NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

ready to start immediately whenever they receive the word to go. A recent demonstration in Washington, D. C., by the Bell Labora¬ tories, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, whereby there was reproduced in the city of Washington, by wire, a program by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra playing in Philadelphia, aroused considerable speculation concerning a possible new competitor of broadcasters. HEDGES TAKES CHARGE OF KDKA William S. Hedges, president of the NAB during 1928 and 1929 and chairman of the Executive Committee during 1930, assumed the management of Station KDKA, Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 16. Hedges, who is well known throughout the broadcasting industry, began his radio career in 1922 as manager of Station WGU in Chi¬ cago which later became Station WMAQ. Later he became presi¬ dent of the latter station and more recently was a member of the executive staff of the Chicago offices of the National Broadcasting Company. WFIW TO MOVE TO LOUISVILLE The Radio Commission on Friday sustained Chief Examiner Yost in his Report No. 449 by granting Station WFIW, Hopkinsville, Ky., a license renewal to operate on 940 kilocycles, 1000 watts power, unlimited time, and authority to move the station to Louis¬ ville, Ky. In the same opinion the Commission denied Station WLAP, Louisville, Ky., permission to have the facilities of WFIW for which it had applied. It was found by the Commission that WFIW presented a definite plan for the use of the regional facilities “that affords reasonable assurance that no substantial increase in interference in the reception of stations assigned to the 940 kilocycle frequency would be caused by the proposed change in the allocation of these facilities.” It appeared further, says the Commission, that in the case of WLAP “the operation of this applicant’s station on the 940 kilocycle fre¬ quency would result in increased interference in the reception of at least one other station.” It was further found by the Commission that the operation of WLAP would cause blanketing effects against the reception of other stations in an area having a relatively large population. WKRC DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA AUTHORIZED The Commission sustained Chief Examiner Yost in his Report No. 446 in the case of Station WKRC, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Com¬ mission in part granted a renewal of license to the station so as to authorize its continued operation on SS0 kilocycles, with 500 watts power, unlimited time, and granted special experimental authority to operate with an additional 500 watts output on the condition that such additional power be used in such manner that the field intensi¬ ties of WKRC radiated in the direction of St. Louis and Buffalo are of no greater value than the intensities radiated in those direc¬ tions by the station when employing 500 watts power and its present antenna. It is stated by the Commission in its decision that the station now causes interference with other stations operating on the same fre¬ quency. It is further pointed out that if the applicant’s “proposed experiments with a directional antenna prove successful the applicant will be able to continue the operation of Station WKRC with 1,000 watts power, maintain the present service area of the station, and at the same time materially reduce existing interference in the reception of other stations assigned to the 550 kilocycle frequency.” COMMISSION APPROVES KMBC MOVE Station KMBC, Kansas City, Mo., was granted permission by the Radio Commission to move from Independence, Mo., to Kansas City, Kans., sustaining Report No. 478 of Examiner R. H. Hyde. Moving of the station as proposed, it was found by the Com¬ mission, “would improve the service of the station as it affects a substantial number of people in the logical or natural service area of the station.” Granting of permission for the move would not change the quota of broadcast facilities assigned to the State of Kansas, the Commission states. NORTH CAROLINA STATION GRANTED Chief Examiner Yost in his Report No. 477 was sustained by the Commission by its granting to William A. Wynne permission to construct a new broadcasting station at Greenville, N. C., to operate on a frequency of 1420 kilocycles, 100 watts power day¬ time operation. It was found by the Commission that there is a need for the proposed broadcast service in the area of Greenville and that “the application being from an under quota state and for facilities which would not cause interference with any other station or stations now licensed may be granted in conformity with Rule 6 (f) of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations.” RECOMMENDS ADDED POWER FOR WMAS Station WMAS, Springfield, Mass., asked to increase its power from 100 watts to 250 watts local sunset. The station operates on a frequency of 1420 kilocycles. Report No. 487 (Yost, c. e.). Recommended that application be granted. The Chief Examiner found that by granting the application no objectionable interference would result; and that “the people re¬ siding within the service area of Station WMAS are entitled to the improved radio service which the granting of the application would provide.” It was further found by the Examiner that the State of Massachusetts is due 11.84 units of radio broadcasting facilities and is assigned 10.46 units. The granting of this application, says the Chief Examiner, “would increase the present under quota status of Massachusetts by .1 of a unit.” WJBY TEMPORARY LICENSE FAVORED Station WJBY, Gadsden, Ala., applied to the Commission for license renewal using 1210 kilocycles, 100 watts power unlimited time; for permission to move locally and to change equipment. Report No. 485 (Yost, c. e.). Recommended that the station be allowed to move locally, change its equipment and that the license be renewed “temporarily, pending Commission action on other ap¬ plications from the State of Alabama now on file with the Com¬ mission.” The Examiner found that the applicant is qualified to operate the station but that the station was moved and made changes in its transmitter in violation of Commission rules. It was found further by the Examiner that the station has not at all times operated in accordance with the Commission rules but it was found also that “the continued operation of Station WJBY and the change of transmitter location as proposed by applicant, would serve public interest, convenience and necessity.” PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORIZES CONCERTS Act No. 308 of the Pennsylvania Legislature, which became law on approval June 2, 1933, legalizes the receiving of compensation by musicians for Sunday concerts, the rendering and broadcasting of the same after twelve o’clock noon, and the charging of an ad¬ mission fee thereto, provided that authorization is obtained from the Department of Public Instruction and any excess admission fees over the actual expenses are paid to the Department. The Department may authorize concerts provided they maintain music of a high order although not necessarily what is known as sacred music. CALIFORNIA SHORT WAVE ACT VETOED The California Legislature, like many others, passed an act re¬ lating to the maintenance and use of short wave radio receiving sets in vehicles, one of the principal features of which was to prohibit the use of sets capable of receiving above 1500 kilocycles in private automobiles without a permit. The act, however, met an unusual fate in that it was vetoed by the Governor on June 12, 1933. WISCONSIN FAVORS EXEMPTION Passage by the Senate on June 9, 1933 of the Grimes Bill, No. A. 252, which had previously passed the Assembly, leaves solely in the hands of the Governor the question of adding radio receiving sets to the list of household furniture exempt from taxation in Wisconsin. • Page 70 •