26th ANNUAL REPORT FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1960 (With notation or subsequent important developments) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE· WASHINGTON· 1960 For teI'e by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Govemment Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. Price 45 cents (paper cover) COMMISSIONERS Members of the Federal Communications Commission (As of June 30, 1960) FREDERICK 'V. FORD, OlUlirman (Term expires June 30, 1964) ROSEL H. HYDE (Term expires June 3D, 19(6) ROBERT T. BARTLEY (Term expires J nne 30, 1965) ROBERT E. LEE (Term expires June 30, 1967) T. A. M. CRAVEN (Term expires June 30, 1963) JOHN S. CROSS (Term expires June 30, 19(2) (vacancy) 1 1 Filled by Charles H. King on July 19, 1960, for term expiring June 30, 1961. A list of present and past Commissioners appears on page IV. II LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FEDERALCOMMUNICATIO~SCOMMISSION, WMhington 25, D.O. 1'0 the Oongress of the United States: The Federal Commnnications Commission herewith transmits its 26th annnal report. In addition to covering the fiscal year 1960, snb sequent important developments are noted ·for mOre timely reference. The report furnishes information and data specifically required by the Congress in section 4(k) of the Commnnications Act of 1934, as amended, including amendments to section 315 relating to political broadcasts; also material pursuant to recommendations made in a re port by the House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee. In general, the report endeavors to point ont the tremendous growth of radio services, the expansion of both domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities, and the Commission's policies and problems in dealing with them. The Congress in 1960 relieved the Commission of including certain biographical and other data concerning employees as part of its annual reports. Respectfully, FREDERICK tV. FORD, Ohairman. III PAST AND PRESENT COMMISSIONIlRS C'ommi88ioner" Palitiu State Term, ofIter~jee *Eugene O. Sykes .____ Dem____ Miss July 11,1934-Apr. 5,1939 Chairman July 11,1934-Mar. 8,1935 .Thad H. Browll Rep Ohio July 11, 1934-June 30,1940 Paul A. WalkeL Dem____ Okla July 11, 1934-June 30,1953 Acting Chairman______________________ Nov. 3,1947-Dec. 28,1947 Chairman Feh. 28,1952-Apr. 17,1953 Norman S. Oa86 Rep R.L July 11, 1934-June 30,1945 Irvin Stewart___________ Dern Texas July 11, 1934-June 30,1937 "'George Henry Payne Rep____ N.Y July 11, 1934-June 30, 1943 "'Hampson Gary__________ Dem~TexaB___ July 11,1934-Jan. 1,1935 .Anning S. PraIL Dem N.y Jan. 17, 1935-July 23,1937 Chairman____________________________ Mar. 9,1935-July 23,1937 T. A. M. Craven Dem D.C Aug. 25, 1937-June 30,1944 "'Frank R. McNinch Dem____ N.C____ Oct. 1, 1937-Aug. 31,1939 Chairrnan Oct. 1, 1937-Aug. 31,1939 ·Frederick I. Thompson_._ Dem____ Ala_____ Apr. 13, 1939-June 30,1941 James Lawrence Fly______ Dem____ Texas___ Sept. 1, J939--Nov. 13, 1944 Chairman Sept. 1, 1939--Nov. 13,1944 .Ray C. Wakefield Rep Calif Mar. 22, 1941-June 30, 1947 Clifford J. Durr Dern Ala Nov. 1, 1941-June 30,1948 Ewell K. Jelt Ind Md Feb. 15,1944-Dec. 31,1947 Interim Chairman_____________________ Nov. 16, 1944-Dec. 20,1944 Paul A. Porter Dem Ky Dee. 21,1944-Feb. 25,1946 Chairman____________________________ Dec. 21,1944-Feb. 25,1946 Charles R. Denny_______ Dem____ D.C__ _ Mar. 30, 1945-0ct. 31,1947 Acting Chairman______________________ Feb. 26,1946-Dec. 3,1946 Chairman Dec. 4,1946-0ct. 31,1947 .William H. Wills________ Rep Vt July 23,1945-Mar. 6,1946 Rosel H. Hyde Rcp_. Idaho Apr. 17,1946- Chairman Apr. 18,1953-Apr. 18,1954 Acting Chairman . Apr. 19,1954-0ct. 3,1954 Edward M. Wehster Ind D.C Apr. 10, 1947-June 30, 1956 Rohert F. Jones Rep Ohio Sept. 5, 1947-Sept.19, 1952 .Wayne Coy Dem Ind Dee. 29,1947-Feh. 21,1952 Chairman :. Dec. 29,1947-Feb. 21,1952 George E. Sterling Rep . Maine Jan. 2, 1948-Sept. 30,1954 .Frieda B. Hennock Dem N.Y July 6, 1948-June 30,1955 Robert T. Bartley Dem Texas Mar. 6,1952- Eugene H. MerrilL Dem Utah Oct. 6,1952-Apr. 14,1953 John C. Doerfer Rep Wis Apr. 15, 1953-Mar. 10,1960 Chairman July 1, 1957-Mar. 10, 1960 Rohert E. Lee Rep IlL Oct. 6,1953- George C. McConnaughey_ Rep Ohio Oct. 4, 1954-June 30,1957 Chairman Oct. 4, 1954-June 30,1957 Richard A. Mack Dem Fla July 7,1955-Mar. 3,1958 T. A. M. Craven Dem Va July 2,1956- Frederick W. Ford Rep . W. Va Aug. 29,1957- Chairman Mar. 15, 1960- John S. Cross Dem__ . __ Ala May 23,1958- Charles H. King Rep Mich July 19,1960- ·Deceased. IV Table of Contents PagS" REPORT SUMMARY_- -- ---- -________ ___ _ 1 GENERAL- _____ ____ __ _______ __ ________ ______ ____ 11 Organization chart______ __ __ ___ ___ __ ___ __ _ ____ __ 10 Communications AcL_____ __ ___ __ ______ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ __ _ _ J 1 RegulatioD____________________________________________________ 11 General___________________________________________________ 11 Common carrier~____ 12 Broadeast__~_____________________________________________13 ~onbroadcast_____________________________________________14 Commissioners_ __ ______ ___ __ _____ ___ __ ___ __ ___ __ ___ ___ __ 14 Commission staff~.__ __ 15 Automatic dp,ta processing study__ ___ __ __ ___ __ ___ _ 16 Personnel~____ ___ __ _____ __ __ __ 16 Appropriations and expenditures~~____ 11 IlocketB______________________________________________________ 17 Special cases~~_18 AuthorizauoDS~____18 Applications_ _______ ______ __ _____ __ __ __ __ 18 Correspondence_______________________________________________ 19 Releases and publioations~• __ __ 19 Foreign technical assistance___ _ ____ __ _ ___ __ _ 20 LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION_________________________ 21 Litigation_.~____ 21 Court of Appeals decisions of special significance______________ 21 Bendix Aviation 088e___________________________________ 21 American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres case__________ 22 Deep South C888_______________________________________ 22 Plains case_____ _____ ________ _____ __ ___ __ __ __ ____ 23 ~ortonBorrowcase___________________________________ 23 Other court CS8eS___ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ __ _ _ 23 Court case statistics~______________25 Legislation_____ ___ ___ __ __ _____ _ __ ___ __ _ 26 Enactedla~_____________________________________________26 FCC legislative program______ ________ ____ ___ __ __ ___ __ ___ __ _ 27 Other legislative proposals affecting the FCC ... 28 Congressional committee work______________________________ 29 NATIONAL DEFENSE___ __ ___________ ______ _____ ____ _____ 30 Emergency authority______ __ __ _____ ___ __ ___ __ __ 30 CONELRAIl_ ____ ___ __ ___ _________ _______ __ __ __ 30 Peacetime CONELRAD use________________________________ 31 State defense FM networks_____________________________________ 31 Industry advisory committees~_____ __ ___ __ __ 31 National Defense Executive Reserve_____________________________ 32 Operation Alert 1960~~• __~2 V VI TABLE OF CONTENTS NATIONAL DEFENSE-Continued FCC emergency communicatioll~.__~_ FCC defense coordinatioll~_ BROADCAST SERVICES _ PrograIns _ General~_ Programming inquiry _ Other programming actiollS _ Complaints and Compliance Division created _ License terms and suspensions _ Political broadcasts _ License rcnewals _ Disciplinary actions _ Transfers and assjgnments _ Television (TV) broadcast service _ General • _ TV allocation problems _ Long-range program _ Short-range program w _ National spot sales representation by networks _ Option time • _ Noncommercial educational TV _ Authorizations and allocation _ Networks~_ Airborne educational TV _ VHF translators and repeaters _ UHF translators _ UHF boosters _ Idle UHF permittees~_ Subscription TV _ Frequency modulation (F:M) broadcast service _ Commercial FM _ SUbsidiary FM _ Stereophonic FM _ K oncommercial educational FM _ Standard (AM) broadcast servicc _ Authorizations _ Application backlog _ NARBA and other agreements~_ Clear channels~_ Daytime broadcast hours _ Maximum power for Class III stations _ Single sideband modulation _ International broadcast stations _ Experimental brOl\dcast scrvices _ Experimental TV _ Experiluental aural _ Statistics _ Current broadcastauthorization~_ Status of broadcast authorizations _ Broadcasting since 1949_~~_ Broadcast applications _ Broadcast industry financial data _ Page 33 33 35 35 35 35 36 37 37 37 40 40 41 4:1 43 43 43 44 45 46 46 46 47 4S 48 49 49 50 .\0 51 51 51 52 sa 53 53 053 0505 056 57 57 57 58 58 058 58 59 .59 59 60 61 62 TABLE OF CONTENTS VII PagE!' SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES____________________ 67 General . 67 Legal and regulatory problems ._ __ ___ _______ __ ___________ _ 67 Microwave inquiry_____ __ _ ___ ___ 67 Applications involving Bell contracts_________________________ 68 Marine radio services_ ____ ______ ______ __ _______ ___ __ __ _________ 69 Safety at 8ea___ ___________________ ___ _________ ____________ 69 Safety of Life at Sea Conference, 1960___________________ 69 Proposed safety at sea legislation________________________ 69 Exemptions from compulsory radio requirements__________ 70 Distress studies_ _______________ ____ _____ ________ ______ 70 Technical developments and studies~___71 Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services___ _____ __ 71 Single sideband_____ __ ______ ____________________ __ _____ 71 Marine radio communication systems_ 71 Proposed rule changes__________________________________ 71 Geneva conference maritime requirements_ _______________ 71 VHF radiotelephony for navigational communication_ __ ___ 72 Coast stations____ ______ ______ __ ___ _____ __ _____________ 72 Shore radiolocation-trainillg station (developmental) _______ 72 Radio communication in Alaska_________________________ 72 Aviation services_ _____ _____ ________ __ __ ________ __ _______ 73 (}eucral__________________________________________________ 73 Aviation organizations and conferences_______________________ 73 Air Coordinating Committec____________________________ 73 Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics_ __ _ 74 International Civil Aviation Organization_________________ 74 Current and future problems________________________________ 74 Rule arnendrnents_ _ _ __ ______ __ ___________________ ______ 75 Public safety radio services~___ 75 General~___75 Developments and rule changes_ ______ __ __ 75 Growth__________________________________________________ 76 Police radio service________________________________________ 77 Fire radio service__________________________________________ 77 Forestry-conservation radio service_ __ _____________________ __ 78 Highway maintenance radio service__ -'_______________________ 78 Special emergency radio service_ _ ____ _______________________ 78 Local government radio service______________________________ 78 State Guard radio service___________________________________ 79 Disaster communications service_____ __ ________________ ____ ____ __ 79 Land transportation radio services_______________________________ 79 General__________________________________________________ 79 Motor carrier radio service .,______________________________ 79 Railroad radio service___ ___________________________________ 80 Taxicab radio service_ _ _ _ __ __ 81 Automobile emergency radio service_________________________ 81 Industrial radio services_ __ _____________________________________ 82 General ._____ ______________________________________ 82 Gro~·th__________________________________________________82 Developments and atudics_ ____ ________ _____________________ 83 Citizens radio service~_____________ 84 VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES-Continued Amateur radio service•• _ General. ._._. ])evelopments _ ~dnllnmtraUon_ Enforcement. . _ General problems • • _. _. _ Unlicensed radio operation • _ Activities of radio equipment salesmen. _ Proceedings against licensees :... _ Criminal sanctions. • • • _ Enforcement of maritime compulsory usage of radio _ Statistics _ Stations in safety and special radio services _ Transmitters in safety and special radio services_. • _ Applications in safety and special radio serviccs _ COMMON CARRIER SERVICES _ I>omesUctelephone _ IIighlights _ General _ Interstate facilities _ Interstate message toll telephone rates _ Private line telephone and telegraph rates • _ Connection of customer-owned facilities with telephone systems__ Tariff filings _ Field studies and reviews _ Other regulatory matters _ I>epreciaUon _ Original cost accounting _ I>iscontinuance of service, acquisitions and consolidations _ Pensions and relieC _ Domestic common carrier radio facilities _ Radio control stations _ Air-ground radiotelephone _ InterconnecUoll _ TV microwave relay _ Point-to-point microwave radio _ Domestic telegraph _ IIighlights _ General _ Services and facilities _ Modernization and plant improvements _ Private wire systems _ VVirefax _ Tewx _ Extension of facilities and curtailment of service _ Speed of service _ Domestic telegraph rates _ Tariff schedules • _ International telegraph and telephone _ IIighlights _ General _ Pa2:el 86 86 86 86 87 87 87 87 88 88 88 88 88 89 90 92 92 92 92 93 94 95 95 96 96 96 96 96 97 97 97 97 97 98 98 99 99 99 100 100 100 101 101 101 102 102 102 103 103 103 104 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMON CARRIER SERVICE5-Conlinued IX International telegraph and telephone-Continued Pa... Congestion in frequency bands______________________________ 104 Ocean telephone cables__ ___ _______ ____ __ __ ___________ 104 Threatened loss of telegraph traffic__________________________ 105 Use of telephone cables by telegraph carriers~~_.105 Reevaluation of rate structure of international telegraph carriers_ 106 International telegraph merger ¥ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ 106 Globe-AC & R merger_____________________________________ 106 International formula_ ___ __ _ ___ ___ __ __ ______________ 106 Western Union divestment__________________________________ 107 Duplicate circuits to Switzerland and Austris_ _______ _________ 107 Tropospheric scatter~~~____ 107 Docket cases~______ 108 Far East traffic________________________________________ 108 Western Union practices under international formula_______ 108 Delays in handling international press tra.ffic______________ 108 Telegraph service with Hawaii~__ _____ 108 Press Wireless license modification_______________________ 108 Circuits to Turkey and IsraeL__________________________ 109 Alternate voice a.nd data transmission service for U.S. Air Force :__________________________________ 109 ACA complaint against AC&R and Western Unioll________ 109 Participation under international formula____ _____________ 109 Other regula.tory matters_ ______ ___ _____ ________________ 109 Relief and pensions~____________109 DepreciatioD~~109 Continuing property records_ _ __ ____ _____________ ___ 110 Accounting compliance___ ___ __ __ _________ ___________ 110 Tariff schedules_ _____ ______ __ _________________________ 110 StatisUcs_____________________________________________________ 110 General__________________________________________________ 110 Telephone carriers~____________ _______ 110 Domestic telegraph carrier __ ___ _____ _____________________ 111 International telegraph carriers_____ ___ __ _________________ __ _ 112 Common carrier applicatioll.S____ ___ __ ______________ _______ __ 113 FIELD ENGINEERING AND MONITORING____ 115 General______________________________________________________ 115 Inspection~_____115 Broadcast station inspectioDS_ ______ _____ ____________ __ _____ 115 Marine station inspections~~_______________ 116 Compulsorlly equipped ves.sels_ _ _ _ __ __ _ ______ __ 116 Voluntarily equipped boats •• ._______ 117 Other radio services inspections_ _ ______ __ __ __________ _______ 117 Engineering • .___ 118 Encroachment on monitoring stations~~__118 Equipment problems • • ___ ____ 119 TV and FM broadcast station measurements__________________ 119 InvestigatioD__ • •~__________ 120 Industrial heaters ._ __ _____ ___ __ __ __________ __ _____ ___ 120 Low power communication devices___________________________ 120 Ca.rrier current broadcast systems • .__ 121 x TABLE OF OONTENTS FIELD ENGINEERING AND MONITORING-Continued Investigation-Continued Page CATV systems_____ __ __ ___ ____ ]21 Unlicensed transmissions at race tracks_______________________ 121 Interference_________ __ ___ __ ___ ____ __ ___ __ ________ 121 Cooperative groups combating interference_ ______________ 122 Unlicensed operatioll_______ __ __ ______ __ _____ _ 122 Investigation of TV-VHF boosters___________________________ 123 Monitoring_ ___________ _______________________________________ 123 Marine monitoring______ ___ ____________________ ____________ 123 Broadcast monitoring_ _____________________________________ 124 Monitoring the citizens radio service_________________________ 124 Monitoring solution of interference __ _ ___________ ____________ 125 Monitoring search and rescue assistance______________________ 125 Emergency monitoring operations~__ ___ ______ 126 Microwave monitoring_ __ __ __ _____ __ ____ 126 Space monitoring_____________ __ __ __ __ _ __ __ ____ 126 Federal contractual services_________________________________ ]27 Commercial radio operators__ ___________________________________ 128 Antennas_____________________________________________________ 129 Tall TV towers____________________________________________ 129 Antenna application processing___ ___________________________ 129 Field engineering offices and monitoring stations__ _________________ 130 Statistics_____________________________________________________ 131 Field inspection statistics__ _________________________________ I:ll Investigative statistics_ _________ ___________________________ 131 Monitoring statistics__ ______________________ _______________ 1:J2 Commercial radio operator licenses__________________________ 133 Applications processed by Antenna Survey Branch_____________ 133 Proposals referred to Regional Airspace Subcommittcc_ ___ _ 133 RESEARCH AND LABORATORY_____________________________ l:J1 New York UHF-TV study______________________________________ 134 Other technical research_____ __ ____ __ __ ____ __ __ __ 135 Television_ ___ __ ___ __ _ _ 135 TASO______ ___ __ __ __ _ __ _ 135 New TV system_______________________________________ 135 Stereophonic broadcasting _ ___________ __ ___________________ 135 Radio frequency devices____________________________________ 136 Industrial, scientific and medical eqnipment___ ____________ 136 Incidental radiation devices_____________________________ 136 Interference-control program___ _________________________ 137 Radio frequency bandwidth and spectrum utilization___________ 137 Technical committees_ __ __ __ __ ___ __ ___ __ __ 138 Type acceptance of transmitters_____________________________ 138 Radio signal propagatioo___________________________________ 139 Experimental radio services_________________________________ 140 Laboratory~_______________________141 Studies of new systems and devices__________________________ 141 Radio propagation measurements____________________________ 141 Development and calibration of field equipment_ ______________ 142 Type approval of equipment________________________________ 142 Improvement and coordination of measuring methods__________ 143 TABLE OF CONTENTS XI P8g~ FREQUENCY ALLOCATION AND USL______________________ 144 National frequency allocations_ __ _ __ ____ __ __ __ _ 144 TV and other considerations________________________________ 144 International frequency allocations_ _____________________________ 145 International Radio Conference l Geneva) 1959________________ 145 Space communicatioD_ ______ ___________________________ 146 Other international conferences____ __________________________ 147 International frequency coordination___ __________________________ 147 Iilternational interference and infractions__ _______________________ 149 International frequency usage data_ _____________________________ 150 Call letters~~__ __ _ __ ___ __ _ 151 National frequency coordination~___________ 151 National frequency lists~~~__ 152 Statistics~_~_______ 153 National frequency coordination~_ 153 International notification and frequency records_ ______________ 153 APPENDIX-____ ______ _______ __________ _______________ ___________ 154 FCC log highlights of 1960 fiscal year____________________________ 154 Report Summary GENERAL More than 2.8 million radio authorizations involving the use of nearly 2.2 million transmitters attest to the role played by this modern Mercury in serving the national convenience, economy and welfare, and, further, demonstrate United States leadership in the field of radio communication. More than 668,000 radio stations in 65 different categories enhance public safety; expedite land, water, and air transportation; speed telephone and telegraph traffic; provide aural and visual broadcast ing, and perform a myriad of tasks for local governments, industry and other business, as weI! as for private individuals. What is more, these communication systems are geared to and form an integral part of the Nation's defense program. As one element of the employment represented by the radio in dnstry, permits of commercial radio operators to man these trans mitters now exceed 1.9 million. BROADCAST Programming In addition to warning licensees of their responsibilities for keep ing "payola" and deceptive "quiz" shows off the air, the Commission considered how far it should go in dealing with programming in view of the no-censorship and free-speech guarantees of the law, its past thwarted attempts to regulate particular types of programs, the lack of legal sanctions against certain unethical practices, and the fact that its jurisdiction is limited to individual station licensees and transmitter operators (not networks, program producers, perform ers, or advertisers). As a result, it took a series of actions insofar as its authority would permit. Highlighting these was an inquiry into broadcast pro gramming in general in which it heard from nearly 100 spokesmen for interested groups. Subsequently, it issued a report and statement of policy concerning programming. In addition to moving to hold its own licensees more responsible for guarding against "payola" and deceptive "quiz" shows, the Com mission recommended legislation to make it a Federal offense for producers, sponsors, and performers to engage in such practices. It 1 2 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION also issued a statement interpreting the requirements of the Com munications Act concerning identification of the source of broad cast material. Meanwhile, it continued its inquiry into TV network relationship to the production, selection, and supervision of programs. Of nearly 500 broadcast station license renewals held up at the year end, about half involved consideration of "payola" 01' other undisclosed advertising. Political Broadcasts The Communications Act was amended to exempt from the polit ical equal-time requirement candidates appearing on "bona fide" news type programs without, however, relieving stations of their obligation "to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance." In consequence, the Commis sion made several interpretive rulings and is keeping close watch of the matter. If it becomes appropriate, it will recommend further legislative remedies to Congress. At the request of a Senate committee, the Commission queried all TV stations about their policies with respect to political broadcasts. Later, it asked all stations and networks to report after the 1960 elec tion on how they handled political broadcasts during the campaign. Congress suspended the equal-time requirement for broadcast appear ances by Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees during the 1960 campaign in order to obtain information for considering permanent change. Other Actions The Commission amended its rules to provide for a shorter license term for any station which does not merit a regular 3-year renewal. It also recommended legislation to authorize temporary suspension of licenses 01' the imposure of fines in cases which do not warrant license revoeation proceedings. TV A total of 523 commercial TV stations (447 VHF and 76 UHF) were on the air in 275 markets; 56 others had operating authority and 74 more were under construction. About 52 million TV receivers were in use, which was about one-third of the number of aural sets. Eighty-eight percent of all households had TV sets and 11 percent had 2 or more sets. However, the failure of UHF to take its competitive place con tinues to necessitate consideration of a variety of possible solutions. Unable to obtain Government VHF channels to augment the 12 used for TV broadcast, the Commission must consider rearrangement of existing VHF and UHF channels and the feasibility of moving TV, REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 3 in whole or major part, into UHF if an efficient and competitive TV system is to be realized. The Commission authorized low-power translators in the VHF band and an amendment to the act enabled it to permit continued operation of so-called booster stations pending their conformity to the new rules. It was also able to waive the operator requirement for both VHF and UHF translators. The latter have been authorized since 1956. Power of VHF translators is limited to 1 watt; UHF translators to 100 watts. Rules were adopted to permit UHF broadcast stations to use boosters to fill in "shadows" in their service areas. About 50 long idle UHF broadcast permittees were warned to begin construction or face theloss of their permits. Only 1 application has been received since 1959 when the Commis sion announced conditions under which it would consider requests by TV stations to engage in trial subscription-TV operations. 1VHCT, Channel 18, Hartford, filed in ,June 1960. It was protested and a hearing was held before the Commission in October. The Commission placed a prohibition on TV stations (other than those licensed to a network) from being represented by networks in sale of national spot time after the close of 1961. However, it con cluded that the optioning of station time is reasonably necessary to network operation. Noncommercial educational TV gained 5 new stations. Of 64 such grants, 47 had operating authority. Seven applications were on file. The number of channels reserved for such operation increased to 267 (90 VHF and 177 UHF). Various TV educational networks were active or being formed. Purdue University was authorized to test UHF transmission to schools within a 200-mile radius of Montpelier, Ind., from planes over that area. FM Commercial FM broadcast showed more gain and interest than in any year since 1948. It netted 143 stations for the year, bringing the authorized total to 912, of which 741 were operating. Applications for 74 new stations were pending, exclusive of those in hearing. Increased competition for FM facilities was reflected in the fact that of 52 commercial applications designated for hearing 37 were for new stations. A contributing factor is that, since 1955, the Commission has per mitted commercial FM stations to obtain additional revenue by fur nishing subsidiary services such as background music, storecasting, etc. In 1960 this scope was enlarged to include multiplexing additional specialized material for subscribers. An example is the paging of 4 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION doctors, called "doctor-casting." Over 200 FM stations hold sub sidiaryauthorizations. Noncommercial educational FM stations, which have always shown a slow but steady gain, added 20 new outlets to bring the total to 181, including 165 on the air. Applications for 11 new stations were pending. The Commission invited comments to a proposal that educational FM stations be permitted to render subsidiary services, but of an edu cational nature only. AM The number of AM stations exceeded 3,500 by the yea,r end and almost that many were in operation. The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement of 1950 was ratified by the Senate in 1960 and so became effective between the United States, Canada, and Cuba. A separate 1957 agreement with Mexico was also approved by the Senate but awaits Mexican ratifica tion. Two new international broadcast stations were authorized, bringing the total number of these Commission licensees to 5. SAFETY AND SPECIAL With nearly 652,000 authorizations and over 2.1 million transmit ters, the safety and special services comprise the largest category of radio users and included some of the fastest growing specialized serv ices. This is evinced by the nearly 145,000 new stations and 455,000 transmitters added during the year plus the fact that applications showed a 40 percent increase to reach a new high of over 350,000. Citizens radio manifested, by far, the biggest single service growth to bring its totals to over 126,000 authorizations and 441,000 trans mitters. Amateur stations reached a new high of 217,000. The marine radio services with more than 97,000 ship and shore sta, tions employ an excess of 106,000 transmitters. The land transportation services had more than 11,000 stations with nearly 259,000 transmitters aiding rail, taxicab, bus and truck move ments. Air and ground stations in the aviation services increased to more than 91,000 with over 144,000 transmitters. Nearly 65,000 stations in the industrial services utilized over 640,000 transmitters to aid manufacturing, distribution, and other business. Almost 33,000 public safety stations represented the use of about 372,000 transmitters for police and fire protection and other local gov ernment functions. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 5 COMMON CARRIER Telephone More business was handled by the Bell System and the 3,500 inde pendentcompanies in calendar 1959 than in any previous year. About $8.5 billion was spent for telephone services, which was an increase of 9.6 percent over the previous year. About 70 million telephones were in use, 85 percent being in the Bell System. Each day the public made an average of nearly 270 million telephone calls-258 million local and 11.3 million toll. Bell System annual net income passed the $1.1 billion mark. A $50 million yearly reduction in interstate long-distance rates, initiated by the Commission, became effective in 1959. Bell reported$2~billion spent for construction in calendar 1959. During fiscal 1960, the Commission authorized Bell interstate con struction projects to cost about $148 million. This included $84 mil lion for new or augmented radio relay systems. Bell had over 236,000 channel miles of radio relay in service, some 75,000 miles of which were used for TV networking. An additional 12,000 miles of linkage was provided by coaxial cable. These relay facilities together served about 365 TVstations. Growth of private-line telephone and telegraph use was reflected by a 23-percent increase in Bell revenues from those services. Bell handles the major part of the private-line telegraph business. Com mission decision in its investigation into both Bell and Western Union private-line services was pending. Telegraph Western Union's net income rose to a record of $16.7 million in calendar 1959 as compared with $12.7 million the previous year. Though telegram volume declined from 131.8 million messages in 1958 to 130.9 million in 1959, landline system gross revenue increased $20.1 million to a new high of $260.8 million, principally due to a $10.6 million increase in private wire revenue to a new high of $51.4 million. However, new labor contracts, effective June 1, 1960, expected to add $14.5 million to its expenses, caused Western Union on July 18, 1960 to file increased rates for most of its services. Western Union was authorized to start construction of a new micro wave relay system which, when completed in late 1961, will provide broadband circuits for the military and other Government agencies and a variety of private wire services for the general public. During the year, it placed in service a 5% million-mile high-speed communications network for the U.S. Air Force linking more than 350 air bases aronnd the globe, a nationwide bomb alarm system for the 6666t3-60--2 6 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL CQMMUNtCATIONS COMMISSION Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, and began preliminary work on a high-speed facsimile recording network for the U.S. 'Wcather Bureau. Public "wirefax" (facsimile) service was established between New York, Washiugton, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Fraucisco. "Telex" (teleprinter exchange) service, which now links those cities (except Washington) and 37 Canadian cities, is being extended to 19 additional Uuited States cities as well as to Mexico City. International Total revcnues of international telegcaph carriers reached a new high of over $84 million in calendar 1959, a 9.2 percent increase over 1958. At the same time, revenues from leased channel and "telex" services increased 29.8 percent to over $14 million. Overseas tele phone revenues grew to over $32 million, an increase of 24.4 percent. AT&T, now operating 2 transatlantic telephone cables, plans an other which will be the first to connect directly with the United States. It also operates telephone cables to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and is authorized to lay another to Bermuda. Some circuits in these facilities are leased for telegraph use. A proposal by 'Western Union for divestment of its Atlantic tele graph eables, pursuant to the conditions of its merger with Postal in 1943, was under consideration at the close of the year. The Commission authorized American Cable and Radio to assume control of Globe 'Wireless, another international telegraph carrier. AT&T opened a circuit from Florida to the Bahamas for telephone transmissions by tropospheric scatter (rebound from that upper sky layer) technique. NATIONAL DEFENSE The Commission is responsible for establishing, coordinating and advancing emergency communication plans relating to the national defense effort. In addition to supervising the CONELRAD system for radio control in event of an attack, and its incidenttll peacetime use for storm warning alerts, the FCC, with the cooperation of indus try, is active in military and civil defense matters affecting radio and other types of electrical communication. It has organized a national committee and state industry advisory committees, is training an FCC unit of the National Defense Execu t,jve Reserve and, under its auspices, State defense F.M: networks are being established. It is encouraging the installation of standby and backup communication systems to substitute for regular services which might be disrupted. These provisions include facilities which link its own relocation center with other sites. