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H hat \ happening in I . S. Government ilmi affects tponsors, agencies, stations
WASHINGTON WEEK
4 APRIL 1959
Copyright 1959
SPONSOR
PUBLICATIONS INC.
Congress, long dormant on the broadcasting front, may start one project rooking shortly alter the Easter recess.
The Senate Commerce Committee will likely be the first to gel into action. It will he back with the old problem of tv allocations. The FCC worked through the Easter recess, preparing for a possible call to testify once more, as it has on this subject before the same Committee through the years.
In view of the TASO report, tossing in the sponge on uhf, it is expected that FCC chairman John C. Doerfer will be able to persuade other commissioners to his viewpoint in favor of abandonment of uhf. That is, as any solution for getting more tv stations on the air.
The new tack appears set to involve trading all uhf and vhf channels 2 through 0 for additional vhf space now occupied by the armed services. The FCC is asking for 38 new channels immediately above present channel 13, but will settle for 25 or even fewer.
The Senate Commerce Committee has been a stronghold for uhf. It issued a report praising a dormant FCC proposal to switch all or a major portion of tv to uhf. However, last year the committee showed considerable enthusiasm for horse-trading to acquire more vhf channels.
Meantime the Association of Maximum Service Telecasters has submitted to the FCC a "five-point'" platform outlining its position on tv allocations.
The five points, as contained in the AMST statement to the FCC :
1) The existing 12 vhf channels are absolutely essential for tv broadcast service and hence must be retained.
2) In view of the findings of the TASO report regarding the comparative performance of vhf and uhf frequencies for tv broadcasting, it would appear to be most desirable in the public interest for additional vhf frequencies to be allocated — either between channels 6 and 7, or above channel 13, or both.
3) If an appropriate amount of additional vhf spectrum space is allocated to tv broadcasting, part of the uhf spectrum now allocated to tv broadcasting could be exchanged, if necessary, for the additional vhf frequencies.
4) No part of the uhf spectrum now allocated to tv broadcasting should be reallocated to other services unless additional vhf is forthcoming.
5) Present wide-area service must be maintained on the existing 12 vhf channels to insure maximum service to the American public, including rural and small-town areas.
The Supreme Court will shortly have the final word on whether a broadcasting station may be forced to permit a politician to make a speech over its facilities, with no right to censor, and then may be sued for libel because of what the candidate says.
The highest court heard arguments in the \\ DAY-TV, Fargo, N. D., case, and if it issues a clear-cut ruling, the libel position of broadcasters under Sec. 315, the political equal time communications act provision, will finally be clarified.
North Dakota courts had exonerated the station of libel charged in the case, and the suing candidate took the issue to the Supreme Court.
•ONPOR
4 april 1959
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