Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Dill Writing Measure to Adjust Differences on Radio Copyright Four Other Bills Before Congress on Same Issue; House Committee to Open Hearings Feb. 1 WHILE the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is pondering an internal reorganization, with a view to naming a successor to the late Julius C. Rosenthal, general manager, Senator Dill (D.) of Washington, coauthor of the Radio Act of 1927, is writing a new copyright bill aimed in part at moderating the differences between the broadcasters and copyright owners. Rep. William I. Sirovich (D.), New York, chairman of the House Patents Committee, has scheduled hearings on the general copyright subject to begin Feb. 1. He said the hearings are not on any particular bill but simply to gather information of the subject of copyrights. The Authors' League will be heard first, followed by other groups which desire to give testimony, including broadcasters. Senator Dill said he was not yet ready to discuss the contents of his proposed bill, but declared it will "interest the broadcasters." It is designed, he added, to reorganize the whole copyright situation for "orderly regulation." Unofficially, it is understood that the measure contemplates closer governmental control and supervision of copyrights. Senator Dill is writing the bill with the aid of experts and after having carefully studied the new Canadian copyright statute. Senator Dill's bill, which probably will be ready for introduction in a few weeks, will be the fifth copyright measure to be introduced in Congress this session. The Vestal bill (H. R. 139), which was defeated in the last Congress, where it was opposed by the broadcasters, has been reintroduced in essentially the same form, but Rep. Vestal (R.) of Indiana is no longer chairman of the House Patent Committee, which has charge of such legislation as a result of Democratic control of the House. Rep. Sirovich (D.) of New York is chairman of that committee now. None Pleases Broadcasters SENATOR HEBERT (R.) of Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Patent Committee, has also introduced a copyright bill (S. 176) as have Senator King (D.) of Utah (S. 21) and Senator Tydings (D.) of Maryland (S. 1035). None of these bills, it is understood, is yet acceptable to the broadcasters in present form, and the copyright committee of the National Association of Broadcasters has not given its approval to any of them. The Tydings bill is perhaps the most interesting, providing in general that the copyright owner shall collect from the initial sale of his copyrights a sum precluding the later collection of license fees. At a meeting of the N.A.B. executive committee in Washington, Jan. 19 and 20, the copyright situation was one of the subjects considered. All of the proposed legislation was discussed, and the committee later called upon Senator Dill. No affirmative action was taken, but it was decided that the N.A.B. will insist upon being heard on any radio legislation, copyright and otherwise, which may be set for hearing in either house of Congress. Those attending the meeting were Harry Shaw, N.A.B. president; Philip G. Loucks, managing director; Henry A. Bellows, WCCO, Minneapolis; William S. Hedges, WMAQ, Chicago, and Frank M. Russell, NBC vice-president, Washington. From the Society no word of its future intentions has been forthcoming. Gene Buck, president, was a Washington visitor in mid-January, and he said that the matter of broadcast license fees is being held up indefinitely because of Mr. Rosenthal's death. Unconfirmed reports have it that E. Claude Mills, formerly with the society and lately with Radio Music Co., an NBC subsidiary, is being considered for the Rosenthal successorship, but other reports are to the effect that he is unavailable because of other commitments and not altogether acceptable to the society because of its recent radio affiliations. Licenses are Extended IN THE meantime, the Society, which originally announced its intention of levving new — and higher — copyright license fees on broadcasters as of Feb. 1, has extended all expiring contracts with stations, most of which end Feb. 1, renewing them on the old terms but with 90-dav cancellation clauses. The Society's proposed new yardstick for fixing fees, uuon which it agreed to confer with the organized broadcasters before placing it into effect, has not vet been worked out so far as can be learned. The Society's plain intent is to obtain higher revenues from radio, which it blames for the curtailment of sheet music sales, but the method of levying the fee on a basis that would be fair to large and small broadcasters alike has not been determined. It is understood that the Society collected about $100,000 more from broadcasters in 1931 than in 1930, when its gross from radio was supposed to total nearly $900,000. The Society's committee which is supposed to be working out the new yardstick consists of Ed Bitnerm, Sol Bornstein. G. Schirmer, Robert Crawford, Oley Speaks and Joe Young. Broadcast of Lusitania Salvaging Plan of CBS THE CBS will attempt to broadcast over its WABC network a description of the salvage operations on the wrecked Lusitania, which is scheduled to start within a few months. The Lake-Riley expedition aims to recover articles of historic and intrinsic value from the liner which was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. From the War Zone GENERALS of the Japanese army in Manchuria go on the air every night to tell the folks at home by