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 7 FIELD ENGINEERING AND MONITORING Due in large part to the cooperation of 3'1 general interference com mittees, 561 TV interference committees and industry as a whole, in terference complaints leveled off to around 16,000. '¥hile trouble from industrial heaters has been practically eliminated, the use of low-power communication devices presents a growing problem. The Commission's network of 18 monitoring stations, which con tinuously scan the spectrum, helped to fix the areas of 16,200 cases of interference, identified 96,400 signals, provided 94,500 direction find ing bearings and responded to 8,200 alerts, many of which Were for ships and aircraft in distress, and did $200,000 contract work for other Federal agencies. The Commission's 31 field engineering offices, in addition to other duties, traced 450 unlicensed transmitters, including 61 illegal boosters; inspected some 11,000 radio stations of all kinds and issued over 4,700 violation notices. There were 40 cases of indecent language on the air waves, for which small boat operators were mainly responsible. Eleven new TV towers, each more than 1,000 feet high, were proc essed for air safety and are now in operation. The world's present tallest manmade structure is the 1,676-foot shaft of KFVS-TV, Cape Girardeau, Mo. However, a 1,760-foot tower is proposed for joint use of WRBL-TV and WTVM at Columbus, Ga. FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS The first revision of the international radio regulations since 1947 was accomplished at Geneva in 1959. It was necessitated by the ad vanced developments, techniques and uses in recent years. Many re adjustments to meet these changes will be necessary throughout the world. Among other things, the Geneva session extended the spectrum cov erage of the treaty to raise the upper limit of the usable spectrum to 40,000 Me, instead of 30,000 Me, made specific allocations for radio astronomy and space research and, insofar as possible, provided fre- quency space for new or expanding services based on the needs of some 90 member countries. The FCC participated in 18 international telecommunications con ferences to which it furnished 6 chairmen, 1 vice chairman and 49 other representatives, and is preparing for 25 future sessions. SPACE COMMUNICATION The era of space travel was presaged by further successful use of radio for contact with objects in outer space and international and 8 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION domesHc consideraHon of needs of exclusive frequencies for this pur pose. The Commission reopened its proceeding on the allocation of frequencies above 890 Mc to consider immediate space requirements and initiated a separate inquiry concerning long-range needs. Significant, also, is continuing experimentation in bouncing radio signals off satellites and other objects in space to reach distant points on the globe which are beyond the range of earth-hugging transmis sions. This holds promise of ultimately revolutionizing international communication, to the inclusion of live TV relay from one continent to another. RESEARCH An FCC research project having important TV implications is being initiated by the FCC in New York City and will extend through fiscal 1961 and 1962 with $2 million appropriated by Congress for the purpose. Arrangements are being made to construct 2 UHF transmitters (one on the Empire State Building) to study the technical and economic feasibility of using UHF channels to cover a metro politan area satisfactorily. Improvement of UHF receivers will also be investigated. The work will be done largely on a contract basis. The relative merits of various stereophonic systems proposed for FM broadcast are being analyzed before considering AM "stereo" systems. Importation of many foreign broadcast receivers prompted the Commission, through the Department of State, to notify overseas manufacturers that sets sold in the United States must be certified as complying with requirements to curb interference. Typeacceptance of transmitters and type approval of certain classes of noncommunications electronic devices prior to their manufacture continues to be an effective guard against potential interference. COMMISSION The Commission's 1960 appropriation was slightly more than $10.5 million. At the year end it had some 1,300 employees, approximately one-fourth of whom were engaged in field engineering. During the year, the President named Commissioner Frederick W. Ford as Chairman to succeed John C. Doerfer, resigued. Charles H. King was given a recess appointment to complete Mr. Doerfer's unex pired term. Commissioner Robert E. Lee was nominated and con firmed for another 7-year term. LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION The Commission won all but 1 of 22 cases appealed to the Federal courts during the year. Several of these have impact on other Federal REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 9 agencies. It was a party to or participated in 109 Federal court ac tions, of which 39 were pending at the year end. Congress enacted 5 amendments to the Communications Act, namely: (1) Exempting the equal-time provision for candidates ap pearing on news-type programs; (2) permitting waiver of prior con struction permits and operator licenses for stations engaged solely in rebroadcasting; (3) enabling a Commissioner to serve after the ex piration of his term until a successor takes office; (4) retaining the status quo with respect to consolidations and mergers of telegraph carriers in the light of Hawaii becoming a State; and (5) relieving the Commission of submitting annual personnel reports to Congress. Subsequently, Congress, by joint resolution, suspended for the 1960 campaign the equal time provision with respect to nomin_ :tor the offices of President and Vice President. Congress also authorized short-time grants and fines for individual broadcast stations when warranted; provided sanctions for persons engaging in "payola" and "fixed" quiz show practices; modified the announcement requirement for certain free services furnished in pro gramming; requires broadcast applicants to give local notice; requires FCC approval for competing applicants to merge interests, and estal:> lished a pre-grant procedure with provision for temporary authoriza tions in contested broadcast cases. More than 100 legislative proposals directly or indirectly affecting the FCC were introduced-some 70 in the House and 30 in the Senate. The Commission continued to devote considerable time to furnishing information and assistance to Congressional committees and partici pating in Congressional hearings. It commented on more than 50 legislative proposals which were referred to it. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Organization Chart as of June 30, 1960 • THE COMMISSION I I CHAIRMAN I OfFICE OF ADMINISTRATION Budget and IJ'iscal Division I I I Organization and Methods Division Personnel Div!l;lion OFFICE Of OfFICE OF OFFICE Of Administrative Services Division OPINIONS AND REPOR"f$ AND HEARING Defense Cool'dlnaUon Division REVIEW INFORMATION EXAMINERS ~lcctronlcData Processing Group ... • I OFFICE OF OFfiCE OF OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEl THE SECRETARY CHIEF ENGINEER Litigation DivisIon Dockets DivIsion Frequency Allocation and Legislation Division Minute Division Treaty Division Regulatory Division Technical Assistance Division Technical Research Administrative Law International 'l'elecommuntcations Division and Settlements Division Laboratory Division Treaties Division L1,brarf; Division CONEr~RAD:Mall and "iles Division I- I I I FIELD ENGINEERING COMMON CARRIER SAFETY AND SPECIAL BROADCAST BUREAU AND MONITORING BUREAU RADIO SERVICES BUREAU BUREAU Broadcnst Facilities Division International Division Renewal and Transfer Division Fieid Operating Division Telegraph Division Aviation Division Complaints and Compliance 'l'elephone Division Industrial Division DivisIon Engineering Division Domestic Radio Facilities Land Transportation Division Economics Division Inspection and Division Marine Division Rul('s and Standards Division Examination Division Office of Accounting Systems Publlc Safety and Hearing Division Monitoring Division License Branch Amateur Division License Division Office of l!'ield Coordinator Law and Enforcement Office Office of Network Study o General COMMUNICATIONS ACT The Federal Communications Commission was created by and is governed primarily by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. It is an independent Federal agency reporting directly to Congress. In brief, the Commission is charged with regulating interstate and international telephone and telegraph communication, and all do mestic non-Government radio operations to the inclusion of broad cast. As stated in the Communications Act, it was established "For the purpose ofregulating interstate and foreign com merce in communication by wire and radio 80 a8 to make available, so far as posBible, to all the people of the United States a rapid, ef!ioient, Naticn-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at rea80nable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication, and for the purpose of seouring a more effeotive e",eoution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respeot to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication . . ." REGULATION General Under the Communications Act, the regulatory powers of the Com mission fall into three major categories-those affecting common carrier services (telephone and telegraph by means of radio, wire, and cable); those dealing with broadcast (program) service, and those relating to nonbroadcast radio (safety and special) services. In discharging its statutory obligations, the Commission: Supervises rates and services of interstate and interna tional telephone and telegraph companies; Establishes and enforces rules and regulations governing the different ra.dio services, radio operators, and common carriers subject to its jurisdiction; 11 12 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Allocates bands of frequencies for different radio serv ices; Assigns particular frequencies and call signals to individ- ual radio stations; Authorizes and licenses radio transmitters; Licenses operators of radio transmitters; Encourages more effective and widespread use of radio; Promotes the utilization of radio for protecting life and property; Curbs interference to radio communication by regnlat ing the use ofinterference-producing electronic and electrical equipment; Participates in formulating and administering domesti cally the wire and radio provisions of international agree ments to which the United States is a party; and Helps coordinate electrical communication facilities with, and gives technical assistance to, the national defense pro gram. Common Carrier The Communications Act recognizes two types of common car riers-those fully subject to the act and those partially so. The latter do not operate facilities crossing state or national boundaries nor engage in interstate or foreign communication except through phys ical connection with other nonaffiliated carriers. They are exempt from certain provisions of the act which apply to fully subject car riers. Common carriers engaged in purely intrastate communication are not, in general, subject to Commission jurisdiction but come under the authority ofState utility commissions. Among regulatory provisions of the act is the requirement that every subject common carrier furnish service at reasonable charges upon reasonable request. No carrier may construct or acquire inter state or foreign facilities without Commission approval. Likewise, it cannot discontinue or curtail interstate or foreign service without Commission approval. All charges, practices, classifications and regnlations in connection with interstate and foreign communication service must be just and reasonable. To implement this require ment, the common carriers concerned file tariff schedules which are subject to review and regnlation by the Commission. The Commission regnlates rates for interstate telephone and tele graph services, as well as rates for service between the United States and foreign points and ships at sea. At the same time, it reviews the adequacy and quality of these services. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 13 To aid its regulation of rates and services, the Commission pre scribes the forms of records and accounts kept by the carriers. Under this authority, it has established uniform systems of accounts for them to follow. Commission regulation in this respect includes, for ex ample, the establishment and maintenance of original cost accounting, continuing property records, pension cost records, and depreciation records. Carriers file monthly and annual reports with the Commission, giv ing specified financial and operating information, also copies of con tracts with other carriers relating to traffic subject to the act. It is unlawful for any person to hold office in more than one car rier unless specifically authorized by the Commission. The latter also passes upon applications of domestic telephone and telegraph carriers for authority tomerge orconsolidate. After obtaining the approval of the Secretary of State, the Com mission can issue, withhold, or revoke licenses to land or operate submarine cables in the United States. Broadcast Since the Communications Act gives the Commission less control of broadcasting than of common carrier operation, its regulation of broadcasting falls into two general phases. The first phase deals with the allocation of spectrum space to the different types of broadcast services in accordance with Commission policies and rules to carry out the intent of international agreements, the Communications Act, and other domestic laws affecting broad casting. The Commission promulgates rules that are consistent with such doctrines and laws to obtain an orderly and effective use of broad cast channels. The second phase is concerned with individual stations, and em braces consideration of applications to build and operate; the assigu ment of specific frequencies, power, time of operation, and call letters ; the periodic inspection of equipment and the engineering aspects of operation; passing upon transfers and assiguments of facilities; also the many varied changes in existing authorizations; modifying and renewing construction permits and licenses; reviewing the general service of each particular station to determine whether it has been operating in the public interest; licensing radio operators, and other wise discharging domestic regulatory responsibilities. The Communications Act guarantees free speech on the air and en joins the Commission from censoring broadcast programs. Since the act further declares broadcast stations are not common carriers, the Commission does not regulate their time charges, profits, salaries, employment, etc. 14 REPORT OF THE FEDE'RAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The Commission does not license receiving sets, nor does it regulate their manufacture, sale, or servicing. However, it does impose limita tions on their radiations to minimize possible interference to radio communication. Nonbroadcast The Communications Act requires the Commission to study new uses for radio. It also stresses the utilization of radio to protect life and property. In order to realize these objectives, the Commission has authorized many uses for radio other than the traditional and better known broadeR'at and common carrier services. Collectively, these services make up a group known as the Safety and Special Radio Services. This group embraces practically all radio operations which are neither broadcast nor open for hire to the general public. They are gov erned in general by the Communications Act, international agree ments, and by the Commission's rules and regulations dealing with the particular class of service authorized to use radio. Owing to the limited number of frequencies available, the Com mission has been unable to provide exclusive channels for all special ized services. It, therefore, has established priorities for certain types of public and private services related to the public interest, and requires operation to be in the interest of economical and efficient use of spectrum space. COMMISSIONERS The Commission is composed of seven Commissioners who are ap pointed by the President with the advice and consent (confirmation) of the Senate. Appointment is for seven years except in filling an unexpired term. TInder a new law, a Commissioner may now serve until a successor takes office but not beyond the end of the following Congressional session. Nat more than four Commissioners may be members of the same political party. A Commissioner may not have financial interest in any business which the Commission regulates. The President designates one of the Con1missioners as Chairman, who also serves as the Commission's chief executive officer. The Commissioners function as a unit in making all policy deter minations. They hold weekly meetings to act on the workload before them...L~single session is held during the Augnst recess (the act re quires at least 1 meeting a month). The Commissioners also hold monthly meetings with staff officers to review the work status and to give priority direction to pressing matters. In addition, the Commis sioners sit in a body in some major proceedings and hear oral argu ment on exceptions to initial decisions of hearing examiners. In- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATHlNS COMMISSION 15 dividual Commissioners, in rotation, act on motions in adjudicatory cases. Certain responsibilities are delegated to committees of Commis sioners and individual Commissioners. Examples are the FCC Tele phone and Telegraph Committees, Defense Commissioner and, in re lation to Government and industry use of radio, membership on the Telecommunications Planning Committee, Telecommunications Co ordinating Committee, National Association of R:ver 1 million incoming and over 600,000 outgoing. This was an illcrease of 185,000 over the 1959 figure. RELEASES AND PUBLICATIONS The Commission's 'Vashington headquarters issues 2 general types of mimeographed releases concerning its daily business: (1) public notices of actions, receipt of certain kinds of applications, petitions for rulemaking, hearing calendars, etc., and (2) texts of orders and other public documents. These are released at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m., as they become available. Copies of documents are served on the parties concerned. No public mailing list is maintained for any mimeo graphed issue. During the year the Commission's mimeographing required nearly 55,000 stencils, 11.6 million sheets of paper, and 16.5 million prints. All Commission hearing orders and rulemaking proposals and final izations are published in the Federal Register. In addition, the Gov ernment Printing Office sells the texts of the Commission's major decisions in a weekly pamphlet form on a subscription basis and, later, in bound-volume compilations which may be purchased singly. Printed copies of the Commission's rules and regulations, com bined as to categories, are sold by the Government Printing Office to subscribers who also receive from that office subsequent amendments to the volume purchased. The Government Printing Office addition ally sells copies of the Commission's annual aud special reports, the Communications Act and amendments, etc. This printed material is not available from the Commission but a list of such matter available from the Government Printing Office will be furnished by the Com mission on request. 20 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOREIGN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The Commission continued to cooperate with the Department of State, the International Cooperation Administration and the United Nations in planning and arranging itineraries for visiting officials of friendly foreign governments studying domestic telecommunications. More than 300 administrative and engineering personnel from over 50 nations have thus far been accommodated. Litigation and Legislation LITIGATION The Commission was a party to court cases which enunciated prin ciples of constitutional and administrative law which have had an immediate and significant effect upon the Commission's administrative procedures. Several of these decisions also have had, or will in all likelihood have, a substantial impact upon the operating procedures Qf other Federal administrative agencies. The Commission was markedly successful before the courts, during the past year, winning all but 1 of the 22 cases which proceeded to a judicial decision on the merits. Court of Appeals Decisions of Special Significance Illustrative of such cases during the past year are the decisions of the Court Qf Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in the following cases: Berulire Aviation Oorp. v. FOO and Aeronautical Radio, Inc. v. United States, Case Nos. 14650 and 14693, decided Nov. 13, 1959, sub nom Aeronautical Radio, Inc. v. United States, certiorari denied, Feb. 23, 1960. American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc. v. FOO, Case Nos. 15,399 and 15,400, decided May 27, 1960. Deep South Broadcasting 00. v. FOO, Case No. 15,257 de cided April 14, 1960. Plains Television Oorp. v. FOO, Case No. 15,204 decided April 28, 1960. Morton Borrow v. FOO, Case No. 15,473, announced June 30,1960. Bendim Aviation case.-In this case the appeals court had before it for the first time the interpretation of section 305 of the act, which provides for dual authority over the radio spectrum between the Presi dent and the Commission. The court sustained the Commission's authority to modify its rules so as to limit the use of radio frequencies by non-Government licensees in order to accommodate the frequency requirements of the Government for vital national defense purposes. Concluding that defense needs were paramount, the Commission had denied applications of Bendix to use the frequencies 420-450 Mc for development of an airborne aircraft collision avoidance system 566513-60-----3 21 22 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and changed from permanent to temporary the availability of the 8500-9000 Me band for civil radionavigation use. The court held that the Commission's action did not impinge upon any treaty to which the United States is a party. It further concluded that the Commissiou was warranted in accepting the representations of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization regarding national defense needs as a basis for its conclusion that the public interest required re strictions on non-Government use of the frequencies involved. The court found no error in the Commission's conclusion that good cause existed for waiving the notice requirements of section 4 of the Administrative Procedure Act. And, finally, the court honored the Government's claim of privilege with respect to certain classified ma terial, declining either to make it available to the parties to the litiga tion or to examine such material itself. Although Aeronautical Radio, Inc., sought Supreme Court review, its petition for certiorari was denied. American Broadcf11Jting-Paramownt' Theatres cf11Je.-On May 27, 1960, the appeals court affirmed an important aspect of the Commis sion's still pending proceedings to determine the permanent frequency assignment of radio station KOB in Albuquerque, N. Mex. KOB lost its Class I frequency in 1941 as a result of a North American Re gional Broadcasting Agreement and has operated since that time on 1030 or, under a series of special service authorizations, on 770 kc, pending resolution of the administrative proceedings and 3 previous court appeals. The instant appeal by American Broadcasting Co. on behalf of its New York radio station 1VABC, challenged the Commission's action in amending section 3.25 of its rules to permit the assignment of 2 Class I stations on the clear channel frequency 770 kc and its de termination that the public interest would be served by duplicate Class I operation of stations KOB and WABC on 770 kc. The court upheld the Commission's decision to find a permanent location for station KOB without awaiting the outcome of its overall clear channel proceeding (docket 6741) and found no abuse of discre tion in the Commission's conclusion that Class I operation by KOB on 770 kc would better serve the public interest than any of the other proposed modes of operation which were considered by the Com· mission. Deep South ca8e.-This is the first decision by the court expressly upholding the Commis.,ion's authority to require a specific commit ment of funds from an applicant proposing to build an nnusual1y tall TV tower and the Commission's further statutory authority, from the standpoint of technical qualifications and the public interest in safety and uninterrupted service, to inquire into the structural suit- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 23 ability of a proposed tower. The court approved the Commission's conclusion that Deep South was not financially qualified, having made no specific commitment of funds, and that it had failed to sustain its burden of showing that the proposed tower was in fact structurally suitable. Plains case.-The Commission's authority to accept waivers of sec tion 309 (b) letters by applicants and known parties of interest was sustained for the first time in this case. The court concluded that the Commission had acted properly in permitting mutually exclusive applicants for Channel 10 in Terre Haute, Ind., to waive their rights to receive these notification letters and in immediately designating their applications for comparative hearing. Itrejected, as contrary to the purpose of that section, appellant's arguments that unknown parties in interest were entitled to such notice and unduly deprived of an opportunty to file competing applications. Moroton B01'1'oW case.-On the last day of the fiscal year, the court handed down a decision of far-reaching significance sustaining the Commission's authority to interrogate an applicant for operator's license concerning membership in the Communist Party or any group which advocates the violent overthrow of the Government. In a 2 to 1 decision, the majority recognized the close connection between radio communication and national defense and the danger that would be presented by a subversive radio operator in time of emergency. The court held that the statutory language of section 303(1) of the Communications Act permitted the Commission to inquire into ail applicant's character and that this "obviously" included his relia bility in the situations in which such an applicant must operate. The queries propounded by the Commission were held to be legitimate in quiries into the applicant's reliability and fitness and his refusal to answer, found unjustified after hearing, to warrant dismissal of the application. Finding statutory authorization to ask the questions, the court saw no procedural defect in the Commission's proceedings in the case, and rejected the applicant's contentions that his rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution had been infringed. This was the first case in which the Commission's authority to refuse a license to an applicant who declines to answer questions about mem bership in the Communist party was sustained. The Supreme Court, on November 14, 1960 refused to review the lower court's decision. Other Court Cases In addition to the American Broadcasting-Paramount case the courts also sustained the Commission in a number of previously re manded cases involving long-pending litigation: 24 REPORT OF THE FEDE'RAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Helena TV, 1M V. FOO, 277 F. 2d 88 (C.A.D.C.) (Community AnteIll1a TV case). W. S. ButterfWld Theatres, Inc. v. FOO, 272 F. 2d 512 (C.A.D.C.) (Flint, Mich., comparative TV case). Federal BroadcMting Sy8tem, Inc. v. FOO, 270 F. 2d 914 (C.A.D.C.), certiorari denied, 362 U.S. 935 (Rochester share-time TV protest). Moreover, the Commission was affirmed in several other cases of first impression: Jackson Broadca8ting and Television Oorp. v. FOO, Case No. 15,306 (C.A.D.C.) (Parma-Onondaga comparative TV case, sustaining the Commission's power to make an area-wide television allocation). Brigham v. FOO, 276 F. 2d 828 (C.A. 5) (upholding the Commis sion's declaratory ruling that a licensee. need not, under section 315 of the Communications Act, afford equal time to opposing candidates because its regularly employed weathercaster becomes a candidate for the State legislature). Red River Valley BroadeMting Oorp. v. FOO, 272 F. 2d 562 (C.A. D.C.) (sustaining the Commission's action in allowing an AM station to change from full-time operation to daytime only where increased c1~tytimeservice ontwe-ighnd the loss of the community's only local nighttime service). Delau,are, Lackav'all1UL and Western RR. 00. v. FCC, 272 F. 2d 706 (C.A. 2) (affirming the Commission's refusal to exempt ferry boats operating between Uoboken and New York City from the stat utory provisions requiring radiotelephone installations for passenger vessels on tidewater adjacent to the open sea). Recent appeals and pending caSes have brought up, or will bring up, for review major legal and policy problems affecting the nature and scope of the Commission's jurisdiction and procedure, involving, among other things: The validity of Commission's rule governing "freeze" of applications for new daytime stations on clear-channel frequencies. Validity of Commission's report and order in the daytime skywave case. Validity of Commission's procedural rules governing acceptance and processing of AM applications (cut-off rule). Effect of court's holding in Community lJl'Oadc!l1Jting case on Commission's authority to p2rmit tpmporary operation during- pendency of conqHll'ati,'e henring-s for regular license. Obligation of Commission to permit nunc pro tunc amend ment. of protest nnder sert ion :lOn (r). REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 25 Validity of Commission ruling in ,mother Lar Daly case re obligation of network to provide "f,tir and balanced cover age" of controversial issues. Whether allegations as to a loss of listeners beyond an AM station's normally protected contour are sufficiently specific to confer standing to challenge the grant of a new station. Also, there are continuing challenges of the Commission's authority and procedures with respect to interrogating applicants as to Com munist Party membership. Court Case Statistics During the fiscal year the Commission was a party to or partici pated in 109 Federal cases. Fifty-eight were instituted during that period--40 in the United States Courts of Appeal in various circuits, 6 in the Supreme Court, 1 in the Court of Claims, and 11 in the United States District Courts. Six petitions for writ of certiorari were filed in the Supreme Court, 5 by parties other than the Com mission, and 1 on the Commission's behalf by the Solicitor General. All 6 petitions for certiorari were denied by the Supreme Court. In the Courts of Appeal, the Commission was affirmed in 21 cases and reversed'with a remand in another. (The only Commission action reversed by the courts was that reviewed in Oommunity Broadcasting 00. Ina. v. United States and FOO, 274 F. 2d 753 (C.A.D.C.), Case Nos. 15,313 and 15,314. The proceeding bore 2 case numbers because Community sought review under both section 402 (a) and section 402 (b) of the Communications Act, and the court did not deem it necessary to determine which of these mutually exclusive avenues of review was appropriat.e.) Seventeen cases were dismissed-either by the court on jurisdict.ional grounds, on motion by the appellant, by agreement of the parties, or as being moot. Eleven cases terminated wit.h a remand, upon joint mot.ion of alI the parties for further con sideration by t.he Commission in the light of the Functional Music case. (Functional jl!usic, Inc. v. FOO, 274 F. 2d 543; cert. denied 4 F. 2d 60.) In the dist.rict courts, appropriate orders were issued at the Commission's request or the cases were dismissed under agreement for voluntary compliance. As of June 30, 1960, there were 38 cases pending in t.he Courts of Appeal, 8Jld 1 in the Court of Claims. Of the 38 pending appeals, 2 were submitted, but undecided, at t.he end of the fiscal year, and the court retained jurisdiction in 12 previously remanded cascs. A tabulation of cases decided and pending in the courts for fiscal .1960 follows: 26 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Supreme Court of Court of Court of District Court Appeals Appeal$ Cla.bns I Court Total (402b) (402[\) • 1 89 18 11 7 Z • ._ 10 9 5 . . . • _ ~-------23- -------15- --------i- --------0- TotaL.~0. • __ • • __•• 7 61 28 11 1109 ------------------- Cases affirming Commisslon. . .___ 18 3 110 31 Cases reversIng Commlssjon • ••~• • .__ 1 -} , . __._______ 2 CBses dismissed on jurisdictional grounds 01'" by agreement of the parties or as being C~O~miiia-tedwiiii-arema-nd~:=::::::::::::::::: Cases in which mandamus to Commission was deni'ld . .• Actions denying certiorari by parties other than Commission _ Cases denyIng certiorari by Commission__ Cases pending June 30, 1960 _ 1 The FCC Is not a party, but has been asked to supply inCormation In Commercial Cablt Co. v. UnitM States Case No. 213-60. S The CommJsslon's amiC1M brJel was a.ccepted for filing by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in GrODt Press v.Chri~ten-berrfl,276 F. 2d433 (Case No. 25861). I Includes cases dismissed under agreement for voluntary compliance.. 'See the explanatory footnote as to the Oommunitv Broadcasting case, supra. LEGISLATION During the 86th Congress more important legislation affecting the Commission was considered and enacted than in any Congress since the 82nd. Not only did Congress correct by legislation evils exposed by the Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee in its investigations of deceptive quiz programs and "payola", but it also enacted comprehensive legis lation to provide much needed relief from the administrative burdens the 1952 amendments to the Communications Act imposed on the Commission. Enacted Laws Subsequent to J nne 30, 1959, 8 measures were enacted which directly concern the activities of the Commission. All were amendments to the Communications Act, namely: Public Law 86-274, approved September 14, 1959, amended section 315 to provide that the equal-time provisions with re spect to candidates for public office shall not apply to wna fied news-type programs. Public Law 86-533, approved June 29, 1960, repealed, among other things, section 4(k) (3) to relieve the Commis sion of the 1952 requirement of submitting to Congress an annual report on new personnel taken into the employment of the Commission. Statutes enacted after the end of the 1960 fiscal year were: Public Law 86-609, approved July 7, 1960, amended sec tions 318 and 319 to provide that the Commission may waive the licensed operator and prior construction permit require- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 27 ments for stations engaged solely in rebroadcasting; e.g., translators and boosters. Public Law 86-619, approved July 12, 1960, amended sec tion 4 (c) to provide that at the expiration of his term of office, a Commissioner may continue to serve until his succes sor is appointed and has qualified. Public Law 86-624, approved July 12, 1960, amended sec tion 222 (a) (10) to retain the status quo with respect to yon solidations and mergers of telegraph carriers in light of the entrance of Hawaii into the Union. Public Law 86-677, approved August 24, 1960, amended section 315 to suspend for the 1960 campaign the equal oppor tunity requirements of section 315 for nominees for the office of President and Vice President. Public Law 86-751, approved September 13, 1960, amended section 202 (b) to expand the Commission's authority to regn late charges and services of common carriers for the use of microwave and other point-to-point radio circuits (use of wires only was heretofore provided) in chain broadcasting or incidental to radio communication of any kind. Public Law 86-752, approved Semtember 13, 1960, pro vides a pre-grant procedure for certain broadcast, common carrier and other applications; imposes limitations on payoffs between broadcast applicants; requires disclosure of pay ments made for the broadcast of certain matter; prohibits deceptive practices in broadcast contests of knowledge, skill of chRIlce; requires applicants for new broadcast stations or major changes in existing stations to give local notice of such applications and of any subsequent designation of an appli cation for hearing; and authorizes short-term grants and forfeitures in the broadcast services. Its provisions be came effective with enactment except the pre-grant proce dure, which is effective December 12 thereafter. The latter requires petitions opposing applications to be filed within 30 days "fter an application has been made. Letters notifying applicants that a he"ring is indicated are no longer required. FCC Legislative Program Of the 10 FCC proposals snbmitted to Congress during the first session of the 86th Congress, 5 were enacted; and 4 proposals submitted to Congress during the second session were either enacted or resulted in legislation similar tothat proposed by the Commission. In addition, during the second session of the 86th Congress, the Commission submitted 4 other legislative proposals to amend the Com munications Act, which were introduced and included the following: 28 RE!PORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION An amendment to section 303 and a proposed new section 330, which would give the Commission authority to prescribe minimum perform ance capabilities for TV receivers (S. 3115, H.R. 10817). The pra posal would permit the Commission to require that all TV receivers transported in interstate commerce be capable of receiving channels on the UHF band. The Commission believes that a possible answer to the TV allocations problem created by the limited number of VHF channels available for non-Govemment use would be greater utili zation of theUHF portion of the spectrum. This proposal is intended to stimulate the growth of UHF stations by jm',reasing the number of UHF receivers in public use. An amendment to section 303 (q), which would give the Commission authority to require the painting and/or illumi ll ation of abandoned radio towers (S. 2812, which passed the Senate; H.R. 10259). The Commission feels that air safety requires abandoned or unused radio towers to be painted and lighted as if they were being used pursuant to license issued by the Commission. A proposed new section 302, to expand the Commission's authority over the installation, height and location of receiving antenna towers (S. 3343, H.R. 11877). The Commission considers this legislation, which has been coordinated with the Air Coordinating Committee and its member agencies, also of importance in facilitating a solution to airsafety problems. A new section to title V of the Communications Act, which would authorize the Commission to bring suit to enjoin any person engaged in, or about to engage in, any violation of the Communications Act (S. 3528). In effect, the Commission is looking toward authority to request the courts, in some situations, to enjoin or restrain an offend ing practice pending a final determination of the matter in an appro priate administrative proceeding. This proposal would enable the Commission to move more expeditiously in critical cases without de privingitslicensees of due process. Another Commission proposal awaits Bureau of the Budget coordi nation before submission to Congress. It is an amendment to section 5(e) to relieve the Commission of the 1952 requirement of submitting monthly reports to Congress of cases which have been pending before it more than 3 and 6 months and stating the reasons therefor. These monthly reports have been found to be of minimal value. Other Legislative ,Proposals Affecting the FCC In the 2nd session of the 86th Congress, more than 100 bills and resolutions affecting the Commission, directly or indirectly, were REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMIBBION 29 introduced (some 70 in the House and 30 in the Senate) . These pro· posals included such snbjects as : Establishing minimum standards of pnblic service pro- grammmg. Reservation of noncommercial educational TV channels. Establishing Federal matching grants for educational TV. Limitingcontrol ofmassmedia of communications. Extending the time for armual inspections of ship radio stations. Congressional Commillee Work During the 1960 fiscal year, the Commission adopted and submitted . to committees of Congress and the Bureau of the Budget written com ments concerning over 50 legislative proposals which had been reo ferred to the Commission forstudy. The Communications Subcommittee of the Senate Interstate lind Foreign Commerce Committee and the Communications and Power Subcommittee of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Com mittee held hearings on various bills of interest to the Commission, including those relating to spectrum allocations, ethics, conflicts of interest, use of TV time for Presidential candidates, and other matters. The Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee also conducted extensive hearings concerning "payola" and "rigged" quiz programs. A significant portion of the Commissiou's legislative activity was devoted to furnishing information and assistance to Congressional committees, to testifying at Congressional hearings, and to rendering technical advice and assistance to the Communications Subcommittees of the Senate and House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committees. In addition, the Commission's staff gave technical advice and assist ance to House and Senate Committees in the drafting of legislation that was eventually enacted by the Congress. National Defense EMERGENCY AUTHORITY Section 606 of the Communications Act empowers the President to take precantionary measures with respect to wire and radio communi cation and other radiating devices in time of war or other national crisis. Under this authority, facilities can be closed or used for emergency purposes, priorities established for essential messages, and protection given vital communication facilities. By Presidential di rective, the Commission has, since 1951, established and enforced regu lations governing electromagnetic radiation from noncommunication .equipment which could be used as beams to guide enemy aircraft and missiles. CONELRAD One important program for which the Commission is responsible is called CONELRAD, an abbreviation for OONtrol of ELectromag netic RADiation. It was established at the request of and with the cooperation of the Department of Defense and the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. Its purpose is to harness, for emergency pur poses, the entire civilian commnnications industry. The Commission has put into effect CONELRAD plans for most of its radio services. Other CONELRAD projects are classified. In general, however, they establish means for alerting all radio stations to leave the air. Certain AM stations would resume operation to broadcast civil defense and other pertinent information on the Emer gency Broadcast System frequencies of 640 and 1240 kc. Designated stations in other radio services would operate under controls for es sential emergency service. All others would remain silent until the CONELRAD all-clear is sounded. The Commander in Chief of the North Atlantic Air Defense Com mand is responsible for invoking the CONELRAD radio alert. It is transmitted to key broadcast stations which, in turn, broadcast the CONELRAD attention signal, followed immediately by the alert message. All other radio stations (broadcast and nonbroadcast) are required to monitor a key broadcast station in order to receive the alert. A new instantaneous nationwide CONELRAD alerting system is under development which will provide a "hard copy" teletype record. 