Evening star., 1939-05-24
Make Haste Slowly
On 1eIeyision, F. C
Committee Warns
Dangers to Development,
Economics and
Public Pointed Out
BY WILLIAM A. WHEATLEY.

Television service to the public
on a nation wide scale cannot be
expected for some time, the commit
tee studying this phase of radio
broadcasting reported to the Federal
Communications Commission today.
1t recommended against approval
of standards for this service at this
time, said that it just barely is
emerging from the first or tech
nical research stage OF development,
and even went so far as to issue a
warning to the investing public to
use good business acumen by eX-
haustively Scrutinizing all televiSion
financial prospectus.
The committee of members of the
commission reported that the indus
try should be encouraged to carry
on, to the extent of experimenting
In providing transmitting stations
and apparatus, but should cooper
ate in the reduction of the prices
and lengthening the obSoleScense
periods of receivers which appear
now to be very short. In recon-
mending against approval of stand
ards, the committee said that it is
firmly of the opinion that 1t would
be hazardous to both the best in
terests of the industry and the pub
lie to attempt by administrative fiat
to freeze the art at this stage OF
Its development.
Economic Dangers Seen.
1t also warned against the eco
nomic dangers inherent in the born
ing of a new industry. While tele-
vision as a major industry may have
distinct social advantages through
the creation of new employment, the
committee asserted that it appears
necessary that all concerned eXer-
else caution to minimize diSadvan-
tages which could result in unneceS-
sary displacement of labor in in
dustries which may be adversely af-
fected by television service on a ma
tional scale. However, it added that
these disadvantages are susceptible
of being minimiZed.
Primarily because of the large
cost of construction of transmit
ting stations as well as the
high cost of their operation in
national competitive system, it
is expected, the report said, that
for the next few years the largest
metropolitan centers will be the
only centers receiving television
service.
The committee said television
financing requires courageous pio-
neering efforts on the part of the
American investors"
There are many organizations"
the committee went on, in discussing
this phase, which now have sound
basic plans for the development of
certain phases of the television art
There may be others which are not
equipped from the standpoint of
either basic facilities or organiza-
ton, but which will nevertheless
attempt to secure financial support
from the investing public. Such
enterprises are doomed to ultimate
failure"
The committee recommended that
the commission neither approve nor
disapprove the standards proposed
by the Radio Manufacturers Asso-
ciation that it require future ap-
plicants for television station IL
censes proposing external transmit
ter performance differing from those
previously in general use to prove
that such proposed performance not
only equals the established quality
but also will be in the public in
terest, in view of the changed sit.
uation thus created: that the COM
mission adopt policy of co-opera-
tion with the industry as a whole
that the commission announced
that it will not hold formal public
hearings at this time because it
does not appear that constructive
results will be obtained at this early
stage of development.