Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

FCC BUDGET President Asks 2.7% Increase ^° "^^^'^y FCC is slated to receive a slight increase in appropriations for fiscal 1951 — primarily for additional television research and equipment — if Congress approves budget recommendations submitted by President Truman last week. In the new proposed budget report to the 81st Congress Monday, the Commission was tabbed for $6,914,600— a 2.7% increase over 1950's total appropriation of $6,737,000. The budget proposal seeks no specific appropriation for a general network investigation, in which the Commission repeatedly has expressed interest. Nor did FCC ask for such a fund, it was learned. It was not known whether the overall budget proposal, if approved by Congress, would permit a broadscale probe in event FCC should choose to launch one. The Budget Bureau described FCC's recommended appropriation as an increase of $177,600 over 1950. FCC officials, however, placed the actual boost more -in the neighborhood of $75,000 or $80,000, allowing for recent pay increases and cei'tain obligations carrying over. State Dept.'s international information program, including Voice of America operations, also is slated for a slight increase, covering expenses for intensified Voice programming. Voice is slated to receive over $11,500,000. 'Voice' Budget President Truman urged $36,645,000 for fiscal 1951 compared to $47,300,000 actually allocated at present for international information and educational exchange activities. Latter sum, however, included a deficiency outlay of $1,800,000 and a supplemental sum of $11,500,000, mostly for construction of new broadcasting facilities and equipment. "Demand for assignment of frequencies, increased by development of new uses of radio, requires the Commission to engage in technical research to make sure the public receives the best possible utilization of the available radio spectrum," the President pointed out, citing the need for additional television research and equipment. "The Commission has had to impose a 'freeze' on television applications until certain technical problems are resolved and important basic work is performed," the President asserted. "The existing backlog of AM applications on hand should be reduced to normal by the close "f 1951. The requested increase in this category is due to additional television activities." The proposed budget would provide for a maximum of 1,375 permanent positions compared to 1949's 1,423 and entail s^.lary ex PROPOSED FCC BUDGET FOR 1951 OBLIGATIONS BY ACTIVITIES 1949 1950 1951 Actual Estimate Estimate 1. Common carrier activities S 930,694 S 863,550 S 867,267 2. Applied technical research and frequency allocation 372,229 383,023 398,199 3. Field engineering and monitoring 2,512,070 2,408,203 2,423,184 4. Safety and special services 691,779 722,557 743,277 5. Broadcast activities 1,196,936 1,181,688 1,224,276 6. Progrom supervision and general administration . . 1,007,551 1,015,739 1,036,797 7. Pay increases 141,700 212,000 Total Obligations 56,711,259 56,716,460 56,905,000 penditures of $5,854,841 — or less than 1949's $5,867,918. In urging $36,645,000 for the State Dept.'s information program, President Truman reminded that a substantial portion of the improved domestic and overseas radio transmitting facilities authorized by the 1950 supplemental will be in operation in 1951. Scheduled are an average of 35 hours of Voice programming per day in approxi mately 32 languages to a potential audience of 282 million persons. Under President Truman's breakdown, $11,095,548 would be used for program expenses and $695,384 for establishment of still newer radio facilities. President Truman called for additional funds to enable Federal Trade Commission to "expand its anti-monopoly legal case work to take care of the increased number FCC CHAIRMAN Wayne Coy and other top-ranking members of the Commission are scheduled to appear before a House Appropriations subcommittee early this week to testify on the Commission's fiscal 1951 budget. of complaints of monopolistic practices received from the public." FTC would be given $4,225,00fj in fiscal 1951 compared to its initial 1950 appropriation of $3,650,000. Toward the 17th decennial census the President proposed a 1951 appropriation of $29,750,000. It was pointed out the census will cost approximately $92,000,000, of which $52,761,000 has already been appropriated. Included in the census will be tabulations of AM and TV receivers. 5PAC mr NBC Group Honors Trammell A RESOLUTION expressing "heartfelt appreciation" to Niles Trammell, NBC board chairman, was passed last Thursday at a oneday combined meeting of NBC's 1949 and 1950 Stations Planning and Advisory Committees. The meeting, headed by Clair McCollough of the Mason-Dixon Group, and newly-elected chairman of SPAC, unanimously passed the following resolution: "Whereas during the year 1949 the National Broadcasting Co. has done such an outstanding sales job; and "Whereas we are convinced, beyond doubt, that such a job could only have been possible under ex ceptional leadership, "Now therefore be it resolved that the combined Stations Planning and Advisory Committee of 1949-1950, in behalf of the stations of the network, which it represents, does go on record as expressing to Niles Trammell, 'Mr. Radio' himself, heartfelt appreciation for this enviable achievement ; "And further does extend to Mr. Trammell our congratulations on his well-earned promotion to chairman of the board of NBC; "And does pledge to him and his capable staff our continuing wholehearted support." Mr. Trammell welcomed the group at the morning session, THESE broadcast'ers were amorig those attending the first meeting of MBC's 1950 Stations Planning ond Advisory Committee in Netv York, Jan. 11. L to r: Sitting — Jack Harris, KPRC Houston; Clair McCollougS, WGAL Lancaster, Pa., and Mason-Dixon Group; Howard Pill, W5FA Montgomery, Ala.; John M. Outler Jr., WSB-TV Atlanta; Standing — Ewing C. Keliy, KCRA Socramento, Calif.; John Murphy, Crosle<' Broadcasting Inc.; Harold Essex, WSJS Winston-Salem, N. C; Walter J. Darom, WTMJ Milwaukee; Milton Greenebaum, WSAM Soginaw, Mich., and Walter Wagstaff, KIDO Boise. which was told of the company's reorganization by President Joseph H. McConnell. Charles R. Denny, executive vice president, presided. Also discussed were sales prospects, with Walter Scott, eastern sales manager, speaking in the absence because of illness of Harry C. Kopf, vice president in charge of radio sales; program plans, discussed by Thomas McCray, national radio program director, and promotion activities, with Charles P. Hammond, vice president in charge of advertising and promotion, speaking. A sub-committee was appointed to select a date and site for the 1950 affiliates convention. The afternoon session was devoted to television, with Sylvester L. Weaver, vice president in charge of the TV network, presiding. George H. Frey, director of TV sales, discussed sales prospects. A dinner at New York's Hampshire House concluded the meeting. Members of the 1950 SPAC attending the meeting were : Mr. McCollough, Harold Essex, WSJS Winston-Salem, N. C; Milton Greenebaum, WSAM Saginaw, Mich.; Howard Pill, WSFA Montgomery, Ala., newly elected SPAC secretary; Walter Damm, WTMJ Milwaukee; Jack Harris, KPRC Houston. Walter Wagstaff, KIDO Boise, Ida.; Ewing Kelly, KCRA Sacramento; John M. Outler, WSBTV Atlanta, and John Murphy, WLWT (TV) Cincinnati. Also attending the meeting were these members of the 1949 SPAC who were not re-elected : Martin Campbell, WFAA Dallas; Harry Bannister, WWJ Detroit; Harold Burke, WBAL-TV Baltimore; Wiley Harris, WJDX Jackson, Miss., and Ed Yocum, KGHL Billings, Mont. Pa<?e 22 January 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting