Sponsor (Apr-June 1962)

JVhat's happening in V. S. Government that affects sponsors, agencies, stations * WASHINGTON WEEK 25 JUNE 1962 Two recommendations featured FCC Commissioner Robert E. Lee's 134-page copyright 1962 report on the Chicago hearings into local service of that city's tv stations. sponsor The first indicated there should be study of the community service problem cre publications inc. ated by the alleged making of decisions in New York for network o&o stations. The second held that further such hearings should be held on a limited basis in certain test markets. The FCC majority had already indicated that Chicago-type hearings would be conducted elsewhere. In spite of this, the Chicago experience had appeared to be so inclusive that there was genuine hope it would not be repeated. But Lee stands near the middle of the FCC political and regulatory philosophy, and these hopes would now seem to have less of a foundation on which to stand. Lee chided a good many of the witnesses for failing to come to grips with actual issues. He singled out a woman for complaining about "smut," which he pointed out had no part in the proceedings. He also hit at the unions, AFTRA and NABET, for asking for more network program originations in Chicago, when the topic was supposed to be local service and local programing. Such out-of-bounds discussions were ignored, he said. The Lee summary was, on the whole, kind to the Chicago tv stations. He said they "in varying degree, do make a genuine, and, in general, reasonable and adequate effort to determine the needs and interests of the local residents in the area of local live programing." He indicated complaints of such as religious and racial groups were products of misunderstandings, rather than of station failures. He pointed out that civic, charitable and political groups applauded the stations. He cited difficulties in local programing and in encouraging local talent due to the disparity between network resources and those of a single station. In this connection, he also pointed out that talent is not readily available in Chicago since it heads for New York and even more so for Hollywood, where there are greater opportunities. Lee hit the critical side to any extent only in his assertion that local live programing by network o&o's, and probably also by multiple-owned and absentee-owned stations, is crippled by an outside veto. He noted the Chicago station managers claimed authority, but said they invariably ask the New York network main offices for "advice and guidance, if not clearance" on any programing plans. Lee said it is also clear that New York as often as not turns down local programing in favor of network. Lee saw "a basic conflict in interest problem" here which the FCC was asked to investigate further. He even quoted himself as saying "if the Commission considers this a dilemma, and I do, it should spell out the answer so that industry will know how to comply." Plumping for more such hearings in "typical test markets of different kinds," Lee con! ended that during the Chicago affair, "the public and the industry looked each other in the face and exhanged views. The air is now much clearer. The public, the industry, and the Commission have each learned much, and must, therefore, have greater respect, each for the others' problems and views." Sen. John O. Pastore (D., R. I.) has announced that beginning 10 July his subcommittee will once again go back into the controversial political equal time section of the Communications Act. Bills in the hopper would loosen Sec. 315 to greater and lesser degrees, but the way is open for suggestions ranging from complete repeal ail the way back to status quo. (Please turn to page 59) SPONSOR 25 june 1962 57