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- 2 - CALIFORNIA BROADCASTERS OPPOSE EDUCATIONAL RADIO Trade magazines have reported activity on the part of both the Northern and the Southern California Broadcasters Associations to stifle in its initial stages a proposal of the University of California for a state-wide network of educational FM stations. Whether or not the information was supposed to have been released to the public is not known; but it has stirred to action those who see better things ahead for radio and its listeners.. NAEB members are particularly concerned over the implications of the situation. If it can happen in California, it could happen elsewhere-though it is expected that commercial broadcasters in.other^states have less greed and more faith in themselves than displayed by their California brethren. In reply to an inquiry on the matter from your President, the following letter was received from FOG Commissioner Paul A. Walker: February 12, 1947 Dear Mr i Engel i I have your letter of the 5th instant calling my attention to an article in Broadcasting Magazine of February 3ยป 1947, entitled "Seeks State FM," This article states that "The University of California is aiming at formation of an FM network controlled by the State's Department of Education, and is seeking an appropriation of 41,750,000 for that purpose," It then adds this significant sentence: "Conscious of this threat to freedom of expression, as well as implied competition, both Northern and Southern California Broadcasters Associations are preparing stretegy." Our attention has also been called to an article in the February 5, 1947 issue of Variety entitled, "California Broadcasters Oppose Planned State-School FM Chain." This article carries a Hollywood, Feb, 4 date line and recites: "California broadcasters today (Tues.) took their initial step at thwarting the creation here of a state-financed, and school- controlled FM station chain, "An immediate investigation will be launched into the whys, wherefores and hows of the plan before it gets into bill form for presentation to the current legislature in Sacramento. With the necessary information in hand, the broadcasters will then seek to organize a united front of commercial station operators and devise the means to combat the powerful and wealthy academic- political lobby fathering the plan. "Broadcasters are determined not to leave the threat on its own in the hope that it will not get through or, perhaps, be stymied by some existing State or Federal laws prohibiting such operations. Once before a similar bill w r as in the making, but it never got to the presentation stage. No such chance will be taken on the newcomer. "Planners of the FM chain here state that no commercial operation is intended. However, commercial or non-commcrciql, broadcasters want no part of what they feel 7/ill be definite competition for audiences." These two articles present the tragedy of the situation.