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'63 Communications Highliglits — Satellites, Ads, JFK Coverage
IN the field of communications, the year 1963 was one of considerable activity and accomplishment.
Major advancements in our national program to establish an operable international communications system using space satellites was the most significant development of the year. Of critical importance was the action of the Extraordinary Administrative Radio Conference in Geneva, at which member nations of the International Telecommunication Union jointly recognized the benefits which can flow from such a system, and set aside frequencies essential to the success of the program.
In addition, the Communications Satellite Corp., which will own and operate the American portion of the system, Is actively engaged in working out the technological requirements and the international arrangements to establish early interim operation. Continued experiments with Telstar, Relay and Syncom hold forth the promise that space satellites, in the next few years, can provide reliable and economic communications to supplement radio and cable facilities.
In the area of domestic broadcasting, we note with particular pleasure the stepped-up activity in educational television. Over 80 educational TV stations were on the air at the year's end and, aided by the Federal grant-in-aid program and the all-channel receiver fiegislation, we anticipate continuing and substantial growth in this service In the year ahead.
During the year past the Commission has also examined the question of the amount of time devoted to commercials, has moved to clairfy broadcasters' responsibilities to their local communities in the fair treatment of controversial topics of public importance, has imposed a modest filing
By E. WILLIAM HENRY
Chairman Federal Communications i Commission
I
fee on most applications to offset, in part, the regulatory expenses of the agency, and has continued its efforts to foster and promte the use of all 82 TV channels.
In its continuing effort to make broadcasters live up to their promises and obligations, the Commission reminded licensees of their responsibilities under the 1949 fairness doctrine and explained the applicability of the sponsorship identification of a 1960 law.
The magnitude of nonbroadcast radio operations in this country is manifested by the fact that the FCC now has more than 1.2 million radio station licensees who operate over 4 million transmitters. These stations aid in police and fire protection and other state and local government activities; direct the movement of vehicles on land and water and in the air; assist manufacturing and other business operations; speed the delivery of our products and services; summon doctors and ambulances; help conserve our forests; gather and relay news, and perform vital functions to bulwark the national defense.
The assassination of President Kennedy and its aftermath kept a sorrowing nation watching and listening to broadcasts as never before. For more than three days, networks and stations across the country voluntarily abandoned regular programming to give constant coverage of the tragic events, for which they received the highest official and public plaudits. Some of this reporting was relayed to other mourning countries by satellite and the new transpacific cable.
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