Currently, it's either an extension or a "hack" using an Autoconfig file (that isn't going to work any more in Firefox 59+).

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/7d4nto/how_do_you_select_a_custom_url_as_your_new_tab/dpv7iax/

Thank you for your quick response! :) However, I still would like to know how to make this a feature request for a newer build? Understanding that ALL major browsers have this particular functionality (i.e. Opera, Chrome, MS Edge and IE, Vivaldi, Slimjet, Lunascape6 and for heaven sake, even K-meleon has it!), why is this such a problem for Mozilla? I think the RESPONSIBLE thing to do would be to make it a browser customization option (where ever Mozilla deems fit to make it available), instead of forcing a user to rely on an external source for a CORE FUNCTION...

These are common avenues for proposing new features:

• Feedback: https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/FirefoxInput/
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/firefox
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Firefox

Sorry, but allow me to be more clear in my response.

I'd like to open a ticket with Mozilla, since this WAS a core function of Firefox prior to Quantum, and now it's missing.

How does one open a ticket (with tracking abilities) to get this resolved?

ChewyAM said

I'd like to open a ticket with Mozilla, since this WAS a core function of Firefox prior to Quantum, and now it's missing.

You can file a "bug" if that's what you mean. However, you are incorrect that the new tab page could be set by a different method in recent versions of Firefox. The old method of setting the browser.newtab.url preference to about:blank was removed in Firefox 41 because it was constantly attacked by malware. If you were using that preference more recently, an extension was implementing it, not Firefox.

https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Mozilla/QA/Bug_writing_guidelines

Then I stand corrected, but I firmly stand by everything else...ALL other major (and not so major) browsers STILL have this functionality.

I will submit a bug ticket as you have indicated and do very much appreciate your timely and informative posts/answers. Thank you for your time!  :)

Use this instead in mozilla.cfg (should work with 44+ Firefox versions).

// first line is a comment line
var {classes:Cc,interfaces:Ci,utils:Cu} = Components;

try {
 var newTabURL = "about:blank";
 aboutNewTabService = Cc["@mozilla.org/browser/aboutnewtab-service;1"].getService(Ci.nsIAboutNewTabService);
 aboutNewTabService.newTabURL = newTabURL;
 pref("browser.newtab.url", aboutNewTabService.newTabURL);
} catch(e){Cu.reportError(e);}

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox/Enterprise_deployment

Bug 1426438 - Remove NewTabURL.jsm (59) Bug 1204983 - Allow about: pages to load remote content (44)

Chewy I am running the newest version of Firefox. Here is the link to the addon that you are looking for, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/blank-new-tab/ It works for me. I know all about the old way by going into the "about:config" cmd to change the "about:tab".

Steve

ChewyAM said I want the ability to set my newtab option to about:blank, WITHOUT an extension, plugin or any other addon. Can this be done?

ALL OTHER BROWSERS HAVE THIS CAPABILITY...What happened to firefox? and NO, having all options removed EXCEPT THAT LITTLE Cog-Wheel in the upper right hand corner is NOT an acceptable solution (for me).