Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

as to provide increased competition in several markets and make available service to the public in those areas of the country that have been denied a television service because of the color issue and the “freeze”. It should be noted that our decision makes all channels available on a competitive basis to both industry and educators on a commercial basis. If an educational institution desires to compete for a VHF channel in a given city it is free to do so and if successful could program its station as other educational institutions are doing both in aural and television broadcasting. The TV station operated by WOI-TV (Iowa State) in Des Moines is a good example of the latter. If the pattern, now being set by several television licensees, is followed by others, including new stations, time will be made available on VHF channels to schools and colleges as a public service. Appendix A — Allocations Philosophy Proposals to Amend Rules, Regulations and Standards The Commission proposes to amend its Rules and Regulations, and Standards of Good Engineering Practice Concerning Television Broadcast Stations so as to effectuate the following proposals: I. NUMBER OF CHANNELS A. Distribution In addition to the twelve VHF six-megacycle channels (numbered 2 through 13) presently assigned for television broadcasting, the Commission proposes to add 65 or 70^ UHF 6-megacycle channels: Channels Frequency Channel in Group Range ^ Numbers Assignment 12 54-216 Me. 2 through 13 I 1 Commercial, or 52 470-782 1 non-commercial or 1 educational 500-812 Me. 14 through 65 J 1 television. 13 or 18 782 or 812 66 through 78 Flexibility 890 Me. or 83 channels.® B. Utilization of Entire UHF Band In its Notice of Further Proposed Rule Making issued on July 11, 1949, the Commission proposed to assign fortytwo 6 megacycle channels (14 through 55) in the lower portion of the UHF band for commercial television broadcasting. The Commission proposed to assign 32 of the above UHF channels for use by metropolitan stations and the remaining 10 channels for use by community stations. During the hearings conducted by the Commission with respect to the General Issues in the pending television proceedings, testimony was presented which favored the allocation of the entire UHF band for commercial television broadcasting. Although some testimony was presented which favored the allocation of a portion of the UHF band at this time pending the acquisition of additional data, greater support was given to the proposal to assign television channels in the entire UHF band for immediate use. It was urged that a need existed for additional commercial television channels; that such an allocation would encourage developments in UHF equipment; and that due to problems not previously considered, i.e., oscillator radiation, intermodulation, image interference, etc., more channels were necessary to provide an adequate number of usable channels. Some testimony was presented to the effect that the allocation of the lower portion of the UHF band was preferable because better coverage and equipment performance could be expected there. On the other hand, there was testimony to the effect that differences would not be appreciable throughout the entire UHF band. In any event, the effect of such differences on the optimum utilization of the band are likely to be small. Accordingly, the Commission has concluded that alloca 1 The Commission has not yet reached a determination concerning the proposal in these proceedings to allocate the band 4Y0-500 Me. to multichannel broad band common carrier mobile radio service in lieu of television broadcasting. A Report and Order with respect to this matter will be issued at a later date. If the Commission rejects the proposal, Channel 14 will begin at 470 Me. and there will be 18 flexibility channels beginning at 782 Me. If the Commission grants the proposal, Channel 14 will begin at 500 Me. and there will be 13 flexibility ehannels, beginning at 812 Me. *See paragraphs II, Al, IV and V. tion of the entire UHF band for television broadcasting on a regular basis would result in the maximum utilization of television channels in the United States and would be in the public interest. C. Intermixture of VHF and UHF Channels The Commission’s proposed Table of July 11, 1949, was based to a considerable degree on the assignment of VHF and UHF channels in the same city. During the hearing on the General Issues, it was urged by some witnesses that the elimination of intermixture would simplify receiver problems and would minimize the broadcasters’ competitive problems. It was argued that intermixture would tend to deter the construction of UHF stations and that until a large number of VHF-UHF receivers were distributed, such UHF stations as were constructed would have difficulty in surviving. On the other hand, many witnesses favored intermixture on the ground that it was impracticable to avoid it; that UHF stations would be constructed in cities located within the service areas of VHF stations and television viewers would expect their sets to receive both signals; and that receiver manufacturers would be obliged to build combination VHF-UHF receivers for such areas. It is reasonable to assume that economic problems will be faced by UHF broadcasters in areas where VHF broadcasting exists. Similar problems confronted the VHF broadcasters prior to increased receiver distribution in their respective areas. It is reasonable to assume that if the entire UHF band is allocated for regular television broadcasting, television receivers will be built to receive VHF and UHF signals. If inter-mixture were avoided, it would be necessary to limit many areas to one or two VHF stations even though UHF assignments were available for those areas and additional stations could be supported financially. Moreover, VHF stations are capable of providing a greater coverage than UHF stations. Hence, a more extensive television service is made available where some VHF assignments are made in as many communities as possible than where only VHF assignments are made in some communities and only UHF assignments are made in the other communities. The Commission has concluded that the adoption of an assignment Table based on nonintermixture constitutes a short-term view of the problem and is inadvisable. Accordingly, the proposed Table attached herein has been prepared on the basis of intermixture of VHF and UHF channels. II. ASSIGNMENT PRINCIPLES A. Table of Assignments 1. The television channels available for use in the various communities are set forth in the “Table” in Appendix C.^ In setting up this table, the Commission has endeavored to meet the two-fold objective set forth in Sections 1 and 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, to provide ® Persons desiring to file an application for a community which is not listed in the Table and which is not eligible for assignment pursuant to “II below, may file an application for one of the flexibility channels or a petition for rule making pursuant to “H below. Flexibility channels may not be applied for in any community for which any channel is provided in the Table of Assignments or which is eligible for such an assignment pursuant to “II B” below. 7