Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

LIMIT METALS USE NPA Blueprints Cuts FLAT limitations on the use of three strategic materials— copper, aluminum and steel— in certain auxiliary electronic products were blueprinted by the government last week, with manufacturers facing further curtailment of civilian set production after Jan. 1. It was learned that the National Production Authority is preparing "conservation" or control orders which would outlaw use of these scarce metals in such specific items as indoor-outdoor TV antennae and aerials, steel towers, and possibly others. NPA has drawn up a classitied list of about 350 items on which it will crack down by prohibiting use of the materials after a specified date. , , It was understood, however, that the limitations would not apply to radio and television receivers to the component parts, such as tubes, condensers and resistors, which are contained in the final end products. It was felt that, inasmuch as civilian output of radio-TV towers and transmitters already has fallen off in favor of defense orders, limitations governing their manufacture would be largely academic. NPA also disclosed last week that some 100 electronics firmsmakers of tubes, resistors, capacitors, etc.-have applied to the government for "adjustment oi previous orders cutting back aluminum, copper and cobalt. With availability of satisfactory substitutes already scarce, set and parts manufacturers thus are confronted with a virtual impasse [BROADCASTING • TELECASTING, Dec 18]. In another move along the government front, NPA last week indicated that it will bear down on agreements governing use of coppfr scrap which, when P^'oeessed through smelting, serves to fill the purpose of the basic metal. Stringent Cutbacks The proposed conservation orders —which in effect amount to 100 A, cutbacks in makeup of some electronic productswill yepi-e^^"t the first such stringent action NFA has taken its allocation program. Heretofore, the agency has simply required producers and others to fill certain military needs, with industry permitted to channel the remaining supply into uses it had deemed best. No restrictions had been placed on certain items. The manufacturing industry also faces the prospect of being hard pressed to meet defense requirements when orders finally come through on a large sea e. RadioTelevision Mfrs. Assn. already has urged NPA to ease restrictions on raw materials where the defense effort would not be impaired to permit the industry to function on an operating basis. The imminent conservation orders would have the effect of allocating both military and civilian Page 84 • December 25, 1950 electronics orders for war use. Gen. Harrison had assured the communications-electronics fields they would receive all available materials to at least sustain maintenance functions. Meanwhile, NPA also ordered a 209'f cut in the civilian use of tin during next February and March. Conservation orders on that material also will be issued shortly, officials announced, adding that the supply is not sufficient to last in 1951. Officially NPA last week said only that the "growing needs for copper, aluminum, steel and other vital materials will affect the manufacture" of radio and television sets, and other household appliances. Officials conceded that an order affecting the use of copper in the manufacture of household appliances is "now being prepared." They gave no other details. Announcement was made following a meeting of NPA officials with the Radio, Television and Household Appliance Wholesale Advisory Committee (see separate story) during which radio-TV and other shortages were discussed. Another order, governing distribution of certain electrical components for defense and the nation's communications system, was issued by NPA last Tuesday. The directive seeks to equalize the distribution of defense orders among electric component and parts manufacturers. Each manufacturer would be required to divert for defense up to 509c of all electronic tubes (if it is the sole producer). Ceiling of 25 9^ on tubes (not including power tubes) for military use was set when produced by two or more companies. Military requirements also would command 25% of fix composition resistors. Current production of receivii tubes is running at the annual ra of about 400 million while ann output of resistors currently a} proximates lH billion, NPA ol cials noted. Meanwhile, the U. S. producti<^ effort was moving ahead on t government level, with the appoir ment of Charles E. Wilson, form, president of General Electric C" spearheading the revitalized i armament program. Mr. Wils' was sworn in last Thursday director of the Office of Defenj Mobilization and then announc' the appointment of Gen. Luci, Clay, New York civil defense chi( and Sidney Weinberg, former vi chairman of the old War Prodi: tion Board, as special assistants. As mobilization director, IV. Wilson, who headed the Woi* War II production agency, w have responsibility for coordin^ ing activities dealing with produ' tion, allocation, selective servii manpower, wage stabilization, e CIVIL DEhENSE Radio-TV's Role Outline AMID sentiment for fast passage of President Truman's Civil Defense program, the nation's lawmakers last week heard a graphic description of the role radio-TV broadcast stations are expected to play in the event of an attack on the Continental U. S. The subject was pursued during House discussion last week on the President's request for authority to back up his newly-established Federal Civil Defense Administration. The outline was given by Rep. Carl Durham (D-N. C), chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee which reported the Administration plan and sped it to the House where it won overwhelming approval, 247-1. Against the backdrop of renewed interest in "radio silence" and the question of electronic emissions which could serve as "homing" devices for enemy aircraft — and the Defense Dept.'s proposal to control radio-TV beams (see separate story) — Rep. Durham told House colleagues that CD planning would "make full use of the broadcasting stations of the country — in backstopping the nation's alerting system." Washington was rife last week with speculation over the "radiation" issue touching on such facets as directional finders, guided missiles, and homing possibilities inherent in AM, FM and TV transmission. And while Congress debated legislation (the Senate was slated to bring the bill up Friday), Civil Defense Administration officials were hard-pressed to explain the apparent contradiction between the President's designation of communications as the "nerve system" of defense and the Defense Dept.'s far-reaching plan to control radio beams in any crisis, not limited solely to formal declaration of war. Civil Defense officials reminded that the President already has power to seize radio-TV stations under the Communications Act, and also were concerned lest the President, or his top-level communications advisors, usurp functions within the immediate domain of the CD Administrator. Electronic emissions problems also arose on another front last week. It was learned that officials of WMAL-AM-TV-FM Washington had conferred with FCC on technical matters relating to broadcast transmissions. On Capitol Hill the House reported out a bill which tightened up language relating to the powers of the Civil Defense Administrator on grounds that his authority was "too far-reaching" in the original version. Similarity Cited Both the House version (HR 9798) and the measure (S 4268) reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee, similar in content, call for a $3.1 billion program over a three-year span, with the federal government providing about half (549c) of the outlay. A sum of $32 million was set aside for communications equipment [Broadcasting • Telecasting, Dec. 18, 11]. With the government bearing most of the share for communications, the Administrator would be authorized to establish such systems as required and make use of existing ones, including government installations and commercial systems. Rep. Durham's reference to broadcast stations' role in emer gency situations came on the het of the announcement by CD A ministrator Millard Caldwell s« ting a basic code of public raid warning signals to be used states and cities in the event enemy attack. Rep. Durham explained on t House floor: "Inasmuch as it is desired to i tain the confidential aspect of t yellow alert, some device must employed to make the broadca; ing stations activate special recei' ers owned by key civil defen officials but, at the same time, prevent the receivers in genei use by the public from picking ; the information." This can "easily be done,' added, by transmitting sub-audil tones over broadcasting stations tones not detected by listeners hj only apparent to key civil defen personnel manning special alert i ceivers [Broadcasting • Tei, casting, Nov. 21, 1949]. A Red alert is the public wai ing indicating "imminent dangt of air attack, it was explain with key warning stations opera! by the Continental Air Command Furthermore broadcast static would be utilized after air ra have passed as a means of disse inating advice to citizens and uniting members of families. "In this way the full possibilit of our present broadcasting systc can be utilized to the best vantage, and at the same time tv way mobile and portable rac equipment which can be taken rectly to the scene of the disasl will be used when needed," Ri Durham asserted. The Civil Defense Administi tion stressed, however, that t basic code for public use enco passes only the "red" alert and t "all clear" signal. BROADCASTING • Telecastii