30 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONB COMMIBBION 31 It is proposed to utilize the teletype circuits which now supply news to broadcast stations. A nationwide 30-minute CONELRAD Drill was held on May 3, 1960. Participation was mandatory for all broadcast stations. Other classes of stations were not required to take part. Reports indicate that the drill was most successful and that the service areaS provided by the Emergency Broadcast System stations during daytime hours extended considerably beyond that predicted. Some 40 governors as well as 90 percent of local civil defense authorities took part. Peacetime CONELRAD Use In addition to its national defense purposes, the CONELRAD alerting system has, since 1957, been put to an important peacetime use by the Commission in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Weather Bureau. On threat of a storm or other natural element which might endanger life and property, the local weather burean alerts cooperating broadcast stations which then transmit, on their regular frequencies, the attention sigual and the weather warn' mg. STATE DEFENSE FM NETWORKS A number of States have established pre-attack and post-attack State Defense FM Networks. These facilities have the cltpability to ltccept and relay the main FM program channel, the subsidiary chan nel and other derived ultrasonic multiplexed voice and/or teletype chltnnels. Some of these networks carry a "live" statewide weather summary at least once each day from the weather bureau. The Florida and other Atlantic seaboard FM nets rendered invalu able service in connection with hurricane "Donna" in September 1960, their first test under actual emergency. INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEES Under authority of Executive Order 10312 of December 10, 1951, the Commission has appointed a National Industry Advisory Com mittee to assist it in executing the provisions of that order. This committee consists of representatives from each of the radio services licensed by the Commission. Its purpose is to formulate and develop emergency plans including development of standby and backup com munication facilities which, among other things, would insure con tinuity of the Emergency Broadcast System and the flow of essential intercommunications; evolve plans to restore normal operations as quickly as possible following a CONELRAD all-clear, and assist military and civilian officials insofar as possible. The NIAC meets every 8 weeks in furthering the attainment of these objectives. This type of approach makes available, without 32 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1lxpense to the Govemment, the benefit of the vast talent in the elec tronic indust.ry to advise the Commission in its overall cormnunica¥ tions defe-nse planning. In addition, practically every State now has a State Industry Ad visory Committee. These committees work with local, State and Federal civil defense as well as the military in strengthening emer gency defense communication facilities. The industry advisory committees have rendered valuable assistance in planning and testing the linking of privlltely owned radio facil ities to furnish alternate service in the event that common carrier systems are disabled. Such backup systems can interconnect mllny radio stations at nominal cost, thereby providing efficient and reliable substitute communication nets. NATIONAL DEFENSE EXECUTIVE RESERVE A National Defense Executive Reserve was authorized by Congress in 1955 and activated by an Executive Order in 1956. Under its pro visions, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization established an Interagency Executive Reserve Committee represeuting Federal de partments and agencies, including the FCC, for the purpose of pro viding supplementary executive manpower to assist the carrying out ofessential Government functions in an emergency. • The FCC unit of the Executive Reserve presently comprises 23 members. They are selected active or retired experts from diverse branches of the communications industry and professions to train for coping with the many problems which would arise from discharging essential functions of the FCC in the event of enemy attack. The FCC Execntive Reserve unit has received intensive training in the handling of the agency's essential functions under simulated conditions. The unit, together with the National and State Industry Advisory Committees, participated in defense commlmication semi nars in 1959 and 1960. Also in 1960, the FCC Executive Reserve unit attended the Second National Training Conference. Such confer ences are held approximately every 2 years. OPERATION ALERT 1960 FCC headquarters participation in Operation Alert 1960 included assignment of a cadre of bureau heads and staff officers to the OCDM classified location center, a representative at the National Damage Assessment Center, and manning the FCC's own emergency reloca tion site. Participation by FCC field personnel was greater in scope than for any previous exercise. In addition to being represented at each of the 8 OCDM regional offiees, the FCC field force activated REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 33 certain of its relocation sites. The 1960 tests demonstrated the ability of communication facilities at emergency locations to function effec tively under simulated conditions. FCC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION A mobile radio communications center, together with its associMcd emergency power supply, is available for emergency conmmnicatioll between the Commission's relocation site an,l its monitoring network in the event of failure of landline circuits. The mobile center is capable of handling radioteletype as well as radiotelegraph. It has sufficient range to contact directly anyone of a number of the Com mission's radio·equipped field monitoring stations. These, in turn, could function as relay points to other stations. During the year the mobile facilities were used in successful tests between the FCC reloca tion site and the OCDM classified location. Emergency radiotelephone and radiotelegraph equipment, together with a gasoline engine-driven generator for emergency power, are in stalled at the FCC family rendezvous point. The physical facilities at this location include shelter from radiation fallout and for mass feeding. The emergency communication facilities are capable, under normal conditions, of linking this point to other radio-equippod FCC stations including the agency's emergency relocation site. Also, cer tain FCC monitoring stations have been linked with OCDM's 8 re gional offices (to each of which an FCC district engineer has been assigned) by short-range circuits for emergency use and, meanwhile, handle a limited number of essential messages. FCC DEFENSE COORDINATION The FCC Division of Defense Coordination is prin",rily concerned with mobilization planning and liaison with Federal departments and agencies on defense matters other than CONELRAD and radio fre quency management activities under the Chief Engineer. Now under the Executive Officer, it reports to the Defense Commissioner. A Defense Steering Committee representative of each bureau and staff office of the Commission assists in the overall plamling. One necessary action was the establishment of a line of succession for key FCC officials for emergency purposes. The Division of Defense Coordination arranged for the annual trainiug of members of the FCC National Defense Executive Reserve unit, also for the training of Illore than 25 FCC eIllployees in the In teragency Communications System procedures including teletype, cryptography and facsimile. It further arranged iustruction for 3 classes in first aid and 1 class ill radiolog-ieal monitoring- techniques. 34 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The Damage Assessment Officer in the Division of Defense Coordi nation participated in the staffing of the National Damage Assesssment Center operated by OCDM. A national system using high speed computers is in operation at the center. The data computed com prises approximately 75 categories of resources of which 3 pertain ing to telecommunications are under the general direction of FCC personnel. These 3 categories are being continually np-dated by the FCC. During the year, the computer was used to assess damage to broad casting resources under sinlUlated conditions. The FCC was in the process of installing a Kineplex printer at its emergency relocation site for the purpose of receiving damage assessment data directly from the NDAC via wire lines. Broadcast Services PROGRAMS General The broadcast subject of major general interest during the year was the Government's relation to programming. This was intensified by the attention given to the fixed "quiz" and "payola" revelations and criticism from many quarters about programconten~pecially that of TV. The FCC, for its part, considered how far it could go in dealing with these matters in view of the no-censorship and free-speech pro visions of the law, its past thwarted attempts to regulate certain types of programs (lotteries and "giveaways"), the lack of legal sanctions to proceed against unethical practices, and the fact that Commission jurisdiction is limited to individual station licensees and transmitter operators (not the networks, program producers, per formers or advertisers). As a result, it took a series of actions de signed tocorrect these abuses. To.summarize them: Programming Inquiry In Februa.ry 1959 the Commission institnted an inquiry into the TV network selection process. This was a continuation of the Com mission's prior network study (docket 12782) which did not cover pro gramming. The purpose of the supplemental inquiry was to obtain information about TV network policies, practices and procedures in volved in the production, selection and supervision of programs. In May 1959 hearings were opened in New York and continued in that city and Washington during July, when leading advertising agencies testified as to their role. In the following November various film producers on the "Vest Coast were interviewed preparatory to a subsequent hearing on the part played by the film industry in TV network programming. On November 10, 1959, following disclosures of rigged "quiz" shows and ·"payola" practices before the House Legislative Oversight Sub committee, the Commission enlarged its inquiry to include consider ation of broadcast programming in general and to obtain comment and opinion relative to its authority in this area. Beginning Decem ber 7, 1959, and continuing from time to time to February 1, 1960, 35 36 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION the Commission heard from nearly 100 spokesmen for religious, edu cational, women's and other associations, broadcasters, advertising and talent organizations, and other listener and professional gronps. It produced a record of nearly 5,000 pages. On June 15, 1960, an interim staff report-"Responsibility for Broadcast Matter"-was submitted to the Commission by the Office of Network Study. Subsequently, on July 29, the Commission issued a "Report and Statement of Policy" in the programming inquiry and, at the Same time, made pnblic the staff report. The Commission's overall programming inquiry is continuing. Ad ditional public proceedings were scheduled to start in Los Angeles in October, at which time represeutatives of the TV film industry and • otherswill be heard. Other Programming Actions On December 2, 1959, the Commission requested all broadcast sta tions to report what matter they had broadcast since November 1, 1958, for which money or other consideration had been received but not announced, and what they have done to control this situation. (A tabulation of responses aunounced April 5 thereafter showed 59 per cent of the stations alleging no "payola" or other hidden payments.) On January 21, 1960, the Commission announced, among other things, that it would propose rules requiring broadcast licensees to prevent broadcast of unannounced "payola" received by their em ployees, and that its consideration of renewal and other broadcast applications would include replies to its "payola" questionnaire as well as information furnished by the Federal Trade Commission. On February 4, 1960, the Commission announced that it was pre paring suggested legislation to deal with deceptive "quiz" and "pay ola" practices and would tighten its own rules concerning the respon sibility of broadcast licensees in such matters, meanwhile considering other recommendations made in the December 30, 1959, "Report to the President by the Attorney General on Deceptive Practices in Broad casting Media." On February 5, 1960, the Commission proposed rules to ban "payola" and~therhidden paid announcements, also prearranged "quiz" and other contest programs, unless payment or other prearrangement is announced. On February 11, 1960, it announced the draft of proposed legisla tion to provide criminal penalties for producers, sponsors or presenters of deceptive "quiz" shows and "payola." On February 18, 1960, it announced supplementary liaison arrange ments with the Federal Trade Commission relating to unannounced sponsorship of broadcast material. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION' 37 On March 16, 1960, it issued a statement on "Sponsorship Identifica tion of Broadcast Material" iaterpreting the requirements of Section 31'1 of the Communications Act. On April 1 thereafter it afforded those iaterested an opportunity to file comments but did not suspend theeffectiveness of its March notice. On May 12, 1960, it announced an inquiry into undisclosed commer cials in recorded "interview" programs. (See Legislation section for notation of Congressional actions siace June 30, 1960 on matters relatiag to programing and other broadcast matters.) COMPLAINTS AND COMPLIANCI1 DIVISION CRI1ATI1D As 'of June 1, 1960, the Commission established a separate Com plaints and Compliance Division in its Broadcast Bureau. Its pur pose is to unify the handliag of complaints, including field iavesti gations, and compliance of broadcast stations with statutes, interna tional agreements, and Commission policies and rules. It is responsi ble for ascertaining facts, in response to specific complaints or on its own initiative, and keeping the Commission informed of the results ofits check of violations. L1CI1NSI1 TI1RMS AND SUSPI1NSIONS On March 2, 1960, the Commission proposed rule changes looking toward a shorter-term license to any broadcast station which does not merit the regular 3-year renewal. The following April 12, it recommended to Congress that the Com munications Act be amended to authorize the Commission to suspend broadcast licenses or impose forfeitures, and to issue temporary re straining orders, in cases which do not warrant revocation proceedings. Both of these proposals were approved by Congress with the excep tion of the license suspension recommendation (see Legislation). On September 28, 1960, the Commission amended its rules to provide shorter-term licenses in special cases. POLITICAL BROADCASTS Congress amended section 315 (a) of the act, effective September 14, 1959, to exempt from the "equal opportunities" requirement appear ances by legally qualified candidates on bona fide newscasts, news in terviews, news documentaries, or on-the-spot coverage of news events. In addition, the Commission is required to include ia each annual report it makes to Congress "a statement setting forth (1) the infor mation and data used by it in determining questions arising from or 5.66513----00---4 38 RE?ORT OF THE FEDEmAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION connected with such amendment, and (2) such recommendations as it deems necessary in the public interest." The procedure generally followed by the Commission with respect to section 315 complaints is as follows: Immediately upon receipt a complaint is acknowledged and the complainant is informed that the Commission is communicating with the licensee. At the same time, the licensee is advised of the complaint and directed to reply within a given time. Such advice is given by telegram, letter or telephone depending on the date of the election. Where necessary, and depend ing upon the issues to be resolved, the licensee is informed of the spe cific factual datarequired to reach a determination. For example, in connection with the West Virginia case, described hereafter, and before the Commission reached a decision in the matter, the licensee was requested to submit the following information: U'Vhether Mr. Cox is a legally qualified candidate for public office and, if so, the office for \vhich he seeks nomination. "The format and content of the program 'A Thought for the Day'. "'Whether the program is regularly scheduled or specially scheduled. If reg ularly sche'tluled,the times of day and week. "When the program was first initiated and when Mr. Whiston commenced his appearances thereon. "'Vhether controversial issues were discussed and, if so, whether opportunity is afforded to present opposing viewpoints. "The total amount ot free time Mr. Whiston has received since becoming a legally quali:tled candidate for the nomination for the office he seeks. "A copy of the script of the program in question. "The basis for your denial of the request of Mr. Cox for equal time." All section 315 matters are given priority consideration. When a determination is reached, both the licensee and the complainant are .advised by telegram, letter or phone, as may be required by the circumstances. The Commission is giving careful consideration to all matters arising under section 315 of the act and cases coming within the 1959 amendment. In the light of the experience gained therefrom, the Commission will make, when appropriate, such recommendations as it deems necessary in the public interest. Between September 1959 and the termination of the fiscal year, the Commission issued the following rulings relating to the 1959 amend ment: Station WCLG broadcast a program at noon-time (Monday through Friday) on which the sheriff of Morgantown, W. Va., reported on the activities of his office coupled with a "Thought for the Day." The sheriff was a candidate for nomination for Congress in the Republican primary. His opponent for the l'iume nomination in the same party's primary demanded equal time. The Commission ascertained, among other things, that the program had been regUlarly scheduled since 1958; that the sheriff had appeared thereon since REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 39 that time; and that the format and content of the programwe~determined by the sheriff and not by the station. The Commission ruled that the program was not the type which Congress intended to be exempt from the equal oppor· tunities requirement. A local weathercaster who was a candidate for re-election to the Texas legislature was regularly employed by an AM and TV station in Texas. His weathercasts contained no reference to political matters. He was identified over the air while a candidate as "TX Weatherman" and not by his name. His opponent demanded equal time. The Commission ruled tha4 on tbe basis of the facts before it, the appearance of the weathereaster on the stations while a candidate was not a "use" under section 315 of the facilities of the stations. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit) af· firmed the Commission's rulinga on the following grounds: (a) The weather caster's appearance on the stations did not involve anything but a bona fide eft'ort to present the news; (b) the weathercaster's employment was not some thing arising out of the election campaign; and (c) the facts in the case did not real any favoritism on the part of the stations or intent to discriminate among candidates. NBC had presented over its facilities certain candidates for the Democratic nomination for President on the program "Meet the Press." A candidate for like nomination in the Maryland primary election demanded equal time. The Commission ruled that the program was of the type whichCongr~intended to exempt from the equal opportunities requirement. Lar Daly was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in the Maryland primary election. He complained to the Commission tbat the 3 net works had refused his requests for time on the programs "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation" and "College News Conference" equal to that afforded Mr. Daly's competing candidates. The Commission held that the programs were regularly scheduled bona fide news interviews exempt from the equal time requirement. A Philadelphia TV station had presented a weekly program entitled "Eye on Philadelphia." 1'hree candidates for mayor, who represented established political parties, appeared on it. A write-in candidate for mayor demanded equal time. The Commission ascertained that the appearances of the 3 mayor alty candidates were on a regularly scheduled news interview program j and that such appearances were determined by the station's news director on the basis of newsworthiness. The Commission held that in the absence of evi· dence. that the program was not a bona fide news interview it could not reach a determination as to whether the write-in candidate was entitled to equal time. As of August 10, 1959, the Commission's political broadcast rules were amended to require that a request for equal opportunity be submitted to a broadcast station within 1 week from the day on which the prior use occurred, and that the candidate requesting equal opportunity or complaining of noncompliance by a station has the burden of proving that he and his opponents are legally qualified candidates for the same office. At the request of the Senate Interstate nJ1d Foreign Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, the Commission in May of 1960 sent a questionnaire to all TV stations inquiring into their policy 40 RmPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION with respect to political broadcasts in general and to the 1960 presi dential campaign in particular. Another questionnaire was sent to all AM, FM and TV stations and networks in August requesting them to supply information about their practices in handling politi cal broadcasts during the 1960 campaign. Effective August 24, 1960, Congress suspended the eqnal-time re quirement for broadcast appearances by Presidential and Vice Presi dential nominees during the 1960 campaign in order to obtain infor mation for considering permanent change. The Commission is to report to Congress on the effect, with any recommendations, by March 1,1961. LICENSE RENEWALS Deferment of action on license renewal applications reached a new high as of June 30, 1960, due largely to considerations of "quiz" and "payola" practices and an increase in engineering deficiencies. Pend ing resolution of questions relating to programming, technical opera tions, financial and legal problems and other matters affecting the qualificatfons of the applicants, nearly 500 AM, FM and TV broad cast station license renewals (exclusive of auxiliaries) were deferred. Of this number, almost half involved "payola" or other sponsorship identification questions alone or with other matters. It should be pointed out that consideration of the renewal of any station in ques tion includes other facilities of the same licensee which may also be up for renewal. On September 21, 1959, the Secretary of the Army protested the· license renewal of KSAY, San Francisco, alleging that radiation from the station's transmitter had induced electical currents in the loading cranes at a nearby Army terminal, resulting in burns to personnel and the creation of a fire hazard. The Commission notified the licensee that a hearing was indicated and, later, was advised that the Govern ment had instituted court action to enjoin the station and to collect $150,000 damages. The case was pending at the close of the year. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS The Commission and the Department of Justice, on April 29, 1960, obtained a Federal court order enjoining KLEM, LeMars, Iowa, from further unlicensed operation. The licensee had failed to file an appli cation for license renewal despite repeated requests by the Commis sion, had ignored Commission correspondence during the last license term, and had failed to file required reports and information. The station was warned to cease operation after its license expired. Upon failure to reply, the Department of Justice was requested to take action. As a result of the court order, the station went off the air May 20. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 41 On December 8, 1959, the Commission ordered KIMN, Denver, to ·show cause why its license should not be revoked for broadcasting "vulgar, indecent, ribald, offensive, in bad taste with double meaning, and/or obscene language". The matter was also brought to the attention of the Department of Justice which advised the Commis sion that the broadcasts in question did not violate the Federal obscenity statute. In view of the fact that the announcer responsible for the broadcasts had been discharged by the station and the latter's assurance that the objectionable language would not be repeated, the Commission on June 23 issued a cease-and-desist order. It also warned the former announcer, who held a radio operator permit. During the year the Commission advised several additional stations that their failure to make the required sponsorship announcement while televising kinescope summaries of the Senate Kohler strike hearings in 1958, and failure of others to make an adequate effort to present opposing views on the controversial subject of subscription TV, either were violations of law or the Commission's rules and policies. TRANSFERS AND ASSIGNMENTS Applications involving changes in broadcast station ownership to taled nearly 1,500 for the fiscal year, a slight increase over the figure for 1959. The Commission completed a legislative, administrative and judicial history of broadcast station transfers and assignments under the Radio Acts of 1912 and 1927 and the Communications Act of 1934. It was prepared for the House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee pursuant to the latter's report of .January :1, 1959. An increase was noted in the prices paid for FM stations in fiscal 1960 over the year previous, evincing the continued interest in FM. On September 9, 1959, the Commission reaffirmed its policy Of pro hibiting a party from holding an interest, direct or indirect, in com peting stations in the same broadcast service. One of the directors of an insurance company which was the licensee of a station in Vir ginia desired to serve also on the board of directors of a bank in the same city which had an interest in another station serving substan tially the same area. In answer to a request for an interpretive opinion, the Commission advised the insurance company that such dual service under these circumstances would contravene the long standing policy of the Commission promulgated uuder its duopoly rules. In the area of international broadcast facilities, 2 out of the 5 authorized internationallJroadcast fa"ilities-KGEI, Belmont, Calif., and ,VRUL, Scituate, }lass.-filed applications to change ownership during the year. 42 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The fiscal year saw the entry into broadcasting of large corpora" tions hitherto not engaged in that field. Twentieth Century-Fox Television, Inc., owned by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., pur" chased control of United Television, Inc., licensee of KMSP-TV, Minneapolis, and Columbia Pictures Electronics, Inc., owned by Co" lumbia Pictures Corp., bought International Broadcasting and Tele vision Corp., licensee of KDYL AM and FM and KTVT-TV, Salt Lake City. Problems are presented by proposed acquisition and disposition of broadcast facilities by RKO General, Inc., and National Broadcast ing Co. In 1955 the Commission granted assignment of licenses of WTAM AM and FM and WNBK(TV), Cleveland, from NBC to Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., Inc., and the assignment of licenses of KYW and WPTZ(TV), Philadelphia (together with a $3,000,000 cash payment), from lVestinghouse to NBC. In 1956 the Deparhnent of Justice brought an anti-trust suit against NBC and its parent RCA charging that the Philadelphia-Cleveland exchange resulted from unlawful pressures by NBC on Westinghouse, and on September 22, 1959 NBC entered into a consent decree which provided that it dispose of its Philadelphia stations prior to Decem ber 31, 1962. The decree also required that any NBC acquisitions in any of the top 8 markets be cleared by the Department of Justice before submission to the FCC. The previously mentioned Philadelphia station, WPTZ (changed to WHCV-TV), was originally licensed to The Philco Corp. which sold it to Westinghouse in 1953. On August 14, 1957, Philco protested the granted renewal of license of that station because of the alleged anti-trust violations. The Commission denied the protest upon It finding that Philc" was not a party in interest. The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overruled that finding and remanded the case to the Commission. Oral argument on the protest was held by the Commission in October of 1959 and on July 12, 1960 it dis missed the protest upon a finding that Philco was legally insufficient to warrant the hearing requested. The license's expiration date being August 1, 1960, NBC filed, on May 2, 1960, a second renewal application for lVRCV-TV. ShoIfly thereafter Philco filed an application for that station's channel in competition with the renewal application, charging that the station had disregarded its local responsibilities in order to promote the interests of NBC's parent, RCA. There were further complications when, on June 3, 1960, applica tions were filed for (a) NBC to assign WRCV AM and TV to RKO in exchange for RKO's WNAC AM, FM and TV in Boston being assigned to NBC; (b) NBC to assign its Washington, D.C., station REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 43 WRC AM and TV to RKO for $11.5 million; (c) RKO to sell its Washington, D.C., station WGMS AM and FM to Crowell Collier Publishing Co. for $1.5 million; and (d) NBC to purchase KTVU (TV), San Francisco, for $'1'.5 million, contingent upon grant of the NBC-RKO sales. KRON-TV, the NBC affiliate in San Fran cisco owned by the San Francisco Chronicle, is opposing the latter sale. The Chronicle has also filed an application for Channel 4 in Washington, D.C., vying with the WRC-TV renewal application. TELEVISION lTV) BROADCAST SERVICE General Since adoption of the present TV rules, engineering standards and nationwide table of assignments in 1952, TV broadcasting has grown at a tremendous rate. As of June 80,1960, there were 44'1' VHF and 76 UHF commercial TV stations operating in 2'1'5 markets; 56 other stations held operat ing authority but were not actually on the air; and '1'4 more were nnder construction. About 52 million TV receivers were in the hands of the public. This is about one-third the number of aural sets. A census survey showed that 88 percent of all households had TV sets and that 11 percent had 2 or more receivers. TV Allocation Problems Long-range program.-In spite of its phenomenal growth, TV continues to have major problems. They stem primarily from the fact that the VHF band is insufficient to provide a truly nationwide TV service. Failure of UHF to take its competitive place has re sulted in almost complete saturation of the 12 channels in the VHF band. The result has been that many of the larger markets have a shortage of outlets and many other communities, both large and small, are without any local TV service. Of the top 100 TV markets, 42 have less than 3 VHF or 3 UHF stations. These markets contain the country's big population centers where the need for competitive services exists and where there is economic support for multiple TV services. Outside of these top markets UHF is operating in 53 communities where little VHF serv ice is available. As soon as the TV allocations problem developed, consideration was given to its solution by the Commission, the Congress and the in dustry. An extensive rulemaking proceeding was conducted in 1955 56 in which this subject was considered. However, due to the legal, technical and policy complexities involved, no simple solntion was then found. However, a program of study was started to explore various possible approaches-such as shifting all TV to the UHF 44 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION band. Separate proceedings were also initiated to relieve the com petitive situation in a number of markets hy deintermixture of VHF and UHF assignments. In cases where UHF could not succeed due to the operation of VHF stations in the same or nearhy markets, addi tional VHF channels were proposed. In some markets where UHF stations predominated, consideration was given to deleting VHF assignments. To aid it in collecting technical data which would he useful to the general study, the Commissiou requested the iudustry to cooperate. In January 1957 the Televisiou Allocatious Study Organization (TASO) was formed and in March of 1958 it issued a report of its findings. Most recent Commission considerations have included studies of a 50-channel system retaining the present 12 VHF channels, a 50-chan nel system retaining Channels 7-13, a 25-channel system retaining Channels 7-13, a 70-channel UHF system, and retention of the present 82-channel VHF-UHF system. The first of these approaches involved the need of obtaining addi tional VHF channels from the Government. However, on August 15, 1960, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization advised the Com mission that this is precluded by national defense, security and expense oonsideration. The Commission must now consider rearrangement of existing VHF and UHF channels and the feasibility of moving TV, in whole or major part, into UHF. Pending a long range solution to the TV allocations problem, the Commission has taken certain interim meas ures to alleviate the shortage ofchannels in the larger and more critical markets and to make the situation more competitive in a number of intermixed markets. At FCC request, Congress appropriated $2 million for an extensive project to be conducted in New York to determine the effectiveness of UHF operation in metropolitan areas (see Research). The result will have an important bearing on the future ofUHF-TV. Sh()'l't-ranqe program.