Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

3 shouldn't be blacked out immediately — but insisted that “the Commission can and should establish reasonable rules providing for the authorization of vhf boosters on a practical basis." Cross said he favors giving boosters 2-3 years for changeover. Booster operators have 90 days to file applications for uhf translators "or some other type of authorized TV station" or else FCC will "take steps" to knock them off air. It's estimated there are 1000-1500 now operating. Commission also made it clear that it will move immediately against any new starters. It's all over but the shouting — but there will be some shouting. For example, it's hard to believe that some Western Senators, probably including chairman of Commerce Committee Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash. ) , won't gripe about it. Virtually all boosters are in West, and Washington has very heavy concentration. Committee staff report on small-town TV. including the booster situation, will be issued next week. Written by attorneys Ken Cox & Nick Zapple, it's expected to urge favorable FCC consideration of boosters — but it follows a fait accompli, thus vastly weakening an impact which otherwise might have been considerable. Appeals to the courts by booster operators, if any, will have slim chances. Court of Appeals has affirmed FCC's right to control or eliminate boosters, though it was sympathetic to needs of isolated viewers (Vol. 13:18). [For further details, impact on translator growth, community antennas, etc., see p. 9.] CONGRESSIONAL SHAPE OF THINGS TO CONE: What's in store for FCC. networks & stations at hands of 86th Congress — if House investigators have their way in upcoming session — was sketched in bold & black outlines this week by 92pp. final report and recommendations of Commerce legislative oversight (Harris) subcommittee (see p. 5). Sweeping reform legislation — proposed for all Federal regulatory agencies — would range from laws to eliminate outside "influence" to criminal penalties for any infractions of codes of ethics. Specific FCC legislation would outlaw such evils as license "trafficking" & "payoffs." And subcommittee lays out 12 housekeeping chores for FCC itself to perform to clean up its practices & procedures. But after all that, subcommittee isn't through yet — even though it closed its own shop Jan. 3 after year of more-or-less happy headline-hunting (Vol. 14:2 et seq). "We know that we have not covered all that should be covered," said Chairman Harris (D-Ark. ) . For its investigative successors on Capitol Hill, the subcommittee outlines specific FCC "matters requiring further legislative inquiry." Another sure sign that session won't be dull one for FCC and broadcasters is scope of investigative agenda proposed. It includes: (1) Use of spectrum & allocations. (2) Problems of vhf vs. uhf. (3) "Nuisance filings." (4) Option-time vs. "local control" of programs. (5) Clear channels. (6) Licensing of the networks. (7) Multiple station ownership. (8) "Centralization of economic power." All these subjects and more are fair grist for the Congressional mill, which has never failed to grind away at one aspect of radio or another since beginnings of broadcasting. One of the few subjects untouched in the Harris committee report is pay TV — and Harris, an adamant opponent, will be trying to take care of that himself in the Commerce Committee hearings expected to start some time this month. Also untouched in the oversight subcommittee's report are such holdover subjects from the last session (Vol. 14:34) as TV ratings and anti-trust exemptions for professional sports so that broadcasts of games can be blacked out. But those subjects won't be overlooked, for the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee will look into ratings again — and it can be presumed that Senate & House supporters of the blackout bill will be back at it again. The Harris report is only symptomatic. Every Senator and Congressman has his own ideas about what ought to be done, and cries of "there ought to be a law" will echo through the sacred halls of Congress again and again. Certainly, the outcries against certain types of programming won't be overlooked as a sure-fire publicity vehicle. All in all, session looks like another open season on broadcasting.