Evening star., 1939-07-14
FEC. Suspends Rule
Assai|ed by Critics
As Censorship
Abondons Its Stund
Radio Broodcusts Must
Reflect Culture

The Federal Communications Com
mission today suspended its rule re-
quiring that international broadcasts
reflect the culture of this country"
and promote" international good
will, understanding and co-opera-
ton"
Acting Chairman Thad H. Brown
announced suspension of the rule,
which critics had said tended toward
censorship, as the commission
opened hearings on it.
He said the suspension was de-
creed pending an opportunity to
hear and consider the evidence,
views and arguments to be presented
on the issues in this hearing"
At the outset of the hearing, Com
missioner Brown read a statement
saying the F. C. c. has no desire,
purpose or intention of setting itself
up as a board of censorship and that
1t does not and will not exercise any
such jurisdiction.
After reading of the statement
and an announcement by counsel
for the American Civil Liberties
Union, on whose petition the hear
ing was granted, that it would have
no witnesses but would offer state
ments made in the record of the
monopoly hearing, former Repre-
sentative Swager Sherley of Ken
lucky, representing the National As
sociation of Broadcasters, made a
motion that the rule be changed to
read that these international broad
cast stations render an interna-
tlonal broadcast service"
The Civil Liberties Union has ar
gued that the rule tends to deprive
the American public, including the
petitioner, of the right of free speech
by means Of radio communica ton"
The Columbia and National net.
works, several international sta.
tions and some members of Con-
gress also have contended that the
rule smacked of censorship.
Shortly after the start of The
nearing the commission was con-
fronted with the problem of ruling
on the right of free speech. It
came in two instances when Will
liam j. Dempsey, general counsel of
the commission, sought to prevent
the Rev. Edward L. Curran, repre-
sentlng the International Catholic
Truth Society, from continuing
statement containing attacks on the
| National Association of Broadcast
ers and the Civil Liberties Union.
Both Mr.. Sherley and Fred Ballard.
counsel for the Civil Liberties Union,
expressed hope the commission
would not put any restraint on the
right OF free speech at the hearing,
Father Curran was allowed to pro-
ceed.
1t appeared for a time that the
hearing might be brought suddenly
! to an end after the commission had
made its statement and the pro-
posed rule on behalf of the broad
casters association was submitted.
However, Mr.. Dempsey insisted the
commission had right to have the
views of the N. A. B., principal
critic OF the commission on its new
rule, as to whether it wanted to set
up a separate definition of public
| interest, convenience and necessity
IN the operation of international
radio stations.
Mr.. Sherley said he did not be-
lleve the commission in one full
sweep should attempt to define the
language of the statute under which
it operates, but rather such defini-
ton should come from decisions
in specific cases brought before it.
When Mr.. Dempsey was unable to
get Mr.. Sherley to define the views
OF the broadcasters, the hearing was
ordered to proceed, with Father Cur
ran as the first witness.