or stick with the voluntary approach that’s already working.
The commission could vote on new rules later this year. If they go the mandate route, expect TV prices to climb and innovation to slow down. If they maintain the market-driven approach, the technology will continue spreading naturally.
What You Can Do
Contact your representatives in Congress. Tell them you support voluntary adoption of new broadcast technologies, not government mandates.
Support organizations like Citizen Outreach that fight regulatory overreach. These groups need donations and volunteers to keep pushing back when the FCC wants to expand its power.
Watch what the FCC does next. If they ignore market success and impose mandates anyway, remember that at election time. Bureaucrats who can’t recognize a working market when they see one shouldn’t be making these decisions.
The choice is simple. Trust the market that’s already delivering results, or trust government bureaucrats who want to impose costly mandates. Citizen Outreach and 18 other conservative organizations know which side they’re on.
Read full letter: Coalition Comments on Next Gen TV FNPRM
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
