NAEB Newsletter (September 1, 1966)

VOL. 31, NO. 9 WASHINGTON, D.C. SEPTEMBER, 1966 National Radio Conference The Wingspread Conference on Educa¬ tional Radio as a National Resource, Sep¬ tember 26-28, Johnson Foundation, Racine, Wisconsin, “could lead to the establishment of a national commission on educational radio,” said NER Executive Director Jer- rold Sandler. “The development of a live educational network and national produc¬ tion center could get its start here, too.” Discussion seminars of 12-15 participants are scheduled, in addition to general ses¬ sions. On the drawing board—plans to pro¬ duce a special Trans-Atlantic Forum pro¬ gram, originating simultaneously from Wingspread, Washington, D. C., and Lon¬ don, featuring prominent figures. This and the plenary sessions will be broadcast over Wisconsin State Radio network, made available live to other NER Wisconsin and Michigan stations. Two of the major addresses will be de¬ livered by Charles A. Siepmann, professor of communications, New York University; Robert Lewis Shayon, radio-television crit¬ ic, Saturday Review. In addition to leading educators in at¬ tendance, these organizations will be repre¬ sented : RCA; Zerox Corporation; West- inghouse Broadcasting Company; AFL- CIO; U. S. Commission for UNESCO; National Council of Churches; General Electric Corporation; HEW; Office of Economic Opportunity; National Endow¬ ment for the Arts, Humanities; FCC. Alabama Network Aids Schools Jefferson County, Decatur City and Huntsville public schools began closed-cir¬ cuit telecasts this month. Albania network staff, under direction of A1 Renfro, engi¬ neering and technical supervisor, were re¬ sponsible for research and development. They will continue to serve as consultants. Huntsville public schools are originating telecasts from station WHIQ, a new pro¬ duction center. Alabama network will use some of the local programs. CONVENTION NOTE The University of Missouri, Office of Instructional Television, will interview pro¬ duction people at the NAEB October Con¬ vention, as part of an ongoing research proj¬ ect on the use of audio-visual materials in ITV. Contact Barry J. Cronin or Dr. Bar¬ ton L. Griffith in advance or at Muehle- bach Hotel. Ford Proposal Stirs Hill The Ford Foundation’s proposal for de¬ veloping and financing ETV has brought positive action from the House and Sen¬ ate. Last month, Sen. Pastore (D-R.I.), chairman of Commerce Communications Subcommittee, began hearings. Sen. Mag- nuson (D-Wash.), father of $50 million ETV aid, intrigued with the FF approach because “ETV stations have no firm finan¬ cial base on which to operate,” wants to know how government can assist. Rep. Pepper (D-Fla.) introduced HR- 16909, which would extend facilities pro¬ gram five years, raise per-state ceiling from $1 million to $3 million. NAEB Board chairman Richard B. Hull told Sen. Pastore that Ford is offering “a national educational TV system, and funds to make it wiork—twin bright promises.” NAEB president William Harley said that “educational radio is no less a vital concern . . . has never materialized its po¬ tential for fully serving education and the Nation.” He urged that educational radio be included in the Committee’s considera¬ tion of interconnection and financial sup¬ port for a “second service” for broadcast¬ ing. Senate check into who should own and operate a domestic-satellite communications systems stems from an American Broad¬ casting Co. aim to put up its own satellite, distributing programs to affiliates. FCC re¬ turned the ABC application early this year, then began full-scale inquiry on legal, tech¬ nical and policy issues involved. ABC, National Broadcasting Co., Com¬ munications Satellite Corporation (Com¬ sat) and Ford Foundation submitted “mod¬ els” of satellite systems. Only ABC and Ford provided for ETV; ABC allotted one channel, Ford suggested revolutionary ex¬ pansion. FF President McGeorge Bundy proposed a nonprofit corporation to handle a domes¬ tic satellite system for commercial television, allot “profits” to ETV. Capital cost for 4 regional ETV centers, $50 million; annual ETV expenses $60 million. One-third of ITV costs “might come from new appro¬ priations,” probably the government. A por¬ tion of the estimated $45 million savings in land-line charges per year to networks would go for ETV programing. FF would spend $30 million a year, up to $60 million within ten years. RECENT FCC FILINGS Instructional Television Fixed Service: August decision by FCC says: Appli¬ cation for more than one ITFS chan¬ nel must include information about begin¬ ning and completion of construction of each channel applied for. If fewer than four channels are sought, it is now permissible to request that remaining channels in the group be reserved. Federal Communications Commission turned down application from The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York for advance information on applicants for ITV Fixed Service. Regents wanted states to do the screening. In written statement: NAEB asked FCC to reject petition from Television Broadcast Stations, Salina and Lincoln Center, Kan¬ sas. TBC wants Channel 34 substituted for Channel 9; and Channel 9, now at Lincoln Center, moved to Salina for commercial purposes. NAEB said switch would hamper de¬ velopment of Channel 8, Hutchinson ETV, planned to serve more than 700,000 Kan¬ sans. In addition, costs involved in operat¬ ing Channel 34 at Lincoln Center as pro¬ posed by TBC would be prohibitive for ETV interests. NAEB has urged FCC to take prompt ac¬ tion in licensing Nebraska Educational Tele¬ vision Commission to activate Channel 19, Norfolk, Nebraska—would provide broad coverage for northeast part of the state. (RM-998) Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore¬ gon, has filed application for a permit to build a new ETV station. NEA-OE Seeks New TV Data The National Education Association, in cooperation with the U. S. Office of Edu¬ cation will query approximately 90 percent of all educational institutions to determine how many schools are using closed-circuit or Instructional Television Fixed Service and specific use of facilities. Schools using CCTV and/or ITFS sys¬ tems will be asked for detailed information on personnel and equipment, to aid USOE in making recommendations for equipment compatibility. 1