Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

4 manship of Judiciary Committee. Chernoff s first steps will be to "meet with top industry officials, members of the FCC and other interested parties for exploratory conversations." Release described conference between Kilgore and Chernoff last week end as producing agreement on "basic objectives." Among topics discussed at conference — and presumably grist for the upcoming investigation: "Ownership of radio & TV stations by newspapers, networks and manufacturers of receiving sets and parts for receiving sets. . .network practices regarding free speech, open forums, commentators and presentation of both sides of issues." Activity continues on Senate Commerce Committee's probe of network and uhf problems, meanwhile, though exact direction the inquiry is to take will depend on the inclinations of new membership to be headed by Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash.). Magnuson continues to be silent on Committee plans, won't discuss them lantil he takes over next month. But it now appears that Sen. Monroney (D-Okla.), third ranking Democrat on Committee, will be one of its most active members in TV-radio matters. He took the leading role in holding up confirmation of George McConnaughey , chairman, as member of FCC (Vol. 10:46), his questions at that time indicating his extreme interest in the uhf situation. "It wouldn't hurt to hold more hearings to find out if there are areas where uhf stations have started which might be reserved exclusively for uhf," Monroney told us recently. "Whether this can be done in many places should be the subject of further inquiry," he said. "We don't have to be forever wedded to the present allocations ... The more stations we have the less likely we are to have monopoly." SERIOUS INTEREST IN PRIVATE MICROWAVES: TV microwave situation is in something of a ferment nowadays, with non-Bell System companies knocking on FCC's door, seeking to build — to feed TV stations and community antenna systems. This week brought: (1) Further argument betv;een AT&T and stations as to whether latter should be permitted to build more private microwave facilities. (2) Application from powerful financial group seeking to microwave Denver station signals to Rapid City, S.D. Bickering between stations and AT&T' continued in form of replies to one another's earlier comments on FCC's proposal to ease restrictions on stations' microwave construction (Vol. 10:46). AT&T showed it was alert to economic problems, however, showed willingness to explore ways of providing less expensive service. The broadcasters filing additional comments were KXJB-TV, Valley City, N.D. ; KCJB-TV, Minot, N.D. ; WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, Wis. ; UHF Industry Coordinating Committee ; National Association of Educational Broadcasters. The kind of money behind proposed Denver-Rapid City, S.D. microwave shows community antenna business isn't considered peanuts. Among the 8 principals seeking authority to build the $309,823 nine-hop link are the famed Winthrop Rockefeller and C. Hamilton Moses, pres, of Arkansas Power & Light Co. Application is second such aimed at serving TV-starved Rapid City. Even more elaborate microwave systems to feed towns in northwest are under discussion, but principals aren't ready to talk. (For details of AT&T and station comments 'and Rapid City link, see below.) WILLINGNESS OF AT&T to meet broadcasters part way in effort to provide less expensive microwave TV service may dissolve the current disagreement, but stations’ comments filed this week on FCC’s proposal to ease restrictions on private microwave construction show that stations feel that AT&T’s prices are currently far out of line. Stations sparking FCC’s original proposal — KXJBTV, Valley City, N. D. & KCJB-TV, Minot, N. D. (John Boler) — said that they were glad to note AT&T recognizes economic problem exists; that they have no desire to become a common carrier or to interfere with basic common carrier facilities. They insisted, however, that AT&T could provide adequate service at far less cost; that adoption of the proposal would induce AT&T to “come forward with a concrete proposal which may solve this problem’’; that they don’t need AT&T’s present “deluxe” equipment. Stations also blasted comments of U. S. Independent Telephone Assn, as “100% negative.” AT&T won’t be injured by the few private microwaves built or to be built, WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, Wis., told Commission. Its own one-hop relay, station said, provides “eminently satisfactory” service at much lower cost than AT&T would charge. WEAU-TV requested that its own relay be authorized permanently, if FCC decides not to make the policy change it has under consideration. UHF Industry Coordinating Committee said common carriers haven’t supported with facts their argument that private microwaves might make common carriers’ TV service a losing proposition, requiring hikes in phone rates, etc. It also countered common carriers’ argument that stations may find private microwaves more costly and less