NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1942)

WASHINGTON, D. C. Vol. 10, No. 45, November 13, 1942 1626 K STREET, N. W. Broadcast Industry on Full War Basis, December 1 The FCC, acting on proposals of the War Production Board and recommendations of the Board of War Com¬ munications, on November 6 adopted new regulations which in effect place the industry on a full wartime oper¬ ating basis. The new regulations, effective December 1, make it mandatory for all standard broadcast transmitters to reduce carrier power by one decibel. The required oper¬ ating day for unlimited time stations is reduced from twelve hours to six hours daily. Stations are permitted “in an emergency, due to causes beyond the control of the licensee, when it becomes impossible to continue operating, the station may cease operation for a period not to exceed ten days, providing the Commission and Inspector in Charge shall be notified in writing immediately after the emergency develops,” this clause is retained in Section 3.71 of the Rules and Regulations as revised. Order Number 107 directs changes in the methods of determining the carrier power of transmitters. Stations using indirect power measurement are assigned new factors for determining the operating power from the plate input power. Stations using the direct measurement of power are assigned the factor of 1.26 for the deter¬ mination of the antenna resistance value. The new fac¬ tors, when applied, have the effect of decreasing the actual carrier power by one decibel. In order that transmitters may be properly adjusted to secure the maximum conservation of tubes and other components the Commission has issued the “Manual on the Adjustment of Standard Broadcast Transmitters.” The Manual stresses the importance of proper calibration and operation of the program limiting amplifier. Intelli¬ gent use of the “limiter” will offset the slight decrease in carrier power without resulting in objectionable compres¬ sion or distortion. The Commission’s press release, copies of which were forwarded to all NAB members on November 7, mentions tests conducted by the Commission prior to the adoption of the Order. On alternate days, the carrier power of the stations used for the tests were reduced one decibel. “Listeners, aware of the tests, were unable to determine when the power was reduced and when it was not. Some of them reported improved reception during the period when the reduction was in effect.” Not a single complaint was received from listeners as a result of the operation on reduced power. Immediately upon the release of the new regulations the NAB Engineering Department contacted the manu¬ facturers of broadcast transmitters. It was pointed out to the manufacturers that owing to the limited technical personnel available, some stations may have difficulty in properly readjusting their transmitters. It was suggested that the manufacturers make available specific instruc¬ tions for the readjustment of each type transmitter in accordance with Order Number 107. Copies of the order and the manual were forwarded to the manufacturers in order that these specific instructions could be made avail¬ able with a minimum of delay. Station engineers should immediately review the order and the manual so that pos¬ sible difficulties can be anticipated well in advance of the effective date. Order Number 94A permits the voluntary reduction in hours of operation. The order also repeals Number 94 which had previously permitted a minimum daily opera¬ tion of twelve hours. The Commission did not take any action on the plan for the voluntary pooling of equipment which has been under consideration for some time. DISTRICT 14 MEETING Since the Fourteenth District of NAB embraces a much larger geographical area than any other district, the unusually large attendance of forty-nine broadcasters, government and industry representatives at the two-day meeting reflects the intense desire of radio stations in this district to cooperate to the fullest extent in the war effort. The opening session was called to order in Denver at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 8, 1942, by District Director Ed Yocum of KGHL. During the first day, Carl Haverlin of the Office of War Information and Robert B. Hudson of the Rocky Mountain Radio Council, and Regional Consultant for OWI, presented the new plan that is designed to become operative on January 1, 1943. Following a question-andanswer period, the broadcasters unanimously endorsed the proposal. Other speakers at the opening session were: Lt. Col. R. G. Walters, commander of Security District No. 7; Lt. Comdr. Lloyd E. Yoder, Public Relations Officer for Colorado for the Navy; Major L. G. Ruth, Public Relations Cfficer at Bulkley Field, Denver; and Major Howard Peterson, Chief, Radio Branch, Public Relations Bureau, Seventh Service Command. At the luncheon meeting, Mrs. Dorothy Lewis, whose regular travels happened to coincide with the Fourteenth District meeting in Denver, spoke briefly on her meetings with listener groups across the country. She empha¬ sized that listeners are increasingly interested and some¬ times critical of the promotion of the war effort over the radio. She spoke, too, of the growing discussions among listeners of the post-war world and the part that i-adio will play in the readjustments after the war. Following Mrs. Lewis, Earl J. Glade of KSL voiced an impassioned plea for a more intelligent handling of the announcements and programs of the various government agencies and departments devoted to the prosecution of the war. He (Continued on page 644) November 13, 1942 — 643