At this year’s NextGen Broadcast Conference, ATSC honored Julia Kenyon of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) with the 2026 Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award.
“Julia is an excellent consensus builder and techno-diplomat who is a graceful and very competent leader. She knows how to help groups get things done efficiently and collegially, which is a real art,” commented ATSC President Madeleine Noland. “Not only has she led multiple ATSC committees, but Julia also has a terrific sense of humor and is able to blend levity with the serious nature of standards work. She is always curious, and most recently has been helping ATSC participants really lean into the benefits of developing artificial intelligence tools.”
Kenyon has served as Vice Chair of ATSC Specialist Group on Interactive Environment (TG3/S38), Vice Chair of ATSC Implementation on Conformance (IT-3), and Chair of ATSC Specialist Group on Management and Protocols (TG3/S33). Additionally, for more than three years, she has served as CTA’s lead technical representative for the NEXTGEN TV Test Suite development, working not only with ATSC but also chairing CTA’s own groups that work with the test suite. Kenyon also guided ATSC in the development of A/381, the recommended practice for use of the broadcaster application for NEXTGEN TV.
“Julia Kenyon brings unique skills to the challenge of ensuring NEXTGEN TVs work properly with the advanced services ATSC 3.0 broadcasts provide. Besides her visible leadership in ATSC and CTA standards groups, Julia directs the TV testing program that backs the NEXTGEN TV logo. CTA commends Julia on this recognition of all she has done for ATSC and the industry,” said Brian Markwalter, ATSC Board of Directors Vice Chair and Senior VP of Research and Standards for the Consumer Technology Association.
“Julia is an exceptional contributor to ATSC 3.0. She leads and contributes to standards and compliance development both in ATSC and in CTA, covering the spectrum from origination of services at broadcast to consumption at consumer devices. She maintains balance, fairness, and technical rigor – as well as humor – throughout,” said ATSC Board of Director Member Dr. Paul Hearty, of Technology Advisors and ATSC Technical Group 3 (TG3) Chair.
The Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award is bestowed once a year to an individual representative of the ATSC membership whose technical and leadership contributions to ATSC have been invaluable and exemplary. The Lechner Award recognizes the first recipient, the late Bernard Lechner, for his outstanding service to the ATSC. Lechner was the retired Staff Vice President, Advanced Video Systems of RCA Laboratories. His 30-year career at RCA covered all aspects of television and display research.
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