-On January 7, 1960, the Commission an nounced a rulemaking proceeding (docket 13340) to consider an in terim policy for VHF channel assignments. This proposal looks toward the waiver of present minimum assignment separations in exceptional cases and under certain limited conditions. The purpose • is to solve the shortage ofchannels in important markets which already have 1 or 2 VHF stations. The considerations are that there is a need for the additional service which outweighs auy service lost as a result ofthe addition of the chanuel, that the new VHF service will not have a substautial adverse effect on established UHF service, and that the new assignment would not require an excessive number of channel REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 45 changes of existing stations. The basic framework of the present rules and standards would be retained but with more up-to-date prop agation curves. During the year, and within the framework of the present table, BOrne additional assignments Were made in a number of communities for commercial or educational purposes. These included Columbus, Ga.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Fargo, N. Dak., and Lander, Wyo. Ad ditional assignments in Birmingham or Montgomery, Ala., were being considered and, in July 1960, Fresno, Calif., was made an all UHF market and deintermixture of the Bakersfield, Calif area was pro posed. Proceedings under way involve specific assignments to the Providence, R.I., and Grand Rapids, Mich., areas. Pending petitions requested additional assignments in such markets as Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Toledo, Ohio, and Waco, Texas. However, these must await either completion of negotiations with Canada or the adoption of the interim policy. While a permanent and more satisfactory solution of the TV prob lem depends on the longer range consideration, it was felt that the interim or short range program would help to develop a more com petitive situation in a number of important areas. The failure to obtain more VHF charmels will require a reevaluation of the interim plan. National Spot Sales Representation by Networks In October 1959 the Commission adopted a new rule prohibiting TV stations other than those licensed to a network from being repre sented in national spot sales by an organization which operates the net work with which the station is atliliated. This proceeding grew out of a recommendation made by the Commission's special network study staff in its 1957 "Report on Network Broadcasting," which was pub lished by the Government Printing Office in the form of a report of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (H. Rept. No. 1297, 85th Cong., 2d Sess.), and out of the public hearings held by the Commission in 1958 to give interested parties an opportunity to comment. After considering the extensive pleadings, the Commission concluded that participation in the national spot sales field gives the networks the power to curb competition for the representation of sta tions, that representation of affiliates creates within the networks an inherent conilict of interest which, in tnrn, provides an incentive to subordinate the representation function to the major network in. terests, and that there was a likelihood that full and effective compe tition between network and national spot television might not prevail. Stations which were affiliated with and represented by a network at the time the rule was adopted have until December 31, 1961 to 46 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION comply. The rule does not bar a network from representing those stations which it owns and operates or stations which are not af filiated with it. The Commission determined, because of the sig nificantly different characteristics of the radio industry, not to insti tute proceedings to adopt a similar rule for radio stations at this time, hut left it open for further consideration. Option Time On April 23, 1959, the Commission proposed to amend its exist· ing rules governing "option time" in TV, i.e., the term used to desig nate certain hours of the broadcast day which network affiliated sta tions contract to carry sponsored network programs. This, too, grew out of the staff "Report on Network Broadcasting" and the Commis sion's hearings in 1958. The Commission concluded that optioning of time by affiliated stations to their networks is reasonably necessary for successful net work operation and is in the public interest and, in 1959, submitted its findings to the Attorney General for his views on the applica bility of the anti-trust laws to the practice. In reply, the Com mission was informed by the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Anti-Trust Division of the Department of Justice that, in his opinion, the option time practice "runs afoul" of the Sherman Anti-Trust Law. On September 14, 1960, the Commission amended its chain broad· casting rules to reduce from 3 to 2'12 hours the time within each seg ment of the broadcast day that a TV station may option to networks; require TV "straddle" programs to be treated outside option time, and p;ive TV stations more say in rejecting or substituting network programs (docket 12859) . These changes are designed to maintain the essential features of the option time practice, which the Commission has found to be rea sonably necessary in the public interest, while at the same time im proving the competitive position of non-network elements of the TV broadcast industry and the freedom of individual stations to select their programs. Noncommercial Educational TV A uthorizatWniJ and allocation.-Of 64 educational authorizations outstanding at the end of fiscal 1960, 47 held operating authority. In addition, 4 stations were operating noncommercially on commercial channels. These stations represented 28 States and Puerto Rico, and reached an estimated 70 million people. Two cities each had 2 op erating educational TV stations-Oklahoma City, Okla. (one on a commercial channel), and Pittsburgh, Pa. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 The Commission's final TV report in 1952 reserved 242 assignments for noncommercial educational use. By June 30, 1960 the number of such reservations had risen to 267, of which 90 were on VHF channels and 177 were on UHF channels. During the year an additional educational VHF channe! assignment was reserved in Appleton, Minn.; Lubbock, Texas; Fargo, N. Dak., and Reno, Nev. In the last 3 named cities the VHF channe! was substituted for prior UHF reservations. In addition, 9 UHF edu cationa! reservations were made--1 in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and 8 in Alabama (Andalusia, Birmingham, Demopolis, Dothan, Florence, Munford, Opelika and Tuscaloosa). Network8.-A significant development in educational TV has been the establishment of several educational TV networks. In addition to the National Educational TV Network operated by the Educa tional TV and Radio Center in New York City, which is actually a tape and film network to which the majority of educational stations subscribe, there are several State and regional networks, involving stations interconnected by cable or microwave relay, which are in operation or in the planning stage. Notable among these is the Florida Educational TV Network, which has 4 operating stations with a fifth to be added. This network, which now reaches 3 million viewers including approximately 150,000 stu dents of all levels, can serve classrooms in 3 State universities, 12 com munity junior colleges and classrooms and homes in at !east 33 of Florida's 67 counties. The Alabama Educational TV Network operates on 3 VHF channels in Birmingham, Munford and Andalusia which are connected by mi crowaVe relay with each other and with additional studios in Tusca loosa and Auburn. The network now reaches 80 percent of the State's population, or approximately 800,000 TV sets. The 8 UHF reser vations made this year will be used to augment this network. Under the direction of ,VGBH-TV, Boston, the Northeast Educa tional TV Network is in early stages of development, presently con sisting of the 2 New England educational stations operating in Boston and Durham, N.H. The project contemplates a network of inter connected stations in 12 New England and Middle Atlantic States. Pending before the Commission is a petition by the University of Maine requesting reservation of3 additional VHF channels at Presque Isle, Calais and Augusta for expansion of the Northeast Educational TV Network. On March 31, 1960, there was completed a survey of the feasibility of a 6-State educational TV network which would cover Iowa, Minne sota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota 'tnd 'Visconsin. 48 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Ai1'oorne educational TV.-On December 22, 1959, the Commission granted several applications by Purdue University to experiment in airborne UHF TV transmission and instruction. The aerial stations will provide educational programming to elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities located within a 200-mile radius of Montpelier, Ind. A DC-6B aircraft flying in a 10 mile circle at an altitude of 23,000 feet over north central Indiana will broadcast, via airborne video tape recorders, on a proposed schedule of 6 hours per day 4 days a week. The potential benefits of this program are illustrated by the fact that within a radius of 200 miles of north central Indiana there are more than 5,000,000 students in over 13,000 separate school locations. About one-third of these are in school systems of less than 2,000 pupils. Some 18 institutions of higher learning within this educational target aroo. will aid schools intere..ted in participating in the program. The pro gram staff will work with noncommercial educational TV stations in the 6-State area to extend the coverage of the courses. Over 600 schools have indicated an interest in participating in the program. Airborne equipment tests for the first aircraft were expected to begin in October 1960, and for the second aircraft in November. Demonstration telecasts are planned to start in February 1961 and run through ,Tune. Twenty-eight courses have been approved. The first full academic year for the air telecasts is scheduled for September 1961 through .Tune 1962. This operation is purely experimental. Consideration would have to be given in a rulemaking proceeding to the many technical and policy problems involved before any regular operation could be au thorized along these lines. VHF Translators and Repeaters Numerous small communities, particularly in the mountainous areas of the West, continued to employ unlicensed devices popularly called "boosters" or "repeaters" for the reception, amplification and retrans mission, on VHF channels, of signals from distant TV stations which could not be otherwise received. On July 7, 1960, amendments to sections 318 and 319 of the Communications Act, for the first time, empowered the Commission to arrange for licensing these devices, which previously had been barred by the statutory ban On licensing transmitting devices whose construction had not been first authorized. On July 27, 1960, the Commission adopted rules for interim author ization of VHF repeaters constructed on or before July 7, 1960. Simultaneously, also in docket 12116, the Commission established pro cedures and requirements governing the licensing of new repeater devices in the VHF band, which are referred to as ''VHF transla tors" because they are required to use an output channel different from REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 49 the channel on which incoming signals are received. Most of the unlicensed repeaters so convert the incoming signals. Subject to filing certain minimal information, preexisting repeaters will be permitted to operate until October 31, 1961. They will, how ever, be required to modify their installations by that date so as to comply with the new VHF translator rules. Those requirements include limitation of power to 1 watt, providing on-off controls accessi ble at all times, automatic cutoff when the parent station is not in operation, and preventing interference to regular TVbroadcast service and resolving their own interference problems. In this manner the Commission, with the assistance of Congress, has been able to establish a workable basis for resolution of the long standiug problems associated with unauthorized VHF repeaters, and thus make it possible to regularize the important service which these devices render in bringing TV to many persons in remote areas. UHF Translators To help extend TV service to new areas, the Commission has since 1956 authorized UHF translator stations. These stations pick up the signals of regular TV stations and rebroadcast them on the 14 highest UHF TV frequencies (Channels 70-83). Using relatively inexpensive and low-power equipment, their average cost of installa tion is now under$5,000. Until recently, translators were limited to a maximum power out put of 10 watts with which they provided, on the average, good reception to a distance of 15 or 20 miles. In June of 1958 they were permitted to increase maximum power to 100 watts. The average cost of transmitting equipment for a 100-watt station is approximately $7,000. UHF and VHF translators may not originate broadcast material and must obtain the consent of the stations whose signals they re transmit. Typically, they are built and operated by nonprofit corpo rations or groups, or by local governmental bodies. Most translators arein theWest. The Commission revised its application form to construct trans lators and considerably reduced the detail required in the older form. UHF Boosters On May 25, 1960, the Commission adopted rules, effective July 5 thereafter, permitting UHF broadcast stations to use boosters to fill in "shadows" within their normal service areas but not to extend theircoverage (docket 113:lJ). Such a boostermerely ampiifies and retransmits the programs of the parent station on the latter's channel. It does not have an individual call signal and its maximum effective radiated power is limited to 50 REPORT OF THE FEDE.RAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 5 kw. UHF stations operating boosters are required to satisfy claims of interference from their boosters. The booster is turned on and off by means of a cue signal transmitted by the parent station. The purpose of such a booster operation is to enable a UHF sta tion to provide reasonably uniform coverage, particularly where there· is rugged terrain, without resorting to extremely high power. Idle UHF Permittees Commission broadcast station construction permits require that construction start within 2 months of the grant and be completed 6 months thereafter (or 8 months in all to build) unless good cause is shown for extending that time. Many holders of such UHF TV permits have-some of them for years-delayed starting to build their stations while waiting solution of UHF or other problems. The Commission does not feel that idle grantees should continue to "sit" on channels which might be used by others to augment TV service to the public. Accordingly, on February 17, 1960, it acted to halt repeated requests for extensions by warning some 50 long-idle UHF permittees that unless they exercised their permits the latter would be cancelled. As a result, a score of such permits were turned in and oral argnment was scheduled for the others. Subscription TV In March 1959 the Commission announced revjsed conditions under which it would consider applications for limited trial suhscription TV operations employing the facilities of TV broadcast stations (docket 11279). A trial would be limited to a maximum period of 3 years. Ouly stations in cities receiving at least 3 "free" TV services would be eligible. Each system of encoding or decoding signals (or other de 'Vice for limiting programs to paying subscribers) could be tested in only 1 city; and not more than 1 system could be tried in any 1 city. Other conditions are designed to preserve the responsibility of partici pating stations for making judgments affecting the public in the mat ter of program selection, charges and other matters. While installa tion and maintenance charges would be permitted, the equipment would have to be furnished without requiring investment by the pub lic in devices needed to decode signals. Any systems employed must be engineered so as not to create interference to the reception of free broadcasts or to deteriorate the technical quality of suhscription programs. When the yearclosed only 1 such application had been received. On June 22, 1960, WHCT, Channel 18, Hartford, Conn., filed for author ization to conduct a trial in that city. Protests were made by groups opposing toll-TV and a hearing was held before the Commission in October 1960. Rl!:PORT OF THE FEDl!:RAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 51 FREQUENCY MODULATION IFMI BROADCAST SERVICE Commercial FM FM broadcast continued to show increased growth and interest. A total of 165 new stations were authorized during the year while 22 were deleted, resulting in a net gain of 143. At the year end, 912 authorizations were outstanding, of which number 741 were operating. The number of licensed FM stations was at an all-time high of 700 although total authorizations were still below the peak of 1,020 reached in 1948. The increased competition for commercial FM facilities was re flected in the fact that at the close of the year 114 applications for new FM stations were pending, of which number 40 were in hearing. Several applications were received for directional FM antenna sys tems. Two were submitted in order to limit radiation toward existing. stations to prevent objectionable interference. The others were to limit radiation over the ocean and increase land coverage. A few. directional antenna systems had been previously authorized for direct ing coverage into valleys and over populated areas. The Commission's rules state that it shall be standard to employ horizontal polarization; however, circular or elliptical polarization may be used if desired. Several authorizations were issued for an tennas producing both horizontal and vertical polarization, or ellipti cal polarization. The vertical polarization permits better reception on auto FM installations with the use of a vertical whip antenna. One antenna manufacturer is making an antenna which provides vertical as well as horizontal polarization. Subsidiary FM Since 1955 the Commission has permitted FM stations to engage in limited types of subsidiary services, such as background music and storecasting furnished on a subscription basis to retail and other com mercial establishments. At the close of the year, over 200 FM sta tions held Subsidiary Communications Authorizations (SCAs) to conduct this type of supplemental service. The Commission amended its rules, effective May 16, 1960, to expand the permissible scope of FM mUltiplexing by commercial FM broad casters (docket 12517). They may now engage in certain types of subsidiary operation in ..ddition to the news, music, time, and weather format. With Commission approval of appropriate applications, they can use their authorized multiplex sub-channels to transmit program material expressly designed and intended for business, professional, educational, religious, trade, labor, agricultural and other special groups of subscribers engaged in any lawful activity. This type of 52 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION service is typified by "doctor-casting" authorizations issued to various FMstations. Authorized sub-channels were also made available for the transmis sion of signals directly related to the operation of FM stations, such as relaying broadcast material to FM and AM stations, remote cueing and order circuits, and remote control telemetering functions as sociated with authorized studio-transmitter-link operation. As an example of program relaying, temporary authority was granted to KDKA-FM, Pittsburgh, to originate play-by-play descrip tions of baseball games and transmit them to numerous FM and AM broadcast stations within its primary service area without disturbing the programing on its main channel. At the same time, the Commission rejected a suggestion that remote pickup facsimile be allowed on a multiplex basis and also declined to adopt, at this time, changes in existing engineering standards appli cable to subsidiary operations. Existing provisions concerning sub channel leasing arrangements and the ban on sub-carrier operation during periods ofmain channel inactivity were continued. In approving this modest expansion of permissible subsidiary opera tions, the Commission weighed and rejected, as a matter of sound allo cations principle, suggestions that FM broadcasters be allowed to undertake signaling, control, telemetering or communication activities basically unrelated to broadcast operation, thereby reaffirming the concept of SCA operation as an adjunct to regular FM broadcasting. A few FM broadcast stations are still rendering background music and related services on a simplex (main channel) basis as a result of the 1958 decision of the United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, in Functional MU8io, Inc. v. USA anil FCC. This matter will be dealt with in a separate rulemaking proceeding to be instituted in the near future. Stereophonic FM On May 4, 1960, the Commission invited comments on 8 systems of FM stereophonic transmission then under consideration (docket 13506). The time for filing these comments extended beyond the fiscal year end. Comments concerning stereophonic broadcasting which were filed previously in docket 12517 will also be considered in the new proceeding. The Commission is desirous that FM "stereo" standards be adopted prior to considering such standards for AM and TV use. Various stations have engaged in experimental stereophouic operation under FCC authorizations and a National Stereophonic Committee has studied FM stereophonic systems under the auspices of the Electronic Industries Association. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 5S Stereophonic broadcasting, in brief, involves dual transmission and reception of sound, picked up at different positions on the broadcast ing stage, to give the listener the impression that the orchestra, choral group, etc., are "spread out" before him. Aside from enhancing the reception oflive broadcasts such systems will accommodate the many stereophonic tapes and phonograph records being manufactnred. Noncommercial Educational FM This service, which annually shows a slow bnt steady growth, added 20 new stations during the year to bring its total authorizations to 181. Of this number, 165 were on the air. Schools and educational groups which can't afford TV operation find FM an economical and effective way to augment their curricula. For an outlay of a few thousand dollars, they can start with low power (10 watts) which will extend a radius of 2 to 5 miles and oper ate by remote control. Higher power can be added for extended coverage as additional funds become available. On July 28, 1960, the Commission invited comments to proposed rulemaking looking toward permitting noncommercial educational FM stations to engage in multiplex subsidiary operations for educa tional purposes only (docket 13575). STANDARD IAMI BROADCAST SERVICE Authorizations As of June 30, 1960, there were 3,581 AM broadcast authorizations, or 81 more than at the close of fiscal 1959. Those holding operating authority numbered 3,483, which was a gain of 106 for the year. There is no separate category for educational AM operation. How ever, of the some 35 educational organizations holding AM grants, about a score of them operate on a voluntary nonprofit basis. Application Backlog Because of the mounting backlog of applications for new and major changes in AM broadcast facilities, the Commission, on April 8, 1959 (effective May 16 thereafter), amended its rules relating to the filing and consideration of new applications with earlier-filed applications. Under the new procedure, the Commission periodically publishes in the Federal Register a list of 50 applications which are at the top of the processing Jine and announces a date (not less than 30 days after publication) by which additional applications must be· on file if they are to be considered with any on the list. Prior to the adoption of these rules, one of the major delays in the disposition of applications on the processing line was due to the necessity of reprocessing the same applications many times because ~66.'H3-·6(}-5 54 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION of amendments changing the engineering proposals. Because of this, the rules were also changed to provide for the assignment of a new file number to an application amended to change its engineering proposal other than with respect to the type of equipment specified, such appli cation to be returned to the processing line to await study in its normal turn pursuant to the newly assigned number. Since the institution of this cut-off procedure, the Commission has published 13 lists in the Federal Register, totaling750 applications. As of March 1960, the Commission, under the new procedure, had been able to speed its consideration and to dispose of, insofar as the processing line is concerned, more than 550 applications. In particu lar, the problem of moving from the processing line the large groups of applications which were required to be considered together had been reduced greatly and there were few, if any, groups on which study had not been virtually completed. Accordingly, on March 28, 1960, the Commission relaxed the re strictions placed upon the acceptance of engineering amendments to permit certain types of amendments without the assignment of a new file number when it is shown that they would not create new or in creased interference problems with other proposals or existing sta tions. It is anticipated that this rule change will facilitate processing by removing conflicts which would otherwise result in chain reaction considerations. The Commission also concluded that processing time could be re duced substantially if the engineering data submitted with applica tions were prepared on a more uniform basis, and in a form which could better serve the required study by the Commission's staff. Ac cordingly, effective April 25, 1960, it revised section V-A of FCC Form 301, "Application for Authority To Construct a New Broad cast Station or Make Changes in an Existing Broadcast Station." The revisions were made to secure uniformity in the engineering show ing of the required interference study in support of an application for an AM facility. They should aid in the processing and, therefore, be of advantage to applicants. During the period May 16,1959 to June 30,1960, approximately 186 applications for new or major changes in AM stations were granted, 150 dismissed for noncompliance with the acts or rules, and 431 designated for hearing. The Commission faces a special problem with respect to Class IV stations. On April 13, 1959, it adopted an order to permit action on applications by such stations for power increases up to 1 kw on local channels in all areas except within 62 miles of the Mexican border or within a specified area in southern Florida. By July 1, 1960, almost 500 applications by Class IV stations to increase power over 250 watts REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 55 had been filed. Many of them involve interlinking interference prob lems which invite multiparty proceedings. To help resolve these com plex matters, the Commission on July 27, 1960, proposed amending the rules to make less restrictive the engineering provisions with re spect to Class IVstations. NARBA and Other Agreements After a hiatus of some 10 years in which the United States has, with one exception, been without effective treaties with neighboring countries to govern the joint use of the AM broadcast band (535 1605 kc), the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement of 1950 was ratified by the Senate on March 10, 1960, and entered into force on the following April 19, between the United States, Canada and Cuba. Its effectiveness with respect to the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom (for Bahama Islands and Jamaica) and Haiti awaits ratification by those administrations or, with regard to Haiti, notification of intent to adhere. Mexico was not signatory to the 1950 NARBA, but concluded a separate bilateral agreement with this country on January 29, 1957. Although ratified by the United States simultaneously with NARBA, this agreement has not yet been ratified by Mexico and is, therefore, not in force. From March 29, 1949, when the last NARBA expired, and April 1960, when the present NARBA entered into force, the only interna tional agreement concerned with AM broadcasting in North America remaining effective was the so-called "Gentlemen's Agreement" of 1941 with Mexico on the use of 10 of the 107 AM broadcast channals. Only tacit agreement of the countries concerned to preserve the assign ment structure has prevented utter chaos. Nevertheless, deterioration in AM broadcast service was progressive and, insofar as interference from Cuban assignments, was, and stiII is, of serious proportions. During the approximate 1S-month period between the expiration of the previous NARBA and the signing of the new NARBA, Cuba assigned stations On specific channels and under conditions not in accordance with previous agreements. This resulted in serious in terference to many stations in the United States, particularly to the rural coverage of Class I stations on clear channels. On the other hand, pending entry of the new treaty into force, the United States took no action contrary to its provisions. The new NARBA provides for removal ofthe majority of the Cuban stations which were assigned to United States clear channels since expiration of the previous agreement and, on those few channels where it was necessary to accept Cuban assignments, it provides that such Cuban assignments must operate with directional antennas to minimize interference to United States Class I stations. 56 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The absence of an effective agreement with Mexico did not have the adYel'se effects that have accrued due to the absence of a treaty with Cuba, primarilyhec<~useof Mexican adherence generally to the engi 'neering standards for protecting United States stations set forth in previous agreements. Nevertheless, a large number of conlparatively minor conflicts occurred because of lack of mutually agreed UpOl' modern engineering standards for station assignments. The l;nited States-Mexican bilatcral agreement will, upon entry into force, estab lish a system of standards under which such disputes may he lar/!ely ayoided. Clear Channels The clear ehannel proceeding (docket 6741) is concerned with the basic question of what changes, if any, should be made in the use of the clear channel frequencies of the AlII broadcast band. These are channels on which the dominant Class I-A and Class I-B (clear channel) stations are given sufficient protection from co-channel and adjacent channel interference to enable them to render wide area nighttime- service to remote communities and rural are-ns not reaehed by other AM stations. Comments previously received discussed the relative merits Df tJle use of higher power by cleal' channel stations versuS permitting addi tional stations to operate on clear chaunels, The scope of the pro ceeding has since been narrowed to focus upon areas where desired imnrovement in service might reasonably be expected if one oran~ other alternative were selected. The latest move was further rule making in~eptember1959 which invited comments on a proposal to permit a Class II (secondary clear channel) station assignment in selected geographic ai'eas on each of 23 Class I-A frequencies (exclud ing 660 and 770 kc which aheady have two-station operation). The Class I stations would continue to use 50 kw power while the new Clas., II stations would have a minimum of 10 kw. Class II stations would also be required to install directionnl antenna for nighttime operation. PartiE'S were also permitted, if they desired, to bring the record up to date on proposals that clear channel stations be anthorize,l power in excess of the present 50 kw maximum. About 100 comments were received. Some wholeheartedly sup ported the proposal that Clas., II stations be permitted to share clear channel frequencies at night. Some agreed in principle llllt contended that the Class II station shonld be located in diJferent ,,'eographic areas than those proposed. OthBrs snggested multiple assignments of new· stations on clear cliannelR. Still others espoused higher power for clear channel stations. Evaluation of this proceedillg is being given a high priority. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL CO.IMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 57 On Septembe.r 18, 1959, the Commission adopted radiation curves to protect Class I clear channel stations from future daytime or limited-time stations authorized to operate on those channels. It in creased to 8 the number of clear channels on which limited time or daytime stations could operate, but retained its "freeze" on the other clear channels pending the ou tcome of the clear channel proceeding. Daytime Broadcast Hours Commission decisions on 2 proposals to extend the operating hours of daytime AM stations were discussed in the 1959 annual report. In the first of these (docket 12274) the Commission decided against a proposal of the Daytime Broadcasters Association to extend the oper ating time from the present sunrise-to-sunset limitation to a broadcast day beginning at 5 a.m. or local sunrise (whichever is earlier) and ending at 7 p.m. or local sunset (whichever is later). In the second proceeding (docket 12729) the Commission decided against a proposal for a more limited extension of time-from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. In both cases it determined that the loss of service through increased inter ference, both in tcrms of area and population, would far outweigh any increase in service. Five substantially identical bills (H.R. 6676, 6868, 8286, 9627 and 10275) introduced in Congress embodied the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. extension proposal. In opposing this legislation, the Commission on June 13, 1960, analyzed the nighttime skywave interference problem and noted, again, that the proposed blanket extension would seriously disrupt AM broadcast service and would therefore not be in the puhlic interest. On July 21, 1960, the Commission amended its rules to enable day time-only AM stations, for economy reasons, to sign off the air at 6 p.m. in seasons when local sunsct is later and relieved them of notify ing the CDmmission of temporary operation stoppages of short durations, hoth subjcct to meeting the minimum operating time requirements. Maximum Power for Class III Stations Class III (regional) AM stations are limited to operating powers of up to 5 kw and are intendeAl to render service primarily to a metro politan district and its contiguous rural area. The Commission is considering a proposal to increase the maximum power for Class III stations to 25 kw to give them better coverage. Single Sideband Modulation On June 15, 1960, thc Commission asked for comments (docket 135~6)on problems raised by a petition for rulemaking to permit AM stations to operate with single sideband modulation of their main carriers. Though the petitioner claims that this would giye better ·58 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION reception, with less interference, set owners would have to tune in on thesideband instead of the main carrier. INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS Two new international broadcast stations were authorized during the year, bringing the total of those licensed by the Commission to 5. On February 10, 1960, a grant was made to Globe Broadcasting Co. for a new station (KFRN) at Forney, Tex., to beam programs to Cen tral and South Ameriea. On May 18 thereafter the Rev. John M. Norris received a permit for a station (WINB) at Red Lion, Pa., to broadcast to Africa and the Middle East. The other international broadcast stations under FCC jurisdic tion are World Wide Broadcasting Co.'s WRUL, Scituate, Mass.; Far East Broadcasting Co.'s KGEI, Belmont, Calif., and Crosley Broadcasting Co.'s experimental station, KQ2XAU, Cincinnati, Ohio, which operates on an international frequency to provide a con tinuous signal used in propagation studies by the Nationa! Bureau of Standards. Other international broadcast facilities in the United States are operated by the United States Information Agency in connection with its "Voice ofAmerica" program. EXPERIMENTAL BROADCAST SERVICES These services provide the means for research and experimenta tion to develop new and improved equipment, new broadcasting tech niques, and compilation oftechnical data. Experimental TV Several liCensees were active in research looking toward the im provement of TV reception. One program involves investigation of the feasibility of employing an on-channel satellite transmitter to provide satisfactory signals to areas which do not presently receive dependable service. Another licensee is seeking the same result by use of an on-channel booster. A recently authorized experimental UHF airborne TV is noted elsewhere in this chapter. Manufacturers continue to carry on ex perimentation and development in connection with translator sta tions, TV relay apparatus, tubes, etc. Experimental Aural Although formal application for a I-year program of experimen tation is normally required, temporary authorizations may be granted for periods of up to 90 days for short-term research programs on the basis of informal application, provided the applicant holds a REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNrCATI4_________________ • _____ ._ 174 81 200 10' 298 402 I7l '73 195!L. _____ • _______ • ________ 67 58 127 137 321 '58 124 582 19/;6. ____ ._._____ • ___________ IJ(J 25 12. lB6 '10 '96 )]3 600 ttl:;'l' ___ •___ ._._.