Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1962)

NEW SERIES VOL. 2, No. 33 TELEVISION DIGEST— 3 (2) Industry-FCC study of radio "overpopulation." "At this point, we are hearing from those who warn against getting into the 'economics' of radio. They argue that the NAB-FCC study will lead to the conversion of radio broadcasting into a regulated public utility with rates being set by the govt, in return for competition-free franchises. This is a straw man some people are setting up and getting applause by vigorously knocking down. . . . "We must have an honest and complete diagnosis of what is wrong — and we do not intend to let the chants of the witch-doctors or those who profit from fear get us off the track." FCC Comr. Lee commented on Codes in speech, "Ethical & Social Responsibility of Advertising," prepared for Aug. 11 delivery at Woodstock College, Woodstock, Md. He said he had compared FCC's July 1960 program policy statement with NAB's TV Code, concluded: "In reading these documents side by side, I am impressed with their similarity in scope and purpose. Indeed, the Code goes further than the FCC policy statement, as well it should. The one difference is, of course, that the FCC has effective sanctions and the NAB has, at best, ineffective ones. If the history of the industry is prophetic, and the Code fails to do the job, more and more of the FCC policy statement may become a matter of rule and regulation, the non-compliance with which could mean a license revocation." SATELLITE BILL PROGRESSING SIDEWAYS; PASSAGE UNCERTAIN: After spending week sidetracked in Foreign Relations Committee, administration-backed communications satellite legislation (Vol. 2:32 p4 et seq.) at end of week was back where it started — facing filibuster in Senate. High-powered witnesses came from every direction at last week's hearings. Secy, of State Rusk, Defense Secy. McNamara, FCC Chmn. Minow, Attorney General Kennedy, NASA Deputy Administrator Dryden, USIA Director Murrow — all expressed satisfaction with bill, urged quick passage. Former President Truman and United Auto Workers were added to opposition crying "giveaway." Rusk told Committee he was satisfied with foreign relations aspects of measure, urged rapid passage to assure U.S. of world's first workable system. (East Berlin newspaper last week reported USSR plans to launch 2 TV satellites "shortly" to transmit propaganda programs over 6 channels.) Murrow and Committee member Symington (D-Mo.) engaged in fiscal duel at hearing, latter ridiculing USIA estimates of $900 million a year to use system. Symington contended agancy's costs would be only fraction of this. Murrow was plumping for special reduced rates for his agency. New proposal came during week from RCA Chmn. David Sarnoff. In address delivered by son Robert to American Bar Assn, conference in San Francisco, he advocated single huge U.S. international communications company, privately owned & operated, under govt, regulation. He called for "nation's finest legal and technical brains" to work together in developing new national communications policy, to bring "coherence and viability" to communications in space age. U.S., he said, "will not realize a full return on its formidable contributions to communications technology as long as we maintain the present illogical structure in the international communications field." Meanwhile, Telstar may go commercial this week, transmitting TV shows, phone calls, still photos, on Wed. & Thurs. each week. AT&T spokesman said company would consider requests by U.S. TV networks and others to use satellite on those days. Back in Senate, satellite measure was facing new filibuster at week's end, liberal bloc led by Sen. Morse determined as ever to block passage, threatening to tie up action indefinitely by proposing numerous amendments. CURRENT CAPSULES Station retention of all applications filed with FCC, available for public inspection, is being considered at Commission. When FCC returns in Sept., it may start rule-making proposing it. Presumably, procedure would enable anyone to walk in and examine program proposals, etc.