Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

2 Another class of radiation covered is "carrier current systems" such as voice and control signals induced on high-voltage power lines, campus radio, etc. New rules will hit some of these quite hard. Tightest restrictions of all were applied to community TV antenna systems. Limit: 10 uv/m at 10 ft. All new systems built after rule is adopted would have to comply. All existing systems would have \mtil June 50, 1955 to comply. The FCC attitude on this tight limit is that there will always be some people living near the cables who prefer to receive free signals on their own antennas, and that these viewers have a right to protection from cable interference. Rule wouldn't affect multiple outlet systems confined to single building — such as hotels, etc. jN * * * The certification plan which FCC endorses is briefly as follows: (1) Establishment of an independent certification laboratory empowered to test all TV and FM sets for conformance to standards acceptable to FCC. (2) Authorizing manufacturers to affix laboratory seal of approval to their sets if they meet those standards. (3) Notifying FCC who meets standards and who doesn't. One thing RETMA proposes that FCC doesn't is that all manufacturers comply with 41.25 me IF for TV sets. Commission decided to see how industry reacts to the RETMA plan first, before considering further measures. ^ * FCC would thus provide the "mailed fist" within RETMA' s "velvet glove". No receiver manufacturer has yet rejected the RETMA proposal. Industry responses to FCC proposal will be accepted until June 16. Meanwhile, RETMA' s committee under Hazeltine research v.p. Arthur Loughren is studying various institutions to determine which would best serve as certification laboratory. NEWSPAPER PROTEST GRANTED; 3 CPs ISSUED: That unique newspaper protest to Ch. 12 grant of WBLK-TV, Clarksburg, W.Va. (Vol. 10:15) succeeded in delaying construction of the station, as expected, though it barely squeezed by FCC on 4-3 vote. Commission issued 3 CPs and one initial decision, meanwhile. One CP was returned — KTCO, Ft. Worth (Ch. 20) — making 67 grants surrendered since freeze, 55 uhf, 12 vhf. This week's CPs: San Jose , Cal. , Standard Radio & TV Co., Ch. 11; Lexington, Ky. . WLEX, Ch. 18; Fayetteville, N.C., WFLB, Ch. 18. Initial decision favored KWK, St. Louis, for Ch. 4 grant after big 3-way merger last week. Uhf station WTVI, in nearby Belleville, 111., has petitioned FCC not to grant the merged applicant. San Jose CP came from final decision in which Commission upheld examiner's opinion that competing FM Radio & TV Corp. had been dilatory in preparing for the hearing and had finally defaulted. Lexington and Fayetteville CPs came from final decisions after competitors had dropped out. * ^ 4= * Clarksburg protest case has stirred a lot of speculation to effect that host of non-broadcast interests will seize upon it as precedent to delay construction of TV stations. No doubt of it, door is wide open — at the moment. By acceding to the protest of Clarksburg Exponent & Telegram and by ordering WBLK-TV to hearing, FCC doesn't acknowledge any merit to newspapers' arguments. All FCC says is that they have right to be heard. Matter of fact, chances are they'll get very short shrift in the hearing when it comes. What decision does mean is that FCC majority has become a bit court-shy after getting its ears slapped down for failure to grant protests in the Spartanburg case (Vol. 10:14). It's felt the Clarksburg protest can be disposed of and station construction started much faster than would be the case if the protest were denied and court granted a stay order, as it did in Spartanburg appeal. Commission would also like to make "horrible example" of case, encouraging Congress to eliminate or change protest section — which FCC never did like.