___ . _________ " 13 '29 344 17.1 51' 132 651 1958. ______ • _______ • _________ 35 21 12' '" 120 556 109 665 ~~~~~::::::::::::::::::::::! 24 22 )], 475 0' 566 101 667 22 36 108 '81 9B 579 " 653 TV TRANSLATER 1957_ •••______ • ___________••_ 74 0 48 17 24 41 33 74 195~L_____ "._________________ 88 6 34 "' 0 92 64 158 1959. ______• __ . ______ ._. _____ 96 7 27 158 0 158 87 246 19ij(L _• ____._._.____ ••_. _____ IJ(J 3 19 233 0 233 " 302 EDUCATIONAL TV 1952•• _.___.••____"._____ .••_ 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1953•• _.••_. __ 0 ••__ • _________ 17 0 29 0 , 1 16 17 1954. ______ ._.••____ ••_• ___ ._ 13 0 17 0 6 6 24 30 J951}. ____._._._____ • _______ ._ , 1 14 1 '0 11 23 34 19.';6. ____ ._.___________ •_____ 7 0 11 1 19 20 21 41 1957 __ ••_._•••_. _____ • _____._ 8 0 8 14 12 26 23 ,. 1958. __ .••••_________________ , 0 0 2. 3 32 21 53 1959. _•._._._.____ • ________ ._ 6 0 7 37 6 43 I' " lQ6(L •••___ 0_. _______ . ____ .._ 6 " 7 '0 7 47 17 64 I Was actually deleted Marella, 1957 but just taken of! books March 24,1960. Reinstatement of some deleted authorizations and other considera tions not detailed in this table account for any seeming discrepancy in the relation of grants and deletions during the year to the total year end authorizations. Stations actually operating or holding authorizations to operate are covered by the term "on the air." "CPs" indicate construction permit status. Broadcast Applications Broadcast applications received during the year totaled 12,613, or 611 more than the year previous. The following is a breakdown of broadcast applications in nonhearing status at the end of the fiscal year (for docket statistics see General chapter) : 62 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMIBS!ON On bnnd Class June 30, ,... AM New stations. ._________ 516 Majorchanges.~••••__ ._••~.•__ •• lU9 Tl'8Il8fers••_0'_~• ••• ._.__.~__ 96 :Qenewals~••_. .___ 453 Licenses.••__ ••~_•••••• • __ .___ 149 All others.••__.~__ • • ._. .___ 184 Ro· "'... ... 401 821 1,292 ... 1,128 Granted 47 11. 712 1,074 ,.. 1,027 Dl~ Dllssed, denied, " returned 7. 67 81 65 31 .. Desfg nn"'d for be&r- lng 17. m 1 " 1 1 On hand June 30, 1000 628 "" 125 537 208 ,88 AM total .____ 2,047 4.525 3,372 419 419 2,398 ===== FM New stations. _. _. ••• _ Major changes •••• ••• _ Transfers••.~••__ ••_. ._••__ :Renewals • ••••• _ Licenses. •• ._._•• _ .All others ••~••_~~~~•.~~...~._.•.~_.~.. " .. 11 62 63 .. 2112 254 159 376 254 455 183 223 124 m 231 ... 42 21 17 19 15 15 37 15 1 4 o o 85 41 29 188 71 67 ,. 8 o " 29 7 46 41 24 ., 144 87 ... o o o o o o 72 32 8 1 1 o '0 24 • 8 8 , 38 17 5 2 4 15 4 85616 73 42 5 150 8. '1 22 • 1 102 200 33 168 737 82 46 7 161 104 33 59 101 122 216 110 184 37 • o 47 " • 402 " 41 11 84 70 138 ===== FM total..._.__ •.~_..~~.~__._~_____296 1,79() 1,428 129 57 ol81 == = TV New stations.•~._~..•...__ .._~.__ ••~_.~~. MRJorchange!.~....._..••••~~~.~~.._.._.. Transfers__ ..__ . ••••~~..~~.•~_.~_•. Renewals • _. . ._ Licenses..__ .........•• .._. . .•• All others._. __.~•__ ••••.__ . __ . •••_ TV totaL._••_••••~•.•..~_...•_.•••• TV Tramlator, New stations__ • __ ._...._.•_•.••.•..._..._ Major changes_ ...__ .._. .._..__ ..._.•_ Transfers.~_••••._........•.._~••__ .._. __ . RenewaI8_~..__ _.•__ ._. __ _. __ . Licenses..~.•••.._._._••••..._~...•~•.__ ._ All others . ._ __ .• _ TV translator totaL...•_~._•••_.._ 121 433 300 47 0 liS ====-- AuxiliarJl New stations__ .•.•••••_~..__ ..... •••1~1,~1'84'84. 108'2 00 ';':: Major change!;•••.••.•......~• __~_.....<>U ""'" Transfers._.__ ._..._•.__._.~.~_..._.....•_ 23 3M 32.'i 6 0 47 Renewa.ls..._..._~_._•••.........~.__ ••_.. 548 1,565 1,422 44 S 649 Ltcenses._.~._•••_...•..._...•••~~•.•_._.. 294 1,356 1,133 75 0 442 All otbers••••.•..._..•_. __.~._._........•_ 5 117 103 3 0 16 ------------------ AuxlllBl'ytotaL~.•.•~__1,040 5,073 4,460 268 8 1,387 Total non·hearlng appllcatlons••.~..3,906 12,613 10,266'~5S6 4,823 FM and TV figures include noncommercial educational stations. Broadcast Industry Financial Data In the calendar year 1959, the radio and television industry's total revenues (which are derived from the sale of time, talent, and program materials to advertisers) were reported at $1,723.9 million. Total radio revenues increased by 7.1 percent to $560 million while TV revenues rose to $1,163.9 million, or 13 percent above 1958. Total radio and TV profits of $264.7 million were 26.5 percent above 1958. Television broadcast profits of $222.3 million were 29.3 percent REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 63 higher and radio profits of $42.4 million were 13.7 percent higher than 1958. The following tables show the comparative calendar 1958-59 finan cial data for the radio and television broadcast industries: Broadcast RevenU:s, Expenses and IncorM of Networks and Stations of Radio 1 and Television Broadcast Services, 1958-59 191\8 I 1959 IPercentIn~ (millJons) (m.lJlJons) cre8!8 or (decrease) Total broadcast revenues R8d10_._••_••~• ••_•• .___ $523.1 $660.0 7.1 Television_" •••• • ._••••0 •• ._. • _1__l-,,_O3O~.0+_-,1,_163.,-'+ 1_8.-" Industry totaL__ • .. ._•••_. . •• 1,553. 1 1,723.9 11.0 Total broadcast expenses Radio ._. •• • k85.8 $ti17.6 6.5 Television __ -_••_•••- - ••----. -- __ -_ ••~-_._--__ --__ .••·1__.:.""':.:.c':...I__--'..:...I:....':...1 --'.·.:.' Industry totaL ._._•• ._.__ • •• 1,343.9 1.459.2 8. 6 Broadcast Income (before Federal Jncome tax) 13.7 29.3 26.' $42,4 222.' 2M.7 137.3 171.9 209.' Radlo •• ._ •••• •• _ Televislon._ •• _. • •• __ • • __ ••__ 1---1--,.-1----' Industry totaL _.• •• , • • _ I Includes AM and FM broadcasting. NOlt: 1959 radio data cover the operations of 4 nationwide networks, 3,380 AM and AM-PM and 148 Independent FM stations. Excluded are 38 AM and AM-FM stations and 91ndependent FM stations whose reports were filed too late for tabulation. 1958 data are (or 4 nationwide networks, 3 regional networks, 3,197 AM and AM-FM and 93 Independent FM stations. 1959 TV data cover the operations or3 networks and 619 stations. HI58 TV data cover the operations of 3 networks and 514 stations. Nationwide NetwvrkB Only, 1958-59 [Including owned and operated stations] "1\8 Item (milllons) ,.69 (mUllons) p"""", Increase or (decrease) Total broadcast revenues••••-----.--_.-••--•• -------__ -.--.__1__$68=.':...·.:.''1---'-'0':"':"_1__---,-•.:.·.:.,' Radio__••_._•• •__ •• •__._. •__••_ M.5 60.4 (6.4) Television _•, •• _.'. ••__ • , _._•••_._1~~~'~16;.~''1~~~'~'6~1'1~=",;Il~·~' Total broadcast expenses··_· • ··_·_·_····_·__··_··_····_ I __:...60.:.·-'·_'.1 653...:...':"'1 '':''':''' Radlo , __ ._._._. • •__ •••••••_. •• • __ ••••_.____ 69.4 M.9 (6. Ii) Televlsion__ ._••__ • •_•• ••••__ • •_••' ••__ ••••_I~~::"';;;;''~I=---::488.;;;;',1~~",;11;.;;,0 Broadcast1nrome (berore Federal Income tax) • __ ._. • __1 72_._'1__---,-93_._' 1---"-" Radlo.__ •__ ,,__ • ._ ••_._ •• •__ ••_•••••_•• •• ••••__ (4.9) (4.5) •••••• Television..••_._._._._. • ._. •• ••••• 77.0 87.9 14, 2 NOTE 1: Radio data include the operations of 19 nationwide network-owned AM stationsin 1968 and 1969. NorB 2: TeJev1s.lon data. lnclude tbe operations of 19 network-owned stQ,t1ons I.n 1958 and 17 in 1959. 64 RRPORT OF THE FEDERALC()~fMUNICATIONSCmnnSSION , Investment ht Tangible Broadcast Properly of 4- .Nnlionwide Nef1I'nrkl;;, Their 19 Owned fill/I Opera-ltd Slations nnd 8,361 Other Radio I Sta(ion:c:, Ji)/j9 , ---- Hem 4Jlationv.ide notworks . "__ 19 network owned and operated st"tions _ 3,361 other~tatiolls.___ __ _ _~•._~__ . . __ TotaL.__ InY<'stment in tangihlo lJroadm.st proptJrh' ,----~~. : {)riginal i Depreciawd , cost I ('()st ; (thousands)(t.hOIlS~li\(is) -,-~.__• I__- -_~__ ___I -$8,2(111 53,:)34 ___ 8,\),:1It.~:n ___ 356,092 I H13,184 ___!--m3'58j-'--~;o;;,751 ----- Camparalwe Financial Data of 4- Nationwide A,:1f RadioNetWf)rk.~anA 8,.'1S0 Stations., 1958-/59 [In thousands] ---------,------;-----,-------;------- lteJn 4 nation_ wide networks I9o\\-'11ed and cperal.\!d statioQS 3,361 sttltiuns Amonnt i 195\1 j total 4 j PercN"lt of n3tionwid(' incrN1H' or networks(dC('rc~"e) and 3,380 stations -----------1----------------- llevenues {rom the suia or time: Network time suIes: Sale 01 network time to udvcrtisers_ $32, 659 _-_--_-_-_--__-_~I----+--c.:.--.. _ Total network time sales. 32,659 Deductions from network's revenue1~~;;;~~1~~~,;;4~~,;;~;1;;:;,;;~;:;1;;,;;~;;;;; from sale of time to advertiser: Paid to owned and operated sta_ tions. _., , . iOO Paid to affiliated stations__________ 5,124 < • __ • _ I~--I----I---I-------- Total participation by otbers (excluding commissions) in revenue froln sale of network timc .. ",920 $8,098 $3,\,633 (23.4) 165,108 188,143 9.' 348,587 :159,138 11.1 .5l3, 695 547,281 10.5 521,793 582,914 7.6 -==-'-= = == Total ret.entions from sH.le or net. work Hme -------<---------~~2;6;,;i3;9=1=~~=$;;;9;61==~~;;;I=~~;;;;""1,=~~;;;,;; Son-netll-'"Ork time &'llcs: :'\ational and rogiOntl] ad'irrtisers.. 23,035 I..-oCl\1 advertisers. ._ 10, Ml Total mm.natwork timcsaJes__ ._ -------;n=-C"",'CC, 1-==-==1,-- 1'otal time sales. • _ 26,739 34,382 Deduct-Commissioru; to lIgendes,I==='~=I==~·~~ represoutath·es,etc__ .-______________ 4,897 6,665 51.303 62,865 --c::cccl---::::-:c-::--I-cc-c::::+-=-:-= ---- 21,842 27,717 47(),400 520,049 7.9 ,=~~"=~=·~,;.;;;...:o';"I~~~I=~~ G.709 2,045 13.525 1,477 6'Jl 1l,326 8,186 2,646 24,851 30,028 30,363 495,341 39,931 I 21,952 446,860 (9,903) 5,411 48,481 ,0)11,743 43, \J80 6.0 15.8 NOTE; Data for 1{l.iR ,,180 (CltiOIlS operated by non-A.\llicensees Industry to13l .. ._ .... FM "ROADe""T I"ICOME (before Fcderall.tlcome tax) F:\1 stll.tiOIlS operated by lIoIl-A;\[ !ict,nsces Industry totaL _ , . -----,---- .._~---;--'-._--~---- IXU~~J('l·.OI!Al!!Gtl/lt i-,".um1x>r.of! AmOlUlt I stdtJons i (nlllhoIlS)st"tlOll~(millions) --1------1-- ---.--'--- I I ! I ! Ii! -I~j~!------$i~5-1~~~;--_ .. $U -I~a!_~!_.i.__ "_:"o, -.!._a_ _!~~"_';'~1~=~~~1~_="''-'~57_ . . I ---!--~I----'-~:?_:_--~~---~ -+-~--~--(,)!-~-~~~-~---(') ~..~~I~~~~~:i~=i';7)--I·.~~~~~~,=(:c~: 1 In view of the dUllculty ill a joint. ,\ ....1-}>·:\1 op..>nition in allocating F:\1 Olwr'ltion t'XPt'llSI'sl'p,)ratl'l~' fromAl\;{ statio.n O]WrutiOll <'\!J,>nsl', lic-':-llSl'('s of sneil st;ltiolls lnoH' not n''1uir'_'d to(J mportF.\{,station ex pense scpararol:r..\8 a n'sult, FlU iOllus!ry totals fJI' ""pl'IISt' and illCOIll(i an' not avulluhle. --\.:\[-1"1\1 lIceIlSe<'S, bowE!ver,were requested to report scparatdy the n'\"l'IlUeS, if any, lltlrlbutaiJle to F.\1 station operatiop. ( ) Denotes loss. investment in Tangible Brow/cf/ls[ ProjH';ty of TelevisionA'('(work~·(fl/A Statiuns, 1959 Item Thrt'c networks and their oWlied and operated st:ltitms l're·freete 8tatlol1.'1 •••. _ Totul pre-freezc__ Post-freeze stations: VllF _ UHF•••••_ Tote.l posL·fl'eez(' stutiOIIS... __ I i ! Investment in tangible . !hroull{'I~~tproperty I :\umller of i___ _ . st'ltiollS : 1 !Ori~illalDl'pn'ci- i enst I !\tcd eost ~'I(tJIO~'>:wIIS)!(thOlJS~~:) lIn $140,101 $80,211\ \J3 155,Ol:H 70,71G -----~1~81---295~~;1150,932 -= -_ O=-=-_C-=.-.7_1 '---==--c ..c 334 I 233,;\to r 1;1.5,31:t __l.~,::l4.I>!H i 17,782 411 !~_~~~;~~~L_.~~,095 WI --5f.a~186l--304,027 I Includes 1 post-fr>,eze VHF ;:tatioll oWlled and opNuted by a nl'twork. Ex(']udes (lata for 2 network owned and op{'rutl'd I' H F stiitiOIlS tlmt \H'rl' sold prior to 1)1'('. 31, l\1.W. 66 REPORT OF THE FEDE,RAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TV Broadcast Revenues, ExpenBes and Income, 1959 [In millions] Item 17 network owned and 3 networks operated TV sta. tions l 502 other TV sta4 tiOI18 Total 3 networks and 519 TVsta tlons. $443.3 "3,3 $:lO. , 1$127.5 $445.8 "'.6 331.6 424.2 27,3 173.3 200.6 119.9 504. , 624.• 150.4 632.4 1,070.6 21.9 91.6 180.2 128. :; 54ll, • ....4 4,4 10.9 197.0 ,., .U 76.5 9" 47.0 2'" 137.6 587.8 1,163.9 81. 7 453.4 941.6 55,9 134.4 222.3 Total timeSales~44444~~4~_4._._.__~__4_··I~~~m;;;,;.•+~~;;;,;~I"~~;;;,;~I"~~;;OO;,; Deduct-CommlsstoI18 to agencies, representatives, etc 4_.4_4.44_.4 __ • •~._~_•• 66.7 I--,,--I---c:--I---I--,--, Net time sales ••4.4~4~_._.__ •__~_~44•• 4_4_ 221.1 Revenues from incidental broadcast activities:1~~~~~I~~~~=I"~~~~ol=~~~= Talent .______________________ 181. 7 Sundry broadcast revenues I __-:-· c '_'':-1 -,+__:-:-:-+__=::- Total incidental broadcast a.et1Vit1es•• _._4I~~=2~1~'.~'+~~~"""I~~~~ol=~C""~":: Total broadcast revenues.4.~--_~.~_.~~.44._ -.-1__-='3&:::,-:'+__-=-= 1__:-:'::--'-1---":::-,= ~~d=r~::a~x~~';iFederni~-eOm-e~x)~:::::=:::4OJ:~ Deductions from network's revenue from sale of time to sdvertisers~_ Paid to owned and operated statlOD8_ 30.5 . . _ Paid to atlUllIted stations•••~• .__ 125.0 • _ Total participation by others (excluding com- mi.ssions) in revenue from sale of network time. ----------- -. _. ---------------------_-1=~00'55~,'~I;-oo--;;-00--;;-;,--;;--;;-,r;-;;--;;-oo--;;-;;--;;-;;--1;-;;--;;-00--;;-;;--;;-;,;-- Total retentions from sale of network time. 287.8 Non-network time sales:I~~~;;;;;I=~;;:;;;;+~~;;;;;';;+=~;;;;;;; National and regional advertisers •• _ Local advertisers. 4 4 4 _ Total non-notw"k tim. "'",, I-__- -__-__- I---:cc:-:-I---=c-:-I--=c-: 1Includes data Cor 2 network owned and operated UHF statioI18 that were sold prior to Dec. 31, 1969. t Total retentloI18 from sale of network time 01 $127.5 milllon by 502 other TV statiOI18 includes revenues received Irom miscellaneous TV networks in addition to receipts lrom the 3 national TV networks. Safety and Special Radio Services GENERAL Because they include practically all types of radio stations except those used for broadcast and common carrier operations, the Safety and Special Radio Services constitute by far the largest group of radio users. Also, because of the varied interests represented, this group includes the fastest growing classes of radio operation. The more than 40 categories of services embrace radio utilization by ships and aircraft; by police, ·fire and other public safety bodies; by local governments and forestry and other conservation authori ties; by business tothe inclusion of manufacturers and distributors; by railroads, passenger buses, taxicabs and trucks; and by individuals such as amateurs and citizens who employ radio for a wide variety of private purposes. The total number of stations in these services rose to nearly 652,000 during the year, which was 145,000 more than in 1959. This is al most 60 times the figure for all broadcast authorizations to the inclu sion of auxiliaries. However, this is not a complete indication of the magnitude of these nonbroadcast operations, since one safety and special services license can cover many transmitters. A better yard stick is the fact that the close of 1960 saw more than 2,184,000 fixed, portable and mobile transmitters in such operation, as compared with about 1.7 million for theyearprevious. • LEGAL AND REGULATORY PROBLEMS Microwave Inquiry The Commission in July 1959 concluded its inquiry involving the allocation of frequencies in the so-called microwave portion of the radio spectrum (above 890 Me) and adopted policies which would liberalize the basis for authorizing private point-to-point communica tion systems (docket 11866). Under those policies, practically all private and public users of radio may receive grants regardless of the availability of common carrier communication services. The Commission was, however, requested to reconsider that deci sion, mainly by the common carriers. The latter claimed, among other things, that such a policy would have adverse economic effect 67 68 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION upon the common carrier industry and the general public. They also contended that the Commission did not provide microwave frequencies for non-Government space cOllllllunicution needs. To*ard the end of· the fiscal year, the Commission reopened the record in tllis proceeding for the limited purpose of receiving cur rent information as to the micro,vave needs for space communication. Simultaneously, the Commission initiated a separate inquiry (docket 13122) as to the longer range frequency needs for space communi ·cati()n to assist the Commission in preparing the United States pcsition for future international conferences On the subject. With the issuance of its decision in docket 11866 on July 29, 1959, the Commission instituted rulemaking looking toward int"rim tech nical standards to govern the grant of applications for private micro wave systems until rules and standards are adopted for the use of microwave frequencies on a regular basis in the safety and special radio services. Shortly after the close of the fiscal year, the Com mission specified standards, effective January 1, 1961. These stand ards will not be a.pplicable to existing equipment or systems, or equipment and systems in applications filed prior to that date. Ex isting private microwave systems can continue to operate subject to their remedying any interference they may cause. All applicants filing after January 1, 1961, will be required to comply with the adopted standards. Applications Involving Bell Contracts The Commission is continuing to police those u,pects of the consent decree which prohibit AT&T and its subsidiaries from leasing and maintaining equipment for private radio communication systems. No applications to operate radio stations with equipment obtained from telephone companies under contracts executed after "'larch 9, 1956 are granted, and licenses tn operate stations for which equipment was rented prior to that date are renewed until .January 24, 1961. No license for such stations will be granted after that date. AT&T has reported that it intends to discontinue its radio equip ment lease maintenance activities as of the 1961 date. Indications are that many radio licensees are either purchasing the leased equip ment or are making lease arflUlgements with others. One unresolved problem involves interpretation of the restrictions imposed on the Bell telephone companies by section V of the consent decree when a jurisdiction declares these lease.maintenance activities to be a common carrier service subject to public regulation. The California Public Utilities Commission has done so in the case of The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 69 MARINE RADIO SERVICES Safety at Sea Safety of Life at Sea Oonference, 1960.-A.n international confer ence was held in London from May 16 to June 17, 1960 for revision 0.£ the 1948 safety convention. FCC Commissioner Robert T. Bartley was United States spokesman on the Radio Conunittee which was responsible for revising radio requirements contained· primarily in chapter IV of the safety convention. The new convention extends application of compulsory radio in stallation requirements to cargo ships of tonnages as low as 300 (now 500) gross tons. In addition, the new convention will raise the inter national standards applying to radio installations, operators, listening watches and auto-alarms required for safety purposes. It will come into force 12 months after at least 15 countries, 7 of which have not less than 1 million gross tons of shipping, have accepted it. Some of the important changes with regard to radio installations and listening watches are: The minimum daily listening watch requirement tor a cargo ship of more than 1600 gross tons was established at 8 hours per day. (Two hours per day is permitted in the case of a vessel between 1600 and 5500 gross tons by the 1948 convention.) A continuous radiotelephone listen· iug watch was established for ships required to carry radiotelephone installations. (The 1048 convention specifies no minimum hours of r:ldiotelevhone listening.) Hadiotelegraph auto-alarms instnlled after the 1960 convention comes into force and all radiotelegraph auto-alarms in use 4 years thereafter are retluired to comply with specified convention standards. Under the 1948 convention only newly approved types of auto-alarms are required to meet these standards and, as a consequence, very few vessels are equipped with improved modern types of auto-alarms. The 1960 con ycntion will correct this situation and improve the reliability of anto alarms on ships to alert operators to receive distress call1';. Vessels required to be el]uipped with radiotelephone installations must have an automatic device meeting, specified standards for sending the radiotelephone alarm signal. The requirement is subject to a delay dause allowing 3 years from the date of coming in force of the eonven tio.n to install the devices. The radiotelephone alarm signal was inter nationally estnblished by the 1959 International Radio Conference. The signal precedes transmission of a radiotelephone distress call and message. Prop08ed 8afety at sea legislation.-A bill (S. 3496), introduced May 5, 1960, would amend section 362 (b) of the Communications Act which now provides that radio equipment and apparatus required to be installed on board vessels subject to title III, part II of the act be inspected at least once a year. The bill would make this require ment more flexible by allowing the time lapse between inspections to M{j:il:1 -1;0---(; 70 RP;PORT OF THm FmDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION be extended by the Commission in certain circumstances. The Com mission, in its comments, did not object to the element of flexibility but suggested that the bill define more clearly the conditions under which the time lapse between inspections could be extended. Ewemptiom f'f'{J'TTl, cumpulsary radio requirement8.-The Commis sion is authorized to grant exemption from compulsory ship radio requirements. Exemption applications handled during fiscaJ. 1960 were: Pending Received trom durillj: Granted DeniodD~. flscW. fiscal """'" '''''' 1960 --- From compulsory radio telegraph requirements___ • __ ,, 51 ,,, • • From compulsory radio telephone reqmrements _____ '35 " " 2S 26 I Not Included in this taNe are 15 temporary radiotelegraph exemptions granted. J Of these. 31 were granted on condition that sp{d6ed radiotellmhonc requirements are met. I Not inCl:lded In tbis table are 23 temporary radiotelephone exemptions granted. Di8tre88 8tudie8.-The Commission conducts a continuing study of distress communications as a basis for modification of its rules to promote safety of life and property. Dnring the fiscal year, the radio telegraph distress signal was used on behalf of 188 vessels and air craft. These calls for help were intercepted by 714 ships and coast stations, also by Coast Guard ships and shore stations. There also were reports of 95 radiotelegraph auto-alarms being actuated to alert off-duty radio operators. The Commission does not require reports of distress calls from vessels equipped with radio telephony only. The few reports received are the result of speciaJ. disaster inspections made by FCC field engineers. There were 19 such reports of radiotelephone distress calls, with reports of radio telegraph relay of radiotelephone distress calls in 35 additionaJ. cases. In many of the United States radiotelephone distress cases, a need for improvement in operating procedures was indicated in that the distress call was transmitted on intership working freqnencies, not the prescribed distress frequency. Very few cases were reported of maJ.functioning of radio equipment under distress Conditions. However, several boats sank so rapidly there was no time to use the radio equipment. Interference to distress calls at the local scene does not appear to be a problem; however, there is considerable background noise from long distance skywave signals at night on both the radiotelegraph and the radiotelephone frequencies. Distress communication generally func tioned well and no modification of the Commission's rules or inter national regulations is indicated. REPORT OF THE FEDER.\.L COMMUNlC.\.TIONS COMMISSION 71 Technical Developments and Studies Rudio Technical OO'J1/llT/ksion for Marine Serviae8.-During the fiscal year, 4 special committees of the Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services were established and are presently working on reports dealing with modernization of shipboard radio antennae; present and future communications requirements for voluntarily equipped noncommercial vessels; introduction of radiotelephone alarm signal usage in the United States; and study of the use of 9300--9500 Me radar band. Single 8ideba1Ul.-Additional ship and coast stations have been au thorized to test single sideband radiotelephone transmitters. Recom mendations by the Geneva 1959 conference and continued domestic interest indicate the desirability of establishing rules for use of single sideband on a regular basis. Marine Radio Communication Systems Propo8ed rule ehanges.-A pending Commission proposal would make the frequency 2003 kc available, until January 1, 1961, to ship stations for communication with Government coast stations concern ing the passage of vessels on the St. Lawrence Seaway and St. Mary's River. The frequency 156.6 Mc would become available for com munication with Government coast stations concerning passage of vessels through controlled waterways. The frequency 156.7 Mc is proposed for communication with Government coast stations for passage of vessels through controlled locks and waterways. The pro posed usage would be in addition to present uses of the frequencies. Under the Commission's present rules, ship radiotelephone sta tions must initially call other ships on the calling frequency 2182 kc. A pending Commission proposal would allow initial calling on intership working frequencies under certain circumstances. The same rulemalring would amend the rules to reduce the maximum duration of a communication from 5 minutes to 3 minutes and would increase the time interval from 5 minutes to 10 minutes before the channel may be used again for communication between the same 2 stations. The proposal would also simplify ship radiotelephone log-keeping require ments. Other rulemaking would make the frequency pair 2466 kc (coast) 2382 kc (ship) available for public ship-shore use in the Los Angeles San Diego area on a 24-hour basis. Implementation of this fre quency pair had not been initiated prior to this time because the use of the frequency 2466 kc by police has only now been discontinued. Geneva eonferenee maritime requirements.-To implement provi sions of the new radio regulations applicable to marine stations, the Commission must, prior to May 1, 1961, revise its rules and regula- 72 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIOXS COMMISSiON tions concerning, among other matters: establishment of an interna tional maritime mobile VHF service nsing FM emission;standardiz~ radio frequencies and operating procedures; radiotelephone calling and single sideband frequencies in the 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 22 Mc bands; and more detailed procedures for radiotelephone cOIlUnunication to ~includean international radiotelephone alarm signal which was pro vided for in the C01lllllission's rules on a domestic basis prior to thc conferellce. VHF radioteleplwny for navigational com.m.1tnwati,on.-Since August of 1959, 36 ship radio stations have been licensed, on a de velopmental basis, for "bridge-to-bridge" communication on United States ocean-going vessels to provide navigating officers a direct com munication system. for safety at sea. Among the licensees engaged in this project are Atlantic Refining Co., Sun Oil Co., Keystone Tank ship Corp., Cities Service Oil Co., RCA Communications, Inc., and the Pilots Association of the Bay and River Delaware, the last named holding licenses for 100 units. Oo(tst statitm•.-As of June 30, 1960, thenumb~rof public coa,t and limited coast stations (other than those in Alaska) providing com munication service to ship telephone and telegraph stations was as follows: Frequency b:md andran~cPublic 57 4() , 28 LImited • '78 " 1 A new public coast station was established during the year to pro vide service for the Delcambre, Lao, area. Shore radwlocation-training statwn (developmental).-The New York State Maritime College is licensed to operate shore-radar on a developmental basis to train students in the theory and operation of radar. Since inauguration of the program, 376 persons have received training. The graduates sail in the United States Merchant Marine and Navy as deck officers. All marine science majors must complete the radar course to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. Badw corfl/fwunwatwn in Alaska.-The demand for radio com munication within Alaska increases each year. The influx of oil ex ploration and producing companies and industrial organizations has added to the congestion on the frequencies. Alaska communities de pend largely on radio for safety and business purposes because land line telephones are usually not available. Because of the scarcity of frCfl'tencics between 2 and 8 Mc, their expa.nsion has not been possible. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 73 TIle Alaska Commllllication System (ACS) operates the main trunk lines in that State which connect all communication facilities therein with the rest· of the United States and other parts of the world. When Alaska acquired statehood some facilities previously Federally operated came under FCC jurisdiction. Proposed sale of the ACS, if it materializes, will present frequency problems by converting frequencies from GOYefmnent to non-Government use. AVIATION SERVICES General The Commission exercises administrative control over those portions of the radio spectrum which have been allocated for non-Government use in aviation radio communication, aeronautical radio navigation, and to satisfy other safety and operational communications require ments of the aviation industry. After makiug the necessary frequency hands available, the Commission prescribes the manner in which they shall be used; develops methods for better frequency utilization; prepares for, attends and follows up on international and domestic aeronautical and radio telecommunications conferences; re"Views and tevises its rules governing the use of radi" for civil aviation; and processes~lllapplications covering non-Government radio facilities. The Aviation Services include both aircraft and ground stations. By classes these are: air carrier aircraft, private aircraft, aeronautical enroute, aeronautical fixed, operational fixed, aeronautical advisory, aeronautical utility mobile, airdrome control, flight test, flying school, radio navigation, aeronautical public service aircraft, aeronautical search and rescue mobile, and civil air patrol. Their total number now exceeds 91,000. Aviation' Organizations and Confer.ences In administering the non-Government aviation services, coordina tion was maintaincd by the Commission throughout the year with such technical and policy making groups as the Radio Technical Com mission for Aeronautics (RTCA), the Air Coordinating Committee (ACC) and, internationally, through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). A brief description of these organizations and the work accomplished in each is as follows: Air Oorrrdinating Oommittee is responsible to the President for coordinating Federal policy in the field of aviation. Aviation prob le,ms affecting more than one agency are examined and the recom mended actions are developed. Many of the problems considered relate to aeronautic,,1 telecommunications and therefore are of vital concern to the Commission. The Commission participates as a full member of 74 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIO,N ACC and is represented on subordinate components. During the year the Airspace Panel made recommendations to the Commission on the aeronautical aspects of 1,043 proposed antenna tower installations. Another consideration was the development of policy relative to the proposed use of automatic beacons to be carried by aircraft as an aid to search and rescue operations. (An Executive Order terminated the ACC as of October 10, 1960, with the supplanting mechanism to be determined.) Radio Teclunwal Oommi8sion 1M Aer<>noJUtic8 is a nonprofit co operative association comprised of Government and industry organ izations concerned with aeronautical telecommunications matters. Its membership is composed of more than 100 agencies and organiza tions. Although the findings of RTCA are submitted to responsible agencies in the form of recommendations, they are frequently used by regulatory bodies as the basis for proposing regulatory measures which affect the entire aviation industry. The Commission is repre sented on the RTCA executive committee and on many of its special committees. During the year special committees dealt with the fol lowing subjects: minimum performance standards for both airborne radio communication receiving and transmitting equipment operating within the radio frequency range 117.975-136.000 Mc; frequency re quirements and utilization for common system air traffic control in the frequency band 108-136 Mc; investigation of interference to aircraft electronic equipment by devices carried aboard aircraft; and development of revised environmental test procedures for airborne electronic equipment. Internatilmal Oivil Aviation OrlJanization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its task is to formulate standards and recom mend practices relative to international aviation matters, one of which is the use of radio. FCC representatives participated in the work of groups which furnished guidance to the Department of State in the preparation of United States positions for ICAO meetings. Current and Future Problems During the year, a major reallocation of aviation frequencies resulted in 5 Mc of radio spectrum being relinquished by non-Govern ment and military users for Government air traffic control. In con sequence, about 800 non-Government ground stations are being re assigned frequencies and relicensed. The change has required close coordination with licensees and the Federal Aviation Agency nation ally, as well as the Canadian Department of Transport, internation ally, in order to avoid interference in congested areas along the ·border. One problem becoming imminent is based on the announced require- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 75 ments of the FAA that the frequenci"" currently available for opera tion of the air route structure will soon become saturated and that by 1963 there will be a definite shortage of avaihtble radio channels. This indicates that extensive effort will be needed to fuIfiIl the de mands for additional air traffic communication capabilities. The solution to this problem may involve more extensive frequency shar ing or the reallocation of frequencies currently in use by other services, or both. Rule Amendment. A major project in this area was the reallocation of the spectrum space in the band 108-132 Mc. This reallocation provided additional frequencies for air traffic facilities believed necessary for flight safety. It required the redeployment of more than 800 aeronautical en route stations. Beginning July 1, 1960, the frequencies in the band 126.825 128.825 Mc, which had been exclusively available for aeronautical en route operations, became available for air traffic control as they are vacated by aeronautical en route communications. After September 1960, this entire band of frequencies will be exclusively air traffic control. The frequencies between 132.05 and 134.95 Mc inclusive became available exclusively for air traffic control after July 1, 1960, with the exception of the single frequency 133.20 Mc which is available to aircraft for communication with Air Force radar facilities for the purpose of obtaining weather advisory service. Another significant rule change was implementation of a recent amendment to the Communications Act whereby certain qualified alien pilots may obtain aircraft radio station licenses (see also Legislation) . PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SERVICES General The public safety services furnish radio communication in emer gencies endangering life or property and assist in discharging other functions benefiting the public. They contribute to police, fire, for estry·conservation, highway maintenance, special emergency, State Guard, and local government operations. Radio authorizations for these purposes now total nearly 33,000 representing the use of almost 372,000 transmitters. Development. and Rule Change. It was hoped in 1958 that the Commission's channel-splitting proce dures would help to relieve spectrum congestion in these services. However, the ever.increasing demand of new as well as existing licensees has again created a frequency shortage, particularly in con gested areas. The situation should improve by 2 steps-(1) after 76 REPORT OF T13:E FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION August 1,1960, when wide-band licensees must reduce their frequency deviation, and (2) after November 1, 1963, when all licensees will have til comply fully with narrow-band technical standards. In light of the limited number of frequencies available, there have bOOn numerous requests to make additional split channels available to the public safety services. In response to these petitions, the Com mission proposed the specific assignment of 75 additional split chan-' nels in the 42-50 and 152-162 :Mc bands to such users. It also con templates "splitting" still other frequencies for assignment to the local goverlllUent service. . An initial action by the Commission on July 20, 1960, concerning assignment of split channels to the safety and special serviccs (docket 13273) made additional frequencies available to the police and fire services. Later 5 frequencies were made available to hospitals and ambulances on an exclusive basis. Several amendments to part 10 were made during the year. One provided that highway maintenance and forestry-conservation stations Dould b,e authorized for continued operation in the 46.6--47 Mc band until December 31, 1960. The frequencies therein were reallocated to the Government 3 years ago. Another amendment relaxed the conditions under which mobile relay stations might be authorized. As a corollary, control stations were permitted to operate on the frequency of the associated mobile station. These changes were made to addnp~edrange. The definition of a repeater station was modi fied to spell out more clearly that it could be used to attain expanded base to mobile communication. To facilitate identification procedures in large public safety systems, mobile units were given the option of using unit identifiers in lieu of call letters. The Commission is developing procedures whereby frequency co ordination for split-channel frequencies can be simplified. The pres ent requirement that each individual applicant must carry out its own frequeney coordination has proved burdensome and, in some cases, has limited split-channel utilization. It is hoped that in the near future frequency coordination committees will be able to aid applicants to comply with the frequency coordination rC'lnirements. Growth The older safety and special services have continued to /(row at a fairly steady rate. The rate of increase in the number of stations ranged from 270 percent in the new local government service to less than 1 pereent in the older forestry-conservation serviee. Although the average increase in the number of authorized stations in all these services1va.