NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1944)

no device of speculation or prediction used to disclose restricted information. It always is hazardous, in connec¬ tion with future operations, to mention dates, even by month or season; or to point out the likelihood or desira¬ bility of an attack in any particular locality; or to fore¬ cast how many units will be employed, or the probable sequence of operations. “Opinion on these subjects should be labeled as opinion, and no attempt made to set forth the actual expectations of commanders except in case of formal official announce¬ ment. Appropriate authority within the restricted list must be of unquestioned standing and all cases of doubt should be referred to the Office of Censorship. “Let it be repeated that hard fighting lies ahead and that only the thoughtless and irresponsible will take chances which might help the enemy to kill Americans.” FLY DENIES RUMORED RETIREMENT FCC Chairman, James Lawrence Fly, this week released the following statement: “In view of the unreliable rumors as to my resignation from the Federal Communications Commission, I should like to set this matter at rest. I have been in the Govern¬ ment service for a continuous period of fifteen years. For some time I have been conscious of personal considerations which indicate the wisdom of my returning to the private practice of law. However, there are a few jobs to finish around here and I propose to see them finished. At the moment I have no definite plan except to remain here for some substantial period of time.” SECOND AND REVISED EDITION "IS YOUR HAT IN THE RING?" GUIDE TO POLITICAL BROADCASTERS With this issue of NAB Reports is enclosed one copy of the second and revised edition of the NAB pamphlet “Is Your Hat in the Ring?” This sixteen-page booklet is designed to assist political candidates in the preparation and delivery of their speeches for the air. It contains also Federal Communications Rules and Regulations governing broadcasts by candi¬ dates for public office. Station requests for additional copies should be addressed to NAB headquarters in Washington, D. C. They will be sent free of charge. NAB RESEARCH COMMITTEE MEETS On Tuesday, August 1, the NAB Research Committee met at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The principal business of the committee was to receive a progress report of its Technical Sub-committee on the study of station coverage methods. Those attending the meeting were: Hugh Feltis, Chair¬ man, KFAB, Omaha, Nebraska; Roger W. Clipp, WFIL, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; John Churchill, CBS, New York; Edward F. Evans, WJZ, New York; G. Bennett Larson, WWDC, Washington, D. C. ; Barry T. Rumple, NBC, New York; Frank N. Stanton, CBS, New York; Jack Williams, WAYX, Waycross, Georgia; Richard Puff, Guest, MBS, New York; G. W. Vernon, Guest, BNC, Chicago; J. Harold Ryan, NAB, Washington, D. C.; Paul F. Peter, Secretary, NAB, Washington, D. C.; Helen H. Schaefer, Assistant to Research Director, NAB, Washing¬ ton, D. C. On Wednesday, August 2, the Research Committee met with the Board Sub-committee and the Sales Managers’ Executive Committee to submit its progress report on the station coverage measurement project. Those in attend¬ ance in addition to the Research Committee were : Board of Director’s Committee: Frank King, Chairman, WMBR, Jacksonville, Florida; Hugh Halff, WOAI, San Antonio, Texas; Harry Spence, KXRO, Aberdeen, Wash¬ ington. Sales Managers’ Executive Committee: Dietrich Dirks, Chairman, KTRI, Sioux City, Iowa; James V. McConnell, NBC, New York; John E. Surrick, WFIL, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; John M. Outler, Jr., WSB, Atlanta, Georgia; Sam H. Bennett, KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri; Arthur Hull Hayes, WABC, New York; Walter Johnson, WTIC, Hartford, Connecticut; Lewis H. Avery, Secretary, NAB, Washington, D. C. The work of the Research Committee was commended by the combined group and plans were made for a final pres¬ entation at the NAB Convention, August 28 through 31, of a report on the station coverage study with a recom¬ mended method for industry use. FM CHANNEL WIDTH STUDIED BY PANEL 1 Committee 1 of Panel 1, of which Dr. B. E. Shackelford is chairman, met in New York on July 24 to consider a subcommittee report on maximum utilization of FM spec¬ trum space. This committee, as organized under RTPB, is charged with the responsibility of making recommenda¬ tions considered desirable in order that the most efficient utilization can be made of radio frequencies. The report on FM channel width, as revised at the July 24 meeting, is still preliminary inasmuch as the report has not been submitted to the entire panel for approval. Highlights of the report are recommendations for FM channels of 120 kc width and an audio frequency range of 10 kc. The comparison of the present standards as adopted by Panel 5 on FM Broadcasting (Panel 5 has requested additional channels above 50 megacycles) and the proposed recommendations of Panel 1 is given in the following table. Present ( As adopted by Panel 5) Channel mid-frequency separation Maximum over-all swing Deviation Ratio Transmitter tolerance Upper extremity of audio range Radio spectrum utilization for FM broadcasting Number of broadcast channels Commercial Educational 200 kc 150 kc 5 2000 cycles 15 kc 42-50 me 35 5 Recommended (As proposed by Panel 1 ) 120 kc 80 kc 4 1500 cycles 10 kc 41-50 me 65 10 According to the subcommittee the above recommenda¬ tions are subject to the modifications which may result from further studies of impulse noise and interference as outlined throughout the report. RTPB ALLOCATION PANEL MEETS RTPB Panel 2 on Allocation met in New York on July 27. Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, RCA Chief Engineer, is the chairman. The meeting was called to consider frequency needs in that portion of the spectrum between 30 and 300 mega¬ cycles. Reports were received from most of the RTPB service panels concerning the specific frequencies requested for each of the various types of radio service. Howard S. Frazier, NAB Director of Engineering and Chairman of Panel 4 on Standard Broadcasting, presented the preliminary request of Panel 4 that all frequencies presently assigned to broadcasters in that portion of the spectrum be made part of the RTPB allocation recom¬ mendation. Sixteen relay-pickup frequencies are involved in the 30 to 40 megacycles region and eight relay-pickup frequencies in that portion of the spectrum beginning at 156.075 megacycles and ending at 161.926 megacycles. Several requests were received from panels representing other services for these same frequencies. August 4, 1944 261