ATSC President Mark Richer joins Technological Advisory Committee


The FCC's Public Notice announcing the next Technological Advisory Council (TAC) meeting includes announcement of several new members including Mark Richer, president of ATSC. One of the major issues the TAC is dealing with is efficient use of spectrum. Richer's participation will give broadcasters another voice on the TAC and may also help smooth the road for FCC approval of new standards for TV broadcasting that will allow for more efficient use of the spectrum and new broadcast services.

Milo Medin at VP/Google Access Initiatives and Kevin Sparks, a Senior Director at Alcatel Lucent are among the seven new TAC members.

In its meeting on March 28, the TAC will discuss its 2012 work program and address the allocation of personnel to identified items. Tom Wheeler, Managing Director of Core Capital Partners, serves as Chairman of the Council and Walter Johnson, Chief of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division, serves as the Designated Federal Officer. Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, is the Alternate Designated Federal Officer.


Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.