~over 11 percent, the number of applications received dur in/( the year was nearly 33 percent /(teater than in 1959. This appar ent diserepaney is due partially to the faet that many existing stations IlEPOIlT OF THE FEDEIlAL COMMUNICNrIONS COMMISSION 77 underwent modiflcations during the year. These modifications COIl sisted largely of changes in frequency brought about by the channel splitting rules. Many systems moved from the 30 or 40 Mc bands to the 150 Mc band. Conducive to such moves is the provision of matching Federal funds to governmental entities for acquiring new narrOW-bllJld equip ment to replace obsolete gear. In the local government service, the problem of selecting a suitable split channel often resulted in the filing of several applications before a grant could be made. Some relief from the split-channel frequency selection problem may be expected as the older systems reduce deviation and acquire new equipment. Police Radio Service Licenses in this service are issued only to States, possessions, and other governmental subdivisions including counties, cities, and towns. Such stations may be used only to transmit colnmunication essential to official police activities, except that until October 31, 1963, they may also handle messages needed for official fire activities of It licensee. This restriction on the scope of permissible communications, along with the creation of the local government service, has resulted in a more efficient police radio usage. The Commission adopted a rule which exempts until November 1, 1963, police licensees from having to operate narrow-band equipment while on the 2 frequencies especially allocated for intercommunica tion with neighboring police systems. This should aid an orderly transition to narrow-band equipment without immediate financial bur den and without impairment of efficiency in the meantime. Fire Radio Service Eligibility in this group is limited to the same public entities, except that volunteer fire departments may obtain a license by demonstrating a specific public responsibility for fire protection. As the Commission anticipated, this service has begun to show a rise in the number of licensees. This is due to the Commission's requirement that after November 1, 1963, fire departments will no longer be able to operate as part of police radio systems. To meet this increase, the Commis sion has proposed that additional frequencies be assigned to this service, 2 of them to be designated for intersystem use. Fire departments, forewarned that they can no longer be served by police systems after 1963, wiJI either become part of a local govern ment system or will obtain their own authorizations; hence, the Com mission anticipates a decided growth in the number of licensees in this service. The Conunission also expects that certain frequencies will be provided for intersystem use to enable neighboring fire depart ments to coordinate t.heiraptivities~similar to the practice in the police service. 78 !!EPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION " Forestry~ConservationRadio Service This service provides radio communication to help combat forest fires and implemeut conservation projects such as water control, soil conservation, animal preservation, and conservation of other natural resources. Besides governmental entities, authorizations are issued to persons or organizations charged with specific forestry-conservation activities. Forest fire protection is usually accomplished by establishing a net work of radio-equipped fire towers. When the location of a fire is reported by a tower observer, fire fighters and equipment are dis patched by aircraft, automobile, trailers and bulldozers to the scene. The men and equipment transported by aircraft are dropped on loca tion to fight the blaze. In the event further aid is needed, portable radio sets are used at the scene. The unique flexibility inherent in radio communication has enabled many cooperative arrangements to be made between adjoining States. It is not uncommon for those with a common forest area to jointly patrol and protect the timber. For example, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have expanded their radio facilities to enable each State to interchange fire fighting equipment as needed and to change the operating frequencies of the radio equipment accordingly. Highway Maintenance Radio Service Stations in this service are also limited to governmental entities. Communications are restricted to transmissions essential to the official highway activities of the licensee. While this service was formerly used almost exclusively by States, there has been an increase in the number of counties and cities which have established radio systems to assist the maintenance and development of their roads. Special Emergency Radio Service This service provides emergency radio facilities for a number of user groups, including physicians, veterinarians and schools of medi cine; ambulance operators; rescue organizations; beach lifesaving patrols; school bus operators; persons in isolated areas where public communication facilities are not available; communication common 1 10,700 221,362 10,000 431, 000 210,2r,s 404 10,700 221, 362 441,000 Aviation services: Aeronautical and~'ixcd(jrollp Aircraft Group. _. _ Aviation Auxi113ry OroU!L . _ Aviatioll Radiona\"!!!litiofl Lmlil_ Civil Air PatroL. __ 6,276 ----------- 1i,267 117,210 117,210 " 1, 966 2,012 478 478 6,702 11,576 18,278 TotaL _ Industrial services; Business . . Forest Products_ Industrial Radiolocatioll __ 1\<1anu(acillrers Motion Plctnre. __ }'etroleum _ Power. ._. Relay Press..._._ Soccia! Industrial _. ._' 'telephone Maintenance Total. _ Land Transportation S('rvices; Automobile Emerj!ellcy _ Interurban Passenger________ _ _ Interurhan Property . __ TH;'!:hwayTruck___ _ _ Railroad__ __ _ _ T:nteah_ _ . _ Urhan Passeol':er_ Frban PrO[>erty_ 'rotal _ 11arine rorvlces: Alaskan Group_ Coastal Group _ Marine Auxlllary _ Marine RadiolocatioJl T,and _ Ship Group _ TotaL__ 13,502 12,28'<~ 1,876 147 357 55 20,876 iD,439 123 20,522 112 flu, 795 1,112 34 1,862 11,913 2,,'>38 1>1, 643 55 3,878 130,752 144,254 136,870 149,158 16,884 18,7f,() 471 ,W 6,7f,() 7,117 .S3 738 56,443 77,319 138,68,) 149,124 1,823 I,M!) 210,711 231,233 4,Of~)4,177 573,305 6W,190 9,509 10,621 '22 45<\ 31, 457 33,3ll) --------_.- 97,874 101, 145 98,287 103,63.'5 2,983 3,081 6,403 6,591 246,935 258,848 ----------- 2,r~1'l 642 'W 55 103,000 103,000 103,007 106,885 Puhl!~SMety services: } lre_ __ _ ._. _ Forestry Conservutioll _ lli~hway\laintenance.. _ LocaIOo\-ernment ._ Police_ __ Special Emergency _ State Guard . _ TotaL _ Orand Total 5,340 7, 3M 3,173 6, %3 12,Ia.S 3,830 197 39,047 3tiu, 497 66,411 31,00,'; 33,721 16,495 171,773 12,610 265 332,940 1,818,029 71,751 39,0.';[ 36,894 23,4.78 183,911 16,440 462 371,987 2,184,526 Applications in, Safety and Special Radio Services During fiscal 1960, more than 350,000 applications for stations in the Safety and Special Radio Services were received, which was an increase of 100,057 from the corresponding figure in 1959, A com parison of the number of applications received in each service during the past 2 years follows: REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 91 Applications in Safety and Special Radio Services Total_ Class of station Citizens R('ceived Re('f1vfd Increase or 1959 1960 (decrease) 102,942 105,498 2,556 49 I' (30) 2,277 1,615 (662) 105,268 107,132 1,864 25.346 I06,53O 81,184 === 2,236 2.983 747 30,527 29,462 0, OM) 219 237 18 175 184 , 4.770 3,720 (1,050) ------ 3i,927 36,586 (1,341) ==-..= 10,26\ 15.118 4,867 859 931 n 221 :127 6 367 474 107 22 18 (4) 3.909 4,567 658 5,2ii8 5,266 8 74 n (2) S,RiS 10.143 1,265 61 171 no 29,910 36,9R7 1,017 =--===== -l33 487- 54 I7 26 , 832 1,2.50 418 III m 61 1.4{d 1.740 m 3.201 2,846 (355) 33 78 45 204 107 (97) ------ 6.2i9 6,706 427 ==-----== "" 4O:l 38 432 m (203) ::10 108 78 20 .';2 32 29,75::1 36,08i 6,334 30.599 36,878 6,279 ==------== 2,157 3,323 1,166 2.045 2,215 170 2,132 2,440 308 1, \59 2,177 1,01S 5, i80 7,693 1,913 1,5H\ 1,50i (9) 2 3 1 14,791 19,358 4,567 250,120 350,177 100,057 --I Grand TotaL TotaL __ Land Transport'ltion services: Automohile- Emer.!:"ency _ Interurban Passengl'r _ Interurban Property _ Highway Trnck R9!lromL _ Taxicab__ _" _ lJrbanPassen~er_ rrhan Property _ 'rota1. _ Aviation SHVlces: Aeronautical and Fixed Group Aircraft Group _ Aviation Au:dliary GrouP. _ Aviutian Radion3vigation Land Civil Air PatroL Industrial Sl'fvkes: Busin('~s.. ._ Forest Prollucts. _. . _ Industrial Radioloclltioll.___ _ ._ .MlInuf:wturer~,-__ 1'lotion Picture____~.________ _ Petroleum,._____________ _ _ Power . . _ Re-Iay Press. • __ . _ SpedaIIndustrhll. , _ TelC'phone Maln\(,nance TotaL _ Amat.. Uf and disaster services: Amateur . ._ Disaster . __ R.A.C. E.S. _ Public Safely Serylces: Fire . _ ForestryCOllserv,~tion__ Illghway::\laintenanee_ Loeal Government._ PoUee _ Special Emergency_ Stllte Guard _ :Marine services: Alaskan Group__ _ _ Coastal Group _ Marine Auxi1i:>ry Group.. _ :!\larine Hadiolocalion Land Ship Group _ TotaL _ Common Carrier Services DOMESTIC TELEPHONE Highlights The past year witnessed a continued high rate of expansion for most segments of the telephone industry. Over $8 billion was spent by the public, industry and Government on services furnished by the tele phone industry. The Bell System in calendar 1959 passed the $1.1 billion mark in net income applicable to American Telephone and Telegraph stock, and General Telephone had net earnings of more than $71 million. A $50 million annual reduction in interstate long-distance rates became effective in September 1959 following negotiations initiated by the Commission with AT&T. The Commission concluded hearings in its extended investigation into the rates of AT&T and Western Union for private line services and a decision was in preparation. General The telephone industry, consisting of the Bell System and more than 3,500 independent telephone companies, handled more business in calendar 1959 than in any preyious year. At the close of the year, the industry was furnishing service to about 70 million telephones, em ploying a plant having a gross investment exceeding $26 billion. To meet the ever-increasing demands of the public, industry, and Government for new and additional services, the Bell System, which owns about 85 percent of the nation's telephones, reported construction expenditures during the year totaling $2111 billion. The General Tele phone System, the largest group of independent telephone companies commonly owned by General Telephone and Electronics Corporation, and serving some 3.8 million telephones, expended on construction more than $198 million. During calendar 1959, revenues of the telephone industry approxi mated $8.5 billion-an increase of about 9.6 percent over 1958. On the average, the public each day made some 258 million local tele phone calls and 11.3 million long-distance or toll calls. Private-line telephone and telegraph services showed exceptional growth in 1959 as indicated by an increase of 23 percent in the Bell System's revenues from such services compared to 1958. 92 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 93 For calendar 1959, American Telephone and Telegraph Co. [AT&T], the parent company of the Bell System, reported consoli dated net income applicable to its capital stock of more than $1.1 billion, representing earnings per share of $5.22, compared to $4.67 for the previous year (restated on basis of 3 for 1 split in outstanding sh!tres authorized in April 1959) . Consolidated net income applicable to capital stock of General Telephone was reported at $71,294,000, representing earnings per share of $3.40 in 1959 compared to $3.07 in 1958. Interstate Facilities The Bell System, which provides the bulk of the Nation's interstate facilities, continued an accelerated toll-construction program. Sub stantial circuit additions were required by the steady increases in toll telephone calls, the rapid increases in private line services, particu larly for the "SAGE" system of the Air Force, and other important Government services, and the rearrangement and growth in circuity to handle operator and customer-dialed toll calls. A new radio relay system, Type TH, providing 3 times the capacity of the microwave radio systems now in service throughout the country, is being con structed from the East Coast to the West Coast on an express route to avoid major metropolitan areas and military targets in order that ample facilities will be available for defense requirements in event of national emergencies. Also, twin 8-tube coaxial cables or a 12-tube coaxial cable are being installed on a remote transcontinental route at a depth of 40 inches underground with all associated repeater stations to provide protection against unusual pressures caused by nuclear explosions. During fiscal 1960 the Commission authori:t:ed construction projects totaling about $148 million. Included was about $84 million for new radio relay systems or the addition of channels on existing systems totaling about 66,000 radio relay channel miles. The new major radio relay systems cost about $43 million. New cable and open wire con struction, and the installation of carrier equipment for use in conjunc tion with cable, open wire, and radio relay routes, totaled about $64 million. During fiscal 1960, independent telephone companies also expanded the use of microwave systems to provide additional toll telephone cir cuits. The Commission granted authorizations to independent com pany systems for more than 4,000 channel miles of radio facilities at an estimated cost of $4.5 million. By the close of the fiscal year, the Bell System had over 236,000 channel miles of radio relay in service, of which about 75,000 miles were being used for nationwide TV program networking. An addi- 94 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION tiona112,200 TV program-miles were being provided by coaxial cable. These facilities interconnected directly some 365 TV broadcast sta tions. An additional 17 TV stations were linked to the network by Bell off-air pickup and microwave relay, while other stations received network programs by picking up the signals of the connected stations. Interstate Message Toll Telephone Rates As reported in FCC's 25th annual report, the Bell System com panies, following discussions initiated by the Commission in light of the continued upward trend in their level of earnings from interstate services, agreed to reduce interstate message toll telephone rates by about $50 million annually. Accordingly, effective September 19, 1959, the Bell System filed reduced rates for station-to-station calls for distances in excess of 675 miles and for additional minutes on both station-to-station and person-to-person calls over 468 miles. This resulted in an estimated annual saving to users of approximately $47 million. To complete the $50 million annual reduction, the company insti tuted on February 7, 1960, a new system of mileage measurement be tween toll service points which resulted in a rate reduction of $5.7 million annually. This was partially offset by an increase in rates for message toll service between points in the United States and Canada amounting to $5,600,000 of which $2,700,000 is the United States car riers' share, leaving a net decrease of $3,000,000. This was the first revision in United States-Canadian rates since 1946. Notwithstanding these rate reductions, the Bell System's earnings from interstate services have tended to maintain a higher level than was anticipated. However, as of the close of the fiscal year, no deter mination had been made by the Commission as to what further action, if any, might be warranted looking toward additional rate reductions. One noteworthy factor that is currently involved in the regulation of interstate long-distance telephone rates and earnings is the disparity which exists between the interstate rate schedules and the rates for intrastate services for comparable distances which are subject to the jurisdiction of the several States. It has been urged by the various State commissions that this disparity is largely attributable to in equities in the so-called telephone separation procedures. These pro cedures, which have been developed jointly over the years by the FCC and the State commissions, are employed in the Bell System to allo cate investment and expenses associated with telephone plant used in common to render both intrastate and interstate services. It is urged by the State commissions that the procedures do not produce a suffi cient allocation of the joint costs to the interstate service. At the close of the fiscal year, further studies of the procedures were in progress. The National Association of Railroad and Utilities Commissioners REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 95 has urged that before any action is taken by the FCC to reduce further interstate rates, consideration first be given to modifying the separa tion procedures. Should a reasonable modification be accomplished, it could result in a material reduction in the level of interstate earn ings as currently computed under the existing procedures. It could likewise relieve the State rate-making jurisdictionsof substantial reve· nue requirements and thereby provide the means to mitigate rate disparities by intrastatelong-distance ratereductions. The independent telephone companies, through the United States Independent Telephone Association, have also made representations to the Commission against effecting further reductions in interstate rates without taking measures to safeguard the independent companie.. against loss of revenue. The latter companies participate infurnish~ ing interstate service jointly with the Bell System and their share of revenue from such service is affected by interstate rate adjustments. Private Line Telephone and Telegraph Rates Hearings were concluded in the Commission's comprehensive in vestigation instituted in 1956 into the rates for private line services of American Telephone and Telegraph Co. and The Western Union Telegraph Co. (dockets 11645 and 11646). At the end of the fiscal year, the Commission was preparing its initial decision. The Commis sion's investigation of the Bell System's rates for data transmission "hannels provided to the Air Force for use in its SAGE system (docket 12194) proceeded during the year. The Commission instituted 6 other investigations to determine the reasonableness of specific charges in connection with certain new pri vate-line service offerings by various telephone companies. All of these private-line services are being provided to the U.S. Air Force. Two of the proceedings were dismissed without hearing following negotiated rate reductions. The others were pending at the close of theyear. Connection of Customer-Owned Facilities With Telephone Systems On July 14, 1959, the Commission ordered a general investigation to determine the reasonableness of revisions of certain AT&T tariff provisions permitting certain classes ofcustomers to connect their pri vately owned communications facilities with the Bell System private line, exchange and message toll facilities. The new tariff filing spe cifically exempted the railroads, power and pipe line companies from the general prohibition against such connections in cases involving emergencies, remote or hazardous locations, and also where connec tion had been contractually permitted prior to July 15, 1959. There were 41 days of hearing and the record was closed on May 10, 1960. 96 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Tariff Filings At the year end there were on file 953 telephone tariffs and concur rences of 511 telephone carriers. During the year, 12,000 new or revised tariff publications were received, as well as 26 applications requesting special permission to file tariffs on less than the period of statutory notice. Field Studies and Reviews Periodic reviews are made by the 3 Common Carrier Bureau field offices and by the headquarters' staff of the accounts, records and ac counting practices of the telephone carriers to assure compliance with the Commission's accounting rules and regulations. These studies are also directed to determining the adequacy and propriety of the accounting performed to assure the reliability of the data used in rate proceedings and depreciation and other rate studies. Special studies were made during fiscal 1960 of certain accounts, records and accounting procedures of 6 Bell companies and 2 inde pendent companies. These studies related to such matters as plant accounting, including the accounting for station apparatus and sta tion connections, the distribution of certain engineering expenses, the microfilming of records, the establishment and maintenance of con tinuing property records, and the costs associated with the SAGE system. Deficiencies disclosed were brought to the attention of the carriers involved and corrective action taken. Other Regulatory Matters Depreciation.-During fiscal 1960, the necessary studies were com pleted and depreciation rate revisions ordered for 7 Bell companies. By the close of the year, studies were in progress with respect to 8 ad ditional Bell companies. The revised rates reflect both upward and downward adjustments with respect to the individual classes of prop erty; however, their overall effect was a net increase averaging ap proximately 3 percent in annual depreciation expenses. The importance of keeping the prescribed depreciation rates in line with current conditions is apparent from the magnitude of the amounts involved. For example, the total depreciable plant of the 23 Bell com panies increased during calendar 1959 £rom $20.6 billion to approxi mately $22.2 billion, or about 7.7 percent. The depreciation expenses for the same period increased 9.9 percent, from $898 million to $987 million. Depreciation expenses for the year ending December 31, 1959, represented over one-fifth of the total Bell operating expenses. Original cost accounting.-Approval was given to several original cost entries in cases of telephone plant acquisitions during the year. In a few instances approval is still pending chiefly because of ques- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 97 tions as to the propriety of the procedures used in estimating the original cost of these properties. Since Jnly 1954, the Commission has permitted the recording of purchases from electric utilities of certain poles (isolated poles or interests in pole lines) on the basis of acquisition cost. Studies are in progress to determine the effect upon the plant accounts, retirement unit costs and depreciation rates of this departure from original cost accounting. Discontinuance of service, acqui8iN.ons and con,&es, it was necessary for the cable tele graph carriers to decrease drasticalIy charges heretofore in effect for leased-telegraph facilities in their own cables. It is too early to determine the net effect upon the revenues of the international telegraph carriel'S, but indications are that, unless substantial addi tional traffic is generated, there will be a decline in overall net revenues because of (a) the loss of Government contracts; (b) the downward revision of leased-cable charges, and (c) the relatively high-fixed costs of leasing, subdividing and maintaining telegraph circuits in the telephone cables. 106 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION In addition, AT&T has been authorized to provide non-voice serv ices alternately over its cable to Puerto Rico and to lease channels therein to the telegraph carriers to provide non-voice services as well as alternate voice and non-voice services. At present, 3 of these chan nels are leased by 2 telegraph carriers for such purposes. Reevaluation of 1late Structure of International Telegraph Carriers With the trend toward more use of "telex" and leased circuits by telegraph users, the revenues from these services now account for about 30 percent of its total revenues of 1 international currier. Rate investigations by the Commission in the international telegraph field in recent years have been mainly confined to point-to-point message services. It will now be necessary for the Commission to undertake the complex problems involved in examining the rates for these new services to determine their reasonableness. At the close of the fiscal year, this investigation was in the preliminary stages. International Telegraph Merger In 1959 the Commission indorsed, in principle, a bill to permit merger of international telegraph and marine carriers. The Com mission during the past year submitted later information and data on this subject to the Congressional committee concerned. Globe-AC&R Merger On May 25, 1960 the Commission granted an application of Globe 'Wireless Ltd. and American Cable & Radio Corp. for transfer of control of Globe to AC&R. Globe, whose radiotelegraph services are to points in the Pacific area and t6 Cuba, experienced deficits since it resumed operations following World War II which prevented it from improving its plant to meet modern telecommunications needs. It will be retained and modernized as AC&R's fourth United States operatingsubsidiary. lnfernational Formula Section 222 of the act requires that Western Union distribute tele graph traffic destined to points outside the continental United States among the various international telegra\:>h carriers in accordance with a formula prescribed by the Commission in 1943 when Western Union merged with Postal Telegraph. The last of a number of hearing cases resulting from this formula was resolved during the year when successful negotiations between the parties (American Cable & Radio Corp., RCA Communications and Western Union) in the matter of certain Western Union practices under the formula (dockets 9369 and 11298) were reported tothe Commission. A proposed contract of sale of Western Union's international tele graph operations calls for a revision of the international formula. REPORT OF TRE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 107 This matter will be taken up by the Commission as part of divestment proceedings in docket 6517 next described. Western Union Divestment On January 29, 1960, 1Vestern Union submitted a proposal for sale of its international telegraph cable operations to Barnes Investing Corp., Chicago. Following a petition submitted February 1, 1960, the Commission ordered the matter set for hearing. In the course of a prehearing conference on March 16, 1960, it de veloped that Barnes did not have its financing arrangements finalized, and the start of the hearing was postponed from March 22 to April 20, 1960, and thereafter to June 8, 1960, in order to give Barnes time to complete such arrangements. 'When on June 8 the financing arrangements still were not finalized the hearing examiner closed the record and certified it to the Commission for whatever action it deemed appropriate. On June 22,1960 the Commission, after oral argument, ordered the proceeding terminated insofar as Barnes was concerned unless Ba,rnes completed its financing arraugements by August 2 thereafter and, further, ordered 'Western Union, jf Barnes did not do so, to file an alternate plan of divestment by September 1, 1960. Barnes failed to complete its financing by that date so 'Western Union, on Sep tember 15, filed an alternate plan in the form of an agreement with American Security Corp. looking toward establishment of a separate operating company to be known as Western Union International, Inc. Duplicate Circuits to Switzerland and Austria On February 24, 1960, the Commission granted application of Mackay Radio to add Berne, Switzerland, as a new point of com munication, a point to which RCA Communications, which had ob jected, was already licensed to communicate. On July 27, 1960, RCAC application was granted for It competing direct radiotele graph circuit to Vienna, Austria, with which Mackay is preS<'ntly licensed to communicateo Tropospheric Scalter In December 1959, the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. opened a circuit from Florida City, Fla., station to Nassau, Bahamas, using "tropospheric scatter" transmission on frequencies in the. 2110 to 2200 Me range. This system has a capability of 72 voice channels and will serve to relieve the load on present circuits to the Bahamas now operated on frequencies in the medium and high frequency ranges. To meet the need for additional telegraph channels, principally for an airways communication system, the Radio Corp. of Puerto 108 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMIsSION Rico, a telephone carrier, was authorized to lease a voice channel in its tropospheric scatter radiotelephone system between Puerto Rico and the Dominican R"public to a radiotelegraph carrier, All America Cables and Radio, Inc., which, in turn, was authorized to subdivide the voice channel into telegraph channels to provide the desired tele graph services. Docket Cases Far East traffic.-Oral argument was held on the exceptions of RCA Communications, Inc., to an initial decision which upheld the legality of Western Union handling traffic to various far eastern points over its cable system via London (dockets 11364 and 11663). Thereafter, the Commission dismissed the RCAC complaint. TVestern Union practices WIlder international formula.-The Com mission granted motions by RCA Communications, Inc. and the American Cable & Radio Corp. to approve a settlement agreement and to dismiss without prejudice their request for rulings on the lawful nesses of certain Western Union practices under section 222 of the Communications Act and the international formula (dockets 9369 aud 11298). Delays in handling international press traffic.-On March 25, 1960, the Commission issued a final decision on the complaint of Press 'Wireless, Inc. alleging excessive delays in the transfer by 'Western Union to Press 'Wireless of international press traffic specifically routed by the sender via Press Wireless (docket 11871). It found 'Vestern Union had engaged in practices unfavorable to Press Wire less and ordered them stopped. Telegraph 8el'vice with Hawaii.-On September 2, 1959, the Com mission adopted a notice of inquiry into the question of what changes, if any, it should recommend that Congress make in section 222 of the act in view of the desire of Western Union to serve the new State of Hawaii as part of its domestic telegraph operations (docket 13188). The Commission concluded that it should make no recommendations and accordingly, on May 11, 1960, terminated the inquiry. On Sep tember 7, 1960, a Western Union petition for reconsideration was denied. F,'ess TVireless license m8 2Hl,394 236,972 9.51 23,5\)7,154 26,435,087 12.03 35,065,262 36,598,738 4.37 31,804,160 33,586,614 5.60 3, ;1(\1, 09f, 3,012,124 (7.63) 1,175,000 J,110,000 (5.53) 2,035,246 2, fJ21, 156 28.79 ::iilO,:J02 353,468 (33.33) 84,730 70,555 (16.73) 1O,245,U30 10,651,008 3.\16 15,912 t 5,853 (.74-) $17,727,857 $17,853,276 .71 I Inclndes revenues 0[2 ocean cable carriers and thc radiotelegraph carriers from the domestic transmission of tr;\lls(j(,,:.inic and marine ll!eSS'l.ges outside of points ofentr~'or dep,lrturc in tho United States, and revenues from domestic-clussificatlon messages (primarily Canadian and Me:dcan). 2 All dividends declared ]lY Western Union Telegraph Co. have been reported in the table r.bove relating to the domestic land linc operations of that company and are cxcluded from tills tallie. 3 Represcnts domestic"classiflcation messages (primarily Canadian and Mexican). j Certain emploJ'ees of I radiotele"raplJ carrier and 2 ocean cable carriers serve more thun 1 of the com_ panies. The alliOtUlts of compensCltion reported for cach of thesc cOltlpanks are after inwTcompany elJargl'S and credits. As a result, tile numberofcmpl()~'eesand total compensation sllOwn are not on the same basis. Common Carrier Applications Over 5,600 applications were filed with the Commission by common carriers during the fiscal year (exclusive of Alaskan and marine mo bile). The following table shows the number of applications accord ing to class ofservice: 114 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Class Pending June 30, HI59 Disposed of Pending lun" 30, 1960 66 65 5 10 6 108 3,697 26IJ 223 9 98 , to ----------94 1,013 1,341 lOS 7 225 2 101 4 6 107 1,000 ----------:--1----, 120 1,332 Radio jacilit;ra SubtotaL •__~._.~_ bomestic: Pt/ptmlcrowaveradiostations~_______206 1,928 2.0241 Local television transmission stations ____ 2 33 3.'1 __ Ruralradiostations_~._.__ ,___________________ 42 36U 345 Domestic public land wobile radio stations__ 121 937 993 Developmentalstations_~_,________________________3 72 70 I Hegistration of Canadian radio station licensees_ __ 29 29 __ International; . if~:~~~~N~~~p~~~~:-~~~~-~~~.~~c_~r_~~~~~::~~=~~_l~:l~~! International control. --- --~---~----- --- ---- --- - _. -- _',--"------I--,--C'+ 'C F'C'C''C'C'C''C'C'"'' ___ .1~~~3;;7;,5'1~~",3;;,58;;;;,',I~~;;;;,;;;.,I~~~,;;;; Subtotal ._. .~_ Wire facilitils Telephone extensions _ Telegraph cxtensions _ Telephone reductions•••••T---~_._••• ••••• ••••••_._•••• Telegraph reductions~. _ Mi"cdlamou& Interlocking directorates~_.~_._._____7 8 Jurisdictional determination •.. . __~._.. .'_.__ ...__ ._.__ .._~ Submarine cable landing licenses.._. __ •~•• 1 1 1 Petitions or motions (nondocket) - -_ ------ •__ ------------ 9 9 •••--.