Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

poorer chances of meeting July 7 & 21 dates than others. Their microwaves just aren't far enough along. AT&T doesn't give them much hope. AT&T is understandably leery of using the Jackson-Dallas coaxial. It has 8 tubes, 4 in each direction. Three tubes in each direction will be carrying heavy phone traffic by July. Other 2 are emergency spares; these are the ones which would be used for TV. If a phone tube breaks down, TV runs risk of being bumped by phone, to which AT&T gives highest priority. Remaining 5 TV cities of U.S. — Seattle, Phoenix and Albuquerque — plus Matamoros-Brownsville area, appear to be out in the cold indefinitely, since AT&T doesn't yet quote dates for them. Coaxial from Sacramento to Portland is now being used for phone, and Portland-Seattle microwave is planned for 1953. AT&T's main southern coaxial runs through Phoenix, but company hasn't even mentioned equipping it for TV. And there's no word at all regarding either coaxial or microwave for Albuquerque and Matamoros. FREEZE MELTING PROCESS IN FULL SWING: FCC is "rolling westward" — disposing of each city's channel allocation, narrowing its sights on the 2 weeks between Feb. 15 and March 1 for final freeze decision. Excitement grew daily as Commission spent entire week on freeze, and feeling began to spread that this is finally "it" after 3V2 years of fits and starts. Week's work comprised first go-around on many general standards, plus blocking out of channel assignments from New England to Midwest. On Jan. 28, Commission will plunge in where it left off, will again sit whole week. After all channels are tentatively assigned, Commission will take a breather, go back for final vote. But so many vitally important factors besides city allocations — such as post-freeze application-handling procedures — are yet to be considered by commissioners themselves, that March 1 appears to be safer bet than Feb. 15 for final decision. * * # * Rumors about decisions FCC is said to have made sweep industry constantly, but fact is many important questions won't actually be answered until just before final decision is issued. At the moment, however, there are strong probabilities regarding number of factors, such as: (1) Minimum station-separation mileages will be lowered in some areas. (2) Educational channel reservations won't be changed radically. (3) Uhf flexibility channels will be used where urgently demanded. (4) Power ceiling will be lifted — at least in uhf. (5) Of the 31 stations FCC proposed to shift to other channels, few if any will be unhappy with final assignments. s|c 5jC 5{c # Speculation about application-processing plans of Commission is agitating industry as much as guesses about which channels will be allocated where. Until recently, the "one pot" theory for hearings — all uhf & vhf applications thrown together into one big hearing in each city — seemed to carry most weight at FCC. Currently, channel-by-channel idea is picking up steam. Under this procedure, applicant would specify channel he wants. If anyone else wants it, there's a hearing. It not, applicant is free for immediate grant. But pros and cons are yet to be argued before commissioners. Prime argument of channel-by-channel proponents: faster grants, particularly uhf — Commission's most ardent desire. Opponents see applicants with best "espionage" systems emerging with grants by choosing right channel at right time. * * * # Bigger FCC budget for year ending June 30, 1953, submitted to Congress this week by President Truman, doesn't seem to offer as many prospects for greater speed in processing applications as had been hoped. President asks that FCC be given $8,075,000, compared with the $6,116,650 authorized for current year. But portion proposed for "broadcast activities" is