Broadcasting (Jul - Dec 1944)

' ACTIVE SALT LAKE MARKET 1 Utah has one of the highest per capita ratings as a radio listening market. National Representative JOHN BLAIR & CO. 3,000 mc band, were made by David B. Smith of Philco Corp., Philadelphia, chairman of Panel 6. Mr. Smith summarized the major recommendations of Panel 6 as follows: (1) Commercial monochrome television broadcasting should be continued on 6 mc channels; (2) provision should be made for licensing relay stations for point-topoint service of the following types (a) studio-to-transmitter, (b) portable-mobile pickup, (c) inter-city links, and (d) intra-city links. (3) Every effort should be made to provide a continuous frequency spectrum of 30 channels of 6 mc. width for immediate postwar commercial monochrome television. War Progress Mr. Smith recommended that this spectrum include the present group A channels, which begin at 50 mc, asserting, "It is recognized that this ideal may not be capable of attainment without undue sacrifice on the part of other services." He submitted a plan for 26 channels to be available immediately after the war and so designed that additional channels to give a more continuous spectrum could be interposed in event the intervening services find it feasible to move to other frequencies. With respect to color television, Panel 6 decided that "adequate standards for color television for a 6 mc channel cannot be estab FCC COUNSEL TABLE— Dr. L. P. Wheeler, chief, Technical Information Section, first witness; Charles R. Denny, general counsel; George P. Adair, chief engineer; Harry M. Plotkin, assistant general counsel. lished at this time". Mr. Smith pointed out, however, that experiments are continuing. He urged that provision be made now for higher frequency channels in which experimentation and development may be conducted "looking toward an improved service which may include color, higher definition and any other improvements which may occur". Experimental channels should be 20 mc wide, he said, but suggested that no other standards for them be established at the present. The channels should be assigned on the basis that they will subsequently be used for commercial broadcasting of improved television service "at such time as standards are adopted". "Our Panel found that as a result of war work, there have been substantial developments which improve the performance of tele IT'S A NEAT TRICK IF HE DOES IT W. H. BEEQUE . and he does ... according to HOOPER . . . On the air around the clock — such leading commentators as Gabriel Heatter and Fulton Lewis Jr. . . . news every hour on the hour ... no wonder -the newest Hooper shows a decided jump — and yet the prices are unbelievably low. Your product will be in the best of company on WHBCP. News Every Hour on the Hour m WHBQ i ^■■■■^ your MUTUAL friend ^ MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE vision service and materially reduce the cost of television receivers," said Mr. Smith. "All the standards have been carefully reviewed and such minor modifications have been made as are necessary to include these improvements within the National Television Systems Committee standards under which the industry is now operating." Industry Ready Mr. Smith said that although it was felt 30 channels of 6 mc widtli are needed, because of the other services Panel 6 would recommend an allocation plan "that would provide 26 six mc channels between 50 mc and 246 mc", including some gaps for existing private and Government services. "I feel very strongly that the radio industry is ready, willing and able to provide the public with a very acceptable form of television broadcasting service," said Mr. Smith, "at sufficiently low in cost to be within the reach of nearly everyone." Asserting that facsimile "is a service capable of standing on it? own feet", John V. L. Hogan, chairman of Panel 7, a consulting engineer and former owTier of WQXRWQXQ New Yoi'k, recommended that FCC Rule 3.228 be amended, declaring that "it handicaps facsimile". Should Modify Rule He asked for an assignment of 20 channels, each 100 kc wide, in the band between 100-200 mc for the exclusive use of facsimile. The FCC rule should be modified to permit facsimile transmission alone u n I T E D PRESS Oage 56 • October 2, 1944 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising