Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan 1951-Jan 1952)

3 It also stems partly from new key staff, whose attitude appears to be less Big Government, less punitive, than that which seemed to motivate some earlier authorities. Possibly it's also due to sober fact that cat-&-mouse tactics have produced no public-interest results. But you can't tell about the Commission. "Don't get any idea we're just working for your industry, " said one commissioner, who nevertheless agreed the FCC atmosphere is now clearer. "We have always tried to work for the public interest, and we're not going to be run by anybody." This member deplored the ruckus over color TV, probably the most bitterly controversial issue in all the history of radio regulation. He thinks color case was greatly overemphasized, though admits its economic impact was greater than anticipated. He regrets issue went to court, though does not blame the principals. He feels "open door policy" respecting any new and better system than the one chosen is all the industry has right to expect. Decision, he believes, was "the right one on the record." But so far as he's concerned, "open door" means just that — and he will gladly welcome anything that proves superior. * ♦ ♦ ♦ Fact is that FCC is now keenly concerned with getting things done in TV. Some members are really disturbed by delays caused by color squabble, which accounts for at least one of the 3 years of TV freeze. Now we see these salutary moves; (1) Streamlining of end-of-f reeze procedures, through "paper" hearings (Vol. 7:30) solicited by FCC and assented to by industry. (2) Lifting of TV station powers to enable them to give better and wider service (Vol. 7:30 et seq). Everybody gains, nobody loses, by this belated move. (3) Sending of FCC's 4 top technicians to view advance tests of compatible color system being developed under all-industry auspices (NTSCK That, too, is all to the good, presages formal reopening of color case on more objective, less emotional, even friendlier basis. Meanwhile, commissioners can't hide their curiosity about great new developments reported (Vol. 7:31 et seq) — and no less a critic than Comr. Jones frankly says he's intensely interested in seeing them. (When history of color imbroglio is written, Jones' pressure upon industry, though sometimes harsh and acrimonious, will undoubtedly be credited with giving country color TV, whichever system, ahead of time it would otherwise have emerged.) (4) Traveling of commissioners to Bridgeport to inspect uhf progress. They unstintingly give industry pat on the back for it (Vol. 7:25-26). (5) Encouraging rather than clubbing industry into coming up with answers to admittedly acute oscillator radiation problem (Vol. 7:4,11,20,23). (6) Withholding of force on TV programming problems, giving industry reasonable time to clean its own new and still-cluttered house — task now well in hands of NARTB-TV committee (Vol. 7:16 et seq). Another development that has telecasters as well as broadcasters feeling well-disposed: FCC counsel has written opinion saying it hasn't authority, as condition of license, to fix percentage of broadcast time to be devoted to educational programs. Opinion says FCC "will not prescribe any fixed quantitative program ' standards for non-speclalized broadcast stations." j True, a majority gave nod to Comr. Hennock's channels-f or-education scheme, ' but some members think few if any institutions can get wherewithal to build, let , alone operate, such inevitably expensive projects on non-commercial basis. Comr. I Hennock right now maintains discreet and — for her — unusual silence pending j action on her Federal judgeship, still bottled up in Senate committee (see p. 10). 1 Chairman Coy returned from vacation this week, still under doctor's orders, j' It won't be surprising if health forces him to quit before year ends. He's had handI some offers, most prior to his June reappointment. He's represented as feeling the I reappointment vindicated his administration. Now that he has machinery set up for I ending freeze, he could resign knowing groundwork is laid for orderly buildup of the TV structure. But he isn't saying anything about his plans, if he has any.