Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1953)

SENATE SCRATCHES NARBA FOR 1953 Sen. Tobey's death stops Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans to bring North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement to swift vote. THE NORTH American Regional Broadcasting Agreement officially was declared a casualty last week in the Congressional drive for adjournment. The word came from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which had been holding executive sessions on the agreement. The international treaty, affecting AM frequencies in North America, was put aside principally because of the death of Sen. Charles W. Tobey (R-N. H.) (see story this section). The late Senator had sparked the drive for ratification of NARBA. He was chairman of a Foreign Relations subcommittee that had held hearings on the treaty. The course open now is multifold. Since this is the first session of the 83d Congress, legislation pending now carries over to the second session beginning in January. Thus, the committee chairman. Sen. Alexander Wiley (RWis.), could name a new subcommittee — possibly even hold additional hearings, or the committee could consider NARBA in executive session. But even these possible moves will be laid aside until 1954. NARBA, which has been before the Senate since 1951, has been progressing at a turtle's pace. A subcommittee was named late in the second session of the Democratic 82d Congress. Another was named for the GOP-organized 83d. Hearings were held in mid-July with radio industry leaders expressing their views — pro and con [B«T, July 13]. CAMPAIGN COSTS STUDY URGED TELEVISION'S cost to political campaigners was underscored by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.) who last week introduced a bill in the Senate to create a commission to study the problem of campaign expenditures. The bill (S 2538) contains a section directing the commission to "consider the recent sharp increase in campaign costs due to radio and especially television costs, and consider the possibility of limiting such costs through limitations upon radio and telvision rates for political programs, or through requirements for the provision of a certain amount of free air time to political candidates as a public service, or through limitations upon campaign expenditures for this purpose." The bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. Sen. Humphrey said, "The mounting cost of television in recent political campaigns has brought about concern lest only the wealthy — or those who have the support of wealth — could afford to represent their fellow Americans in national office." A situation of that kind "would endanger our democratic system of government," Sen. Humphrey said. The commission would be made up of representatives from public office and private life. Similar concern was voiced three weeks ago by Sen. Wayne Morse (Indep.-Ore. ) in a Senate speech [B»T, July 20]. Halleck Lauds MBS Show HOUSE Majority Leader Charles A. Halleck (R-Ind.) last Monday inserted in the Congressional Record a plaudit for MBS' Reporters Roundup in marking the show's three years on the air a week from today (Aug. 10). Rep. Halleck said the radio program is one that "contributes to a greater understanding of public affairs by its search for facts in the American tradition of a free press." He also praised the program's moderator, Everett Holies. HOUSE SETS PROBE OF FOUNDATIONS A NEW investigation of tax-exempt foundations will be launched by the House. That body voted last week to set up a fivemember special committee to investigate taxexempt educational or philanthropic foundations to determine if any "are using their resources for un-American and subversive activities, for political purposes, propaganda or attempts to influence legislation." Rep. B. Carroll Reece (R-Tenn.) sponsored the legislation. He was expected to head the committee which will report to Congress by Jan. 3, 1955. A special House committee conducted a similar probe in the last Congress. It was backed by Rep. Eugene E. Cox (D-Ga.) who died before it was completed. Rep. Reece, in pushing for the committee before the House last week, directed much of his fire against the Ford Foundation, which granted $15 million for a civil rights investigation including a look at current methods of combatting the Communist menace. The foundation also has made grants to educational TV groups and supports the TV-Radio Workshop. Also coming under attack by Rep. Reece was the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which makes annual awards for outstanding radio and television programs. The Congressman pointed to the U. of Chicago Round Table radio program as being suspect as "a propaganda sounding board." The show, he said, has received financing from the Sloan foundation. He also charged the 1951 grant of $50,000 by tire Ford Foundation to the Advertising Council Inc. for "a restatement of the principles of American society" culminated in an economic education program that smacked of socialism. Moviemen Urge President To Approve Tax Repealer DELEGATION of motion picture executives (representing Council of Motion Picture Organizations) called on President Eisenhower last Thursday to urge him to sign the Congresspassed bill repealing 20% tax on movie theatre admissions [B*T, July 27]. According to spokesman Robert W. Coyne, counsel for COMPO, movie people told the President that 5,000 theatres had closed in the last five years, and that 10 theatres per day are closing now. If tax relief is not granted, theatremen told the President, 5,000 more would close in the next 12 months. Mr. Coyne told newsmen that 29% of the theatres in TV markets had failed, compared to only 2% in non-TV markets. Overseas Radio-TV Study Approved by House Unit THE HOUSE Foreign Affairs committee last Wednesday approved a Senate-passed joint resolution to set up a Commission on Governmental Use of International Telecommunications [B«T, July 27]. The Commission, made up of government and private members, would study international telecommunications and recommend policies to stimulate the development and effective use of media in fostering cooperation among overseas nations. The exploration would be made in connection with the U. S. overseas information program. Senate Votes Gallery, Facility Remodeling THE SENATE Radio-Television Gallery last week got a Senate okay to begin a $33,000 facelifting. The Senate also gave more space to the Joint Recording Facility at an expense of $24,000. When the work on the gallery is completed it will provide a large TV studio to handle live telecasts. The studio also could be subdivided by acoustical doors to permit simultaneous operation in two filmings for television or other combinations. Three radio booths will be built. The joint facility which cuts discs and produces film for TV for lawmakers in Washington to send to their home stations, will now have a radio and television room in the Senate for the use of members there. House members can continue to use the present facility located in the Old House Office Bldg. In testifying before a Senate appropriations unit, Robert J. Coar, coordinator of the facility, revealed that 82% of Senate and 53% of House members are being served with radio and TV. He said a number of Senators will use the film in their campaigns next year. President To Sign $7.4 Million for FCC PRESIDENT EISENHOWER late last week was to sign an appropriations bill, passed by Congress, which gives FCC $7.4 million for fiscal 1954. Of this amount, $1,018,496 is directed to be applied to TV application processing. Bureau of the Census got $1.5 million for its business, agriculture and manufacture censuses. The Federal Trade Commission received $4,053,800, while the National Bureau of Standards will get $2 million to continue research in radio propagation and standards. McCarran Blocks FCC Bills SEN. PAT McCARRAN (D-Nev.) last week objected (for the third time) to three FCCrequired bills when they appeared on the Senate calendar. The bills had been passed by the House earlier in the year and subsequently approved without change by the Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee. The bills are HR 4558, which would extend the time FCC has to act on a protest from 15 to 30 days; HR 4557, which would permit FCC to waive construction permit requirements for government, mobile and other non-broadcast transmitters, and HR 4559, which would reduce penalty provisions for violating the Communications Act from a felony to a misdemeanor for the first offense. Sen. McCarran did not give any reason for his objections. Page 52 • August 3, 1953 Broadcasting • Telecasting