Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

issued, the statement of the Commission says it expects station construction "be carried forward expeditiously." If extensions beyond usual 8-month completion date are asked,, it v/ill "review the application with particularity to determine v/hether such extension application should be granted or designated for hearing." It added; "In acting on requests for extension of time, the Commission v;ill consider the promptness of a permittee's efforts to secure equipment and other materials and his efforts to provide an FM broadcast service promptly with interim equipment. Even though complete equipment may not be immediately available, the Commission expects permittees to use the interim equipment to provide an early FM service and to install remaining equipment as rapidly as it becomes available. Such operation is now being conducted by a number of conditional grantees and permit holders" [under STAs, as reported in this issue and in Vol. 2, No. 26]. * 5i= * The manager of the broadcast equipment division of one of the larger manufacturing companies tells us som.ething that bodes little good for immediate TV or FM — something the FCC might v;ell inquire into .... something that Idaho's Senator Taylor might better consider than waste his time on prodding the Justice Dept, to witch-hunt for an obviously non-existent "conspiracy" on the part of radio set manufacturers to hold up FM receiver production (Vol. 2, No. 25 and 29). This chap relates that he has dozens of orders on his books, particularly for FM equipment — but they are^ conditional orders. The condition? That he promise if and when they are turned into firm orders (meaning when CPs are granted) he will not deliver the equipment too soon I In fact, some of his accounts want definite commitments that they won't receive their equipment for at least 6 months; others ask him to make sure they don't get delivery for a year. The orderers, of course, are primarily AM broadcasters who really don't v/ant FM, who are getting it for "insurance only," who want it retarded as long as possible, who would scuttle' it if they only could. We can't tell you v/hat company it is, or who told us about this situation, but you can take our v/ord for it that our report is authentic. It elucidates much of what we learned ourselves during a recent sv;ing around the country, plus v;hat one of our staff members is reporting as he currently tours the country. With a few individual exceptions, there is no great enthusiasm for either TV or FM among what Maj . Armstrong calls the "entrenched interests" (the existing broadcasters) , particularly west of the Atlantic seaboard. EBISiC ACTIVITY I!! FM; Additional indicati on FCC doesn't consider as hard and fast its "one-to-a-customer" idea regarding grants to multiple FM applicants, as explained to Senate Small Business Committee (Supplement No. 34 & Vol. 2, No. 16), was conditional grant this week to NBC in San Francisco (Supplement No. 38D herewith). NBC already has pre-v/ar licensed WEAF-FM, New York, and FCC also had proposed to grant it a CP in Washington (Supplement No. 38). San Francisco FM setup continues curious. With Scripps-Hov/ard dropping there (but applying at same time for Knoxville, Tenn. , where' it ov/ns WNOX) , contest stood even-Steven at 9 applicants for 9 unreserved channels with hint of a newcomer about to file. FCC thereupon postponed indefinitely Comr. Wakefield's projected Aug. 14 hearing there, conditionally granted 5 this v/eek, including NBC, making 11 conditionals in Bay area thus far (Supplement No. 38 and 38D) . Meanwhile, 17 more CPs were granted this week while FCC was preparing schedule of fall hearings for "tight" areas; dates should be available "in a matter of weeks." Los Angeles hearing, however, should be calendared any day now. In the meantime, also, eagerness of som.e CP-holders to get on air v/as recognized and applauded by FCC as it granted STAs, allowing programming from temporary sites or v/ith temporary power, by Loyola U (WV/LH) , New Orleans; United Broadcasting (W8XUB, developmental), Cleveland; Pv. G. LeTourneau (no call yet), Toccoa, Ga. ; Thomas Patrick (KWK-FM) , St. Louis; Central N. Y. Bcstg. Corp. (WSYR-FM) , Syracuse