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

3 NPA PRIORITIES FOR TV-RADIO PROJECTS: Telecasting and broadcasting are regarded as "indirect defense-supporting" industries — hence the 13 station and network construction-alteration projects included in last week's first list of fourth quarter approvals by NPA (Vol. 7:37). Despite extremely tight materials controls — 83% of fourth quarter applications from all industries were denied — the TV-radio projects got NPA go-ahead, along with allotments of steel, copper and aliiminum. They succeeded because they made strong cases for essentiality in civil defense and as information media. "Indirect defense-supporting" tag pinned on TV-radio grantees by NPA gave them priority over most other "commercial" construction applicants. Roughly, it put them third-from-top on NPA's 4-rung ladder of priorities. It's not very high, but it's long way from bottom — and bottomrung projects are being turned down. This priority can be applied to any type of station alteration or construction — from a complete commercial or experimental station to antenna towers, transmitter buildings or studio alterations. But TV-radio projects can also be rejected, as forthcoming over-all list of some 2000 denials will show. Priority isn't automatic; applicant must prove case. In applying for permission to alter or construct, these are the points to stress — they carry most weight; (1) Essentiality of project to civil defense, public safety and welfare. If it's near military training base or big defense plants, make point of importance of station for information, defense and morale in this connection. If you're requesting alterations, explain exactly why they're important. Attach as many pertinent exhibits as possible — NPA will base its action only on availability of materials and the information in your application. (2) Reconstruction required as result of fire, flood, disaster or other circumstances beyond your control. Oklahoma City's KOMA (AM), for example, must vacate its present studios, hence got NPA's permission (and materials) to build new studios for both radio and TV. (3) Amount of basic materials needed — steel, copper, aluminum; the less the better. It's to your advantage to explain in detail how you propose to conserve building materials, cut corners to use least possible amounts of the 3 metals. * * * * You must have CP from FCC if you're applying to build new station or make alterations necessitated by changes in power, transmitter location, antenna height, etc. NPA insists that's No. 1 prerequisite — despite its admitted error last week in approving construction of TV project which still pends before FCC. Allotment of 46 tons of structural steel to Humboldt Grieg's WHUM, Reading. Pa., to begin construction of experimental uhf tov;er, was a mistake, says Stephen Burns, deputy director, NPA Construction Controls Div. (Error, incidentally, is direct result of NPA's rejection of FCC offer to confer on status of individual applicants and general TV-radio station criteria.) "Whoever approved that application evidently thought the station had an FCC license," said Mr. Burns. Actually, FCC approval of WHUM's application isn't in the bag by any means, and Commission action may be delayed for some time — Reading's WEED having filed opposition (see p. 12). As for the 46 tons of steel, it's still allotted to WHUM. Only other NPA authorization for uhf station went to John H. Poole's experimental KM2XAZ, which has FCC permit to move from Long Beach to Mt. Wilson, Cal. Of 3784 applications for all types of fourth quarter construction, 2080 were denied, 458 approved, 848 found to be exempt from regulation. Only 152 of the approved projects — and none of the denials — have been identified so far. Rejected applicants may re-apply for first quarter construction and allotments. Through first half of 1952, construction materials will be tight. Barring full-scale war or vastly accelerated rearmament, shortages should ease by time postfreeze TV construction rush is in full swing, probably 1953 (Vol. 7;36). L