radio about their military accomplishments, reports Peter Dixon, newspaper columnist. American listeners to the NBCWJZ network on Jan. 20 heard a word picture of events transpiring in Manchuria from Floyd Gibbons, noted war correspondent and radio speaker, who talked from Mukden, practically at the scene of hostilities. He introduced also General Honjo, commander of the Japanese forces. Their words were first carried to Tokyo, thence relayed by short waves across the Pacific and to the network from San Francisco. Special Requests Under New Rules TO CHECK the deluge of applications for special authorizations received from broadcasting stations and to avoid interference and confusion, the Federal Radio Commission on Jan. 18 adopted new procedure governing such requests. These applications must be made by the station licensee at least three days in advance, and applications made by other than fulltime stations must be supported by the consent of the dominant station or the station with which the applicant divides. The applicant must show the public need for the request. "A great many requests," said a Commission statement, "are received for special authorizations to permit the operation of stations in a manner and to an extent which are at variance with the terms of existing licenses. Because of the increased number of such requests and the consideration that must be given to the need of such extended service and to the question whether the granting thereof might adversely affect the listeners residing in the normal service areas of other stations, the Commission has adopted the following procedure which must be adhered to by all applicants: "1. — Applications for special authorizations must be made by the licensee. "2. — Applications for special authorizations must be received in the offices of the Commission at least three (3) days previous to the date for which the authorization is requested. "3. — Applications made by "Limited," "Day," "Part Time," or "Specified Hour" stations must be supported by the consent of the dominant station or the station with which the applicant divides time. Consents must be received by the Commission direct from the stations giving them and must show whether the consent is for simultaneous operation or whether the station giving the consent is giving up the time sought by the applicant. "4. — Applicant must show the public need for such authorization. "Approval by the Commission will not be given in cases where another station is licensed to operate in the same locality and during the hours specified in the application." KNX, HOLLYWOOD, has been added to the CBS network to furnish an additional Los Angeles outlet. It will carry only a limited number of programs at the outset. Couzens Opposed Brown's Approval] Senate Confirmation Delayec As Hearings Are Indicated OBJECTIONS interposed by Sena tor Couzens, (R.) Mich., have de layed Senate action on the appoint ment of Col. Thad H. Brown, oi Ohio, nominated on Jan. 14 bj President Hoover to become radic commissioner representing the Second Zone in succession to Judge Ira E. Robinson, resigned. As chairman of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee, to which the nomination was referred. Senator Couzens said he desired to hold hearings and inquire into the qualifications of Col. Brown, now commission general counsel. The Committee, however, already has scheduled hearings on bus regulation for the next week, and it appears that if the inquiry is decided upon, it must await an open date on the calendar. It is intimated in Senatorial circles that while there will be opposition to Col. Brown on political grounds, his nomination ultimately will be confirmed. Senator Couzens has protested on two occasions to President Hoover concerning the appointment, and afterward declared he viewed it as the "payment of a political debt." A Republican, Col. Brown was appointed to the Commission two years ago, succeeding as general counsel Bethuel M. Webster, Jr., who had resigned. He is a resident of Columbus, O., and was formerly Secretary of State of Ohio. He was nominated by President Hoover to fill the unexpired term of Judge Robinson, which ends Feb. 23, as well as for the new full term of six years. The Commission is understood to be considering the promotion of either Duke M. Patrick or Ben S. Fisher, assistant general counsel, to succeed Col. Brown as general counsel, upon the latter's confirmation. Both are Republicans, and both have been with the Commission since January, 1930. Patrick is a native of Indiana and Fisher was appointed from Oregon. Educational Program Opens Over NBC Net A NEW SERIES of educational programs was inaugurated over an extensive NBC network on Jan. 17 under the direction of Florence Hale, president of the National Educational Association. Nationally known authorities on education will be heard each Sunday through Feb. 21 in the programs known as "Our American Schools.'' Rep. Carroll Beedy, of Maine, and Mrs. Hugh Bradford, of Pasadena, president of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, spoke on the inaugural broadcast. James Wilkinson, Washington tenor, and a quartet provide musical entertainment for the program, which goes on the air at 6:30 p. m., EST. Deletion of KFUP, Denver, 100 watt half-time station on 1310 kc. which has been inoperative for about a year, was ordered by the Radio Commission Jan. 29. The station was licensed to Fitzsimons General Hospital, U. S. Army, and its facilities are unassigned. Page 6 BROADCASTING • February I, 1932