Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

August set production and sales Television sales and production for the eight months of 1963 were up, but radio sales and production lagged, the Electronic Industries Association reported last week. In the month of August, TV and radio sales and production moved ahead as compared to July figures. The output of all-channel TV sets also moved ahead in August, climbing above July's, but still below June's production of 107,500, which is the peak for any month in this category. Period Jan.-Aug. 1963 Jan.-Aug. 1962 Jan.-Aug. 1963 Jan.-Aug. 1962 TV 3,954,670 3,692,017 4,409,410 4,132,603 SALES With UHF PRODUCTION 599,385 348,667 Radio 5,482,987* 6,570,544 10,828,721* 11,652,448 With FM 881,695 626,154 'Excludes auto radio sales. "*lncludes 4,573,768 auto radios compared to 4,103,170 in same period last year. station higher than the 50 kw limitation expressed in 1938 by the Senate. The resolution also asked the commission not to authorize any duplication on the clear channels for at least a year. In answer to this move, the FCC revised the effective date of its clear channel order to July 2, 1963, although it has taken the position that the House resolution is "not legally binding upon it." Congress has done nothing further in the case. Applications Pending ■ At the present time there are 15 applications for eight Broadcasters and the FCC have strongly criticized the Federal Aviation Agency's proposed rulemaking which would revamp the FAA's procedures in studying the effect of antenna towers on air navigation. Broadcasters felt the rules failed to give a definitive explanation of FAA authority and would cause needless expenditure of time and money on hearings. The FAA proposed changes would require that a formal hearing be held to consider a tower proposal. The agency would also change the language of its determination from "hazard" to "adverse effect" upon air navigation. Present FAA rules require that the agency be informed of construction proposals and for a determination of the tower's effect. FAA rules also provide for establishment of antenna farms, and the agency is drafting proposed criteria for antenna farms which have caused much concern in the broadcast industry (Broadcasting, Sept. 30). The National Association of Broadcasters said the proposed rule change of the clear channels being opened for duplication. There undoubtedly will be more. The 13 channels available for duplication (with the primary station now allocated) : 670 kc (wmaq Chicago), 720 kc (wgn Chicago), 750 kc (wsb Atlanta), 760 kc (wjr Detroit), 780 kc (wbbm Chicago), 880 kc (wcbs New York), 890 kc (wls Chicago), 1020 kc (kdka Pittsburgh), 1030 kc (wbz Boston), 1100 kc (kyw Cleveland), 1120 kc (kmox St. Louis), 1180 kc (wham Rochester, N. Y.) and 1210 kc (wcau Philadelphia). wouid cause "needless duplication of time, effort and expense." NAB pointed out that the FAA can act in an advisory position only, having no authority to make a final determination — this is in the hands of the FCC, NAB said. NBC told the FAA that it also supports this view. To support this contention the Association of Maximum Service Telecasters quoted the FAA's brief filed with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in the Potomac Electric Power Co. vs. Halaby case. The brief stated that FAA determinations don't limit or prohibit construction of towers. It was also declared in the brief that if construction began after receiving an adverse determination from the FAA, the builder would not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution. AMST felt that there has been misunderstanding of the effect of FAA determinations. Storer Broadcasting Co. joined this opinion. Semantics, But ■ The FCC, as did several broadcasters, expressed concern over the change in the FAA's wording in determinations — that is, from "hazard" to "adverse effect." The FCC said "it appears that the change would likely result in more adverse recommendations because there are obviously many proposed towers which might not constitute a hazard to air navigation, but which would have an adverse effect on air navigation." The commission questioned whether a determination of "adverse effect" would be meaningful to the FCC — "it is necessary that any FAA recommendation, if it is to be of assistance, must be in terms of hazard." The NAB said that an "adverse effect" determination "is subject to such a wide interpretation that almost any structure could be denied on that basis." The FCC also told the FAA that although it gives consideration to that agency's determinations, "to the extent permitted by statute," the decision to grant a license is in the FCC's hands. On another note the National Association of Educational Broadcasters told the FAA that ETV tower proposals should be considered separately from their commercial counterparts. The NAEB explained that ETV has such entirely different objectives than does commercial TV that additional criteria must be applied. The NAEB's remarks were particularly directed to the FAA's draft proposal for the establishment of antenna farms. Storer and the Association on Broadcasting Standards Inc. recommended that the FAA delete consideration of AM proposals because the differences of their engineering needs dictate that AM should not be considered along with TV criteria. A number of the comments to the FAA recommended that informal hearings on proposed towers be held at the regional level, at which time objections could be heard. Storer suggested that such informal hearings could be instigated by the FCC. Power ratio of UHF may apply to VHF The first step toward allowing VHF television stations to use the same auralvisual power ratio as their UHF sisters was taken by the FCC last week through a proposed amendment of its rules. The amendment would permit V's to use an aural power of 10-70% of the peak radiated power of their visual transmitters, standard adopted for U's March 27 (Broadcasting, April 1). The commission said the proposal had been prompted by the requests of "a number" of TV set makers, which had urged uniform standards in an attempt to remove some of the difficulties of designing the sets. At the same time it proposed the TOWER PROCEDURES HIT FCC and several broadcast trade associations present united front against proposed changes 84 (EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING) BROADCASTING, November 4, 1963