NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1940)

Flynn, Jr., American Airlines, Inc.; “Microwave Beams for In¬ strument Landing of Airplanes,” by W. L. Barrow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.; and “A Microwave Receiver for Instrument Landing,” by F. D. Lewis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. There will be the usual commercial exhibits and annual banquet. A copy of the full program is being sent to each NAB member and further details may be obtained from the Director of Engineering or by writing to Harold P. Westman, Secretary, Institute of Radio Engineers, 330 West 42nd Street, New York City. The Commission BROWN REAPPOINTED President Roosevelt this week nominated Col. Thad H. Brown to succeed himself as a member of the ECC. His present term expires on June 30 and the new term is to be from June 30, 1940, to June 30, 1947. The nomination has been referred to the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce. FLY SAYS TELEVISION INTERESTS ARE MOVING FORWARD FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly, at a press confer¬ ence early this week, said that he saw some indications of the industry’s getting to work on television and trying to do the job constructively and to move forward. This answer was made by the Chairman to a question as to whether the Commission saw any indication of the tele¬ vision industry getting together. iSIr. Fly told newsmen that the question of the indus¬ try’s agreement was not the sole question. The prime question, he said, was one of satisfactory performance. The Commission, Mr. Fly stated, was not concerned with an agreement in the sense of commercial interests getting together and agreeing on a scheme to satisfy their own business interests. The Commission will rely on engineer¬ ing opinion as to efficiency and actual improvement of television standards. “What we are shooting at,” Chairman Fly said, “is a level of performance and looking for engineering opinion on the merits of standards.” Television was not deadlocked, he said. On the con¬ trary it has been put on a basis for engineering advance. The Commission, Mr. Fly said, was ready to make a substantial number of grants which would allow the public to participate in experimentation. j\Ir. Fly told the conference that he expected the Monop¬ oly Committee will make its report to the Commission sometime this week, but he said no action has been taken by the Commission itself as to when or if the report will be made public. FOREIGN AMATEUR COMMUNICATION BANNED Immediate ban on amateur radio communication with foreign stations was today ordered by the Federal Com¬ munications Commission. There are approximately 55,000 amateurs licensed by the Commission. This prohibition, however, does not apply to amateur communications between licensed amateur stations in the continental Pmited States and its territories and possessions; nor does it apply to United States citizens authorized to operate amateur stations in the Philippine Islands or the Canal Zone when such persons are com¬ municating with amateurs in the United States. Order No. 72, pursuant to Section 303 of the Com¬ munications Act and in accordance with Article 8, Section 1, General Radio Regulations (Cairo Revision, 1938) annexed to the International Telecommunications Con¬ vention (Madrid, 1934), as issued today, reads in the main: “IT IS ORDERED, That amateur radio operators and amateur radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commis¬ sion shall not exchange communications with operators or radio stations of any foreign government or located in any foreign country; Provided, however, that this Order is not intended to prohibit the exchange of communications between licensed amateur operators and licensed amateur stations in the conti¬ nental United States and licensed amateur operators and licensed amateur stations in the several Territories and possessions of the United States, or between licensed amateur operators and li¬ censed amateur stations in the Continental United States and United States citizens authorized to operate amateur stations in the Philippine Islands or the Canal Zone, or between licensed amateur operators and licensed amateur stations in the several Territories and possessions of the United States. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That all Rules and Regulations of the Commission inconsistent with this Order BE, AND THE SAME ARE HEREBY, SUSPENDED, pending the further Order of the Commission. This Order shall become effective immediately.” FCC AMENDS BROADCAST RULES FCC has announced that Section 3.71 of its rules dealing wdth minimum operating schedules has been amended to read as follows: “Except Sundays, the licensee of each standard broadcast station shall maintain a minimum operating schedule of two-thirds of the total hours that it is authorized to operate between 6 a. m. and 6 p. m., local standard time, and two-thirds of the total hours it is authorized to operate between 6 p. m. and midnight, local standard time, except that in an emergency when, due to causes beyond the control of the licensee, it becomes impossible to continue operating, the station may cease operation for a period of not to exceed 10 days, provided that the Commission .and the Inspector in Charge shall be notified in writing immediately after the emergency develops.” FCC ASSIGNMENTS FCC has announced that the work, business and func¬ tions of the Commission for the month of June have been assigned as follows: Commissioner Payne — Designated to determine, order, report or otherwise act upon all applications or requests for special tem¬ porary standard broadcast authorizations. Commissioner Walker — Designated to hear and determine, order, certify, report or otherwise act upon; (a) except as otherwise 4315 June 7, 1940