NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

HEADQUARTERS FLIES BLUE EAGLE NAB Headquarters is flying the Blue Eagle. The Managing Director this week signed the President’s Agreement and the Cer¬ tificate of Compliance and the office is now operating in strict compliance with the agreement. BUSY DAYS AT NAB OFFICE Work on the broadcasters’ code has claimed a large part of the time of the Managing Director’s office during the past week. Routine work was necessarily sidetracked in the effort of the Headquarters office to secure Blue Eagles for the radio industry before September 1. TRADE STATISTICS ENCOURAGED BY NRA A wide range of new trade information will be gathered as a re¬ sult of the adoption of codes of fair competition under the NRA, it is apparent from the codes already adopted and in process of formulation. Provision is made in many of these for the reporting on a uniform basis by all members of the trade statistics which have never before been gathered regularly or on a wide scale. In addition to furnishing the industries and trade with operating figures upon which they can judge their own production, stocks, costs and similar indices, these figures should prove of great value in the marketing field to those selling their produce or services to these trades. Available industrial statistics are being used to a greater extent than ever before as a result of the rapid organization of trades which is taking place. ADVERTISING AGENCIES SUBMIT CODE False ballyhoo would be eliminated from advertising columns of press and magazines under the terms of a proposed code of fair competition by advertising agencies submitted to the National Re¬ covery Administration by advertising agencies. The code brands as unfair practices the preparation and handling of ads containing untruthful, misleading or indecent statements. Alleged savants who, unrestricted by facts, are quoted in extrava¬ gant claims for products, are directly aimed at by the paragraph in the code which says: “Pseudo-scientific advertising, including claims insufficiently sup¬ ported by accepted authority, or that distort the true meaning or application of a statement made by professional or scientific author¬ ity, constitutes an unfair practice.” Testimonial advertising would be limited under paragraph 7 of the code which says: “Testimonials which do not reflect the real choice of a com¬ petent witness constitute an unfair practice.” Further muzzling the fantasies of copy-writers, the code even brands as unfair practice indirect misrepresentation of a product or service. Misleading price claims also are prohibited. Commission-splitting, or handing back to the advertiser part of the commission he pays, is another unfair practice which would be banned by the code, forbidding such rebates. KVOA LICENSE IS RENEWED The Radio Commission has granted a license renewal to Station KVOA, Tucson, Ariz., to operate on a frequency of 1260 kc., 500 watts, specific hours of operation, and also granted a voluntary assignment of license to the Arizona Broadcasting Company, Inc., reversing Examiner Pratt in his Report No. 464. The Commission found, in its opinion, that the Arizona Broad¬ casting Company is in fact the real applicant for the broadcast license and that it is shown to be “legally, and financially qualified to operate a broadcast station.” “The operation of Broadcast Station KVOA,” says the Commission, “under the new management and with the new capital provided for in the application under consideration, may be expected to serve the public interest, con¬ venience and necessity.” RADIO MANUFACTURERS UNDER NEMA CODE The RMA has withdrawn the code submitted to the National Recovery Administration several weeks ago and has announced its willingness to abide by the provisions of the Code of Fair Com¬ petition for the Electrical Manufacturing Industry which was ap¬ proved by the President on August 4. Manufacturers of receiving and television sets, tubes, parts, cabinets, accessories, loud speakers, condensers and sound distribution equipment will therefore be placed under the electrical manufacturing code. MICROPHONE POLITICS The controversy between the Swiss Broadcasting Society and the government on the manner in which political broadcasts are to » Page take place, mentioned in an earlier issue of NAB Reports, has finally resulted in the following complicated set of regulations: 1. Opposing views may be broadcast before each federal election provided that the two views are given on the same day, and that they follow each other immediately. 2. The duration of the two talks is limited to 60-70 minutes at the very most. 3. The two lecturers will interchange their manuscripts. 4. It is prescribed that the lecturer who speaks in favor of the project adopted by the Federal Chamber (the Swiss Congress) will speak last. 5. The opposing viewpoints must be given during the week pre¬ ceding the election. The Swiss Broadcasting Society is still studying the possibility of broadcasting controversial discussions of political, economic and other subjects of general interest. It seems that even in highly democratic Switzerland, free speech by radio is subject to severe limitations. TOY TRANSMITTERS MUST BE LICENSED The Legal Division of the Radio Commission has held that toy radio transmitters must be licensed the same as any other trans¬ mitter. The question came before the legal department because of the manufacturing of toy radio transmitters for the Christmas trade, which are said to have a range of some 200 yards. The question has never come before the Radio Commission itself for decision. ANOTHER RCA SUIT FILED A petition for writ of mandamus has been filed in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia by Gerald V. Moore, of Wash¬ ington, D. C., asking that the Court compel the Federal Radio Com¬ mission to cancel the license of Station WMAL, Washington, which is leased by the National Broadcasting Company. The petition is practically identical with that filed several weeks ago by C. Wood Arthur, also of Washington, which was dismissed by the Court. Mr. Moore attempted to intervene in the Arthur petition when it was filed, but permission to do this was refused by the Court. FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION ACTION HEARING CALENDAR Wednesday, September 6, 1933 Hearing before Commission en banc WLWL — Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, New York, N. Y. — Modification of license to change from specified hours to unlimited time. WPG — WPG Broadcasting Corp., Atlantic City, N. J. — Renewal of license. Thursday, September 7, 1933 WCAO — Monumental Radio Co., Baltimore, Md. — Modification of license to increase power from 250 watts to 500 watts. WICC — Bridgeport Broadcasting Station, Bridgeport, Conn. — Modification of license to increase night power from 250 watts to 500 watts. WCAC — Connecticut Agricultural College, Storrs, Conn. — Modifi¬ cation of license to increase power from 250 watts to 500 watts. Friday, September 8, 1933 WDEL — WDEL, Inc., Wilmington, Del. — Modification of license to increase night power from 250 watts to 500 watts. NEW — Leo J. Omelian, Erie, Pa. — Construction permit to use 1420 ke., 100 watts night, 250 watts day, unlimited time, for new station. APPLICATIONS GRANTED First Zone WNYC — City of New York, Department of Plant and Structures, New York City — Granted authority to operate from 8:30 to 10 p. m., EDST, September 4, 1933. WESG — Cornell University, Elmira, N. Y. — Granted extension for the month of September of special authority to reduce hourl of operation from daytime to the following specified hours: 8 a. m. to 1:45 p. m., and 4:30 to 7 p. m., EST. WORC — Alfred Frank Kleindienst, Worcester, Mass.— Granted ex¬ tension of special experimental authority to operate on 1280 kc., with 500 watts power, from September 9 to 90 days thereafter. WQDM — A. J. St. Antoine and E. J. Regan, St. Albans, Vt. — Granted CP to make changes in equipment. WBAL — Consolidated Gas and Electric Light and Power Co., Baltimore, Md. — Granted extension to September 10, on 127