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FCC: 25th ANNIVERSARY
...U.S. still Leads The World
FREDERICK FORD Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
THE 25th anniversary of the Federal Communications Commission, 1934 to 1959, affords me, in the name of the Commission, to pay tribute to American imagination and ingenuity which have made the United States a world leader in telecommunication.
Among some of the major events that have transpired in the Commission's quarter century were: radio authorizations have practically multiplied by that number of years — from slightly more than 100,000 at the close of the first year to nearly 2.5 million today. Radio stations of all kinds have increased from 51,000 to more than 507,000 and currently represent the use of about 1.8 million transmitters. From 600 stations, all AM in 1934, broadcast authorizations collectively today exceed 10,000 of which 3,500 are AM and over 970 and 930 are TV and FM respectively. The number of broadcast receivers has soared from I8V2 million to more than 200 million. Almost two-thirds of the world's total are in the United States. This country now has more sets than people and almost three times as many sets as it has automobiles.
The only broadcast service in 1934 was AM. Regular FM and TV service started in 1941. The result is that, as of June 1959, there were more than 5,400 authorized broadcast stations 3,500 AM, 971 TV and 934 FM) not counting about 4,700 remote pickup and other auxiliaries. Of these, 3,377 AM, 767 TV and 776 FM stations held operating authorizations. Included were 224 non-commercial education
al station authorizations, 59 TV and 165 FM, of which 43 and 154, respectively, had authority to operate. The number of TV channel allocations for educational use has increased from 242 in 1952 to 259 today.
At the close of fiscal 1959, outstanding broadcast authorizations totaled 10,120, which was a gain of 1,083 collectively for the year.
Concerned with the revelation of unsavory operations in the broadcasting field dealing witn quiz shows, payola, offensive commercials and unbalanced programs, the Commission is engaged in public proceedings to reappraise its role in radio and TV to determine how best to hold its station licensees responsible for better serving the public. This is bringing helpful comment and suggestions by religious, educational, women's, civic, business and other groups and individuals who are concerned by some elements of broadcast fare now invading the home.
Radiobroadcast is the magic medium that brings information, education, religion and entertainment into our homes. Television adds imageeven in color — to the family enjoyment. What is more, the American system of broadcasting is by private enterprise, and the Government does not censor programs or exact fees for broadcast receiver use.
Consequently, the Commission salutes not only those who have made possible the phenomenal telecommunication accomplishments of the past quarter century but also those who are working on still bigger things to come.
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