NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1937)

ary 14, 1937, meets with the general approval of the engineering profession, and “Whereas, the National Association of Broadcasters approves this report because it is based on sound and basic engineering prin¬ ciples, and “Whereas, there is a definite need in the broadcast industry for such improvements as will be possible by the adoption of these principles in the Commission’s regulations; now therefore be it “Resolved, by the National Association of Broadcasters: The Federal Communications Commission is hereby petitioned by the National Association of Broadcasters to accept the report and to incorporate into its regulations the basic principles of said report.” I move the adoption of this resolution. (The motion was not seconded.) MR. HUBBARD: Mr. Chairman, I move that we hold it over until tomorrow for action. MR. CARPENTER: Seconded. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: It has been moved and seconded that this resolution be held over until tomorrow for action. Is there any discussion? (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) MR. HENRY: “Whereas, the present broadcast frequency band, 550-1600 kilocycles, is now occupied by an almost maximum number of stations, and “Whereas, there is at present no satisfactory allocation agree¬ ment between the United States and other North American countries, and “Whereas, in the present situation interference exists on some broadcast channels; now therefore be it “Resolved, by the National Association of Broadcasters: That the Federal Communications Commission be requested to use caution in granting applications or in making changes in allo¬ cations in the frequency band 1510-1600 kilocycles, or in other new bands that may be used for broadcasting, in order to pre¬ vent action which would interfere with a satisfactory solution of the problem of North American allocation pending the Pan American Conference called for November, 1937.” Your committee has no recommendations on this resolution. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: No recommendations offered by the committee. A motion is in order to approve, to table or refer to the Board of Directors, or disapprove. What is your pleasure? MR. ALLEN : I move that it be tabled. MR. HUBBARD: Seconded. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: Is there any discussion on it? MR. CARPENTER: I’d like to offer a substitute to refer it to the Board of Directors. (The motion was not seconded.) MR. HUBBARD: I don’t think it is up to us to tell the Com¬ mission what to do. I move we stay out of it. J. H. DE WITT JR. (WSM, Nashville) : The reason that resolu¬ tion was introduced was not that we would presume to suggest what the Federal Communications Commission should do or not do. The object of the resolution is simply to give the Com¬ mission ammunition to use against certain interests which might try to allocate these frequencies before the Pan American Con¬ ference. It is in the interest of the Association to see that all those frequencies are held open until a satisfactory North Ameri¬ can agreement is reached. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: Is there any further discussion? Are you ready for the question? MR. HUBBARD: I would suggest that the resolution be re¬ written and leave out the reference to the Commission. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: May I make a suggestion? You have your Engineering Conference this afternoon and the suggestion is that you revise this resolution so it will accomplish the purpose you state and . . . MR. DE WITT (interrupting) : There is no meeting of the Engineering Committee ; there is simply a reading of the Engineer¬ ing Committee’s report. MR. MYERS: Mr. Chairman, our Engineering Committee was appointed with great care and consists of the best engineering minds in the industry. This Engineering Committees has pro¬ posed a resolution that has been acted upon by the Resolutions Committee and placed before this meeting as the best judgment of our Engineering Committee. As such, I believe that this motion to table the resolution should be defeated. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: Are you ready for the question? MR. HUBBARD: I move that we refer it to . . . CHAIRMAN HEDGES (interrupting) : We have a motion be¬ fore the house, a motion to table the resolution. (The motion was put to vote, and was lost.) MR. CHURCH: I move it be referred to the Board of Direc¬ tors. MR. CARPENTER: Seconded. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: Mr. Church moves and Mr. Carpen¬ ter seconds that it be referred to the Board of Directors. Is there any discussion? (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) MR. HENRY : This resolution was proposed by Ed Craney of KGIR: “Whereas, the Copyright Act of 1909 was enacted at a time when radio broadcasting was unknown and in the application of such act to Radio Broadcasting as it exists today, numerous injustices have been complained of by both user and owner of copyrighted material, and “Whereas, the diversity of state legislation affecting copyrights and other problems of the broadcasting industry makes it advis¬ able to co-ordinate information on these subjects for the benefit of all; therefore be it “Resolved, That a committee composed of one member of the National Association of Broadcasters from each state be ap¬ pointed and that each such member be pledged to respond to committee call, each such committee member to serve without compensation but with traveling and hotel expenses to be set and paid by the National Association of Broadcasters when such committee members are traveling pursuant to official call, and it shall be the duty of each such committee member to gather and furnish information on questions of copyrights and other problems of broadcasters, and that the activities of this com¬ mittee shall be co-ordinated by suitable counsel engaged for that purpose.” The committee recommends that this resolution be referred to the Board of Directors, as the governing body of the Association, to take such action as time and circumstances indicate to be de¬ sirable. I so move. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: Is there a second? MR. HOUGH: Seconded. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: It has been moved and seconded that this resolution be referred to the Board of Directors. Is there any discussion ? (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) MR. HENRY: “Whereas, the By-Laws of the National Associ¬ ation of Broadcasters provide that the convention city of the organization may be selected by the membership, and that the Board of Directors make such selection only if the membership does not select the convention city; now therefore be it “Resolved, That the National Association of Broadcasters hold its next annual meeting at Chicago, at a date to be selected by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.” This is just to get it before the convention. I move the adop¬ tion of this resolution. MR. CARPENTER: Seconded for the same purpose. MR. HUBBARD: I think we should defeat the motion. I don’t think we should take action on a motion of that type when so few are present. MR. HENRY: I would like to withdraw the motion and have it voted on tomorrow. CHAIRMAN HEDGES: The chairman of the Resolutions Com¬ mittee withdraws his motion. This resolution will be presented to¬ morrow. There is one other resolution which was distributed to all mem¬ bers as they came into the convention hall yesterday. That is the resolution offered by Mr. Hart of Honolulu calling for the re¬ organization of NAB. This is a matter which should come to the attention of the full body of delegates at this convention and, therefore, we will withhold presentation of that resolution until tomorrow’s meeting. That completes the reading of the resolutions. Is there any report from the Elections Committee? I will call on Don Searle, acting chairman of the Elections Committee, to present the report. MR. SEARLE: There were 199 total votes and by your vote, you have elected for President John Elmer with 147 votes to Ed Craney’s 52. First Vice President — John Gillin, 148, to John Elmer’s 42. Second Vice President — William Scripps, 152 to John Gillin’s 35. The Elections Committee was composed of Dale Robertson, Bill Way and myself. MR. CRANEY: Mr. Chairman, I would like to be the first to congratulate John Elmer on winning the election and I would like to move that the convention make the record unanimous for Mr. Elmer. MR. BUTCHER: Seconded. (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) 2456