NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

WBBM-KFAB SYNCHRONIZATION APPROVED The Commission this week authorized the installation of auto¬ matic frequency controls and modifications of licenses for stations WBBM, Chicago, and KFAB, Lincoln, Nebraska, to permit syn¬ chronizing, on an experimental basis, during the night hours between 10 p. m. and midnight, CST. This action sustained the report of Chief Examiner Yost. Synchronized operation will make it unnecessary for WBBM to share time at night with KFAB. The synchronizing project, based on comprehensive surveys, will be observed with considerable interest. RULE 151 SUSPENSION PROVES POPULAR The suspension by the Federal Radio Commission of Rule 151, as reported in NAB Reports for March 11, 1933, is being utilized by a number of stations to reduce sustaining expense. As shown by this week’s record of Commission action, eight stations have elected to reduce hours of operation in the manner made possible by suspension of Rule 151. COMMUNICATION BILL INTRODUCED Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas, Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, has introduced a bill (H. R. 3760) “to establish the Federal Communications and Power Commission, and for other purposes.” The bill, which has been referred to Mr. Rayburn’s committee, is similar to that intro¬ duced by him during the latter part of the last session of Congress. The bill provides for the appointment of five commissioners, not more than three of whom shall be of the same political party. The salaries shall be $10,000 a year. Section 2 of the bill is as follows: “The Commission shall administer all laws of the United States (1) relating to the regulation of the transmission or communication, in interstate or foreign commerce, of intelligence by wire or wireless or otherwise by the use of electrical energy, or (2) relating to the regulation of the transmission or sale of power in interstate or foreign commerce, or to the issuance of licenses for the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams, water conduits, reservoirs, power houses, transmission lines, or other project works necessary or convenient for the development and improvement of navigation and for the development, transmission, and utilization of power across, along, from, or in any of the navigable waters of the United States, or upon any part of the public lands and reservations of the United States (including the Territories), or for the purpose of utilizing the surplus water or water power from any Government dam.” HOUSE RADIO COMMITTEE MEETS The House Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries held an organization meeting on March 23. The meeting was called by Chairman Bland of the committee. None of the bills pending before the committee were taken up during the meeting. It was not decided whether hearings on any of the pending measures will be held during the present short session of Congress. BINDERS FOR NAB REPORTS In the first issue of the new NAB Reports we called attention to the fact that ring binders could be ordered through Association Headquarters at $2.00 each. These binders are appropriately marked with gold lettering, are durable, and sufficiently large to take care of the issues of NAB Reports for two years. A large number of orders have been received, acknowledged and entered. However, the NAB does not have the money to lay in a large supply of these binders to fill future orders, and the benefit of the factory price in lots of one hundred is now being offered. Members are urged to send their orders in promptly to gain the advantage of the 100-lot price. Shipments, direct to the members from the fac¬ tory, are expected to start before the end of the month, so that it would be advisable to send orders to headquarters immediately. RADIO ADVERTISING STATISTICS The March issue of “Survey of Current Business,” published by the Department of Commerce, shows that the expenditures for national radio advertising continued during January the downward trend. The report shows that the cost of facilities during January, 1933, were $2,789,000 as compared with $3,006,000 for the month of December. Cost of facilities for January, 1932, amounted to $3,984,000. The figure for January of this year compared favor¬ ably with the figure for July, 1932, when expenditures for national radio advertising amounted to $2,997,000. The downward trend in magazine advertising also continued during January. The total for the month was $5,569,000 as com¬ pared with $9,053,000 for November, and $7,827,000 for Decem¬ ber. Magazine advertising during January was $2,000,000 less than for the same month a year ago. There was also a decline in newspaper lineage during January. January lineage totaled 77,957,000 for 52 cities as compared with 91,509,000 for the same cities in December and 100,032,000 in January, 1932. . KFPY COURT APPEAL DENIED The Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia this week denied an appeal of the Radio Commission in the Symons Broad¬ casting Company (KFPY, Seattle, Wash.) case, No. 5757, for re¬ hearing. The Court a couple of weeks ago remanded this case back to the Commission for hearing. OKLAHOMA CITY CASE DISMISSED On the Commission’s motion the Court of Appeals of the Dis¬ trict of Columbia this week dismissed the appeal of D. R. Wallace in docket No. 5743. The Commission revoked the license of Sta¬ tion KGMP, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Wallace sought an assign¬ ment of the frequency. The Commission refused his application and he appealed to the Court. COURT DENIES WJJD INJUNCTION The petition of Station WJJD, Mooseheart, Ill., in the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia for a stay order was denied this week by the Court in case No. 5896. The motion to dismiss the case was postponed until the hearing on the merits of the case. The Station appealed to the Court from a decision of the Radio Commission denying it authority to operate after sunset Salt Lake City. RECOMMENDS DENIAL WBAX APPLICATION Application of Station WBAX, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to change its frequency from 1210 to 930 kilocycles, increase its power from 100 to 250 watts and change its hours from specified to unlimited time. Report No. 466 (Pratt, E.). Report recommends that the appli¬ cation be denied. The report states that the present programs of the station are not such as would warrant the granting of an increase in facilities to the station. The Examiner further states that “although the proposed change in frequency and increase in power would enable the applicant to render a more extensive service from a technical standpoint, there would result objectionable interference between WBAX and other stations operating on the same and adjacent frequencies both in the United States and Canada.” RADIO SPECIALIST ON SOUTHERN TRIP Dr. C. M. Koon, senior specialist in radio education, U. S. Office of Education, left Washington, March 21, on a trip through West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia. He will visit broadcasting stations enroute. FOURTH RADIO INSTITUTE PROGRAM The program for the Fourth Annual Institute for Education by Radio to be held at Columbus, Ohio, May 4-6, was announced on March 15. Among the speakers listed are John J. Karol, director of Market Research, Columbia Broadcasting System; Herman S. Hettinger, University of Pennsylvania; Elizabeth Watson, Ohio State Uni¬ versity; Tracy F. Tyler, National Committee on Education by Radio ; Frank E. Mullen. National Broadcasting Company ; V. R. Sill, Ohio State University; H. B. McCarty, WHA, University of Wisconsin; W. W. Charters, Ohio State University; Levering ■ Page 12*