-- --64" nenewals._~_•• •__~-=-__::c=:cr, .68=1-i- 6_17_i ____ Field Engineering and Monitoring GENERAL Thirty-one enforcement offices, 18 monitoring stations and 2 TV mobile monitoring units bring the Field Engineering and Monitoring Bureau in close touch with the public, industry and governmental users of radio. This contact is necessary to enforce related provisions of the Communications Act, Commission rules and international treaties and enables the Commission to render service at the local level. Twenty-four establishments in key cities are designated as district offices, 5 assub~officesand 2 as marine offices. Ten primary monitoring stations provide 24-hour-a-day teclmical and noncensorship surveil lance of the spectrum. Eight secondary or backup stations increase the monitoring range and coverage. The 2 TV mobile units bring precise measurement equipment to the "door" of video stations. The Commission's enforcement staff, employing 42 investigative, 9 test, and 2 microwave cars, makes specialized inspections, signal analysis, investigations of unlicensed stations, and solutions of interference cases. Over 50,000 personal contacts of home and industry installa tions were made during the year. Since the number of radio stations increases at a greater rate than the Commission is able to add staff and equipment, there is a constant need to meet problems by means of improved procedures and coopera tive arrangements. The result is that self-help organizations have become patt of the field operations system. As a result, the number of interference cases handled has leveled off, no increase being noted this year. The following illustrates the accomplishments of the field service and furnishes a cross section of its activities, especially those of gen eml interest. INSPECTION Broadcast Station Inspections New AM and FM broadcast stations are given a detailed technical inspection after construction has been completed but before issuance of license. This procedure not only insures that all engineering defects are remedied before the Commission grants a license but also provides an initial contact between the licensee and the field engineers. It resolves many problems which might otherwise develop into major 115 116 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISElION violtttions ttnd improves the level of technical service to the public. Duriug the yettr 345 inspectious were conducted of new statious. Of this number 66 percent were found to be in techuical compliance. The others were subsequently cleared after correctiug discrepancies. A 1960 aualysis disclosed a gradual increase in the percentage of broadcast stations inspected which do not comply with the reg-ula tions. For example, in 1954, 34 percent of the stations inspected failed to meet some rule or license requirement whereas iu 1960 this percentage had risen to 64.9 percent. It disclosed that the most fre quent deficiencies concerned inaccurate ormissin~indicating instru ments, failure of transmitters tD meet construction and safety (high voltage) requirements, lack of acceptable performance measurements, inability to maintain operating power within tolerance and lack of minimum operator compliance. To combttt this trend, field offices are making a concentrated effort to effect better compliance by sta tions in their equipment and operatingpractices. Marine Station Inspections OompuZBoriZy equipped vessels.-The United States by law and treaty requires thttt an efficient radio system be installed aboard certain classes of vessels. This includes large ocean liners and small passen ger ships carrying luore than 6 passengers for hil'e. This means that more than 5,000 vessels must be inspected annually or biennially and issned certificates of compliance before they can be legally placed in service. Seasonal variations nmke this work difficult. This year intense activity began with the spring thaw on the Great Lakes in April and nearly 500 vessels had to be inspected during a very limited period. Like,vise, small passenger boat operations increase during the sumn1er lTIonths so that Illost inspections are reque..'3ted during a 3 month period. A further problem results from the fact that many small boats operate in remote areas and mayor may not be subject to the law depending on the number of passengers carried for hire. As a party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, the United States inspects foreign vessels upon request of member governments. Some of these inspections could not be made because of the necessity of giv ing priority to domestic vessels. However, 90 foreign vessels were inspected. Sea disasters are investigated by the field to evaluate the part that radio plays in promoting safety of navigation. During the year 38 such cases were reported on. The Commission's marine enforcement efforts have becn aided ma terially by voluntary groups such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons. The former conducts courtesy inspec tions and advises boatowners of the requirements of the Commission's REPORT OF THE FEDERAL CQMMUNICATHlNS COMMISSION 117 rilles while the latter has adopted an educational program that re quires members to demonstrate knowledge of the regulations and operating practices by qualifying for the radiotelephone third class operator permit. As a consequence of the Commission's marine enforcement program, criminal convictions were obtained in 2 cases, with fines totaling $550, and 2 additional cases were pending before United States Attorneys. One of the cases referred to the J)epartment of Justice for prosecutiou involved transmitting a false distress call on a distress frequency. This was a jointaction by the Coast Guard and the FCC. Twenty-four cases involving transmission of indecent language were investigated during the year. Five were sufficiently serious to refer to the Department of Justice and warning letters were issued in the others. In addition, about 25 licensees who failed to submit satisfactory answers to violation notices received warnings. Also, 276 owners of boats using unlicensed transmitting equipment were warned to file applications or face penalties. Vo1luntarily equipped boats.-The annual increase in the number of small commercial transport, pleasure and fishing vessels operating in the 2-3 Mc band and the disregard of many licensees for the rights of others continue to be a major enforcement problem. At the end of 1960 there were 85,981 boats voluntarily radio-equipped. A cam paign during the past several years resulted in some improvement; however, much more work remains to be done. Misuse of the radiotelephone distress frequency of 2182 kc and transmission of superfluous communications with disregard for dis tress traffic or priority messages is a current major problem. One factor responsible for overcrowding of the radiotelephone frequencies is the illegal use of ship stations as fixed coastal stations. Inspections have disclosed an increasing nse of radio-equipped barges which fre quently have permanent wire telephone connections to shore. Special effort is being made to deal with this type of illegal operation. Other Radio Services Inspections Since it is impossible for the Commission's limited field staff to in spect all radio stations, it must limit this activity to problem areas. Continuing sampling determines services having serious enforcement difficulties. The problems most frequently encountered were operation beyond the scope of the authorization, inconsiderate use of crowded channels to the detriment of other licensees resulting in serious interference problems, and carelessness in maintaining license status resulting in illegal operation. For example, many licensees in the public safety service allowed their authorizations to expire without tilingrene,val 1'i60tU3-60-9 118",lli&~f)RTOF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISll!ON applications. Similarly, a survey of 1,833 privately owned aircraft stations disclosed that 558 had failed to apply for a station authori zation. In both instances enforcement action together with an edu cational drive were effective in improving compliance. In the case of the aircraft survey, 359, or 64 percent of the negligent ones, promptly file,l applications and were issued licenses and applications have since been received from most of the remainder. Implementation of the split-channel rules which made additional frequencies available to the nonbroadcast services required technical ehanges in the transmitting equipment of existing stations. Field of fices were responsible for measuring the frequency and modulation to determine if operation was in accordance with the new regula tions. A limited number of mobile frequency meters able to measure the frequency of split-channel stations and modulation monitors specially designed for measurement of the narrow-band FM emissions were used. Each set of equipment is shared by several offices so that maximum coverage of the Nation may be obtained with the limited measuring facilities available. An analysis of 223 measurements of frequency and modulation made by 4 district field offices disclosed that only 12 stations were failing to comply with the technicallimita tions governing split-channel operation. The fact that 95 percent of the stations measured were operating within allowable tolerances is indicative of the degree of success in added utilization of this portion of the spectrum. ENGINEERING Encroachment on Monitoring Stations Fixed monitoring stations are the most economical way to cover the large portion of the radio spectrum occupied by long-range radio stations. Manmade obstructions (large buildings, power transmis sion lines, etc.) are detrimental to accuracy of long-range direction finders on which the Commission depends for the location of un licensed and clandestine stations and sources of interference to au thorized operations. Although extreme care is taken in selecting new monitoring station sites, taking into account anticipated industrial or population growth in the area, a number of monitoring stations which were constructed before World War II are experiencing growing difficulty in coping with the effects of the population and industri"l expansion of recent ye"rs. One of the new interstate highways is schednled to cut through the Laurel, Md" monitoring station property, necessitating relocation of a number of faperators. Also, in a few instances, there have been reports of CATV systems interfering with unlicensed VHF translators. Unlicensed Transmissions at Race Tracks The apprehension of operators of illegal transmitters at race tracks for "beating the bookies" is becoming increasingly difficult because "f the trend toward miniaturizing of transmitters and the fact that a ".Ollcealed low-power transmitter may send a hundred feet or so to a eonfederate. Track officials cooperate by advising FCC inv.estigal;peration is suspected. Interference The number of interference complaints has reached a plateau from its upward trend of the past few years. While no statistics are avail able showing the number of interference cases solved by industry and radio users cooperative committees, these self-help groups have been 122 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION i>f.gtliat assistance in handling many minor complaints which other wise would have been the Commission's responsibility. Although electrical apparatus is the principal cause of manmade radio noise, equipment that uses radio-frequency energy often is the worst offender in producing harmful interference. For example, on the West Coast a fixed point-to-point radio station complained of severe interference to the Tokyo circuits. Upon investigation, FCC oogineers found the trouble in the licensee's own transmitting station. In Baltimore, FCC engineers, responding to a complaint of TV in terference, located the trouble in an antiquated TV set which was transmitting its own signal. Interference caused by electrical apparatus generally is local in nature and is eliminated through the cooperative efforts of radio listeners and the operators of the faulty apparatus. Power companies are very cooperative in maintaining their lines and stations in good repair and in providing operating crews to hunt down interference. Oooperative groups combating inter/erenoe.-Industry and radio llser groups cooperating with theFCC in curbing interference are: Cooperative Interference Committees (CIC), 34 in operation, composed ot engineers, industry executives, Government oftlclals, and others interested in re solving mutual interference problems. Television Interference Committees (TVIO). numbering 561. representative of ,amateur radio operators, radio and TV repairmen,' and others interested in 'Voluntarily contributing their skills in eliminating radio and TV interference in their communities. , lildUction and Dielectric Heating Subcommittee of the Electric HeatingCom~ mittee- of,the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, which studies problems of industrial heater instnllations with the view of developing improved methods of :mel;lsuring radiation. Radio Interference Committee of the Society of The Plastics Industry, Inc., which recommends to the users methods of reducing plastics heater interference. Joint Industry Committee on High Frequency Stabilized Arc Welders of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, which aids users ot radio frequency welding del'ices to control interterence. Marine user organizations called marine councils cooperate with the COlIlmission in efforts to bring about a better degree of compliance with the regula.tions for operation by ooats on the distress frequency 2182 kc; Examples of marine councils are the North Pacific Council, the Southern California Marine Radio Council, the National Party Boat Alliance and the Texas Shrimp Association. Unlicensed Operation Unlicensed operation of radio transmitters varies from deliberate, premeditated operation-such asthe case of Cuban refugees who set up li; transmitter on the Florida Keys to broadcast propaganda to the Cubltn' people-'-to the misgUided· teen-ager who never heard of the FCC or its regulations. Between these extremes lie the vast majority REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 123 of unlicensed operation, such as the overzealous salesman who installs equipment and advises the customer that it can be operated until a license is received from the FCC. An article which appeared in a national youth magazine about a low-powered broadcast station operated by youths in California was responsible for an increase in unlicensed broadcast operation by young sters. In one instance a young man was conducting a "man on the street" interview program over his unlicensed broadcast station and one of the curious on-lookers was an FCC engineer who promptly terminated the operation. A youth in New England interviewed on a weekend national network program was heard by an alert field en gineer and his broadcast station was subsequently closed, only tohave his irate father protestto his Senator. The "hoax" type of radio transmission is the most serious. In the Pacific Northwest an inebriated owner of a small vessel transmitted the international radiotelephone distress call of "MAYDAY" and stated he was sinking though he was actually tied to a dock. Fortu nately, before the U. S. Coast Guard attempted to launch a rescue boat in a 60-mile-an-hour gale, it was determined that the distress call was false. The case has been recommended for prosecution. Investigation of TV-VHF Boosters Until VHF translater rules were adopted (see Broadcast) unlicensed VHF repeaters (boosters) were a partwular field investigation prob lem. Sixty-one such installations were found during the year as com pared with 215 the previous year. This brought to about 500 the number that came to the Commis.9ion's attention. Most of them serve small communities in isolated mountainous country in the Western States. They now have opportunity to obtain temporary authoriza tion to continue operation pending their compliance with the new translator requirements. MONITORING Marine Monitoring Enforcement of regulations pertaining to small boat radio stations on the 2:-3 Me frequencies continued to be the most pressing marine monitoring ·problllm. C0Ill'iderable improvement has been noted but there are still too many unidentified radio transmissions being made in thisservice to avoid detection or through carelessness and ignorance. Several years ago recording of voices of serious violators was begun. This has led to the· arrest and conviction of several operators who thought they could not be identified. Failure of small boat radio operators to comply with the rules creates unnecessary interference to conforming licensees. Additionally, such interference on the 2182 kc radiotelephone distress frequency has, in fact, hindered rescue opera- 124 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNlgATIONS COMMIS&ION tions.. The Commission is continuing to meet this problem thl'ough educational talks by its field engineers to both conunercial and pleaSlire boat groups, and by coordinating monitoring and ship inspections to detect serious violations. Broadcast Monitoring Although such abuses as "payola" and "plugola" cannot be de tected by monitoring, technical surveillance of broadcast transmission was stepped up to check for such rule violations as lotteries, indecent or obscene language, failure to identify sponsorship of progams or station call letters, point-to-point communication, etc. Further measurements made of relative percentages of modulation during pro gram and commercial announcements found no basis for complaints that "loudness" of commercials violates the rules; e.g., modulation in excess of 100 percent. Examples of improper practices observed during broadcast monitor ing surveillance wel'e: A broadcast station continued operation after the expiration of its license in spite of repeated notices by the Com mission that application fol' renewal of license had not been filed. A "disc jockey" played the same record continuously for more than 2 days even though he announced it by different names each time. In vestigation disclosed no e\'idenee of "payola" but a misguided effort to attract attention to the station. "Teaser" spot announcements in violation of the sponsor-identification requirement were detected, to gether with other instances of failure to properly identify the sponsor during "spot" announcements. A number of daytime-ouly broadcast stations were observed and cited for coming on the air too early or remaining on afterthe required sign-off time. Monitoring the Citixens Radio Service The opening of a Class D 27-megacycle band for conununication in this service triggered a deluge of low-cost equipment into the hands of an eager public. Improper procedural operations by unin formed users contributed toward an increased monitoring workload; however, theinher~ntinadequacies of low-cost equipment iu meet ing technical requirements, particularly with respect to frequency control, were equally conspicuous. Off-frequency citations in this service outnumbered'"If othel' services combined. Although new rule changes effective March 15, 1960 clarified the operating requirements, a concentrated monitoring effort was neces sary to check a massive drift toward 'undesirable operations, par ticularly the desh.., of licensees to communicate with distant stations similar to amateur operation, that threatened to create bedlam oil th,e band. This problem has been partly solved as regards long dIstance communications but local "hamming" is up, if anything. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 125 The service is still plagued by off'frequency viola.tions requiring con oontration of monitoring SION of spurious emissions and use of modulation systems giving improved spectrum efficiency. Regulatory progress in this matter includes rule changes to provide more stringent requirements for reduction of spurious emissions in the aural broadcast services. The international radio regulations adopted at Geneva in 1959 will require greater frequency stability of trans mitters than required by the Atlantic City, 1947, regulations and stress the use of single sideband as a spectrum-saving technique for radiotelephony in lieu of conventional double sideband amplitude modulation. The Commission also participates in interdepartmental activities to encourage and coordinate use of these spectrum-saving techniques by Government stations, which are not subject to Commis sion rules but are bound by international treaties. Technical Committees Technical committees constitute valuable contact and sources of information pertaining to contemporary technology of interest to the Commission. Consequently, its engineers participate in the work of such committees or attend their meetings as observers, or study the proceedings. The Joint Technical Advisory Committee (JTAC) was requested to study the utilization of frequency diversity techniques in micro wave communication. This question is of particular interest with regard to the spectrum utilization efficiency of frequency diversity systems and the improvement to be expected. Commission personnel are participating in studies by the Telecom munications Planning Committee (TPC) and the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) directed to evaluating and coordi nating techniques for space communication. The peculiarities of space communication systems as to establishment of facilities, power supply, maintenance and reliability, as compared with conventional earth communications systems, require much new development and analysis to select optimum techniques. Type Acceptance of Transmitters The Commission's type-acceptance program is designed to evaluate the technical adequacy of transmitters used in most of the radio serv ices. Type acceptance is based upon evaluation of descriptive and measurement data usually furnished by the manufacturer, or occa sionally by the applicant for license. Ifsuch data show that the trans mitter is capable of meeting the technical specifications of the rules governing the class of station for which the transmitter is designed, type acceptance is granted. If circumstances warrant, the Commis sion may require that type-accepted equipment be submitted to its REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 139 laboratory for inspection and test to substantiate its capability of compliance with applicable rules. The Commission's type-acceptance data and other information on equipment filed for application reference purposes are not open to the public but are useful to the Commission in determining the tech nical characteristics and capability of transmitters. Applicants who have once filed such data can iudicate on subsequent applications that the infonnation is already "on file." Type-acceptance statistics follow: EquIp- ment!! Increase 'rotal Increase type since rolrs. since Frequency range Service accepted June 30, "' of June 30, Power range in megacycles ",of 1959 June 30, 1959 June 30, 1960 1960 TV broadcast___.~•••• 4S 9 5 0 0.05 to 100 kw____~ 54 to 890. Aural broadcast____ • __ 21)1 30 18 0 0.01 t050kw___ ._. 0.54 to 108. N onbroadcast. ___ •____ 1,889 24' 154 20 0.02 w to 40 kw___~ 0.20 to 13,200. --------- --- TotaL___ •______ 2,228 288 177 20 O.02wto lOOkw___ 0.20 to 13,200. Radio Signal Propagation A considerable amount of time was spent during the fiscal year in studying large quantities of radio wave-propagation data submitted by the Television Allocations Study Organization (TASO). These studies related to problems involving other radio services as well as TV. A reanalysis was made of the TASO Panel 6 data on the signal-to interference ratios required for various qualities of service, giving results which are more useful for the description of TV service. Several new sets of low VHF and high VHF curves were developed for TV and FM assignment usage. This was done in cooperation with the Radio Frequency Advisory Committee and organizations of engi neers from industry and Government formed to advise the Commis sion on techuical matters concerning radio wave propagation. In cooperation with TASO, new technical data were developed on the operation of directional TV transmitting antennas on VHF, and new VHF propagation curves were prepared for the Commission's rules. These developments may indicate the conditions necessary for rearrangement of the Commission's assignment tables in order to accommodate additional TV stations. Certain types of measurements for comparing lower and higher VHF channels are needed. Comprehensive studies are being continued toward predicting more accurately the broadcast service rendered to small areas where terrain conditions are known. 140 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Investigations, research and studies on radio wave propagation are necessarily linked with the operation of broadcast stations. However, the information developed from these projects is continually and increasingly being used for the development of rules and standards in othertypes of radio services. Through association with national and international technical and scientific organizations, the Commission is able to obtain additional information to help it answer various radio service and interference problems. Experimental Radio Services Part 5 of the rules provides for licensing experimental radio sta tions (other than broadcast) for (1) basic research in radio and electronics, and (2) the development of new techniques and equip ment for lise in both Government and non-Government services. Many new devices to add to safety in modern high-speed travel are being developed. Among these are obstruction warning and anti collision devices for use in the air and on the ground. An automatic electronic guidance system for high-speed automobile traffic has been installed and tested on at least 1 highway. Accident-free travel at speeds of 100 miles per hour or more may thereby become possible. Rapid advances in space travel have brought demands for better commnnication, more flexible tracking devices, and highly reliable guidance systems. Radio siguals are being bounced off the moon, the sun, the planets and satellites to the inclusion of balloons. Satellites give promise of more reliable worldwide communications. High-speed data transmission is replacing slower methods. Faster and faster communication is demanded. Many of today's methods will be Illltde obsolete by tomorrow's technological developments. Rapid advancement in communication methods, as well as in sur face transportation and space travel, has been made possible by in tensive research and development. The Commission has issued licenses for this research and development, and at the same time provided for it on frequency space without endangering regular radio operation. The majority of the radio research and development is being per formed by large industriaUaboratories and various colleges and uni versities. Most of it is under contractual agreements with Government agencies, and details are not public for security reasons. The demand for radio frequencies on which to conduct this work has placed an ever-increasing burden on the Commission. In a crowded frequency spectrum where important radio services are al ready entrenched, it becomes more difficult to accommodate research projects. However, radio astronomy, cosmic ray research, andfacili~ ties for space travel must not be retarded by lack of appropriate fre- REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 141 quencies. In some cases, such as radio astronomy, the frequencies required are determined by basic physical laws which do not permit any compromise or substitution. During fiscal 1960, the Commission received 1,319 formal and 299 informal applications for experimental authorizations. At the close of the year a total of 730 experimental stations held licenses. LABORATORY The Commission's laboratory is located near Laurel, Md., on land shared with the Laurel monitoring station. Its small staff tests com munication systems and equipment in connection with various Com mission programs. Studies of New Systems and Devices The laboratory during the year engaged in studies concerning the adverse effects of several types of interference to communication sys tems. These included the effects of the assignment of broadcast sta tions and Government stations to frequencies in the vicinity of the 500 kc allocation on which shipboard automatic alarm receivers op erate, and the effects of electromagnetic interference from automotive ignition systems, both of the conventional type and of a newly de' veloped electronic type, which may become a major source of inter ference. There were continued studies of multiplex and stereophonic sys tems for AM and FM broadcasting. Tests of several FM receivers of recent manufacture indicated no significant improvements which might allow the use of closer spacings between FM broadcast stations using the same or nearby channels. The laboratory participated in a field survey to evaluate the possibilities of use of an on-channel booster to fill in areas of deficient TV signal reception, in an experimental operation by station WTEN, Channel 10, at Albany, N. Y. Radio Propagation Measurements The laboratory provides the equipment techniques and calibrates the field strength recorders located in several of the FCC monitoring stations, in addition to operating recorders on 2 channels at Laurel. These recorders are used in a continuing program in which the Com mission is gathering radio propagation data for use in allocatjO"jl of frequencies. During the year the laboratory conducted experiments to test whether there are propagation effects which might preclude the ulti mate use of "very precise" offset between the carrier frequencies' Of co-channel TV stations, if such use should be needed to peMllit the operation of more TV stations, or alternately, the increase of service areas of existing TV stations. "Very precise" operation would require 142 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION station frequency tolerances of the order of plus/minus 1 cycle. The preliminary stndies on a 200-mile path at 67.25 megacycles indicate no serious difficulty. Studies to cover the higher VHF channels are anticipated. Development and Calibration of Field Equipment The laboratory also assisted in meeting field equipment require ments by developing a portable modulation meter for use in enforce ment of the rules pertaining to small boats; making accuracy tests of several new types of equipment proposed to be purchased; making modifications in 2 spectrum analyzers and 4 receivers to be associated with these spectrum analyzers for use by the monitoring stations; completing the design and construction of 3 special automatic spec trmn occupancy recorders; and developing a collapsible VHF-UHF directional antenna for field investigative automobiles. In continu ing its routine calibration functions the laboratory repaired and cali brated for the field 7 standard signal generators and 11 field strength meters, in addition to the repair and calibration of 2 signal. genera tors and 6 field strength meters used by the laboratory in its own operations. Type Approval of Equipment Certain classes of equipment are tested by the laboratory to deter mine eligibility for type approval by the Commission. The tests are conducted on prototype units submitted by the manufacturers. If these tests indicate that the Commission's requirements are met, the type approval will apply to all units manufactured identical to the sample submitted for test. The type-approval procedure applies to certain classes of non communications electronic apparatus which, without special atteution, would cause serious interference to radio and TV services. This ap paratus includes medical diathermy and ultrasonic equipment, epila tors, electronic neon signs, electronic ovens and commercial ultrasonic units. It also includes modulation and frequency measuring equip ment used in aural and TV broadcast stations to assure maximum pro gram quality and minimum interference to other stations. Also covered by the type-approval test procedures are shipboard telegraph transmitters, lifeboat transmitters and automatic alarm receivers re quired for safety of life at sea. These are tested from the standpoint of assuring maximum reliability of operationunder adverse conditions. Citizens radio transmitting equipment is a class for which type approval testing is no longer required except for certain noncrystal controlled apparatus, because of the shift in emphasis from the 465 Mc band to the new band at 27 Mc. The laboratory tested 7 new types of 27 Mc band citizens radio units. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 143 The laboratory also made tests of a low-power TV broadcast trans mitter to develop data for the Commission in its consideration of an application for type acceptance. A summary of type-approval testing activity during the fiscal year follows: Number Number Number Number Class of equipment of sub- of type Class of equipment of SUb- o! type missions approvals missions approvals for test granted for test granted Shipboard radiotelegraph AM broadcast monitor____ • __ • • transmitter______ •__________ 1 1 Medical d\athermy._.________ , •Shipboard radar______________ " I' Medical ultrasonic. __________ I' ,. TV broadcast translator••••__ 2 1 Epilator___ A _______ • __._•••~•• • '. TV broadcast monitor________ 2 1 lOne additional unit still pending at end of year. 2 Two additional units still pending at end of year. Improvement and Coordination of Measuring Methods The laboratory participated in activities of IRE committees look ing toward (1) approved standards for receiver oscillator radiation measurements and correlation of the measurements made by the United States standard with those using the IEC international standard; (2) standards for measurement of vehicular ignition inter ference; and (3) general establishment of domestic radio standards. Frequency Allocation and Use NATIONAL FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS TV and Other Considerations A considerable portion of the Commission's allocation activities was devoted to the continuing TV problem. To the uninitiated this may seem to be a simple matter of moving some radio users to another portion of the spectrum and permitting TV to expand into the space vacated. But it is more complex than that. The United States is unquestionably the heaviest user of the radio spectrum in the world today, particularly in that portion best suited for VIIF video operations. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to make a change in frequency allocations to benefit one group of users without adversely affecting another group. The degree of im pact is emphasized by the fact that a single TV channel requires 6,000 kc of space. By comparison, VHF land mobile systems are now operating on the basis of 30-kc separation in the same area. Thus it can be seen that one TV channel is the equivalent of 200 land mobile "channels." ,Vith hundreds of millions of dollars invested in exist ing stations and electronic systems that would have to be displaced, it can be appreciated that a decision in this matter is indeed difficult to make. Since, within the United States, the 6pectrum above 25 Me is divided into exclusive Government, exclusive non-Government, and shared Government/non-Government segments, any radical change in the national distribution of spectrum space is of mutual concern. The Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, which speaks for the Gov ernment users, made a study, at the Commission's reqlH'Bt, and re ported that the national safety would be jeopardized by broadscale exchanges of frequency space. Consequently, the Commission must consider other possible solutions to the TV problem (see Broadcast and Research chapters). The Commission has under cousideration many frequency requirement requests for other services, both old and new. However, some of these allocation matters cannot be settled uu til the ultimate TVsystem can be provided for. Outside of the TV area, there has been little activity in national frequency allocation matt"rs--on the surface. This is directly at tributable to the Administrative Radio Conference of the Inter national Telecommunication Union held in Geneva, Switzerland, 144 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 145 August 11 to December 21, 1951!. The fundamental purpose of this session was to amend the intel1lational table of frequency allocations to meet the world's needs for the immediate future. During the 2-year period preceding the conference, the United States took con siderable effort to get its own house in order, allocation-wise, and to prepare its position for the conference. The Commission withheld action on petitions for national allocation changes it received pend ing the outcome of the conference. Subsequent national allocation changes have been minimized pending United States ratification of the conference results. However, extensive preparatory work has been carried on, in collaboration with the OCDM, in anticipation of ratifiClttion, in order to meet the date of May 1, 1961, when the Geneva regulations are scheduled to come into force. While few in number, allocation actions taken by the Commission during fiscal 1960 dealt with such diverse subjects as international fixed public operations between 952 and 960 life in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, provision for petroleum exploration in the band 1,150-1,800 kc off the coast of California, withdrawal of earlier proposals in the bands 10-14 and 90-110 kc inconsistent with the Geneva. regulations, present and future planning for space com munication, and an expansion of VHF spectrum space available for air traffic control functions. INTERNATIONAL FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS Intemational Radio Conference, Geneva, 1959 As the radio regulatory agency of the United States, the Com lllission must be aware of and competent in interpreting internationa.1 treaties and agreements to which the United States is a party which deal with telecommunication matters. Consequently, Commission participation in international radio conferences and meetings is an important function, particularly where its licensees are concel1led, since the use of radio and intel1lational rights of radio stations are directly affected by the outcome of such intel1lational sessions. The Commission participated in the 1959 ITU conference as both a United States regulatory agency and as the general representa tive of a large number of non-Govel1lment users of radio. Informa tion developed in public hearings on allocations below 890 Me (docket 11991) and on allocations above 890 Me (docket 11866) assisted the Commission in this preparatory work. These hearings were in the form of general inquiries into the future frequency requirements of all services using or planning on using frequencies in these ranges. During the Geneva conference the Commission collaborated with the United States delegation, on which it had membership, in decid ing the national position to be taken on the many problems presented. 