Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

RENEWAL PROCEDURE Simplification Propose CHANGES in license renewal procedure were proposed by FCC last week to simplify paperwork and administration for stations and the Commission itself. In principle, FCC would: # Require filing of license renewal applications for all stations (AM, FM, TV) 90 days prior to expiration of the license sought to be renewed, in lieu of the present 60-day provision. 9 Determine expiration dates on a geographical basis so that licenses of stations in a contiguous area would expire at the same time, eliminating much duplication where ownership of FM or TV outlets is involved along with AM. 0 Extend the initial license period of FM stations up to three years instead of the present oneyear provision. TV licenses presently are for one year only and FCC indicated no change is contemplated at the present. AM and FM stations are divided into 18 groups of contiguous states, according to the proposal, while TV stations are divided into six groups of states. Deadline for comments on the new rules was set for Feb. 15 with replies due March 1. Expiration dates for all three services presently expire on a schedule determined by assigned frequency. Under a system based on geographical location the work load would be more evenly distributed through the year, the Commission explained. Many AM Affiliates FCC's notice stated about 85% of all FM stations are owned and operated by licensees which also own AM stations while many of the TV licensees also are AM and FM operators. The notice explained that since all inquiries directed to the qualifications of a licensee are equally applicable to AM, FM or TV, "the proposal would eliminate unnecessary duplication resulting from the existing procedure of considering these applications at different times." "The proposed plan would also facilitate the consideration of common problems sometimes presented by stations located in contiguous areas," the Commission said. Additional advantages to the industry by simultaneous filings of applications, FCC said, would be that yearly equipment performance measurements which must be made during the four-month period preceding the date of filing applications for renewal of licenses could be made simultaneously for a licensee's AM and FM facilities. Similarly, program data would be filed at the same time and, since a licensee is required to file with the renewal application a balance sheet dated within 90 days of the execution of the renewal application. Page 86 • December 25, 1950 only one balance sheet would have to be prepared by the licensee, FCC noted. The proposed new rules and expiration schedules, based on assumption of Feb. 1, 1951, adoption (further revision would be made for different base date), follow: Proposed Rules 1. Sec. 1.320(a) of the Commission's Rules is proposed to be amended as follows : (a) Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, each application for renewal of license of a broadcast station shall be filed at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license sought to be renewed; and each application for renewal of license of a non broadcast station shall be filed at least 60 * days prior to the expiration date of the license sought to be renewed. No application for renewal of license of a broadcast station will be considered unless there is on file with the Commission the information currently required by Sees. 1.341 to 1.344, reference to which by date and file number shall be included in the application. 2. Sec. 3.220(a) of the Commission's Rules is proposed to be amended as follows: (a) Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, each application for renewal of an FM broadcast station license shall be filed at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license sought to be renewed (Form FCC No. 303). No application for renewal of license of an FM broadcast station will be considered unless there is on file with the Commission, the information currently required by Sees. 1.341-1.344 of this chapter, reference to which by date and file number shall be included in the application. 3. Sec. 3.620(a) is proposed to be amended as follows: (a) Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, each application for renewal of a television station license shall be filed at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license sought to be renewed (Form FCC No. 303). No application for renewal of license of a television broadcast station will be considered unless there is on filed with the Commission the information currently required by Sees. 1.3411.344 of this section, reference to which by date and file number shall be included in the application. 