NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1938)

The National Association of NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ JAMES W. BALDWIN, Managing Director Broadcasters WASHINGTON, D. C. NAB REPORTS * * * * * Copyright. 1837. The National Association of Broadcasters Vol. 6 No. 1 JAN. 7, 1938 (Reprint from NAB Reports Dec. 31, 1937) NOTICE TO MEMBERS The Sixteenth Annual Convention of the National Association of Broadcasters will be held at the Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C., February 14, 15 and 16, 1938. Decision on this matter was made this week by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors. Information concerning Hotel accommodations, and arrangements for speakers will be forwarded to the members at an early date. JAMES W. BALDWIN, Managing Director. CRAVEN BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE Federal Communications Commissioner T. A. M. Craven made some interesting statements before the House Com¬ mittee on Appropriations, according to the transcript of the record of an executive session just made public on Thursday. The hearing dealt with appropriations for the Com¬ mission for the fiscal year 1939, but, as usual, members took an opportunity to question the Commissioner on many subjects of public interest on broadcasting and the activities of the Commission. In addition to the actual appropriations and other matters not pertaining to broadcasting, Commissioner Craven was again questioned at length on his own status by Representative Wigglesworth ; on the equitable dis¬ tribution of radio facilities; the regulation of licenses; the desirability of charging fees for broadcast licenses; the practices of other countries in regard to licenses and taxes; newspaper ownership of broadcast stations, and many similar subjects. Questioned on the distribution of radio facilities, Com¬ missioner Craven said that “it is my feeling that the en¬ tire broadcasting situation in the country will have to be thoroughly studied from the standpoint of the dis¬ tribution of facilities, and also with respect to the eco¬ nomic phases of broadcasting, which have not been hith¬ erto thoroughly understood, and I feel that the Commission in the course of time will undertake such a study and be ready to report to Congress the results of it.” Asked about the charging of license fees for broadcast stations, Commissioner Craven said, “I would be in favor of anything that Congress did, provided that Congress was certain that in taking revenue directly in the form of license fees from a broadcasting station, or a special tax, it does not imply property rights forever in the future. If we have flexibility in guiding the application of radio broadcasting to the service of the public, then I do not mind what you do, but I think that you will want to retain the flexibility of using radio as you see fit.” Commissioner Craven was asked regarding the owner¬ ship of broadcasting stations by newspapers. He was asked for his own views, and stated, “That is a question that I think is very basic, and involves a constitutional question, and I think that Congress will be the ultimate factor in the determination of that.” He was questioned on whether or not the Commission had had this matter under consideration. He stated that it had, and “it is going to give much more consideration before the year is out.” One of the members of the Committee also asked Com¬ missioner Craven what he thought of a Congressional investigation of radio. The Compiissioner stated, “I said the other day that I did not think an investigation of the Commission is necessary, and that we should be given an opportunity to go ahead. I want to make it clear that I have no objection, whatsoever, personally, to an investi¬ gation. I think it may clarify a good deal of the atmos¬ phere and the rumours that are going around. But I do believe that we can do a good job on the Commission.” F. B. STRICKLAND The NAB has been advised by the Canadian Associa¬ tion of Broadcasters that an individual named F. B. Strickland is believed to have left Canada for the United States, after having allegedly forged checks in the Domin¬ ion, and that he may attempt to obtain employment in a (Continued on page 2481) IN THIS ISSUE Page Notice to Members . 2479 Craven Before House Committee . 2479 F. B. Strickland . 2479 January FCC Assignments . 2480 FCC AnDropriations . 2481 In Re Federal Radio Education Committee . 2481 FCC Makes Annual Report . 2481 Federal Trade Commission Action . 2482 Federal Communications Commission Action . 2484 2479