Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1963)

1 This was the scene as broadcasters asked questions of the seven members of the Federal Communications Commission. (From I to r) Clair McCollough, moderator of the session: Commissioners E. William Henry. Robert E. Lee, Rosel H. Hyde; Chairman Newton N. Minow; Commissioners Robert T. Bartley, Frederick W. Ford and Kenneth M. Cox. Most of the questions were asked live from the convention floor. for many months during the winter. "There are no standards of any kind that I know of" on acceptable programming percentages by categories. Commissioner Frederick W. Ford said in answer to a question. He said the FCC soon will adopt its long-planned tv program reporting form and at that time standards will be made public to guide applicants. Several commissioners agreed that license renewal procedures are passing through an "interim" phase when questioned about renewal letters on programming. Commissioner Cox said the New England tv renewals deferred two weeks ago (Broadcasting, April 1) was only a "procedural" step and should not cause any alarm. (The action was taken on a 4-3 vote and the licenses were deferred because the stations did not These three groups were asked to organize within the month and to report back their recommendations on their respective memberships and areas of study which each group would pursue. The executive committee, which will meet again in Washington April 29, authorized Comr. Lee with the concurrence of Comr. Henry to name additional members to that body. Messrs. Lee and Henry also will designate the chairmen and vice chairmen of the three working committees. The agendas for all committee meetings shall be approved by the commission. The three working committees, earlier called subcommittees in the FCC's notice of Feb. 21, are: (1) committee on technical development. (2) committee on uhf broadcast station operation and (3) committee on consumer information. A proposed fourth committee was dropped. propose regularly-scheduled, local live programming between 6-11 p.m. The deferrals constituted a reversal of an FCC order just a month ago that several dozen tv stations be renewed without regard to the prime time schedules). Licensees should understand that FCC letters of inquiry on programming are not sanctions, Commissioner Cox said, and are for only for the purpose of determining the reasons behind a licensee's proposed program schedule. Commissioner Hyde, on the other hand, maintained that deferred licenses do operate as sanctions and that the industry has fallen down in not convincing the FCC of this. He said it is an unhealthy situation for large numbers of license renewals to be deferred and that broadcasters submit too easily to "suggestions" by the FCC staff. "Do you believe in taxation without representation?" the commissioners were asked. Chairman Minow replied that the fee proposal was not originated by the New Frontier but was authorized by a 1952 action of the House. He said that broadcasters, who get special priviliges. should pay for the licenses they are granted. Commissioner Hyde said that broadcasters should not have to apologize for making a profit and they are not "inflicted with an original sin" just because they carry commercials. Payment of a fee, he said, should be an obvious benefit in "the hope of getting your license promptly." Commissioner Ford pointed out that the House action relied upon by the chairman is contained in very broad language in an appropriations bill and does not lay down sufficient standards to guide the FCC. The bill enables regulator." agencies to recover their costs and the FCC proposal will not do this, he said. All commissioners indicated thev were anxious to remove the am and fm freezes but it was made clear that such action is not in the immediate future. Commissioner Cox said the staff has been instructed to come up with a BROADCASTING, April 8, 1963 new rulemaking proposal (which is separate from the planned en banc hearing) and that additional comment and study will be needed before definite steps — including removal of the freezes — can be taken. Big cities need vhf, according to AMST "Uhf service is not a substitute for vhf service in the canyon-like sections of big cities," the Assn. of Maximum Service Telecasters was told in Chicago last week. Lester W. Lindow, AMST executive director, told 175 representatives of member stations that the FCC's uhf New York study and the AMST's own $100,000 independent measurements "conclusively demonstrate" that vhf signals are necessary. Reporting to the association's membership at the NAB convention, Mr. Lindow said that despite vhf's "superiority." the studies showed that uhf is capable of providing a substantial amount of tv service of acceptable quality in such cities as New York. (AMST has been in a running battle with FCC Commissioner Robert E. Lee for several weeks over what the results of the FCC test proved [Broadcasting. Jan. 28, Jan. 7, Nov. 26. 1962].) AMST reaffirmed its position that uhf and vhf must be developed side-byside. Ernest W. Jennes of Covington & Burling. Washington. AMST legal counsel, reported on developments concerning vhf assignments at short separation and attempts to have tv allocations assigned to other users. The membership announced that it would "continue vigorously" to oppose any attempts to reallocate tv frequencies. Jack Harris. KPRC-TV Houston, was elected president of AMST, a post he has held since the association was formed in 1958. Other officers: Charles H. Crutchfield. Jefferson Standard Broadcasting Co., Charlotte, N. C. 1st vice president: Lawrence H. Rogers II, Taft Broadcasting Co., Cincinnati, 2nd 63