Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

6 TWO CPs WERE ISSUED by FCC this week, while residue of last week’s 3-day 7-member sessions continued to be released, chock-full of dissents and statements. This week’s grants: Tupelo, Miss., Tupelo Citizens TV Co., Ch. 9; Rapid City, S.D., KOTA, Ch. 3. At same time. Commission refused to reinstate expired CP of KTVR, Hot Springs, Ark. (Ch. 9), because grantee failed to undertake construction when it had CP, while examiner Hugh Hutchison recommended that Commission deny more time to build KLYN-TV, Amarillo, Tex. (Ch. 7) because of its lack of diligence. One CP was given up voluntarily, meanwhile, KFYO-TV, Lubbock (Ch. 5) turning in grant because of dubious economic prospects. Other Commission actions: (1) A second look at Flint Ch. 12 decision, which was granted WJRT, now under construction (see p. 5), was denied to defeated applicants WFDF (Bitner) and Butterfield Theatres. Similar request of Flint citizens’ group was turned down. Four commissioners made the decision, McConnaughey & Lee abstaining, Webster dissenting. WFDF immediately asked for re-argument, saying it’s “only fair and proper” that McConnaughey & Lee participate, and citing FCC’s action last week in granting oral argument in Beaumont and Tampa cases (Vol. 10:49). WFDF also said it will appeal to courts. (2) De-intermixture in Hartford, requested by 4 uhf stations in area, was turned down. Petition asked that Ch. 3 be made educational, even though hearing has been conducted for the channel — WTIC (Travelers) and Hartford Telecasting (Harry Butcher) competing — but Commission said that WNHC-TV, New Haven, already supplies vhf to area; that Ch. 3 is sole vhf in Hartford and one of only 2 in Connecticut and therefore should not be denied commercial use. Efforts to de-intermix Peoria were pursued by uhf stations WEEK-TV & WTVHTV, even though FCC had turned down their petition to remove Ch. 8. Seeking reconsideration, they asked: “Will the Commission admit an error which nearly the whole TV industry recognizes and prevent the difficulties which have been encountered in other communities from coming to pass in Peoria?” (3) Reconsideration of Portland, Ore. Ch. 12 decision, wherein Oregon TV was granted, was denied to Columbia Empire Telecasters. FCC rejected contentions that Oregon TV offered perjured testimony; that “diversification” theory was misapplied, etc. Comr. Hyde dissented, while Comrs. Webster & Bartley dissented to extent that they would have reopened record. (4) Ch. 13 was assigned to Monroe, La., at request of now off-air KFAZ (Ch. 43). However, FCC denied station’s petition that it be shifted directly to Ch. 13, saying channel must be open to application from anyone. This may be regarded as precedent in event FCC grants petition to WBUF-TV, Buffalo (Ch. 17) to add Ch. 8 to Buffalo (Vol. 10:45). (5) Addition of Ch. 4 to Richmond, Ky., requested by grantee WLAP-TV, Lexington (Ch. 27), was turned down on grounds that zone changes needed to make allocation possible aren’t justified. Noteworthy is concurring statement of Comr. Bartley who said he’d deny allocation because uhf WLEX-TV, Lexington (Ch. 18) is going on air shortly. Some other commisioners agree with Bartley, though they didn’t say so in decision. (6) KBOI (Ch. 2) became officially identified as a Boise, Ida. station. Up to now, it has been assigned to Meridian, using Caldwell’s Ch. 2, but station wants to use Boise studios on permanent basis, and Commission granted change in allocations switching Ch. 2 & 9 between Boise & Caldwell. (7) Reconsideration of allocation of Ch. 2 to Andalusia, Ala. for educational use, requested by John H. Phipps, who had wanted it for Havana, Fla. to serve Tallahassee, was turned down by Commission which merely said that the educational proposal was “more meritorious.” Comr. Doerfer dissented. Proposal to ban most towers over 1000 ft. (Vol. 10:48-49) gets airing Dec. 15 before Air Coordinating Committee’s (ACC) technical div. — but industry representatives and the press will be barred from most of meeting. Unless industry spokesmen persuade ACC officials to open meeting at last minute, here’s schedule: Aviation and TV industry will get chance to give their opinions on the Airspace Subcommittee’s plan, then they’ll be ushered out and Airspace Subcommittee members will be heard. Among TV industry representatives appearing will be NARTB — probably represented by engineering director A. Prose Walker — opposing arbitrary limits on antenna heights. Assn, of FCC Consulting Engineers may also be heard. Navy this week filed comments as member of Airspace Subcommittee, urging FCC, as well as ACC, to amend rules to ban all future towers over 1000 ft. Odds still are against ACC acceptance of arbitrary tower height ceiling. Proposal to lift tower height ceiling in Zone I to 2000 ft. with full power (Vol. 10:48) was argued further this week when parties filed replies to each others’ comments. Proponent WBEN-TV, Buffalo, sticking to its basic premise that greater height and power will provide greater rural service, analyzed opponents’ objections, attacked them one by one Grantee WSLA, Selma, Ala. (Wm. Benns) also supported proposal on grounds of improved rural coverage. Rest of responses were from a dozen opponents, most of whom argued that WBEN-TV had not proved case engineering-wise; that WBEN-TV should have no “grandfather” privileges because it was authorized high tower before end of freeze; that greater power-height would stymie development of local uhf. First TV grant in Guatemala was issued Dec. 6 to Guatemala TV, headed by J. C. Wilson Jr., Guatemalan director of Pan-American Airlines. Associated with Wilson in grant are A. Frank Katzentine, owner of WKAT, Miami Beach, and applicant for Ch. 10 there; RCA distributor Mario Blanos, who will be station mgr.; Rafael Herrero, who has banking and coffee interests. U. S. legal representative for new Guatemala City grantee is former FCC chairman Paul Porter. Group told Guatemala Govt, it will install RCA transmitter on mountain south of city and anticipates 10,000 receivers-in-use “within a few months” after start. No channel has yet been assigned. Highest station in world, in terms of height above average terrain, may be satellite proposed for Wailuku, Maui, by KGMB-TV, Honolulu (Vol. 10:48). It would be 5960-ft. above average terrain, 10,054-ft. above sea level. Albuquerque stations KOB-TV & KGGM-TV are on 10,833ft. Sandia Crest, but only 4200-ft. above terrain. Average terrain figure for 13,405-ft. XEQ-TV at Cortez Pass in Mexico is unknown. With mere 1.49-kw ERP, Maui station has calculated Grade A contour of 29-47 mi.. Grade B of 70-100 mi. Site is near national park at Haleokala Crater, has paved road already there. Applicant expects to build for $24,435, operate for $21,000 annually. Unusual action at FCC this week was to hold up sale of WSFA-TV, Montgomery, Ala. (Ch. 12), and radio WSFA to Gaylord interests of Oklahoma City (WKY-TV, Daily Oklahoman), for $562,598 (Vol. 10:40). Commission sent McFarland letter asking simply why sale is in public interest. Letter doesn’t mention objections to sale filed by KWTV, Oklahoma City, which charged Daily Oklahoman with bias against KWTV in news coverage.