"The petition requests the FCC approve the core transmission technology for the new standard as an option for local broadcasters and receiver manufacturers."
"A broad coalition of consumer technology companies, commercial and public television stations and public safety advocates have filed a joint petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting local television stations and television receiver manufacturers be permitted to adopt a new over-the-air broadcast transmission standard on a voluntary, market-driven basis.
The Next-Gen TV standard was developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), a cooperative effort that includes the broadcast, consumer electronics, cable, satellite, motion picture and computer industries. Also known as ATSC 3.0, the IP-based standard specifies an entire next-generation broadcasting system, from the RF transmission through presentation to the viewer or listener. The new system would support innovative technologies such as Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TV, advanced emergency alert information, increased programming streams and channels, mobile broadcast TV, immersive audio, interactivity features and datacasting."
Full article: http://advanced-television.com/2016/04/14/coalition-files-for-next-gen-standard-roll-out/