4. Sec. 3.34(a) of the Commission's Rules is proposed to be amended as follows: (a) All standard broadcast station licenses will be issued for a normal license period of three years. Licenses will be issued to expire at the hour of 3 a.m., EST in accordance with the following schedule! and at three-year intervals thereafter : i 5. Sec. 3.218(a) of the Commission's Rules is proposed to be amended and Sec. 3.218(b) is projKJsed to be deleted as follows: (a) All FM broadcast station licenses will be issued for a normal license period of three years. Licenses will be issued to expire at the hour of 3 a.m., EST in accordance with the following schedule! and at three-year intervals thereafter: ' 6. Sec. 3.618 of the Commission's Rules is proposed to be amended as follows : All television broadcast station licenses will be issued for a normal license period of one year. Licenses will be issued to expire at the hour of 3 A.M., EST in accordance with the following schedule* and at one year intervals thereafter : = t See Schedule A. t See Schedule B. ^ Renewals of licenses will be granted for the period specified in the rule; Provided, However, that if as a result of the transition from the present schedule to the proposed schedule the period for which a license is renewed is 6 months or less the licensee may within 30 days of the expiration date of such renewed license file, in lieu of renewal application (FCC Form 303), a written application under oath for the next renewal of license which shall consist of (1) a request that its license be renewed and (2) a statement that no substantial changes have been made in its operations or In its plans for future operations since its last renewal application; or if changes have been made or proposed a statement specifying such changes. Upon review of such statement the Commission may grant a renewal of license for the ful period provided for in the rule; or if the Commission requires additional in formation it may require the filing of renewal application (FCC Form 303). Renewals of licenses will be granted for the period specified in the rule; Provided, However, that if as a result of the transition from the present schedule to the proposed schedule the period for which a license is renewed is 4 months or less the licensee may within 30 days of the expiration date of such renewed license file, in lieu of renewal application (FCC Form 303), a written application under oath for the next renewal of license which shall consist of (1) a request that its hcense be renewed and (2) a statement that no substantial changes have been made in its operations or in its plans for future operations since its last renewal application; or if changes have been made or proposed a statement specifying such changes. Upon review of such statement the Commission may grant a renewal of license for the full period provided for in the rule; or if the Commission requires additional information it may require the filing of renewal application (FCC Form 303). * The 60-day requirement does not apply to amateurs. SCHEDULE A AM and FM Stations Number of AM & FM Broadcast Authorizations* Expiration Date** Month Yea r AM FM Total Apri 1951 1 Del. 5 3 8 2. Pa. 111 63 174 116 66 182 June 1951 3. Md. 22 18 40 3{a). D. C. 7 8 15 4. Va. 57 20 77 5. W. Va. 58 15 53 124 61 185 Aug. 1951 6. N. C. 93 42 135 7. S. C. 42 11 53 135 53 188 Oct. 1951 8. Fla. 75 21 96 8(a). P. R. 25 0 25 8(b). V. Is. 3 0 3 103 21 124 Dec. 1951 9. Ala. 71 14 85 10. Ga. 76 22 98 147 36 183 Feb. 1952 11. Ark. 34 7 41 12. La. 42 16 58 13. Miss. 43 5 48 119 28 147 April 1952 14. Tenn. 57 13 70 15. Ky. 43 12 55 16. Ind. 45 20 65 145 45 190 June 1952 17. Ohio 69 45 114 18. Mich. 63 25 88 132 70 202 Aug. 1952 19. III. 74 46 120 20. Wis. 55 18 73 129 64 193 Oct. 1952 21. Iowa 52 20 72 22. Miss. 51 15 66 103 35 138 Dec. 1952 23. Minn. 49 10 59 24. N. Dak. 14 0 14 25. S. Dak. 14 1 15 26. Mont. 25 0 25 27. Colo. 35 3 38 137 14 151 Feb. 1953 28. Kans. 39 6 45 29. Okla. 46 10 56 30. Neb. 22 3 25 107 19 126 April 1953 31. Tex. 183 29 212 June 1953 32. Wyo. 13 0 13 33. Nev. 10 1 11 34. Ariz. 25 0 25 Expiration Date** Month Year AM 35. Utah 18 36. N. Mex. 25 37. Ida. 22 Number of AM t Broadcast Autho tions* Aug. 1953 38. Calif. Oct. 1953 39. Wash. 40. Oregon 40(a). Alaska 40(b). Hawaii 113 143 53 43 10 12 FM 3 0 3 7 58 7 8 0 0 i 1 I Dec. 1953 41. Conn. 42. Maine 118 15 27 11 16 2 43. Mass. 51 28 44. N. Hamp. 12 4 45. R. I. 11 5 46. Vt. 9 0 126 50 Feb. 1954 47. N. J. 20 13 48. N. Y. 95 56 115 69 Total 2295 i 740 Expiration Date Month Year** SCHEDULE B TV STATIONS Number of TV Broi cast Authorizatio April 1951 1. Dela. 1 2. Pa. 7 3. Tenn. 2 4. Ky. 2 5. Ind. 2 6. Tex. 6 20 June 7. Md. 3 7(a). D. C. 4 8. Va. 2 9. W. Va. 1 10. Ohio 12 11. Mich. 6 12. Wyo. 0 13. Nev. 0 14. Ariz. 1 15. Utah 2 16. N. Mex. 1 17. Ida. 0 32 August 13. N. C. 2 19. S. C. 0 20. II!. 5 21. Wis. 1 22. Calif. 11 19 October 23. Fla. 3 23(a). P. R. 0 23(b). Virgin Is. 0 24. Iowa 2 25. Miss. 2 26. Wash. 1 27. Ore. 0 27(a). Alaska 0 27(b). Hawaii 0 8 Decembe r 28. Ala. 2 29. Ga. 3 30. Minn. 2 31. N. Dak. 0 32. S. Dak. 0 33. Mont. 0 34. Colo. 0 Feb. 35. Conn. 36. Maine 43. Mass. 44. N. Hamp. 45. R. I. 46. Vt. 1952 47. Ark. 48. La. 49. Miss. 50. Kans. 51. Okla. 52. Neb. 53. N. J. 54. N. Y. 0 1 0 0 2 2 1 13 19 NOTE: Foregoing schedules dates are bo! on assumption of final adoption of propo: rules on or before Feb. 1, 1951. In ev proposed rules are finally adopted after tl date schedules will be revised accordin; ^ 2,118 Licenses 177 CPs. 493 Licenses 247 CPs. * Broadcast authorizations (as of June 1950) set forth to show application proposed rule. ** All licenses expire on first day of mo specified. BROADCASTING • Telecastir