NAEB Newsletter (Aug 1952)

U. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY STATE FILE FOR CHANNELS The Allan Hancock Foundation of the University of Southern California* on July 31* 1952* filed an application for Channel 28* reserved for education in Los Angeles. USC expects to make the facilities of the station available to all accredited educa¬ tional interests of the area. Both public and private schools will have the oppor¬ tunity to participate in the planning and operation of the station’s programs* ”If this educational channel is to serve the best interest of education and the com¬ munity* we believe that its operation should be free from domination or control of ary single gboup. M°re particularly* we feel that its value should be shared by all the educational groups in this area who desire to participate.” The application states that the Allan Hancock Foundation has coupletely equipped television studios now in operation for instructional purposes. These* together with new production centers in Los Angeles and neighboring communities, will provide fa¬ cilities for all types of educational programs. The estimated cost of construction for the Los Angeles educational station is $150*000; operating expenses for the first year are estimated at $195*000. In New Jersey The State of New Jersey on July 30* 1952* filed application for UHF Channel 19* re¬ served for educational use in New Brunswick*. New Jersey. The application* signed by Chester Robbins* Acting Commissioner of Education* states that studios will be locat¬ ed at College Heights on the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick* and that the effective radiated power will be 105.2 kilowatts. State appropriations for preliminary studies in connection with educational television total §80,000. As early as September* 1950* the Montclair Teachers College began intensive studies* in’ cooperation with DuMont, of the Educational uses of television in teacher training. The results of that study are incorporated in the New Jersey sp plication. In a letter to FCC Chairman Walker* which accompanied the application* Governor Dris¬ coll said: ’’Studies of the feasibility of non-commercial television are now being made in this state. A? you know* six channels have been allocated to New Jersey* Getting the first station in operation as soon as possible will be exceedingly help¬ ful to us in making a determination with respect to the other five channels.” According to the New Jersey application* operating expenses for the first year are estimated at $lb6,000. In the light of a proposal by the Allen B. DuMont Laborator¬ ies* Inc.', pursuant to which DuMont is to furnish the transmitter and associated equipment at cost* the New Jersey application does not specify total construction costs; the transmitter building is estimated at $ 1 * 2 , 500 ; studio buildings at $75,000. In his letter-transmitting the application to the FCC* Acting Commissioner Robbins said: ”As the Commission may already be aware* appropriations by our State Legis¬ lature to cover the station contemplated by this application may be dependent upon definite assurance from your body that the construction permit will be forthcoming/ — or that' it will be in hand* Other Applicants Pending Other applications for noncommercial educational stations pending before the FCC include: The Bay Area Educational Television Association* San Francisco-Oakland* California (Channel 9); and The University of Houston and the Houston Independent School District, Houston, Texas (Channel 8)»