Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)

"The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) was established in 1983 to develop voluntary technical standards, including interactive television systems and digital high definition television (HDTV). The ATSC is usually thought of as a committee to address the needs of the North American television market. The ATSC standard for HDTV was approved in 1995 and adopted?with the exception of the mandatory video formats section?by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1996. It is to replace the analog National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) format in North America. See also National Television Systems Committee (NTSC), high definition television (HDTV), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC)."