NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

Resolution No. 9 WHEREAS, The use of the electrical transcription method of broadcasting programs is generally accepted by both stations and by listeners, and has become an important economic factor in the operation of broadcasting stations; and WHEREAS There is definite evidence of serious loss in income to stations because of existing requirements that electrical tran¬ scription programs must be so announced; and WHEREAS, There has been sufficient progress in the manufac¬ ture of electrical transcription programs that the reproduction of the majority of such programs are now generally considered as excellent ; and WHEREAS, The broadcasting industry would be greatly bene¬ fited by the removal of existing restrictions, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the National Association of Broadcasters hereby respectfully urges the Federal Radio Commission to alter the existing regulations requiring that electrically transcribed pro¬ grams made especially for broadcasting be so announced, so that such a transcription may be announced merely as a production of the concern making such transcription. Resolution No. 10 WHEREAS, The practice of accepting “script” and electrically transcribed programs of a commercial character, on a sustaining basis, is against public interest, convenience, and necessity ; and WHEREAS, Such a practice is unfair to legitimate buyers of broadcasters’ facilities, be it therefore RESOLVED, That the National Association of Broadcasters considers such business so accepted as constituting an unfair trade practice. Resolution No. 11 RESOLVED, That the National Association of Broadcasters hereby refers to its Board of Directors the recommendations made in the report of Mr. James W. Baldwin, with instructions to pro¬ ceed as rapidly as may be practicable along the lines indicated in that report. ASCAP BUSY IN BALTIMORE Despite assurances to Congress that no effort would be made to compel restaurants and other small enterprises to pay for licenses, representatives of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in various localities have started a new campaign against such establishments. The most active of these campaigns is being carried on in Balti¬ more, Maryland, and has resulted in large-scale threats against owners of radio receiving sets who use these sets in their business. As a result, Representative Ambrose J. Kennedy of that city has announced that he will ask the House Committee on Merchant Marine, Fisheries and Radio, of which he is a member, to investi¬ gate the practices of ASCAP in extorting such licenses. Maryland restaurant owners have organized a cooperative defense against these threats, as has a group of restaurants in New York. As a weapon against these campaigns, Oswald F. Schuette. NAB Copyright Director, has advised inquiring members and others to Dresent the full details of such operations to the local Congressmen with a request that the matter be called to the attention of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, both of whom are investigating ASCAP methods. Such Congressional in¬ terest should serve to speed the government’s prosecution of these inquiries. JOHNSON PRAISES RADIO General Hugh S. Johnson, National Recovery Administrator, paid a tribute to radio in an address over the network of the National Broadcasting Company last Tuesday. “In closing I want to say a word of thanks to the great broad¬ casting chains,” the General said. “I am informed that the can¬ cellation of commercial programs necessary to clear this half hour has cost them many thousands of dollars. When we think of the willing eagerness of such sacrificial cooperation as this in an effort to make effective a great national purpose and then turn to con¬ template the obstructions of ‘ten per centers’ — the rules of radio do not permit adequate characterization.” RECOMMENDS POWER INCREASE DENIAL Station WBCM, Bay City, Mich., applied to the Radio Com¬ mission for authority to increase its power experimentally from 500 to 1,000 watts. Recommendation is made in Report No. 514 (Ralph L. Waker, e.) that the application be denied. The Examiner found that the use of the increased power by this station, even on an experimental basis, would detrimentally affect other existing stations. “Further,” he states, “it appears that the tests which the applicant proposes to conduct can be successfully ■ Page carried on with its present ooeratine power and that the special authorization requested is unnecessary.” RECOMMENDS NEW STATION DENIAL A group of individuals doing business as the Greensburg Broad¬ casting Company applied to the Radio Commission for a construc¬ tion permit for a new station to be erected at Greensburg, Pa. Recommendation is made in Report No. 511 (George H. Hill, e.) that the application be denied. The application asked for a fre¬ quency of 1420 kilocycles, daytime operation, to use 100 watts power. Examiner Hill found that the financial showing of the applicants was unsatisfactory, that “a sufficient showing of need for the serv¬ ice requested” was not made by the applicants, and that the grant¬ ing of the aDplication “would possibly result in interference between Station WTBO, operating on the requested frequency of 1420 kilocycles, and the proposed station.” FURTHER INCREASE IN RADIO EMPLOYMENT In 41 radio manufacturing plants the August employment was 25,943, an increase of 15 per cent over July and of 71.5 per cent over August of last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statis¬ tics, Department of Labor. Weekly August payrolls in these same plants amounted to $440,998, an increase of 32.5 per cent over July and of 64.6 per cent over August of last year. NEW STATION DENIAL RECOMMENDED Raymond M. Brannon, of Fremont, Nebr., filed an application with the Radio Commission asking for a construction permit for a new station at that place, while Station KFOR, Lincoln, Nebr., asked for license renewal. Recommendation is made in Report) No. 513 (Ralph L. Waker, e.) that the Brannon application be denied and that the license of Station KFOR be renewed. The Examiner found that the applicant for the new station does “not appear to have sufficient money to construct and place in operation the proposed station.” It was found also that “the territory which the applicant pro¬ poses to serve now receives programs from existing stations and there is not shown such a need for a station at Fremont as would warrant the withdrawal of facilities from an existing station for the purpose of granting applicant’s request.” RECOMMENDATIONS ON CALIFORNIA STATIONS Station KTM, Los Angeles, applied to the Radio Commission for renewal of its existing license and voluntary assignment to the Evening Herald Publishing Company; Station KECA, Los Angeles, asked to change its frequency from 1430 to 780 kilocycles; Don Lee Broadcasting System asked for a construction permit for a new station at Redland, Calif.; and KFBK, Sacramento, asked to change its frequency from 1310 to 1430 kilocycles and to increase its power from 100 to 500 watts. In Report No. 512, Ralph L. Waker, e., recommends that the application of KECA be denied; that the application of the Don Lee Broadcasting Company be granted; that the application of KFBK to change its frequency be denied; that the application of KTM for license renewal and assignment be denied; and that the apolication of KELW for license renewal and assignment also be denied. SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATIONS The following companies filed registration statements with the Federal Trade Commission under the Securities Act during the current week: Associated Gold Mines, Ltd., Downieville, Calif. (2-266) Barium Steel Corporation, Canton, Ohio. (2-268) Byron Gold Mining Company, Omaha, Nebr. (2-261) Custer-Hyantha Gold Mining Company, New York City. (2269) Diversified Royalties, Ltd., Los Angeles, Calif. (2-267) Mohawk Brewing Company. Pittston, Pa. (2-260) Security National Bank of Everett, Everett, Wash. (2-262) Theonett Wine & Distilleries Corporation, Chicago, Ill. (2-263) Traders Corporation, New York City. (2-265) Vulcan Gold Mines Company, Los Angeles, Calif. (2-264) Allied Brewing & Distilling Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. (2-275) Bankers National Investing Corporation, Wilmington, Del. (2286) Bondholders’ Protective Committee, Black Hawk Hotels Cor¬ poration First Mortgage Sinking Fund Six Per Cent Gold Bonds, Davenport, Iowa. (2-281) Purnelli Aircraft, Ltd., Dover, Del. (2-289) 192 •