NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1939)

There does not appear to be any section which reduces any of the present requirements and the whole trend seems to be toward increasing details of regulation. There is a possible alternative for such detailed regulation by requiring that the performance of a station, measured by the service rendered, reaches a certain minimum standard, leaving the broadcaster to use whatever method he desires to achieve this result. There arc many arguments for and against both these methods of regulation. That used by the FCC is to regulate method of achieving performance rather than the performance itself. On the assumption that this method is the best, the Engineering Committee of the NAB considered that, with the exceptions of some provisions, and a feeling that the rules and standards were becoming too detailed, the Engineering Division of the FCC were to be congratulated on having consolidated the regu¬ lations relating to standard broadcasting and for having clarified many of the points that have been in doubt for a good many months, if not years. Raymond Wilmotte. Monopoly Hearing APRIL 13 Transcriptions again were discussed, with Cyril O. Langlois, of Langlois and Wentworth, Inc., and Langworth Feature Programs, Inc., and J. R. Poppele, WOR, representing Radio Quality Group Service, on the stand. APRIL 18 Fred Weber, general manager of Mutual, suggested that exclusive network contracts should be eliminated and that five-year con¬ tracts were too long. He also suggested some limitation on time options, and said that a fourth “restrictive” factor was “one com¬ pany operating two sets of networks.” Asked whether he thought some Commission action on network contracts was needed, he said “it is absolutely necessary.” Elliott Roosevelt, president of the Texas State Network, appear¬ ing as a Commission witness, suggested that networks “probably should be licensed to operate” as such. He said he did not “think it necesjary for the Commission to definitely set up hard and fast rules with regard to option time * * * other than to see that there is no restraint of competition.” He said he didn’t think exclusive contracts were necessary, but disagreed with Mr. Weber about any limit on their length. Joseph N. Weber, president of the American Federation of Musicians, urged the Commission to continue its rule requiring announcement of transcribed programs as such. He maintained that a trained musician could tell the difference between a “live” show and a recorded show, when he listened to his radio. APRIL 19 The Commission introduced another set of exhibits dealing with station and network income. Then Louis G. Caldwell, counsel for Mutual, made a motion that the Commission ban renewal of any network contracts beyond December 31, 1940. Both NBC and CBS counsel objected, Judge John J. Burns of CBS expressing “amazement at the gall of counsel for Mutual.” But the Commis¬ sion took the motion under advisement. The hearing was con¬ cluded with Adrian Murphy, CBS, about that network’s record and transcription activities. The Commission suggested that parties to the proceeding file briefs, and said the record was not yet closed. advertise and sell rose bushes, keeping 40 cents out of each dollar received. The NAB has advised all three that broadcasting sta¬ tions are in the broadcasting business and has suggested that each undertake a regular radio advertising campaign. CALENDAR OF MAY EVENTS May 1 May 1 May 1 to May May 7 to May May 7 to May May 8 May 10 May 12 May 12 to May May 13 May 14 May 14 May IS May IS May 18 May 18 May 21 May 21 to May May 21 to May May 21 to May May 21 to May May 22 May 24 May 28 May 30 —Moving day in many cities ■ — May Day or Child Health Day 7 — National Egg Week 13 — -National Music Week 13 — -Raisin Week — National Restaurant Week starts — Confederate Memorial Day ■ — National Hospital Day 18— Peace Week — West Coast Relays in Fresno, California — Mothers Day • — National First Aid Week — Straw Hat day in many cities — Air Mail service, established 1918 — Ascension Day (Parochial Schools closed) — International Good Will Day — Lindbergh’s Paris Flight, 1927 27 — Foreign Trade Week 28 — National Tennis Week 28 — National Poetry Week 28 — National Cotton Week — National Maritime Day — Empire Day in Canada — Dionne Quintuplets born at Callender, On¬ tario, 1934 — Memorial Day JACK FALVEY Information about Jac Falvey is available at head¬ quarters for any interested member. CELLER PUTS “ABC OF RADIO” IN CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Headquarters acknowledges with thanks receipt of a letter from Representative Emanuel Celler (D-NY) who has had “The ABC of Radio,” published by the NAB, reprinted in the Congressional Record. In introducing the ABC booklet in his extended remarks. Congressman Cellar said: “Mr. Speaker, under leave to extend my remarks in the Record I include the following article prepared for me by the National Association of Broadcasters, a splendid national group of broadcasters.” DR. LEONARD POWERS NAMED RE¬ SEARCH ASSISTANT TO FREC FREE OFFERS The Beauty Products Company, Kansas City, has sug¬ gested that broadcasting stations go into the shaving cream business, advertising and selling “Shavoil,” at a profit of $15 a hundred bottles. The Popular Music Instruction Company wants sta¬ tions to advertise and sell its piano lessons, keeping 40 cents from every incoming dollar. Rogers and Smith, Dallas, Texas, wants stations to At an all-day meeting in Washington of the Executive Committee of the Federal Radio Education Committee on Friday, April 14, Dr. John W. Studebaker, United States Commissioner of Education, as Chairman of the FREC, announced the appointment of Dr. Leonard Power as his Assistant in-Charge-of-Research. Dr. Power will undertake to prosecute the studies for the Committee which have been assigned to the Office of Education, De¬ partment of the Interior. These studies are: A survey of successful cooperative efforts on the part of broadcasters April 21, 1939 3434