Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

HIGH-GAIN omnidirectional VHF TV transmitting ANTENNA AMCI TYPE 1046 Channels 7 through 13 Shown above is the five-bay array recently installed for Station witn , Channel 7, in Washington, North Carolina. With a gain of 19.4, a single 6-Vb" coaxial transmission line feeder and in conjunction with a 20 kw transmitter, the antenna radiates an ERP of 316 kw AMCI Type I null fill-in assures proper coverage even in close to the tower. Write for Bulletin B-105 ANTENNA SYSTEMS COMPONENTS AIR NAVIGATION AIDS INSTRUMENTS Sellers. Among its members was Donald C. Beelar, associated with Kirkland, Fleming, Green, Martin & Ellis. The committee also suggested that the philosophy of separation of functions, which is mandatory in adjudicatory cases, be extended also to rule-making proceedings. The ABA committee's recommendations differ in some respects with those of the Hoover Commission [B*T, April 11, 1955], but generally follow along the same lines. Fresno Tv Grant Stay Sought in Appeals Court ARGUMENT on the request of KARM Fresno, Calif., that the FCC's grant of ch. 12 Fresno to KFRE that city [B«T, jan. 16] be stayed was heard last Thursday by a three-judge U. S. Court of Appeals panel in Washington. KARM claimed that unless the stay was granted, KFRE would build its ch. 12 facility and begin operating with an expenditure of almost $800,000 for construction and $700,000 for first year's operating costs. This would make it difficult to "unscramble the egg," KARM said, if the court was to find that its appeal had merit and order the FCC to reopen the case. KARM claimed that the Commission erred in refusing to permit it to question the financial qualifications of KFRE, that the vote was illegal in that two commissioners voted without participating in the oral argument. The argument on the stay petition was heard by Circuit Judges G. Barrett Prettyman, John A. Danaher and Charles Fahy. Duke M. Patrick represented KARM, Edward W. Hautanen, the FCC, and Harold Cohen, KFRE. A second appeal against the Fresno decision was made to the same court last week by ch. 47 KJEO (TV) Fresno. The uhf station claimed that the Commission's vote was not made on a determination of the comparative merits of the two applicants, but only to break an impasse. It referred to the fact that Comr. Robert E. Lee changed his vote to give the winning applicant a majority of the seven-man commission. Mr. Lee had been in favor of KARM. Voting in favor of KFRE were four commissioners; in favor of KARM Fresno, the losing applicant, one commissioner. Comrs. Rosel H. Hyde and Robert T. Bartley, in voting for neither applicant, continued their position that no vhf grants should be made in potential deintermixture areas until the Commission completes its allocation proceeding. KJEO also claimed that the Commission turned down without a hearing its petition asking that action on Fresno's ch. 12 be held up until the allocation proceeding was completed, or that it be given authority to enter the vhf hearing. It also questioned the reasons for making the grant "to bring a needed service to Fresno." Fresno does not require an additional service, KJEO said, pointing to the two existing outlets in operation there — itself and ch. 24 KMJ-TV. Victoria, Tex.# Uhf Sought AN APPLICATION for a new commercial uhf tv station on ch. 19 at Victoria, Tex., was filed last week by O. L. Nelms, doing business as the Victoria Tv Co. Mr. Nelms, who has extensive real estate holdings as well as other business interests, proposes effective radiated power of 0.5 kw visual, 0.16 aural and antenna height of 305 ft. above average terrain. The proposed station will be equipped by Commercial Electric Corp. of Dallas, that firm also serving as consultant. Construction costs were estimated at $67,635; first year operating cost, $84,000; revenue, $120,000. Senate Committee Passes Buck On Broadcast License Fees THE Senate Government Operations Committee has passed the buck back to the Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee on the matter of fees for FCC licenses to broadcasters. In a report on S Res 140, introduced last summer by Senate Commerce Chairman Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) and which asked the Government Operations Committee to study the practicability of fees for licenses, the GOC said such fees should be considered by the "respective jurisdictional committees"; i.e., the Senate committees, such as the Commerce Committee, having jurisdiction over the various government agencies. The report noted that while some agencies have, established revised fee programs, others, including the FCC, have delayed them pending clarification of their authority to establish fees. The report appended a letter, dated Nov. 14, 1955, from FCC Chairman George C. McConnaughey saying the Commission does not plan to proceed with its 1954 rulemaking setting up a fee schedule for radio-tv broadcast and other license applications "pending further advice from the Congress or the Bureau of the Budget." The FCC's 1954 rulemaking had been inaugurated as a result of a circular issued Nov. 5, 1953, by the Bureau of the Budget, asking the FCC and other agencies to set up fee schedules. FCC Denies Stay Appeal Against Madison Ch. 3 REQUEST by Badger Tv Co., asking the FCC to stay its grant of ch. 3 Madison, Wis., to Radio Wisconsin Inc. (WISC), was denied by the Commission last week. Badger, competing applicant for the Madison channel, prevailed in an FCC hearing examiner's initial decision, but lost out last December when the FCC overturned the examiner's ruling and awarded the grant to WISC [B»T, Dec. 19]. In order to support a petition for a stay, the FCC said the petition must show it will suffer prejudice if a stay is not granted and that refusal of the stay will cause the public as well as the petitioner irreparable injury. Badger failed in both respects, the FCC held. The FCC vote was 4 to 0, Comrs. Hyde and Bartley abstaining, Comr. Mack not participating. Comrs. Hyde and Bartley dissented in the Madison decision, vigorously opposing any grant in an area proposed for deintermixture. WFNM Protest Withdrawn REQUEST of WFNM De Funiak Springs, Fla., to withdraw its protest to a new am grant (WDSP) for that city has been granted by the FCC. The WDSP grant, for 1280 kc, 5 kw day, was awarded last November to W. D. Douglass, but the grant was stayed and set for hearing by the Commission following a protest by WFNM. WFNM, which among other things alleged the grant would cause it economic injury, was made a party to the hearing and assigned the burden of proof. Late last month WFNM asked for permission to withdraw from the proceeding, saying it did not feel it was financially able to bear the expenses involved in prosecuting its case. In granting WFNM's request, the FCC made. Mr. Douglass' grant effective immediately. ^ ALFORD %^|^# Manufacturing Co. Inc 2»» ATLANTIC AVE. BOSTON MASS Page 88 • February 20, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting