NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1942)

The Fundamentals A woman seldom ceases looking for “her man.” And this factor must be watched in business, for it can cause waste and inefficiency when “boy meets girl” in the same business, to a degree that is surprising. To expect the impossible from women is foolish. But women have “made good” in every job they’ve tackled, and they will make good in yours, too, if you try them, under fair conditions and handle them with intelligence and understanding.” VACUUM TUBES The American Radio Relay League is cooperating with the NAB Engineering Department in an effort to secure transmitting tubes from amateurs for broadcast station use. Every tube secured will in turn release a new tube for military use. It is probable tubes of certain types which have been difficult to obtain from manufacturers will be made available in considerable quantities. The plan will become effective upon the publication of the December issue of QST, official organ of the League. Thus amateur radio will make another worthwhile con¬ tribution to the war effort. BWC CONSERVATION PLAN The FCC is expected to take early action on BWC’s equipment conservation plan. Details of the plan are not available. However, the BWC chairman, James Lawrence Fly, made the following statement at his press conference : “I think I ought to stress again that whatever is done, there will not result any lessening of the coverage or radio stations due to change in the various rules in the operation of the equipment. We will have the same effec¬ tive output and same coverage we have had heretofore. You see, some of the rules which we have had regulating the equipment have necessarily been very strict, and we have got to a point now where, by changing those rules and by the consequent change in method of operation, we can get more effective output, so I think we can increase the life of the equipment materially without affecting cover¬ age at all.” PRIORITY FOR URGENT TOLL CALLS Effective November 1, 1942, certain urgent telephone toll calls may be assigned priority by broadcasters origi¬ nating the calls. The nature of the communication and the need for prompt contact determines the priority applicable as set forth in Order Number 20, of the Board of War Com¬ munications. An informant at BWC stated broadcast stations are con¬ sidered “Preferred Callers” under section 2 of the order reading “essential services such as communications,” etc. The order is self-explanatory and should be carefully studied. Telephone companies will provide authorized subscribers with detailed instructions covering the pro¬ cedure to follow in placing priority calls. The order reads as follows: Whereas, The Board of War Communications has de¬ termined that the national defense and security and the successful conduct of the war demand that certain tele¬ phone toll calls relating to the war effort or public safety be given preferred handling; Now, Therefore, By virtue of the authority vested in the Board by Executive Order No. 8964 of December 10, 1941, prescribing regulations governing the preference and priority of communications, and by virtue of the authority vested in the Board by Executive Order No. 9089 of March 6, 1942, prescribing regmlations governing the use, control, supervision and closing of stations and facili¬ ties for wire communications; It Is Hereby Ordered as Follows: 1. Priorities On and after November 1, 1942, urgent toll calls placed with commercial telephone systems by the authorized persons or agencies designated in Para¬ graph 2 shall upon request be given priority over all other toll calls in accordance with the provisions of, and in the order set forth in subparagraph (a), (b) and (c) below: (a) Priority 1 shall be given to calls which require immediate completion for war purposes or to safeguard life or property ayid which relate to one or more of the following matters: (1) Arrangements for moving armed forces during combat operations. (2) Extremely urgent orders to armed forces. (3) Immediate dangers due to the presence of the enemy. (4) Hurricane, flood, earthquake or other disaster materially affecting the war effort or public security. Where necessary for the immediate completion of a call having Priority 1, any conversation in process (other than one having Priority 1) may be inter¬ rupted. (b) Priority 2 shall be given to calls which re¬ quire immediate completion for the national defense and security, the successful conduct of the war, or to safeguard life or property other than those specifically described in Para¬ graph 1(a). (c) Priority 3 shall be given to calls which require prompt completion for the national defense and security, the successful conduct of the war, or to safeguard life or property and which involve matters of the following type: (1) Important governmental functions. (2) Machinery, tools or raw materials for war plants. (3) Production of essential supplies. (4) Maintenance of essential public services. (5) Supply or movement of food. (6) Civilian defense or public health safety. 2. Preferred Callers The following persons and agencies are designated as authorized persons or agencies entitled to use tele¬ phone toll priorities where such call is required in the manner and for a purpose specified above. The President of the United States, the Vice Presi¬ dent, Cabinet officers. Members of Congress, Army, Navy, Aircraft Warning Service, Federal, State and Municipal Government Departments and Agen¬ cies, Embassies, Legations, and Commissions of the United Nations, Civilian Defense Organizations, Red Cross, State and Home Guards, essential war industries, essential services such as communica¬ tions, transportation, power, water, fuel, press associations, newspapers, and health and sanitation services. 3. Records A record shall be kept by all telephone carriers of all priority calls, w'hich record shall include the priority given and whether a conversation in process was interrupted. Such record shall be kept by the tele¬ phone carrier for two years after the date of the call. 4. Reports Within thirty days after the end of each calendar month, the American Telephone and Telegraph Com¬ pany shall file with the Board a report for the Bell System Companies showing: (a) the number of calls during the preceding calendar month given Pi'iority 1, 2, and 3, and the number of calls given Priority 1 for which other calls were interrupted; (b) periods of time required for completion of each class of priority calls. October 30, 1942 — 623