Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1959)

supported the agreements. If the Senate fails to ratify the treaties, Mr. Wilkinson said, chaos might result to radio service in the United States — with the most immediate sufferers the rural listeners. Mr. Wilkinson also stated that the daytimers' opposition "confused" domestic policy with international agreements. Sen. Morse read a statement by Sen. John Carroll (D-Colo.) urging ratification of the treaties. Sen. Carroll said that clear channels must be maintained to protect nighttime service to the public. Some 30 communications from stations favoring ratification were entered into the record, along with approximately 10 statements from broadcasters who opposed ratification. The chairman ordered the record kept open until Thursday (July 16) for the submission of additional statements requested of several witnesses. Sen. Morse said the subcommittee probably would act "within two weeks" after the record is closed. Swedish suggestion would change am band A suggestion that the radio standard broadcast band be cut back to 1495 kc — and extended at the other end to 415 kc — has been made by Sweden. In proposals submitted to the nations of the International Telecommunications Union, preparing for the Aug. 17 Geneva conference. Sweden recommended that a study be made as to the feasibility of assigning 1495-1605 kc to the marine band, in exchange for 415525 kc to the standard broadcast band. The standard broadcast band runs 535-1605 kc, although in Europe the broadcast band begins at 525 kc. The Swedish proposal is not a new suggestion, it was learned, but actually has been discussed — even by the FCC — as far back as the 1938 ship power hearing. In other proposals by foreign governments on broadcast bands, Japan has asked that 216-222 mc be added to Region III (Far East) for use in television broadcasting. At the present time, 216 mc is the limit for television in Region III as it is in the United States. Various proposals by other countries are being studied by U.S. government officials as they prepare for the conference. Directing this work is FCC Comr. T.A.M. Craven, who is expected to be chairman of the U.S. delegation. California 'likes' tv Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown of California, has "clarified" his position and that of California in regard to CCBS' DeWitt Approve both treaties testimony by a state representative in the FCC's 25-890 mc hearing which suggested that the vhf tv band be reserved for public safety services (Broadcasting, June 29). The representative was State Communications Advisory Board Chairman William Whiting. In a letter to the FCC, which was also sent to every California tv outlet, Gov. Brown declared: "I had not, and do not support elimination of commercial television, in whole or in part, from the vhf band in California. Official state policy does not support such action either." In his note to the tv stations, Gov. Brown said he believes that the tv industry deserves "commendation rather than harassment." He pledged his continued interest in tv's problems and activities. Daytimers' extension refused second time Extended hours for daytime broadcasters— from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or sunrise to sunset, whichever combination is longer — received a second refusal from the FCC last week. Last fall (At Deadline, Sept. 22, 1 958) the Commission denied a Daytime Broadcasters Assn. petition requesting a change in daytime hours to 5 a.m. or sunrise to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is longer. The present DBA petition was filed following this refusal. This second petition had also involved an alternative request by DBA for a two-year experimental operation on longer hours. At the present daytime stations are limited by regulation to local sunrise-sunset. In its decision last week the Commission concluded: ". . . the losses of standard broadcast radio service, both groundwave and skywave in the various areas affected, which would result from an extension of the hours of operation of stations licensed for daytime operation must be determinative herein." The Commission early this month instructed its staff to prepare the document turning down the second DBA petition (At Deadline, July 6). Senate bill favored for FCC continuity The Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee last week reported favorably a bill (S 1965) which would require a member of the FCC or the Federal Power Commission to continue to serve, upon expiration of his term of office, until his successor has been appointed and confirmed (by the Senate). The report of the committee, which is headed by Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash), said the legislation is designed to prevent vacancies on the FCC or FPC while newly-appointed succeeding members qualify. By having the commissioner remain in office, the Senate would not be forced to rush to name his successor, the report said. The committee struck from the original bill (introduced last May 15) a provision which would give the President power to remove members of the FCC or FPC from office for ineffciency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The bill as drafted would make the Communications Act and the Federal Power Act uniform with acts creating the Federal Trade Commission, Interstate Commerce Commission and Civil Aeronautics Board. Laws creating these last three agencies give the President power to dismiss members. But the committee said last week this provision of the original S 1965 "should be the subject of further study" in view of recent decisions of the federal courts. Crowell-Collier stock Crowell-Collier Publishing Co. has filed a statement with the Securities & Exchange Commission seeking to register 200,000 outstanding shares of common stock for sale to the public through an underwriting group headed by Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades & Co. The offering price will be related to the current market price of the stock on the American Stock Exchange prior to 76 (GOVERNMENT) BROADCASTING, July 13, 1959