Tom Wheeler Q&A Highlights NAB Show Day Three

NAB Show Wednesday featured Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler, in addition to panels and presentations showcasing the next generation of broadcast television standards, the demand for multicultural programming, and rapid advances in drone technology.

The day began with a Q&A between Chairman Wheeler and Marci Burdick, NAB Executive Committee member and former Television Board chair. The two discussed Next-Gen TV standards, the broadcast spectrum incentive auction, retransmission consent rules, and AM radio revitalization.



Wheeler told the crowd that he intends for the FCC to put the next-generation TV standard, ATSC 3.0, up for public notice by the end of the month. “I think what you have proposed in terms of ATSC 3.0 is really significant,” said Wheeler. “We need to move with dispatch to get that into the public debate and to start the process on that.”

According to the FCC website: “The FCC gives the public notice that it is considering adopting or modifying rules on a particular subject and seeks the public’s comment. The Commission considers the comments received in developing final rules.”

The announcement received enthusiastic applause from the audience, made up mostly of broadcasters. The ATSC 3.0 standard would allow TV stations to be viewed on mobile devices, include 4K Ultra-HD picture and multichannel sound, and enable interactive services.

Wheeler thinks AM radio has a bright future. He told NAB attendees, the Media Bureau has processed 500 applications for FM translators for AM station owners. He said, “AM, and radio in general, is free and portable.”  When asked about the FM Chip, Wheeler said, “The marketplace is succeeding, competition is working here.”

Responding to a question about the commission’s long overdue review of media ownership rules, Wheeler pledged to have a proposal out for a commission vote by this June. “It will be off the floor by then,” Wheeler said. “The issue with the ownership rules is this challenge of [getting] three votes [on the commission]. There will be a proposal on the floor that I hope will garner at least three votes and I hope it will garner five votes.”

Addressing his own future, Variety reports Wheeler said it’s too early to say whether he would like to stay on, and what might be next for him, with a year left in his term.

“I’m lucky enough to get to head this important agency at a time of incredible change in everything that we’re dealing with. And to get to deal with the ebb and flow of all of those issues. I just think you do your damndest to try to do the right thing and history will take care of itself.”


At the session “Transforming TV – VR, Cloud and the Multi-Screen Revolution,” Daniel Alegre, president of Google, gave a keynote discussing the future of television content distribution, discovery, and monetization. As part of the address, he announced the launch of Google’s DoubleClick Dynamic Ad Insertion with Cablevision and Roku. Alegre also announced that Google will add TV listings to their platform, which will include information on where the listed content can be watched. After his remarks, Alegre joined Kristin Dolan, COO of Cablevision Systems Corporation, for a conversation focused on the evolution of television content.

Oscar De La Hoya

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya keynoted the first-ever Multicultural TV and Video Conference, announcing a new media division at his company, Golden Boy Promotions. This new division will serve the casual and hardcore boxing fan base, offering exclusive content on a 24/7 basis. The conference also featured “What’s Everyone Watching? Multi-platform Programming for Multicultural Audiences,” which addressed how content providers, networks, producers and advertisers are connecting with specific sets of viewers. The session “How Do Diverse Voices Matter” touched on how the industry should approach the use of diverse talent – both on-camera and in executive offices – and the value that diverse talent brings to business.

The Technology Luncheon featured keynote speaker Ted Schilowitz, futurist at 20th Century Fox and CCO at Barco, who presented “The Future for Virtual Reality.” The NAB Technology Luncheon also featured the presentation of the NAB Engineering Achievement Awards. Richard Chernock, chief science officer at Triveni Digital, was honored for television, and Andrew Laird, recently retired as vice president and chief technology officer at Journal Broadcast Group, received the award for radio. The NAB Digital Leadership Award was given to Adam Symson, senior vice president and chief digital officer at The E.W. Scripps Company, for his significant role in enabling a traditional broadcast business to succeed on digital platforms.

The Super Session “Drones: Opening New Vistas to Content” featured Tony Carmean, CMO and co-founder of Aerial MOB; Dylan Goss, aerial director of photography at Team 5; Nick Kolias, aerial cinematographer at Aerial Edge; and Drew Roberts, founder, CEO and chief pilot at Wild Rabbit Productions, discussing the circumstances of shooting environments and how they affect drone cinematography. The session was moderated by Michael Chambliss, technologist and business representative at the International Cinematographers Guild.

Web-viewable video and broadcast-quality clips are available here, with additional clips from these sessions and more being uploaded as they become available.