Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

highly regarded on Capitol Hill for ability, aggressiveness, f orthrightedness. A lawyer, he's minority stockholder in company holding CP for FM in Lima, applicant also for AM in hearing case in which decision has been so long delayed that one lawyer observed Mr. Jones' first effort will probably be to speed up Commission (maybe also get it requisite appropriation and staff!). Onetime stockholder in same firm (not now) is Ed Cooper, special aide to Senate Interstate Commerce Committee under both ex-Senator Wheeler and present Chairman White. Taken wholly unaware, obviously disappointed, Comr. Wakefield has apparently been made "fall guy" not so much because of his FCC voting record but merely because his term happens to expire at time when feeling against FCC is running high in breasts of certain politicos. What Truman Administration hopes to gain out of a stauncher GOP appointee is big puzzle; there's probably a quid pro quo somewhere — though certainly Truman owes nothing to Ohio Senators Taft and Bricker. Jones confirmation by GOP-controlled Senate is foregone certainty. Whether this latest byplay cleans end of merit and career appointments (FCC now has 4 such out of 7), your guess is as good as our. Next term to expire is Comr. Durr's, June 30, 1948. LATEST ON TV-FM SET OUTPUT: TV set production up, FM down — that's the statistical story for May, according to RMA. But, then, month's production as whole was down considerably, totaling only 1,316,373 sets, as against April's 1,759,723. TV total was 8,690, including 5,646 table models, 1,706 consoles (92 with projection-screens), 1,338 console combinations with AM-FM-phono (131 projection screens). This compares with April total of 7,026. Thus, with 18,329 for first 1947 quarter, first 5 months this year have brought forth only 34,045 TV sets, which means altogether about 50,000 sets now in hands of U.S. public. FM total was 84.507, broken down as follows: table models, 12,423; consoles with AM-FM-phono, 68,471; AM-FM only consoles, 3,001; converters, 612. April total was 112,256, largest so far (Vol. 3, No. 21), so that cumulative postwar FM set output to date is 550,424. SUM P3BSPECT FOB CIIEAPEB FMs: Cheaper FM receivers as result of FCC's realloca tion (Vol. 3, No. 24; Supplement No. 52), are too much to hope for, say FCC and consulting engineers we've queried. Yet GE's receiver expert, R. B. Dome, was quoted in June 18 New York Herald Tribune as saying costs could be cut by reduction of tuned circuits from 8 to about 4. This would mean fewer components, smaller chassis and cabinets. But skeptics point out that 400 and 600 kc separation hasn't been completely done away with, hence selectivity demands remain high. Conversion of FM stations to new frequencies seems to be going along at good clip, seldom requiring more than new crystal and transmitter retuning. Those who asked for new channels, even before reallocation was finalized, came out ahead for FCC didn't disappoint anyone. Crystal-swapping is also speeding up changeover. Incidentally, reallocation plan (Supplement No. 52) is still definitely a tentative one; changes in Boston area have already been made (Supplement No. 50-J). AGAIN, FM vs. TV FSB LOW BAND: There isn't a Chinaman's chance this Congress will concern itself with radio allocations, usually left to FCC, but that didn't deter Zenith's zealous Gene McDonald from circulating among all members of Congress his June 18 letter to Senator Tobey (R-N.H.), with enclosure of letter to FCC Chairman Charles Denny, asking TV be moved above 500 me and FM be given back its old 50 me band. Letters urged support of Lemke Bill (H.J. Res. 78), came while Senator White was conducting hearings on radio, none of which Senator Tobey has attended. At hearings FMA's Bill Bailey also asked Congress to legislate 20 to 30 more FM channels "below and contiguous to 88 me," which is where TV holds forth. Presumably, Maj . Armstrong will ask same thing when he testifies next week. Bailey also asked longer license period for FM (5 years) . Licenses for 17-year periods will be asked for TV by consultant Richard Hubbellwhen he testifies next week, on plea that this will lend stability, attract more capital.