Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1962)

(b) List 5 major local issues in the last year. (c) Describe any programs relating to these issues indicating type of program, participants, time of broadcast, whether program was sponsored, etc. 5. Describe the station's policy with regard to local political broadcasts. Are there any limitations on the acceptance of political broadcasts with respect to time of broadcast or length of program? Does the station provide free time for such broadcasts? If so, is the time given for the appearance of candidates only, candidates in a debate format only, etc. Please explain. Does the station accept political broadcasts involving candidates for local offices which are not city-wide? Does the station accept political broadcasts involving candidates for local offices outside of Chicago? List the political programs and announcements carried by the station during the last local election campaign. Indicate time and length of each program and the offices involved. List inquiries regarding availabilities received during the last local election campaign to which the station made a negative response because the time requested was not available. Indicate organization making inquiry and day and time requested. 6. Describe the station's policy with respect to religious broadcasts. Indicate what efforts are made to balance such programs among the various religious groups. sential to the accomplishment of the national purpose involved." He said the proposed satellite system could be launched sooner if ownership of the corporation were limited to the 10 international carriers. And in reply to expressed fears that AT&T would dominate such a corporation, he declared, "that is not our motive or intent." He added that the limited-ownership proposal contained sufficient safeguards against domination by any one company. The administration's proposal was also criticized by Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn), but from a different viewpoint. He urged government ownership of the satellite corporation. Sen. Kefauver, co-sponsor of a bill (S 2890) to create a government-owned corporation, said AT&T would dominate any privately owned corporation. The public interest can only be protected through government ownership, he said. The administration got in its first solid blows of the battle with Mr. Katzenbach's testimony Wednesday. He said it would be "unconscionable" to turn a communications satellite monopoly over to a small group of communications companies, particularly in view of the large sums of public money spent to develop the system. He also disputed AT&T's argument that inter national carriers should be the sole owners of the corporation because of their experience and expertise in the communications field. It is proper to say that the corporation must be technically qualified, he said. But "it is quite different to say that all of its stockholders must be also." The administration's reply was continued by Dr. Edward C. Welsh, executive secretary of the Space Council, in a statement read for him by Mr. Katzenbach. Dr. Welsh said it was odd that AT&T should express concern that broadly based ownership would result in an inefficiently run system. Few companies, he said, "have as broadbased ownership as AT&T," which has 2,000,000 stockholders. And "many of these stockholders," he added, "are not communications experts." Nevertheless, he said, that company "is not particularly inefficient." Judge reconsiders, grants MCA request Annoyed by the failure of the FCC to follow his "suggestion," Judge Leon R. Yankwich of the U.S. District Court, southern district of California, changed his mind and adopted wholecloth the recommendations of MCA Inc. as to what the FCC can demand from the talent agency (Broadcasting, Jan. 29). MCA and its vice president, Taft B. Schreiber, had defied the FCC, questioning a ruling by Chief Hearing Examiner James D. Cunningham which restricted Mr. Schreiber's access to counsel, and demanding confidential treatment of its papers. Mr. Schreiber had left the witness stand and walked out of the hearing (At Deadline, Oct. 24, 1960 et seq.). Judge Yankwich's original opinion on the case essentially backed the FCC's right to demand the records and to restrict counsel's activities, because the hearing was investigatory rather than adjudicatory in nature. But he "suggested" that when the FCC ordered Mr. Schreiber to appear, the hearing should be made confidential, with the public and press excluded. The FCC then ordered MCA and Mr. Schreiber to produce the information but did not incorporate the judge's suggestion in its order. The judge expressed displeasure with the FCC's order and instead of following the commission suggestions as he had indicated he would in his opinion, the judge adopted the MCA recommendations as his final order. MCA had asked the court to retain jurisdiction and to allow MCA to appeal any questions which it did not want to answer without being held in contempt of court. The sessions will be confidential and MCA has the right to oppose FCC efforts to make any part of the record public at a later date. Under the order MCA will be permitted advice of counsel; its attorney may advise witnesses whether to answer questions; may object to questioning, and may participate fully in the hearing except to cross-examine witnesses. LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE Gov. Rockefeller favors limited radio-tv access New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, who last year vetoed legislation that would have permitted radio-tv coverage of committee meetings of the state legislature, told the New York State Broadcasters Assn. last week that he is in favor of a bill that would permit limited radio-tv coverage. The vetoed bill would have allowed tv cameras and radio microphones in legislative committee and temporary state commission hearings with the permission of the presiding chairman. The new bill, to be introduced this week with the blessing of the governor and Republican leaders of the legislature, would permit radio-tv coverage with these conditions: If the chairman of the hearing group approves; if the witness is a voluntary witness and not appearing under subpoena; if the witness does not object to radio-tv coverage, and if a majority of the committee or commission members approve. NAB President LeRoy Collins told the association "there will always be pressures for more and more government intervention." He added that a "government-imposed floor against any possible failure would at the same time act as a suffocating ceiling against the achievement of greater heights of success." Only with adequate freedom from government controls, Gov. Collins said, "can broadcasting strive and struggle for an ever-better product reflecting the resourcefulness, the skill and the creativeness that must be the hallmark of our American culture. Only with this freedom can we avoid the hysteria of fear with its attendant dullness and drabness of conformity." Gov. Collins added, "The broadcaster, under his public license, must with diligence and in good faith seek out and serve the public interest. But what he programs to accomplish this must be based upon his own judgment, honestly and professionally arrived at." In a business meeting, Sam Slate, vice president and general manager, WCBS-AM-FM New York was elected president of the group (for other officers see Fates & Fortunes, page 89). BROADCASTING, March 12, 1962 49