Deadline for ATSC Mobile and Handheld Specs Proposals Approaching

The deadline for proposals on mobile DTV transmission standards is fast approaching. The Advanced Television Systems Committee Technology Standards Group recently issued a request for proposals to identify potential specifications for its mobile (ATSC-M) and handheld (ATSC-H) standard. Preliminary responses, including an overview of the proposal, are due June 21, and detailed descriptions of the proposal are due July 6.

The ATSC said the ATSC-M/H standard would facilitate broadcasters' delivery of television content and data to mobile and handheld devices via broadcast DTV signals. It also said that any system would be backward compatible, and must not interfere with existing ATSC services.

The ATSC said the standard would support a variety of services including free and subscription-based TV. It would also support interactive television, datacasting, real-time navigation data for in vehicle use, and nonreal-time content downloads to playback later.

Competitors in the mobile arena include Harris and LG Electronics who teamed up to develop the MPH system, as well as Samsung and Rohde & Schwarz who developed A-VSB. Both technologies were demo-ed at previous NAB conventions.

The ATSC said in reaching its conclusions, it may combine various aspects of multiple proposals into a final specification. The RFP is available online.