NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1934)

FACSIMILE HEARING FEBRUARY 21 SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATIONS The application of WTMJ, Milwaukee, for special experimental license for facsimile transmission on 620 kc., 12 midnight to 6 a. m., and not more than 3 consecutive minutes during the broadcast day will be heard before the Commission, sitting en banc, at 10 a. m., February 21, 1934. WTMJ’s application is the first of its kind to be received by the Commission. CALL LETTER LIST FOR 1934 The Federal Radio Commission is preparing a mimeographed list of broadcasting stations in the United States. It is probable that copies of the list will be available for distribution to radio station licensees shortly after January IS. Inasmuch as the Commission list will be available soon, no revision or supplement of the NAB call book, published in August, 1933, will be made at this time. DENTAL ASSOCIATION ASKS AID Cooperation of the NAB and the Federal Radio Commission in its effort to prevent broadcasting by individual dentists is being sought by the American Dental Association. The subject was discussed at a recent conference attended by Dr. A. C. Wherry, president of the Association; Dr. C. T. Messner of the U. S. Public Health Service; Dr. C. Willard Camalier, trustee of the Association; Commissioner Harold A. Lafount; James W. Baldwin, NAB; and Philip G. Loucks, managing director of NAB. Dr. Wherry pointed out that his Association had adopted a resolution condemning broadcasting by individual dentists and in a letter to the Federal Radio Commission had referred to this practice as “selfish, unprofessional and commercial.” He agreed that the enforcement of ethics within the dental profession was a matter for his Association and state licensing bodies, but asked that the NAB and the Commission cooperate with the dentists of the country in protecting the public against the unethical dentist. Newspapers are also being asked to cooperate, he said. While the resolution adopted by the Dental Association at its last annual convention was rather broad in scope it was aimed primarily at the “advertising dentists.” “This is a problem,” Dr. Wherry has pointed out in his letter to the Commission, “if not curtailed in its infancy, may develop into a serious situation, as it relates to the health of the people through the dental profession.” The Dental Association, it was pointed out, is not urging legis¬ lation or regulations on the subject but has chosen instead to work cooperatively with the broadcasters. CHRISTMAS SEALS “BY SPECIAL PERMISSION” The National Tuberculosis Association made an electrical tran¬ scription for broadcasting purposes and requested that stations use this transcription as a sustaining program to promote the sale of Christmas Seals. Victor Herbert music was used and stations pointed out that this music was restricted by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. “We had a very difficult time securing in writing permission to use the Victor Herbert music and although I made quite an effort to avoid giving the copyright owners, M. Witmark and Sons, credit, we were forced to do so because they explained we were not paying for the privilege of using the Victor Herbert music,” says S. M. Sharpe, business manager of the National Tuberculosis Associa¬ tion. “You probably know that this music is on the restricted list of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers which requires an extra fee to be paid somebody. “The recording of Dr. Vaughan’s speech with the Victor Herbert music had been recorded after a verbal understanding that we would be permitted to use the music. It was not until after the record had been made that we reached the written permission with the restrictions outlined.” So, by special permission of the copyright owners the Christmas Seals were advertised. SONG AUTHORSHIP IS DENIED The United States Circuit Court of Appeals in a decision this week reversing a lower court decision, held that David Graves George is not the author of the song “The Wreck of the 97” for which damages had been sought for alleged unauthorized perform¬ ance. Attorneys for George had made claims for damages against various broadcasting stations for unauthorized use of the song. The following companies filed registration statements with the Federal Trade Commission during the current week: Trust Worthy Stores, Inc., Houston, Texas (2-S30). Lebel Lode, Ltd., Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. O’Sullivan Rubber Company, Inc., Winchester, Va. (2-532 ) . The Mengel Company, Louisville, Ky. (2-S33). Same (2-S34). Bondholders’ Protective Committee for Worcester Investment Trust, Boston, Mass. (2-S3S). Consolidated Funds Corporation, Wilmington, Del. (2-536). Noteholders Protective Committee, Richmond, Va. (2-537). Oyster Harbor, Inc., Boston, Mass. (2-538). Green Bay Building Corporation Readjustment Committee, Green Bay, Wis. (2-539). APPEALS COURT DISMISSES RADIO CASES The Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia has dismissed the appeal of Station WBBM, Chicago, at the request of the ap¬ pellant, against the decision of the Radio Commission granting Station WGN 50,000 watts power. The same Court has also handed down a final mandate in the appeal of Station WGN against the decision of the Commission granting Stations KFAB and WBBM permission to synchronize. The stations, which have been held up in this synchronization work, may now go ahead. KGDE LICENSE RENEWAL RECOMMENDED Herbert H. Fette asked the Radio Commission for authority to erect a new broadcasting station at Meriden, Minn., to use 1310 kilocycles. He sought the facilities of Station KGDE, Fergus Falls, Minn. In Report No. 534 this week Ralph L. Walker (e) recommended that the Commission deny the application of Fette and that the license of Station KGDE be renewed. The Examiner found that the evidence does not show that there is any substantial need for radio service in the Meriden area “nor does it appear that there is sufficient program material available to permit applicant to render a desirable service. Certainly the showing made by the applicant in support of his request is not sufficient to warrant the granting thereof at the expense of cur¬ tailing the facilities of Station KGDE.” RADIO COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Federal Radio Commission will be made to Congress sometime next week. It is understood that no recommendations are made for legislation by the Commission and that the report is simply a rehearsal of what has transpired during the past year. RADIO-NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING SURVEY The Creighton University is making a study of KOIL advertis¬ ing and newspaper advertising in Omaha. The purpose of the sur¬ vey is to show that a fifteen-minute program is worth a certain amount of newspaper circulation. John M. Henry, manager of KOIL, would like to hear from any stations that have had ex¬ perience with similar surveys. He may be addressed at KOIL, Council Bluffs, Iowa. WEEI BOASTS SERVICE RECORD Data from the operating log book of Station WEEI, Edison Company of Boston, Mass., reveals, for the calendar year 1933, a sum total of 23 3-4 minutes in transmitter outages, according to officials of the company, who are unstinting in their praise of the work of the operating staff. Station WEEI was on the air a total of 6,194 hours and 14 minutes in 1933, or a daily average of 17 hours. In other words, the hazard of mechanical failure, together with possible interrup¬ tion due to an “Act of God,” such as lightning or sleet stofim, resulted in an average interruption of broadcast service for the year of less than two minutes per month. “Causes of failure which are identified in detail include fuse and resistance failures as well as a two-minute interruption caused by lightning,” WEEI officials state. “It is also interesting to know that one of the interruptions was of 12 munites’ duration, more than half the outage total for the year.” • Page 268 •