Announcements

March 7, 2024- A3SA Policy: Individual Viewer Data Not Tracked by Content Protection Technology

ATSC 3.0 Security Authority LLC (“A3SA”) operates, via a contractor, a proxy server to process requests from ATSC 3.0 receivers (such as televisions or set-top boxes) for cryptographic credentials to decrypt ATSC 3.0 television broadcast signals encrypted by Google’s Widevine technology pursuant to the A3SA content protection specifications.

Because such receivers use the Internet to make requests for decryption credentials, the proxy server is necessarily provided with the Internet protocol (“IP”) address of each receiver based on the Internet service used at its location (e.g., a household).  As part of the decryption credentials request, the receiver also provides a unique device identifier to the proxy server.  A3SA does not collect or authorize the collection on its behalf of any other personally identifiable information as part of the transaction to process a request for decryption credentials.  Viewer data may be collected by third parties in the delivery of ATSC 3.0 broadcasts apart from A3SA’s decryption credentials transactions.  Please refer to the applicable policies of these third parties for their privacy practices.

A3SA uses the IP address and device identifier to 1) process and fulfill requests for decryption credentials (i.e., to deliver to the requesting receiver decryption credentials that are enabled for that specific receiver), 2) to streamline subsequent requests from the same receiver, and 3) to monitor the performance and efficiency of the proxy server and to troubleshoot and fix problems which might arise.  A3SA does not use or authorize the use of the IP address or device identifier for any other purpose (e.g., marketing to you) and does not provide either one to third parties, nor does it acquire marketing data from third parties to match up to the IP address and device identifier.  A3SA may be legally required to preserve or disclose such information in response to a lawful order of a court or agency of government or law enforcement.

The logs of the A3SA proxy server which include the IP addresses and device identifiers are preserved only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described above (generally anticipated to be up to sixty (60) days), and are then deleted.

February 26, 2024—Digital Video Recorder Specifications Released for New NEXTGEN TV Devices Electronic Manufacturers Provide Input for Development of Secure DVR Platforms

A new digital video recorder (DVR) specification is now available to licensees of the A3SA content protection technology that is now being deployed throughout the country concurrent with the launch of NEXTGEN TV broadcast channels.  The new specification provides a blueprint for a variety of new ATSC 3.0 recording devices that will allow innovators to develop new products for home networks, insuring the seamless and easy viewing of favorite broadcast TV programs.

“For the past year, we’ve been working in consultation with several electronics companies who are developing devices designed to add new features for NEXTGEN TV viewers, from simple DVRs to more advanced home networking systems.  After considering the various home scenarios, A3SA is pleased to release detailed specifications that will guide companies and soon provide consumers with a wealth of new options for digital video recording and more,” said Ron Wheeler, managing director of A3SA.

A3SA approved the new specifications and rules for secure DVRs, home gateways, and other accessory devices, as well as a newly added alternative method to let viewers securely stream ATSC 3.0 content from such devices throughout their home network.  Developed in consultation with manufacturers and with extensive subsystem prototyping to prove feasibility, the new DVR specifications support multiple product architectures from single components to systems that have devices distributed across a home network.

The DVR specification is designed to work in concert with A3SA’s earlier established Broadcaster Encoding Rules, which govern how broadcasters can use the A3SA security technology with ATSC 3.0 content that is simulcast with corresponding ATSC 1.0 content, allowing viewers to decode and record broadcasts, make unlimited copies without expiration dates, and use common features like pause, rewind and fast-forward.  The A3SA Encoding Rules also prevent downgrading of picture quality when connecting to legacy television sets.

The new A3SA DVR specification supports in-home streaming to applications hosted on common media consumption platforms such as Android, Fire, Roku, WebOS, and Tizen, with iOS support in process.  The spec supports dynamic memory provisioning for media playback (an advantage for consumer devices) and enables developers of new NEXTGEN TV platforms to bring to market innovative new options.

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Media Contact

Dave Arland, Arland Communications

dave@arlandcom.com

Phone:  (317) 701-0084

August 21, 2023—A3SA announces a set of “Encoding Rules” its licensed broadcasters must follow for encrypted ATSC 3.0 broadcasts that are simulcast with ATSC 1.0 broadcasts

July 27, 2023—A3SA has approved the issuance of a new Verification Test Suite Addendum for licensed Adopters who implement A3SA’s current (V0.9) Specifications in receiver devices and components intended for consumers, as well as in professional tools intended for broadcasters and other device manufacturers.  The included new V0.9 Test Suite enables the testing of a far higher percentage of the features required by the new Specifications than the previous version did.  This in turn should enable device and component manufacturers to deliver even greater levels of reliability for their products than was previously possible

March  24, 2022– The following documents are now available:

February 14, 2022– A3SA is pleased to announce the “Sunrise” of the availability of signal signing for ATSC 3.0 Signals and Applications!

For broadcasters wanting to begin signing ATSC 3.0 Signals or Applications, please see the Broadcaster Onboarding Process and use the contact info listed in the process and elsewhere in this site when you’re ready to move forward. We and our PKI vendor Eonti look forward to working with you!