Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

tion. The Association recommends that the Commission provide for black and white television on the UHF utilizing the present standards. It also urges that the Commission assign sufficient UHF channels so that cities capable of supporting television should be able to have a minimum of four stations. The Association recommends that UHF and VHF assignments be so made as to provide a minimum of overlap. However, since it is not possible for most cities to have four television stations in the VHF band, the result will be that in some instances both VHF and UHF television stations will be assigned in the same city. Thus far we have been discussing the development there would likely be in the UHF band if the Commission were to authorize stations on the basis of the present standards. On the other hand, if the Commission were to authorize the use of the ultra-high frequencies for color only or for wide-band black and white only, it seems apparent that the development of the ultra-high frequency band would proceed at a fairly slow pace. This is due to the fact that much of the equipment needed for such broadcast service has not yet been developed even in the laboratory, nor has such equipment been field tested. Obviously, none of the manufacturers are tooled up to produce such equipment. Accordingly, since the public would not be able to buy television receivers for such television system, there would not be much incentive for applicants to invest the large sums of money necessary for such television service in the ultra-high band. Instead, applicants would be inclined to invest their funds in VHF television where there is a possibility of return on their investment. This would tend put great pressure on the Commission to make a nationwide television system out of the present 12 VHF channels, an obviously impossible situation. In pointing out these facts to you we desire to reiterate that we are aware that there are important vested interests who would like to see the present standards in the VHF band transposed to the UHF band so that there would be a minimum disruption to their interests. On the other hand, we are equally aware that there are other vested interests that would like to see new standards imposed in the UHF band if for no other reason than that the disruption which such new standards would cause to television in general would make it possible for these vested interests to postpone for as long as possible the necessity of investing additional sums in order to enter television. The Commission cannot afford to neglect considering these conflicting interests in aiding it to evaluate the evidence which is presented at hearings. Our duty, however, under the Communications Act is clear — we should adopt the best possible system of television and not be influenced by any pi-ivate interests, but only by the public interest. Additional Views of. Commissioner Jones: Commissioner Jones is of the opinion that while the first two paragraphs on this page [paragraphs 4 and 6 of answers to Question (c)] may be a correct analysis of the situation, he personally feels that if the UHF bands are opened for commercial television broadcasting, television equipment in that band will develop more rapidly than is indicated in those paragraphs. QUESTION (D) : To what extent, if any, would such continued use of present television frequencies have the practical effect of denying entry into television operation by the large majority of present-day smaller operators of AM radio stations? If additional channels are not made available for television, most of the present day operators in the aural radio field will not have an opportunity to become television broadcasters. This is true because, with 12 VHF channels, it will not be possible for some cities and towns which have standard broadcast facilities to have any television channels. Moreover, in practically all other cities where there will be some television service, there will be far fewer television stations than there are standard broadcast stations. Thus, as a matter of arithmetic, most of the standard broadcast licensees will not be able to enter television if there are only 12 channels assigned. The only way that a large majority of present day operators in the aural broadcasting field will have opportunity to get into television will be by action of the Commission making available more channels for the television service. QUESTION (E) : What study, if any, has been given to the potentially monopolistic features of the so-called “stratovision” television scheme of broadcast? QUESTION (F): Would the “stratovision” system be used solely for relaying nation-wide television programs, thus serving as a common carrier with rates strictly regulated and service available to all comers, or would the system be used as a television broadcast medium whereby a single operator, or two or three operators, would be granted licenses to serve the entire United States with their own television programs? At the present time “stratovision” is operating experimentally under an experimental license issued by the Commission. In the June 1948 allocation proceedings, a proposal was made by Westinghouse that one of the VHF channels at Pittsburgh be available to Westinghouse for the “stratovision” system of television. This petition was ruled inadmissible in that proceeding because an inadequate showing had been made as to its effect upon the allocation plan. There is no other proposal before the Commission for the utilization of “stratovision” in the VHF frequencies. However, Westinghouse proposed in the hearing on September 20, on utilization of the ultra-high frequencies that a number of frequencies in that band be made available for “stratovision.” The Commission is watching the “stratovision” experiment with great interest. If the system works, it could mean television service to extensive rural areas which would otherwise be outside the range of any television station utilizing a land-based antenna. Thus, “stratovision” would do for UHF television what clear channels were designed for standard broadcasting and very high power stations are authorized to do in the FM field. The Commission feels that it must be concerned about getting television service to all the people of this country and not simply to those living in suburban areas. Of course, in considering the question of “stratovision” that concern must be balanced by consideration of the economic and social problems involved in the licensing of a single broadcaster to serve an extremely large area, perhaps embracing within its service area as much as the combined service area of several television stations with land-based antenna. Please be assured that the Commission in considering the problems of “stratovision” will give earnest and sincere consideration not only to the technical problems but to the economic and social problems which are implicit in the system. In this connection, if “stratovision” should prove feasible the Commission would give very careful consideration to the matter set forth in Question (f) as to whether the system should be restricted to relay functions only, or whether the operators of a “stratovision” station should be required to assume the obligations of a common carrier. Of course, if the Commission should ultimately license “stratovision,” very careful safeguards would be imposed with respect to the ownership of more than one station by the same group. Thus, while the owner of a “stratovision” station would have important business competitive advantages over the operators of stations utilizing land-based antennas, from the point of view of control of program sources, his power would be much less than that of any of the existing networks. Even today, the networks have control over the programs that reach virtually all people of the United States. If “stratovision” were authorized, the Commission would give careful consideration to the question as to whether networks should be precluded from owning any such stations and, indeed, whether such stations should be permitted to be affiliated with any of the networks. In this manner “stratovision” stations might serve as a very useful antidote to the power presently held by the networks over programs heard by the American people. Additional Views of Commissioner Jones: Commissioner Jones believes that stratovision should be considered in the light of a method of getting service to the widest areas possible, rural, urban and metropolitan. Although Westinghouse has been the proponent of the system and has experimental licenses, and on one occasion at least NBC broadcast from planes over Wash 4