Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1956)

GOVERNMENT man as assistant chief clerk. Kenneth A. Cox will continue as special radio-tv counsel heading the committee's tv investigation, and Wayne T. Geissinger, assistant committee chief counsel, will represent the minority for the tv probe. Of other members of the House Commerce Committee who will not return in the 85th Congress, two died: Reps. William T. Granahan (D-Pa.) and Carl Hinshaw (RCalif.). Reps. Arthur G. Klein (D-N.Y.) and Richard W. Hoffman (R-Ill.) did not seek re-election. Rep. F. Ertel Carlyle (DN.C.) was defeated in the primaries and Reps. Don Hayworth (D-Mich.) and James I. Dolliver (R-Iowa) were unseated in last Tuesday's elections. Rep. Hoffman is principal owner of WHFC-AM-TV and WEHS (FM) Chicago. Rep. Harris Ellsworth (R-Ore.), part owner of KRNR Roseburg, Ore., was unseated in the Tuesday voting. Democrat Charles H. Brown, a former tv producer (Ozark Jubilee, ABC-TV), unseated Rep. Dewey Short (R-Mo.). Robert D. Holmes, Democrat, general manager of KAST Astoria, Ore., was elected governor of that state. James H. Ballard, FCC, Dies JAMES H. BALLARD, 51, chief of the FCC's Budget & Fiscal Div., Office of Administration, died last Monday night of coronary thrombosis. Mr. Ballard joined the FCC as an audit clerk in June 1934. STREIBERT RESIGNS AS USIA DIRECTOR THEODORE C. STREIBERT, director of the U. S. Information Agency since its organization in 1953 and former board chairman of MBS, resigned last week because of "family responsibilities." USIA is the parent organization of the Voice of America. Mr. Streibert's resignation becomes effective Thursday. He had no immediate announcement of future plans. In a letter to President Eisenhower, Mr. Streibert said he is leaving the government because of "personal considerations." He wrote: "Although as you know, I undertook this work originally with a commitment for only one year. I have now completed more than three years of service, and my family responsibilities will not permit further continuances." Mr. Eisenhower's reply: "You and your colleagues have developed the U. S. Information Agency into a strong arm in our country in our struggle for world freedom. I' has now been firmly established. MR. STREIBERT "It presents the truth about the United States and our foreign policy factually to all the world which is free to hear its voice, and many behind the Curtain who are not free have managed to hear it also. You have every reason to be proud of your accomplishments." International Radio Talks Planned at Washington Meet FiRST MEETING in preparation for the 1959 International Radio Conference wa: held last Thursday in Washington, with more than 60 representatives of government agen cies and private industry meeting with State Dept. officials. Submitted to the conference was a State Dept. proposal for the establishment ol working committees on the various factor; which will be under review at the interna tional conference, probably to take place ir Geneva, Switzerland. The 1959 conference will review and revise the radio spectrum last reviewed in 1947 at the Atlantic City N. J., meeting. After formation of an executive commit tee, another meeting will be held to map ou the work of the various committees. Last week's meeting was held under the aegis of the U. S. State Dept., with Franci: Colt DeWolf, chief of the telecommunica tions division, presiding. Among those pres ent were A. Prose Walker, NARTB; Philip Siling and James Veitch, RCA; Leor Brooks, CBS, and Virgil M. Graham RETMA. Page 62 • November 12, 1956 Broadcasting Telecastini