NAEB Newsletter (January 1, 1967)

VOL. 32, NO. 1 WASHINGTON, D. C. NAEB Calls For Fully-Equal Second Service The need for a communications satel¬ lite system to serve all facets of educa¬ tional broadcasting and telecommunica¬ tions techniques was emphasized in a recent statement fded with the FCC by the NAEB. The FCC asked for com¬ ments on proposed changes in the do¬ mestic non-common carrier communi¬ cation satellite structure. The associa¬ tion also asserted its belief that the FCC does have existing authority to license the sort of satellite system pro¬ posed by the Ford Foundation last August. The NAEB stressed that a satellite system designed to serve educational ends can succeed only in conjunction with strong land-based educational radio and television stations which satisfy the local needs of their respec¬ tive communities. The association urged that there should be a correlation be¬ tween the development of a communi¬ cations satellite system and ground- based regional and local outlets. In reference to the Ford Foundation’s intention to use funds from its proposed non-profit satellite corporation for na¬ tional and regional non-instructional programming, the NAEB suggested that such financial support could also be applied to instructional radio and tele¬ vision and be used for such community services as education of illiterates, the handicapped, the pre-schoolers, welfare recipients and job trainees. Legislative Support Cited NAEB recognizes, the statement said, that the FCC may wish legislative sup¬ port before acting on the Ford pro¬ posal. If such legislation is forthcom¬ ing, the NAEB underscored two points which should be incorporated: (1) development of a ‘second service,’ which would provide fully equal re¬ sources, channel space and talent, for non-commercial broadcasting and (2) the necessary funds to make the second service work. The NAEB called at¬ tention to the fact that “commercial television stations which now predomi¬ nate numerically 754 to 167 authorized non-commercial educational stations, are almost exclusively entertainment and news media .... Diversity in pro¬ gramming thus is lacking .... much is left .undone .... By contrast, non¬ commercial educational licenses .... have no obligation to reach mass audi¬ ences at all hours of the broadcast day .... Both Congress and the Com¬ mission should recognize that, with proper material assistance, non-com¬ mercial educational broadcasting sta¬ tions can perform a significant public service programming function . . . . To achieve a true programming balance and diversity for the American public, the Congress and the Commission should not look to the commercial stations to do the non-commercial ed¬ ucational job, nor should the regula¬ tors look to the non-commercial educa¬ tional stations to do the commercial stations job.” Instant Transmission Urged The NAEB stated it was a regulatory obligation to “structure a system of American broadcasting that will fulfill all of the public’s needs by encourag¬ ing a total broadcast service voluntarily and eagerly pursued by each of its components.” The association endorsed the instant transmission that a satellite system would make possible because a simul¬ taneous nationwide offering has a far greater chance of becoming a regular part of the pattern of radio and TV programming. Satellite transmission would also tend to expand the use of the media in schools and provide the opportunity for instruction in forms of continuing education on a scale now unheard of, NAEB noted. JANUARY, 1967 R & D Moving Ahead Plans for the expansion of a Research and Development department at the NAEB are gaining momentum as the New Year gets underway, according to President William G. Harley. As the field of educational broadcasting moves into 1967 .... a year of anticipated great growth and expansion ..... Mr. Harley has expressed his confidence that private industry and philanthropy can be counted upon to bolster NAEB efforts in this direction. In promising meetings already held with foundations, manufacturers and representatives of commercial broad¬ casting, the urgent need for additional staffing of the headquarters office was underscored by the increased pressures upon NAEB for service and leadership. Created by such developments as the Ford Foundation’s satellite plan, the forthcoming Carnegie Commission re¬ port on Educational TV, and proposed amendments and extension of the Edu¬ cational Television Facilities Act. Mr. C. Scott Fletcher, a public mem¬ ber of the NAEB Board, is heading up the drive which has a minimum goal of $100,000. Networks, selected stations and manufacturers are being asked to cooperate. Through the R & D office, the NAEB (Continued on Page Three) Schramm Essay In “Monograph” Series The fourth publication in the Mono¬ graph series issued by the Instruction Division of NAEB is in preparation and will be available in early February. The title of the forthcoming publication is ‘Non-Commercial and Instructional Television: Promise and Opportunity,’ by Wilbur Schramm. Mr. Schramm’s study, in its original form, was part of the Ford Foundation’s filing before the FCC in mid-December when interested parties were asked to comment on the establishment of a communications sa¬ tellite Siystem by non-governmental interests.