566513--6O----1J 146 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIION The Commission's extensive preparatory work was rewarding in view of the number of actions taken at Geneva which reflect pro posals in whole or in part made by the United States. Since the Geneva session offered the first revision of the international radio regulations since 1947, many changes in the use of frequencies and in services will be necessary throughout the world. These will have to be reflected in changes to the Commission's rules and regulations. Accordingly, rulemaking procedures are being drafted to advise li censees ofchanges which will be necessary. Included in the Geneva-adopted regulations is extension of the upper limit of the usable radio spectrum to 40,000 Me or 40 "giga cycles" in more up-to-date terminology. Specific allocations have been made for radio astronomy and space research. The new alloca tions table format is such that one can tell at a glance the relative priorities of the various services to which a band is allocated. There were actually 2 concurrent Geneva sessions. FCC Commis sioner T. A. M. Craven was Chairman of the United States delegation to the one dealing with radio administrative matters, and FCC Com missioner Rosel H. Hyde was Vice Chairman of the United States delegation to the session concerned with related treaty matters. In essence, the frequency allocations table adopted at Geneva is the United St.ates proposal with modifications. Although it is impossible to apply a specific percentage figure to the degree of acceptance achieved, it can be said that it was considerably greater than could be reasonably expected at a get-together of some 90 different countries trying to satisfy their respective frequency-allocation requirements. United States success at Geneva is, in large measure, the result of the worldwide distribution given to this country's planning well in advance of the conference. In this way, many areas of disagreement were resolved prior to the conference. In effect, United States plan ning gave guidance to a number of other countries which did not have the facilities, time, or manpower to make independent, detailed stud ies of frequency-allocation requirements. Space communication.-At the time of the Geneva conference too little was known of the eventual requirements for space and earth space communication to warrant an allocation of spectrum space for such purposes other than research. Recoguizing, however, the impor tance of this subject, the conference provided for the convening of an Extraordinary Administrative Radio Conference in the latter part of 1963 to deal with the matter in the event that such a session appears justified. In order to keep abreast of developments in this area, the Commis sion, for its part, reopened the record in its statutory inquiry into the use of frequencies above 890 Me (docket 11866) for the specific pur- REPORT OF TIlE FEDERAL COMMUNICATEONS COMMISSION 147 pose of collecting information on the now-known spectrum space requirements for space communications. Simultaneously, it opened an inquiry (docket 13522), on a continuing basis, to develop the same requirements for the foreseeable future. The information gained will serve as the basis for the United States position to be presented at any future international conferences on the subject. Many questions as to the frequency requirements for satellites are yet to be answered. If international communication by means of space objects proves feasible and economical, this could have an im portant impact upon frequency allocations in general. Some scien tists and engineers are of the opinion that satellite communication may share bands now used for conventional-communication systems with out causing or receiving interference. Others believe that exclusive allocations may be required. Present and future experimentation in the now-allocated space bands should do much to answer some of these questions, and the Commission proceedings should help mate rially to develop the information needed. Other International Conferences During the fiscal year, the Commission participated in a total of 18 international conferences, including 14 multilateral sessions, and be gan preliminary work for 25 future conferences. For those confer ences held in fiscal 1960, it furnished 6 chairmen, 1 vice chairman, and 49 other representatives to United States delegations. Its international participation is under Department of State spon sorship; other related activities, including certain governmental bi lateral negotiations, are initiated and carried out by the Commis sion's representatives with the concurrence of the Department of State. INTERNATIONAL FREQUENCY COORDINATION The increase in the use of radio throughout the world has been enormous during the past several years, especially as more and more of the new and developing countries utilize it to meet their domestic and international needs. Also, a considerable increase in usage results from expansion of the services of existing stations to satisfy current and anticipated requirements. The resultant demands on the radio spectrum make it increasingly difficult to find frequencies which may be used without harmful interference either being caused or received. Under such circumstances, users of radio must coordinate their pro posals in the interest of orderly radio use. The Geneva conference recognized the seriousness of this problem and adopted both a resolution and a recommendation relating to a study by a panel of experts of measures to reduce congestion in the bands between 4 and 27.5 Me. In addition, the new Geneva radio 148 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMIBB!ON regulations provide for the elimination of many detailed notifications to the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) of sta tions, such as those of the land mobile service, except for entries indi cating a typical operation for each frequency. Itwill become, there fore, more important than ever before to coordinate the assignments of these stations with administrations whose current assignments may either cause or reccive harmful interference. The Geneva conference adopted regional plans for frequencies be low 4000 kc, and the aeronautical and maritime mobile assignment plans for frequencies between 2850-23,000 kc and 4000-23,000 kc, respectively, which originally were agreements reached at the 1951 Geneva Extraordinary Administrative Conference. As adopted, the maritime mobile plan is somewhat more flexible in that, in the case of coast telegraph stations, 1951 international status will be afforded only those assignments of the plan actually in operation on May 1, 1961. Accordingly, assignments not provided for in the 1951 plans may be worked into the bands without the obligation of having tt> protect assignments of the plan activated subsequent to May 1, 1961. However, many of these new assignments may be ca.pable of caus ing harmful interference to stations already in operation. Conse quently, the frequencies of the new assignments will have to be chosen carefully and, in many instances, may need to be coordinated with foreign administrations. The necessity for coordination ap plies also whenever changes to existing assignments of the plans are necessary. This is particularly true in ITU Region 2 (which includes North and South America, Greenland, and portions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans) where changes could seriously affect United States stations, regardless of the frequency band, below 23,000 kc. The importance of international frequency coordination by the Commission is probably emphasized most in the case of mobile and fixed operations in the common carrier, industrial, land transporta tion, public safety, and other similar services along the Canadian borders in the 25-30, 150-174, 450-460 and 4000 Me bands. Unfor tunately, the concentration of Canada's popnlation in a somewhat narrow strip along portions of its southern border results in a great number of international operations being in close proximity, a situa tion which is growing more complex as new stations are added. To avoid wholesale interference problems to such services in the bands mentioned, the Commission and the Canadian Department of Trans port have been following, since 1951, an informal frequency-coordina tion procedure which requires the comments of the neighbor country to· be obtained before a new assignment is made in specified geographiCAl]' areaS alongtheborder. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 149 This informal coordination procedure was expanded in 1957 to in dude the 162-174 Mc band which is used in the United States princi pally by Government stations. It is anticipated that another revision will be necessary to make provision for coordinating and protecting assignments above 28 Mc which are no longer being reported to the IFRB. In addition, this procednre has provided a basis, although informal, for coordinating other proposed frequency assignments which may affect assignments of either country. While the proce.dure is not a cure for all problems it is significant that, during fiscal 1960, only 6 Cases of harmful interference "'ere re ported and only 1 United States operation was required to shift fre quency. The work involved in this coordination is reflected in the fact that the Commission exchanged 2,500 letters and telegrams with Canada during fiscal 1960, all of which directly affected domestic licensees. The Commission also exchanged comments with the United King dom, Mexico, Denmark, Spain, and other foreign countries for the purpose of eliminating objections to new United States HF fre quency assignments or to avoid interference resulting from changes in frequency assignments of foreign radio stations. INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE AND INFRACTIONS The Geneva conference stressed the importance of resolving harm ful interference between radio stations of different countries, and made a major revision of that part of the radio regulations prescribing the procedures to be followed. The Commission has a responsibility to foreign administrations and to its own licensees in the orderly expan sion of radio use. The international interference procedures are concerned with the channels which should be followed and the relative rights of indi vidual radio stations depend upon many circumstances. The outcome of correspondence with foreign administrations as to what action should be taken, and by whom, varies with each case. Each case has its own complexities and peculiarities so that the required action must be carefully evaluated to avoid any infringement on the licensee's right to operate. Therefore, these cases cannot be handled on a gen eral production-line basis. Duringthe year, the Commission handled 385 cases of harmful inter ference on behalf of its licensees and foreign governments. Of these, 352 were resolved satisfactorily and correspondence continues on the remainder. The Commission also served as contact point for 125 foreign complaints of interference caused by United States Govern ment radio stations. The Commission originated over 1,600 pieces 150 REPORT OF THE FEDEllAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION of correspondence in these matters, an increase of about 20 percent over the previous year. Approximately 92 percent of all cases han dled during the year were resolved satisfactorily, as compared to 85 percent in 1959. The Commission participates in another international effort carried out through the exchauge of information among administrations con cerning technical and operational deficiencies of observed emissions. This, too, is pursuant to the international radio regulations. In this way, many potential cases of harmful interference are avoided, thus contributing to the safety of life and property on the sea and in the air and to greater efficiency and related benefits on the part of private agencies operating in the international fixed service. During the year, over 5,000 reports (an increase of 20 percent over 1959) made by the Commission's monitoring stations of improper technical and operating characteristics of foreign stations were evalu ated and transmitted to the countries concerned. INTERNATIONAL FREQUENCY USAGE DATA Participation by the Commission continued in the international monitoring program. The purpose is to have administrations with reliable monitoring facilities log and compile data on frequency occu pancy in the band 2,850 to 27,500 kc so that studies maybe made as to how congestion in that portion of the radio spectrum might be relieved. During the year, over 90,000 monitoring observations were sub mitted by the FCC to the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) for examination and subsequent publication in the IFRB Summary of Monitoring Information. In addition to the 18 FCC monitoring stations, 16 private monitoring stations furnished these monitoring observations. The IFRB summary is published on a monthly basis and contains radio-spectrum occupancy data of value to users of the radio spec trum. Forexample, itshows current use of that portion between 2,850 and 27,500 kc which can be used to determine if stations listed in international ITU frequency documents are actually using certain of their assigned frequencies or using them part-time or only seasonally. About 24 nations are participating in this cooperative effort, which keeps the cost to anyone govermnent quite small, considering the results. The success of this international program is, to a large de gree, due to the Commission's efforts in providing data for the IFRB. In fact, FCC monitoring stations furnished about 60 percent of all data received for the first 2 or 3 years. Now the combined United States effort accounts for about 25 percent of the total. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 151 CALL LETTERS The Commission assigns the call letters of all United States stations, except mobile stations of the United States Army, pnrsuant to the Communications Act and international apportionment of call letters for identification purposes. Accordingly, the Commission maintains the only official record of the actnal identities of those call letters of Government radio stations since they are not made public as in the case, generally, of call letters designated for use by Commission licensees. This requires constant communication with the various agencies to insure that their records agree with those of the Commission and record the addition or dele tion of call letters so as to make new assignments possible and avoid inadvertent "hoarding" of call letters. Because of the classified nature of many of the call letters used by Government stations, the Commission has the dual responsibility of protecting their identity and, at the same time, identifying the source of any harmful interference. Of special interest this year, the Department of the Army returned over 1,200 four-letter "w" calls to the Commission, which are now available for reassignment. In the past, the Commission was fre quently requested by broadcast station licensees to negotiate the return of Government individual call signs for assignment to broad cast stations. In the future, the Commission will continue to nego tiate, upon request, the return of call letters from other Federal agen cies for use by broadcast stations. The Commission's file of call letters of Government radio stations contains many thousands of entries, over 70,000 of which were added during the past year. NATIONAL FREQUENCY COORDINATION The heavy, steady demand for frequency space by both Government and non-Government users necessitated formation during the year of special ad hoc groups which studied the joint problem and recom mended means to strengthen coordination and streamline procedures. This is because there is dual responsibility for use of domestic radio facilities. The President delegates authority to the Interde partment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) for assignments to Government stations while the Communications Act makes the FCC responsible for licensing non-Government operations. Consequently, efficient frequency management requires close coordination of assign ments between the Commission and other Government agencies. Due to the large number of Federal agencies utilizing the radio spectrum, this coordination is extremely time-consuming. With the 152 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISS!ON steady increase of proposals, the point was finally reached during the year where use of the telephone for as many as 100 or more calls daily was no longer practical. As an alternative, a private-line teletype was investigated bnt the cost was found prohibitive. So a written form of coordination was adopted wherein proposals are now mailed to agencies and comments are by telephone. This has eliminated half of the previously required telephone calls and the necessity of taking copious notes. Since any frequency proposal given favorable consideration in formally results in an application to the IRAC Frequency Assignment Snb-Committee (FAS), an increase in informal coordination is ne<)essarily reflected at the joint FAS-FCC meetings. Various steps were taken during the year in an effort to reduce the length of these meetings. However, 3 full days of meeting time each month are stilI required, and other time-saving possibilities are being explored. The decrease in number of interference problems between Govern ment stations and Commission licensees amounted to 22 percent. The total of 140 cases as compared with 178 cases in 1959 appears to be a result of better frequency management in addition to improvement in transmission and reception techniques. NATIONAL FREQUENCY LISTS The procedure for recording, maintaining and preparing lists of FCC frequency assignments has been systematized to the extent that 30 percent more such authorizations are being handled without an increase in personnel. This has been accomplished largely through the use of mechanical means. The need for current frequency-assignment records is based upon the following considerations: (a) Since international notifications are based on national records, the loss of frequency rights might be jeopardized if these records are not current. (b) FCC frequency assignment records are used by industry as a tool in requesting assignment of frequencies best suited to its usage. Without such records intelligent choices of frequency assignments could not be made. (c) Frequency coordination between the FCC and foreign countries, as well as with other U.S. Government agencies, requires up-to-the-minute records in order toavoid making assignments that may cause harmful interference. (d) Efficient frequency allocations and management requires that the Com mission be able to analJ.·ze usage being made of the spectrum on the basis of current records. With the ever-growing use being made of the spectrum, it appears that much of the hand processing now being done by the Commission will have to be converted to mechanical methods. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 153 STATISTICS N ationaZ frequency coordination Fonnal coordination .~_~~~. Experimental. . • ••__ • Informal coordination . •~_.__ BroadcasL •~._._ Percentage Fiscal Fiscal increase or 1959 1960 (decrease) 6,800 6,350 (6.li) 1,504 1,451 (3.5) 2,3.JO 2,72(\ (11.6) 135 141 (4.5) InternationaZ notification and frequency record8 Fiscal 1959 Fiscal IPercentage 1960 Authorizations processed__ . _ International notifications I. _. . _ Ship notifications 2 __ . . __ . _ 1 Discontinued notlfylllg above 28 .Me J nnuary 1,1960~ 2 Discontinued in .March 1960. 50,741 33,189 21,601 73,252 23,522 14,472 W.7 Appendix FCC LOG HIGHLIGHTS OF 1960 FISCAL YEAR The following capsule summary is based primarily upon releases of the Federal Communications Commission during the 1960 fiscal year period-July 1, 1959, to June 30, 1960. The dates shown are largely those of the covering releases and do not necessarily indicate the dates of the initiating formal approval. All actions are by the Commission unless otherwise indicated. 1959 July 8 Terminates inquiry into extending hours for daytime-only AM broad cast stations; sees no present need for rulemaking (docket 12729). July 9 Commissioner Hyde statement to Senate subcommittee concerning North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement. July 13 Citizens radio authorizations pass 50,000 mark. JUly,~16 Chairman Doerfer statement to Senate subcommittee concerning aux iliary TV services. Commissioner Lee statement to Senate committee concerning personal views on UHF TV situation. FCC comments on S. 2303 to place community antenna systems under its jurisdiction. July 22 Proposes two types of rulemaking procedures concerning off-the-record representations with respect to matters under adjudication (docket 12947). July 24 Announces reduction of $50 1 000,000 annually in long-distance telephone rates. Staff members to visit 'Western States to study community antenna TV systems. July 29 Comments on S. 616 and 886 relating to broadcast of sports events. July 30_Makes progress report on joint OCDM-FCC long-range frequency allocation planning. Amends political broadcast rules to require equal-time request be sub· mitted within 1 week of prior use, and requestee to prove that he and opponent are qualified candidates. Reports on frequency allocations above 890 Mc (docket 11866). Proposes interim technical standards for private microwave systems (excluding broadcasters) above 890 Mc (docket 13083). Aug. 6 \Varns Citizens Radio Service violators. Notice to shipping interests about bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone com munication. Aug. 7 Additional comments to Senate subcommittee concerning auxiliary TV systems. Aug. 13 Issues final TV broadcast financial data for 1958. 154 Oct. Oct. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 155 1959 Aug. 17 Reminds aviation industry that type acceptance requirements for transmitters in those services became effective July 1, 1959. International Radio Conference opens at Geneva. (Continues to Dec. 21. FCC Commissioner Craven is chairman of U.S. delegati.on at radio administrative session and Commissioner Hyde vice chairman of U.S. delegation at plenipotentiary session.) Aug. 20 Announces appointments to National Defense Executive Reserve FCC unit. Aug. 24 Issues release, ('Amateur Radio Interests All Ages; Boon to Physically Handicapped." Aug. 28 Commissioner Ford addresses West Virginia Broadcasters Association on "The Role of the FCC in Programming". Sept. 9 Proposes legislation to include FCC field employees under law provision which makes it a. crime to assault Federa.l employees performing in... spection duties. Sept. 10 Denies Lar Daly claim to double equal political time. Denies NAB petition for AM broadcast station use of "teaser" announce... ment without sponsor identification. Sept. 14 President signs Communications Act amendment exempting from political broadcast equal-time provision candidates appearing on "bona fide" news programs but not relieving broadcasters from responsibility to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of conflicting view on important public issues. Sept. 21 Chairman Doerfer addresses Public Service Programming Conference on FCC relation to broadcasting. Third proposal in AM clear channel proceeding (docket 6741) would open 23 clear channels to new Class II assignments. Report terminates AM daytime skywave proceeding (docket 8333) by adopting permissible radiation curves. (Supplemental report Oct. 22.) Issues final AM-FM financial data for 1958. Oct. 1 Takes steps to authorize alien pilots to use radio in domestic flights in interest of air safety. Sets Jan. 1, 1960 as deadline for painting antenna towers to meet neW requirement. 6 FCC offers Government engineering careers. 7 To ban national spot representation of affiliates by TV networks after Dec. 31, 1961 (docket 12746). (Amended Oct. 30.) Oct. 10 Chairman Doerler statement before House subcommittee concerning IIquiz" shows. Oct. 13 Chairman Doerier addresses NARUC convention on "Legislation Affecting the Federal Regulatory Process." Oct. 14 Chairman Doerfer addresses Radio TV News Directors Association on "The FCC and Broadcast News." Oct. 22 Proposes additional frequencies for air traffic control and spacecom~ munication (docket 13256). Oct. 29 Stays ban on multiplexed FM functional music operations pending action on petition to review Nov. 7, 1958 court decision voiding rules requiring multiplexing only. Oct. 30 Issues revised "A Short History of Electrical Communication." Nov. 10 Enlarges network inquiry (docket 12782) to consider extent of FCC authority in programming and commercial practices in general. Nov. 13 Post Office Department to test closed-circuit facsimile operation for possible mail transmittal. 156 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1959 Nov. 15 Issues revised "A-B-C of the FCC." Nov. 16 Announces that public spokesmen will be heard in broadcast program ming inquiry starting Dec, 7. Uncwvers hidden radio directed to Cuba. Nov. 19 Proposes certain split-channels for public safety services; contemplates new Medical Emergency Radio Service (docket 13273). Chairman Doerier statement on S. 600 to establish an Office of Federal Administrative Practices; also on S. 2374 to set up standards {or conduct of agency hearings. Nov. 20 Issues interim guide for CONELRAD State Industry Advisory Com mittees. Chairman Doerfer addresses TV Bureau of Advertising on "Mass Communications Media at. the Crossroads." Dec. 2 Proposes rules for low-power VHF TV translator operation (docket 12116); extends grace period for existing VHF boosters. Dec. 3 Asks broadcasters to supply information concerning nonannounced advertising matter aired since Nov. 1, 1958 and what controls they have established to prevent this in the future. Dec. 7 Public proceeding opens on inquiry into broadcast programming (docket 12782). (Results in 19 days of testimony by nearly 100 group spokesmen which almost fills 5,000 pages.) Dec. 16 Proposes legislation relieving FCC from monthly backlog reporting. Dec. 18 Proposes legislation requiring painting and lighting of abandoned radio towers. Dec. 23 Authorizes Purdue University to test educational UHF TV airborne operation. Dec. 29 Commissioner Ford addresses WICE Broadcast Career Seminar on HCareers with the FCC." Dec. 30 Attorney General reports to President on llDeceptive Practices in Broadcasting 1\ledia. " Dec. 31 Chairman Doerfer issues year-end statement. 1960 Jan. 4 Proposes limited number of interim shorter-spaced VHF TV stations (docket 13340). Jan. 8 Chairman Doerfer addresses Federal Communications Bar Association on FCC role in broadcast programming. Jan. 14 Chairman Doerier addresses Radio and TV Executive Society on major problems facing the Commission. Jan. 18 Telephone company links United States with the Bahamas by micro wave. Jan. 19 Editorially revised statement to Senate committee by Commissioner Lee concerning his views on UHF TV problem. Jan. 21 Takes further actions regarding "payola" and related broadcast pro gramming matters. Jan. 25 Commissioner Hyde statement to Senate subcommittee regarding the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement. Proposes legislation relieving FCC from annual personnel reporting. Jan. 28 Western Union files cable divestment plan. Writes Electronic Industries Association about study of stereophonic broadcasting. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 157 1960 Feb. 2 Chairman Doerfer statement to Senate subcommittee on TV allocation problem. Commissioner Ford statement to same subcommittee concerning joint OCDM-FCC long-range frequency allocations planning. Feb. 3 Amends rules to permit radio licensing of aliens holding U.S. pilot certificates (docket 13216). Feb. 4 Drafting proposed legislation and rules to curb payola and quiz broadcast program practices. (Rule texts (dockets 13389 and 13380) announced Feb. 5; legislative proposals Feb. 11.) Amends rules to give additional frequencies for air traffic control (docket 13256). Feb. 5 Chairman Doerier addresses Advertising Federation of America on broadcast advertising practices. Feb. 11 Commissioner Ford addresses Philadelphia TV and Radio Club on "Programming-the Commission and Its Broadcast Licensees." Feb. 12 Amends rules to redefine scope of permissible communications by citizen radio -users (docket 12987). (Reaffirmed May 5.) Feb. 15 Proposes legislation giving FCC authority to curb interference from TV receivers. Feb. 17 Amateur licenses increase 285 percent in 12 years. Feb. 18 President renominated Commissioner Lee for another term. Announces further liaison between FCC and FTC on unannounced sponsorship of broadcast matters. Provides for regular aircraft-ground public radio communication service and reallocates certain citizens radio frequencies to industrial services (docket II959). Feb. 19 Requires 54 TV UHF permittees to explain why they have delayed station construction. Feb. 23 AT&T revises tariffs on one-waymessage recording regulations for inter state phone calls without "beep" signal under specific conditions. Feb. 25 Chairman Doerfer addresses Conference of State Broadcast Association Presidents on broadcast programming problems. Feb. 26 Notifies broadcast station of May 3 CONELRAD daytime drill re- quirements. Mar. 1 Issues revised "Broadcast Application Procedure" factsheet. Mar. 2 Proposes shorter license periods to aid broadcast enforcement. Mar. 4 Chairman Doerfer statement to House subcommittee on steps taken by FCC to control broadcast programming abuses. Mar. 10 Chairman Doerfer resigns; President names Commissioner Ford as Chairman. (Latter 88sumes Chairmanship Mar. 15.) Senate ratifies North American Broadcasting Agreement. (Effective April 19.) Mar. 15 Comments on H.R. 4800, to strengthen Federal regulatory agencies; H.R. 6774, to establish conduct standards for ageney hearing proceedings; S. 1735, to repeal honorarium provision for FCC Commissioners; H.R. 6127 and S. 1736, to eliminate oath requirement on some FCC forms; H.R. 6573 and S. 1738, to redefine duties of FCC review staff; and S. 1965, to standardize terms of office of heads of Federal regulatory agencies. Mar. 17 Issues interpretations of section 317 requirements concerning sponsorship identification of broadcast material. (On Apr. 1 afforded opportunity for comments.) May Apr. Apr. 158 REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1960 Mar. 24 President nominates Edward K. Mills, Jr., to be a Commissioner. (Withdrawn May 16 at Mills' request.) Relaxes "cut-off" procedure in processing AM broadcast applications to permit certain engineering amendments. Mar. 28 Proposes legislation to give FCC control over installation, height, and location of receiving antenna towers. 1 Issues revised 1I8afety and Special Radio Services Primer." 5 Tabulates broftdcast station responses to Ilpayola" questionnaire. Chairman Ford addresses NAB. Apr. 8 Enables telephone companies to provide free interconnection between broadcast stations and networks in CONELRAD program. Apr. 12 Comments on H.R. 11341, to hold public hearings before granting broad. cast licenses; H.R. 10241, to prohibit broadcast of deceptive material; H.R. 10242, to provide for conditional broadcast renewals, suspension of licenses, etc.; H.R. 11397, to ban payment for broadcasting musical works; H.R. 11398, to limit broaclcast renewals to stations operating in public interest; and H.R. 7017 and S. 1898, to substitute pre-grant procedure for protest. Apr. 19 Proposes legislation to enable FCC to issue temporary restraining orders, suspend licenses, or impose forfeitures in appropriate cases. Apr. 20 Invites comments on proposal to permit AM daytime broadcast stations to sign off at 6 p.m. local time instead of local sunset (docket 13477). Apr. 21 Orders 'Vestern Union to further negotiate for cable divestment. Proposes limited subscriber radio dispatching in public land mobile service (docket 13478). Apr. 29 Reminds broadcast stations of need for compliance with FCC technical and engineering requirements. Issues revised "Regulation of Wire and Ratlio Communication" fact sheet. May 3 Proposes legislation to distinguish adjudicatory from other rulemaking procedures. May 4 Expands permissible types of FM multiplexed subsidiary operations (docket 12517); invites comments on 8 systems of FM stereophonic transmission (docket 13506). Proposes revised propagation curves for contemplated interim short spaced VHF TV assignments (docket 13340). May 5 Chairman Ford addresses Institute for Education by Radio-TV on IIFreedom and Responsibility-Laws, Codes or Czars." May 6 Chairman Ford addresses American Women in Radio and TV on IIChal· lenge and Change.II May 12 Authorizes first phase of Western Union's proposed transcontinental microwave relay system. Institutes inquiry into hidden commercials in recorded broadcast Hintel'view" programs. May 16 Commissioner Hyde addresses Brigham Young University fraternity on regUlatory functions of the FCC. Comments on H.R. 11340, to place limitations on transfer of broadcast stations and to license national networks. Comments on S. 3171, to require TV networks and TV stations to make 1 hour of time available to each major party presidential candidate each week during 8 weeks preceding election. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 159 1960 May 17 International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea opens in London. (Continues to June 17. FCC Commissioner Bartley member of U.S. delegation.) May 18 Comments on H.R. 11041, to give FCC jurisdiction over community antenna TV systems. Grants protests by TV stations to extent of designating for hearing various applications for grants for microwave relay systems which had been stayed because of Court of Appeals remand. May 19 Reopens proceeding on allocations above 890 Me (docket 11866) to receive information about current space communication requirements; initiates separate inquiry into future space communication needs (docket 13522). Queries TV broadcast stations about their general and current policies concerning political broadcasts. May 20 Announces establishment of Complaints and Compliance Division in Broadcast Bureau; related statement to Senate Appropriations Com. mittee. (New division activated June 2.) May 25 Chairman Ford reports to Senate Appropriations Committee on broad. cast complaints for last 3 months in 1959. Authorizes use of TV boosters by UHF stations, effective July 5 (docket 11331). May 26 Authorizes merger of Globe Wireless, Ltd., with American Cable &: Radio Corp. Deletes geDgraphic assignment of nonbroadcast call signs. June 3 Sets ::n "idle" UHF TV permits for oral argument; 21 other permits cancelled since Feb. 11 notice to those who have not constructed. June 6 Comments on S. 1886, to enable FCC to deal with VHF TV booster problem. June 8 Testimony on S. 1965 to unify law's provisions with respect to terms of office of members of regulatory agencies. June 13 Comments on H.R. 6676, 6868, 8286, 9627 and 10275 to authorize day time AM stations to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 15 Eleven more FM Hdoctor-casting" grants bring total to 14. June 23 Further steps in Western Union cable divestment (docket 6517). Proposes to make Bakersfield, Calif., TV all UHF. Office of Defense Coordination transferred to Office of Administration. June 29 Revised field strength charts for TV Channels 7-13 placed in shorter spaced VHF assignment proceeding (docket 13340). o