Sponsor (1964)

Trade Groups See CATV Legislation Essential TAME, NAB argue that unregulated CATV damages tv development; score unfairness of rules absence \tlanta Concessional action to curb CATV is a "must" as far as the relevision Accessor) Manufacturers Institute and the National \ssn of Broadcasters arc concern ed. Declared Morton Leslie, acting chairman of I AMI:, at the Southeast Radio I \ Seminar: " The unregulated growth of CATV makes the Communications Act self-defeating, and the Congress must be made to once again balance the scales ." Restating the NAB's concern with the "uncontrolled growth of CATV." William Carlisle, vice president for station services, told the same audience. "We onlj 'oppose' ( \IY when we see damage being done (or apparently about to be done) to the development of the nationwide YH1 and LHF advertiser-supported free television system as envisioned in the FCC*s sixth Report and Order.*' Carlisle added: "We believe — and it has sometimes been only too evident — that a burgeoning CA 1 V complex, absent from any rules or regulations for its development, can do injury to the allocations plan and can inhibit the appearance of local live television stations capable of creating programing rather than merely duplicating programing." Continuing his call for Congressional legislation, the acting chairman of TAME argued: "The Communications Act specifically prevents a broadcaster from extension of services without commission approval. Thus, the paradox emerges. \ ( \l\ operator conducting his business outside the jurisdiction of the Communications Act may actually do what is illegal for the broadcaster." Touching on "the qualifications of lower municipalities to pass on the feasibility ot CATV," I eslie cited lack of experience and technical knowledge on the part o\ town councils, plus strong promotion on Augutt 10, 1964 the part of t \ l \ franchise ap] cants which often "beclouds" high Iv technical material. " I he decision as to whether a ( \ I \ system will benefit a community or not must Come from a body which with \a\; ness and knowledge will decide in the public interest the Federal ( ommunications Commission." said. "Onlv the) can weigh its effect upon local \ His and the growth ot I HI Leslie emphasized that I AMI does not want CATV outlawed, but he said it is "altogether too closely linked to broadcasting and the broadcaster not to be a part of the same set of ground rules to which he is subjected." The NAB's Carlisle also had a word about pay t\ We opp he said. because it is mhcrcnth hypocritical whenever it glibly promises the public, lor example, that there will never be an;. 000 mereials. 01 when it seeks t0 convince the public that it will aim onlv at small, enthusiastic groups ol opera and ballet lovers, ignoi mass audiences where obviously the real potential tor money-ma) lies We oppose p.iv television cause it claims it w ill onlv sup; incut' lice television and may affect the public's tree laic at all. lor we claim it will instead mppUutt free tv." N \H has sometimes been aseiied ol living to "stifle ,i new Indus try in its cradle." he continued I submit this is not the ease Pay tl vision is not a new industry. It is a scheme that seeks to convert an existing highway to a toll road " Washington Attorney Sees Tacit CATV Support for Limited FCC Controls Atlanta - Although CATV operators have been vocal in their opposition to federal control, an attorney who represents both ( \l\ interests and pay tv say thev "tacitly support some limited type of 1 ( ( ' regulation." Speaking before the Southeast Radio-Tv Seminar. Vernon ( Kohlhaas, a Washington lawver. declared: "They [CATN operators] would like to have Congress preempt the Geld so that they would be subject to uniform regulation bv the FCC rather than bv the multiple and oftentimes conflicting regulations of the states, counties and cities with which thev have to deal." Kohlhaas added that while there will undoubtedly be compromises in "the CATV legislative objectives of the broadcasters, the commission and the ( \l\ operators, there i^ little doubt that all c \ I \ operators will be brought within the reg ulator) control ot the R C in the not too distant future." In discussing pav tv. Kohlhaas told the broadcasters that the ai ment that pav tv would destrov the capacity o\ tree tv to provide adver tising-financed program »res "economic realitv." Economic Mir veys, he said, "Supported by empirical experience in [orooto and Hartford, indicate that the public's recreational budget will not permit the spending ol more than $100 to $125 a vcar for subscription p granting I his amount, Kohl! ncd. would provide two to three hours of subscription progran — or slightly more than one y gram per week. "In short, the p lie's recreational budget would allow it to absorb sufficient scription programing time prive advertising-financed programing o\ its present broadcast time" 17