NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1937)

The National Association of Broadcasters NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING ..... WASHINGTON, D. C. JAMES W. BALD WEN, Managing Director NAB REPORTS * * Copyright, 1936. The National Association of Broadcasters Vol. 5 No. 1 JAN. 7, 1937 IN THIS ISSUE Page Duffy Copyright Bill . 1849 New Stations Granted . 1849 Annual Communications Commission Report . 1849 License Renewal for WHBC Recommended . 1849 Actors Bill Reintroduced . 1849 New Texas Station Recommended . 1849 Internal Revenue Cites Some Depreciation Averages for Radio . 1849 Copeland Reintroduces Food Bill . 1850 Culkin Liquor Bill . 1850 Drys Protest Broadcasting . 1850 Federal Trade Commission Action . 1850 FTC Closes Cases . 1851 Federal Communications Commission Action . 1851 Dickstein Bill . 1857 Culkin Bill . 1857 Copeland Statement . 1858 Copeland Bill . 1860 DUFFY COPYRIGHT BILL Senator Duffy of Wisconsin has reintroduced his copyright bill of the last session of Congress. Copies of the bill were not avail¬ able as NAB Reports went to press but the Senator stated that the new bill contains some “minor” changes in the text as ap¬ proved by the Senate last session. NEW STATIONS GRANTED The Federal Communications Commission this week granted a construction permit for the erection of a new broadcast station at Superior, Wis., to use 1200 kilocycles, 100 watts power and unlimited time on the air. A construction permit for a new broadcast station at Visalia, Calif., was also granted to use 1190 kilocycles, 250 watts power and daytime operation. A third construction permit for a new broadcast station was also granted for Bridgeton, N. J., to use 1210 kilocycles, 100 watts power and daytime operation. ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION REPORT The second annual report of the Federal Communications Com¬ mission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1936, was made to Congress on Tuesday of this week. The Commission made no recommendations for legislation. If any legislative recommendations are to be made this year they will be forwarded to Congress by another method. The report is divided up into different sections including the office of the secretary ; the examining department ; law department ; engineering department; and accounting, statistical and tariff de¬ partment. The purpose of the report is to put into historical form the activities of the Commission during the past fiscal year. LICENSE RENEWAL FOR WHBC RECOMMENDED Nolan S. Walker applied to the Federal Communications Com¬ mission for a construction permit for the erection of a new station at Canton, Ohio, to use 1200 kilocycles, 100 watts and 250 watts LS and unlimited time on the air. Also station WHBC, at Canton, operating on the same frequency and with the same power asked for a license renewal; an application for consent to voluntary assign¬ ment of the station license and of the construction permit from Edward P. Graham to the Ohio Broadcasting Company; an ap¬ plication for modification of the construction permit, including an extension of time for completion; and an application of Nolan S. SALES MANAGERS MEET CHICAGO January 18 and 19 The Sales Managers Division, under the leader¬ ship of Buryi Lotteridge (KFAB-KOIL, Omaha) will meet in Chicago at the Sherman Hotel January 18 and 19. Chairman Lotteridge has given a lot of time and effort to this meeting and the schedule promises an excellent opportunity to exchange view¬ points on some extremely important sales problems. Walker to acquire the facilities heretofore granted to Edward P. Graham, licensee of WHBC. Examiner Melvin H. Dalberg in Report No. 1-332 recommended that the application of Nolan S. Walker for a construction permit for a new station be denied ; that the application of license renewal for station WHBC be granted; that the application of Edward P. Graham for consent to voluntary assignment of license and con¬ struction permit to the Ohio Broadcasting Company be granted; and that the modification of construction permit for additional time for the erection of the station be granted. ACTORS BILL REINTRODUCED Representative Dickstein of New York has reintroduced his bill (H. R. 30) “to protect the artistic and earning opportunities in the United States for American actors, vocal musicians, operatic singers, solo dancers, solo instrumentalists and orchestral conductors and for other purposes.” The bill which has been referred to the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization is identical with the bill which passed the House at the last session of Congress but was not taken up by the Senate. The bill will be found on page 1857. of this issue. NEW TEXAS STATION RECOMMENDED The Sweetwater Broadcasting Company applied to the Federal Communications Commission to grant it a construction permit for the erection of a new station at Sweetwater, Texas, to use 1310 kilocycles, 100 watts power, daytime operation. Examiner R. H. Hyde, in Report No. 1-331 recommended that the application be granted. He found that “there is no local broad¬ cast station or primary service from any station available in the applicant’s area, and it is therefore concluded that there is a need for the proposed new station.” The Examiner found also in this case that “the establishment of the proposed station would pro¬ vide a needed broadcast service not otherwise available, and the granting of a permit, therefore would serve public interest, con¬ venience and necessity.” INTERNAL REVENUE CITES SOME DEPRECIA¬ TION AVERAGES FOR RADIO In a letter dated January 5 Deputy Commissioner Russell of the Bureau of Internal Revenue gives the ranges of serviceable lines within which the cases of many broadcasting companies have been approved. The letter reads as follows: “In response to your request over the telephone, the following is submitted in regard to depreciation on the physical assets owned by the average broadcasting company. “Depreciation, including obsolescence, for income tax purposes is determined with consideration being given to the facts available in each particular case. It has been found that due to different oper¬ ating conditions and locations, various financial policies and ac¬ counting practices, the allowance for depreciation cannot be predi¬ cated upon a general average. 1849