NAEB Newsletter (Feb 1948)

CLEAR CHANNEL ARGUMENT (CONT.) - 3 - N-A-E-3 MEMBERS N-A-E-B with members in 24 states and Hawaii, operating 22 AM and 19 FM stations, •noted also that 18 of its members operate daytime only or limited time, and said "The unique public service rendered bv educational and non-profit stations" should be considered in deciding the clear channel case." Hot opposed to clear channel assignments as such, N-A-E-B asked that the question of breakdowns should be decir ded in each instance on a comparative basis, considering the program service offer¬ ed by each N-A-E-B station on’a channel in relation to the effect its nighttime operation would have on areas where there may be audiences now receiving service from dominant stations. CC3S and Regional Briefs The two networks (NBC and CBS) which have affiliation with a majority of the clear channels reiterated their request for the status quo• The present clear channel station operators (CCBS) presented the same plan they promoted last year—that the FCC provide for a minimum of 20 750,000 watt clears around the country with 16 members of CCBS and 4 others; their brief was by Lewis Caldwell. The Regional Broadcasters Committee (Attorney Paul Spearman) charged that present clear channel operation results in "overlapping and wasteful duplication of secondary service areas" and insisted that 1-A clear channels be broken up to provide for two or more stations on each such frequency. They further charged that many "clear" stations have turned over most of their night programming to the networks. Surprise Testimony Surprise testimony came from clear ..channel atadLioii.JHLEA.*-. Pittsburgh (operated by Uestinghouse) and a member of CCBS, who backed away from the group plan and said that super-powered static qs"will not solve the issue involved." Thus they essen¬ tially assume the network "status quo" position. Hew Commission Members Only 2 of the present FCC Commissioners have been members of the Commission through the entire course of the clear channel testimony—Paul ^alker and Clifford Burr. Rosel Hyde has heard all of the testimony through the past year. Hew to the case officially, and now occupied with study of the record, are Wayne Coy, Chairman; R. F. Jones, George Sterling, and E; M. T,T ebster. ... SIGNIFICANCE The N-A-E-B stations, which are party to the clear channel hearings, merely typify in a particular instance, the need to preserve, protect and expand all educational technical radio facilities to reach and serve, daytime and nighttime, as large an audience of men, women and children as possible. Hearly one-third of the radio listeners in the U. S, are not receiving or hearing the kind of programsthey need and want. Commercial broadcasters, serving the other two-thirds of American listen¬ ers are providing, for the most part, the kiqd and type of programs which are wanted. Furthermore the pattern and nature of their programs are to a large extent dictated by economic necessity..Hith them we have no quarrel. Our opportunity, our challenge, and our duty is to serve that other one-third—to provide with all the skills and resources at our command through adequate facilities—THE MAJORITY OF THAT RADIO MINORITY NON ONLY SERVED IN PART. HE DO NOT UANT AND MILL NOT ACHIEVE THE LARGEST AUDIENCE IN THE COUNTRY—BUT T 7E DO ,T ANT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE AUDIENCE WE SET OUT TO SERVE. THIS MEANS THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF LISTEN¬ ERS, NOT SCORES AND HUNDREDS.