NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

The National Association of Broadcasters NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING ★ * * * * WASHINGTON, D. C. PHILIP G. LOUCKS, Managing Director NAB REPORTS * * * * * Copyright, 1933, The National Association of Broadcasters NEW COMMISSIONER CONFIRMED The Senate on March 30 confirmed the nomination of James H. Hanley of Nebraska as member of the Federal Radio Commission from the Fourth Zone succeeding General Charles McK. Saltzman, who resigned last July. The new Commissioner’s term runs until February 24, 1936. For the first time since last July there is a full membership of the Commission. Mr. Hanley appearing before the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce on March 29 stated that he recognizes the right of the government to safeguard its property rights in the ether. He testi¬ fied that he is opposed to monopolies of all kinds. Mr. Hanley appeared before the committee of which Senator Dill of Washington is the new chairman, in connection with his nomination as a member of the Commission. Senator Dill stated that he had called the hearing because a pro¬ test had been filed with the Committee against the nomination by Stanley Hubbard of Station KSTP, St. Paul, Minn., but that Mr. Hubbard later withdrew his opposition. Mr. Hanley told the Committee that he is a practicing attorney in Omaha. Nebr., and that his name had been presented to Presi¬ dent Roosevelt during the Inauguration by Arthur Mullen, Demo¬ cratic committeeman from Nebraska. Mr. Hanley is vice chairman of the Democratic Committee of Nebraska, he stated. Asked by various members of the Committee Mr. Hanley stated that he had never been counsel for any public utilities and that he had had no radio experience of any kind, nor is he a stockholder in any radio or affiliated corporation. Mr. Hanley testified that he has an open mind regarding the Radio Law. He stated that he believed that the educational in¬ stitutions of the country should have their fair share of radio facilities. PETTEY NAMED SECRETARY Herbert L. Pettey, of Kansas City, Missouri, was today ap¬ pointed Secretary of the Federal Radio Commission, succeeding James W. Baldwin who resigned February 28 to join the executive staff of the National Association of Broadcasters. Mr. Pettey received his academic training at the University of Kansas. For several years he has been actively engaged in the radio industry in various capacities. At one time he was associated with MetroGoldwyn-Mayer in the film business. He is 28 years old. Mr. Pettey was radio director of the last Democratic National Campaign Committee and chairman of the committee in charge of radio broadcasting at the inaguration of President Roosevelt, work¬ ing in close harmony with Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, in¬ augural chairman. He was prominently mentioned for Commissioner to represent the Fourth Zone. COMMISSION FILES FURTHER BRIEF The Radio Commission on March 30 filed a consolidated brief in the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia in the follow¬ ing cases: No. 3783, Station WOW vs. Radio Commission with Station KICK as intervener; No. 5784, Station KOIL vs. Radio Commission with Station KICK as intervener; and No. 5783, Station WAAW vs. Radio Commission with Station KICK as intervener. NO HEARINGS No broadcast cases will be heard by the Radio Commission during the week beginning April 3rd. WATT APPLICATION GRANTED On March 31 the Radio Commission granted Station WAAT, Jersey City, N. J., permission to install and operate equipment of 500 watts instead of 300 watts which it has used heretofore, sus¬ taining Examiner R. H. Hyde in his Report No. 455. The Commission found that the station is rendering a meri¬ torious service and that the service would be improved by the use of the additional power. It was further found that “no sub¬ stantial amount of interference would be likely to result from the use of the additional power request.” The State of New Jersey was already over quota. KARK LICENSE RENEWED The Radio Commission has denied the application of the Arkan¬ sas Radio & Recording Company for the erection of a new station at Little Rock, Ark., on a frequency of 890 kilocycles and granted Station KARK, Little Rock, a renewal of license on that frequency thereby sustaining Examiner Elmer W. Pratt in his Report No. 457. In its decision the Commission found that the Arkansas Radio & Recording Company did not make sufficient showing of financial responsibility or technical resources to warrant a finding that it should be granted a station license. It found that the continuance of Station KARK would be in the public interest. SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION DENIED Stations WFBM, Indianapolis, and WSBT, South Bend, Ind., have been denied simultaneous daytime operation by the Radio Commission in an opinion sustaining Examiner R. H. Hyde in his Report No. 437. Had the application been granted Station WFBM would have reduced its power from 1,000 to 500 watts. The Commission found that if the application of these stations for simultaneous daytime operation had been granted it would have resulted “in mutual interference within the service area of both stations” and the Commission calls attention to the fact that the Fourth Zone is over quota in broadcast facilities. It was found further that “the granting of these applications would violate the provisions of Commission regulations providing that no application involving the allocation of additional facilities in an over-quota zone may be granted if the grant would result in additional inter¬ ference with any station or stations now licensed.” WCGU GETS TEMPORARY LICENSE RENEWAL Broadcasting station WCGU, Brooklyn, N. Y., has been granted a renewal of license on a temporary basis by the Radio Commission pending action on its pending allocation for additional facilities on 1400 kilocycles, sustaining Chief Examiner Ellis A. Yost in his decision in Report No. 445. The Commission found that the applicant’s delay in filing written notice of appearance is not of sufficient consequence to justify a denial of its renewal application. WNJ MUST CEASE OPERATION The Radio Commission on March 31 granted Station WHOM, Jersey City, N. J., authority to operate with three-quarters time on 1450 kilocycles with 250 watts power. At the same time the Commission notified Station WNJ, Newark, N. J., that its temporary authorization for its operation is of no further force and effect and that it must cease operating at once following the refusal of the United States Supreme Court to grant an appeal and in keeping with the Court’s decision of November 21, 1932, sustaining the decision of the Commission in refusing to renew its license. Page 15