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On August 10, 2026, XGN / X1 Mobile and Tyche Media LLC petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to amend Part 74 of its rules. The request would allow Low Power Television (LPTV) stations to voluntarily use the 3GPP 5G Broadcast standard as
an alternative to ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0.
This is a public-interest framework designed for LPTV—not pure datacasting.
Read Full Request for Rulemaking Here
The Proposal
Stations electing 5G Broadcast must:
• Transmit at least one linear free-to-air stream at minimum 720p resolution
• Devote a minimum average of 50% of remaining capacity in the 6 MHz channel to public safety solutions (never less than 2 MHz)
• Remain ineligible if they qualify for mandatory carriage rights, protecting multichannel video programming distributors
These rules ensure continued free over-the-air service while permanently reserving substantial bandwidth for first-responder and emergency applications.
Distinction from the HC2 Proposal
The petition differs fundamentally from HC2 Broadcasting Holdings’ filing in MB Docket No. 25-168. HC2 seeks exclusive datacasting with no linear free-to-air obligation and no dedicated public-safety capacity.
This petition requires a high-quality linear stream and permanently reserves capacity for life-saving applications. One prioritizes private data delivery; the other prioritizes the
public interest broadcasters are required to serve.
Why 5G Broadcast Fits LPTV
LPTV was created to serve local communities and foster innovation, typically from low-power, low-tower facilities. ATSC 3.0 was designed primarily for high-power, high-tower full-power stations and carries cost and private intellectual-property structures that often mismatch LPTV economics.
5G Broadcast can be deployed in under four hours for as little as $25,000 (costs expected to decline at scale) and without multiple private rights-holder fees. As a single worldwide 3GPP standard, it lets travelers and foreign visitors receive emergency alerts on the same technology used nearly everywhere cellular service exists. True one-to-many broadcast delivers alerts to all compatible receivers in under half a second—even when cellular networks are congested or unavailable.
Field Results from WCRN-LD
Tyche Media’s WCRN-LD (Facility ID 9154) in Boston has operated under experimental Special Temporary Authority on Channel 30 at its licensed 15 kW ERP using the existing directional antenna and full-service emission mask. Results include exceptional core stability, no interference to or from other services, and full compliance with power limits, emission masks, and interference-protection criteria.
Complementary work on customer-premises equipment, proprietary receiver software (to be unveiled at IBC Amsterdam in September 2026), lightweight GPS-accuracy, encryption solutions, and advanced receivers planned for MWC Barcelona in March 2027 further shows readiness. Commercial smartphones with native 5G Broadcast reception are scheduled for Europe on Band 113 in 2027. France is already deploying transmitters toward more than 90% national coverage by 2029.
Deployment Commitment and Public Interest
Petitioners stand ready to launch a 5G Broadcast network covering more than 50 million people within 24 months of authorization. Every deployment will center on local community needs—from the free 720p linear stream to public-safety applications designed to save lives.
Authorization would honor LPTV’s purpose of local service and innovation; require higher-quality free-to-air service than many ATSC 3.0 implementations; guarantee substantial capacity for life-saving solutions; leverage a global standard for seamless emergency alerting; enable rapid, low-cost deployment suited to LPTV facilities; and position the United States alongside countries already advancing the technology. There would be no mandate to ATSC 3.0. Broadcasters could tailor facilities to what best serves their communities.
Next Steps
The petition asks the Commission to open a rulemaking to incorporate the proposed provisions (or substantially equivalent language) into Part 74, including necessary conforming amendments to definitions and technical standards.
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