Evening star., 1947-04-18
| lTeIeyision Choice
In Residential Areas
Defended by Engineer

1N Vi
The District can receive adequate
television service only from four
tower sites on high ground resi-
dental areas, a consulting engineer
for teleyision permit holders told
a Senate House District Subcom-
mittee today.
s Other witnesses, representing citi-
zens' associations or appearing in
dividually as neighborhood residents,
protested, however. against erection
OF television or radio towers in resi-
DENTAL sections. They urged ap-
proyal of bill forbidding towers in
residential sections. especially near
schools and recreational facilities.
They suggested that Rock Greek
Park be used as the site for q
Joint system Of towers to be operated
by all the television broadcasting
concerns.
6 But Worthington Lent, consulting
engineer who represented four COM
panies which have received FEC per-
nits for television stations here.
declared the park did not have a
suitable site for a joint structure.
He added that q common tower.
moreover, would not be a practical
solution for television service in
Washington.
Only solution. Engineer Saws.
No broadcasting company de-
hnerately goes into a residential
area to build q television tower !"
Mr.. Lent explained. "For one thing.
the costs In such areas are very
high, but exhaustive investigation
In the District has shown that,
adequate service can be provided
only from towers In high areas
which are residential sections.
There are only four possible tele-
vision channels In the District at
this time and the facilities must be
located in the comparatively few
high ground areas because OF ex-
treme noise and other interference
that would be encountered closer to
the center Of the city"
Mr.. Lent and Don Petty, general
counsel for the National Associa-
ton of Broadcasters, told the sub
committee the proposed bill for
stricter regulations of teleyision
towers is completely restrictive" ;"
Mr. Lent commented that "it would
remove regulation by the District
Commissioners from the realm of
discretion and put 1t in the realm
Of prohibition !"
MIR. Petty declared that enactment
OF the bill would adversely affect
the development not only of tele-
vision, but also FIN and facsimile
throughout the whole country.
Under existing laws the public is
fully protected Mr. Petty said.
The FEC determines the location of
towers and transmitters in the light
OF public and technical require
ments; the CAA in the light of
safety requirements relating to the
public In connection with air trans
portation and the District govern
ment in the light of good and safe
city planning"
Explains CAA Regula ations.
Another witness, Frederick B. Lee
executive assistant to the civil aero
nautics administrator, explained
CAA regulations which prohibit
planes from flying under 1000 feet
over congested areas. He said that
erection of radio and television
towers provide landmarks for pilots,
especially at night, and would pre-
sent no particular air hazard In the
District.
Other witnesses were Leverett A.
Meadows, president of the Manor
Park Citizens Association, John H
Connaughton of the Petworth Citi-
zens' Association, William J. Bartle
OF the Federation OF Citizens Asso-
Citations, G.aB. Quinn of the Friend
ship Citizens Association and Ed
ward Brown, Mrs. Josephine Perna
and Mrs. Ida Rossi, who live within
$50 feet Of proposed television
tower near Brandywine and Fortieth
streets NV. 1
Mr.. Meadows and several of the
other witnesses criticized the Dis
trict Commissioners and Corpora
ton Counsel Vernon West for ar
bitrary Interpretation" OF zoning
ana building height statutes. They
accused the District officials of hav-
ing authorized construction of tow
ers without public hearings in some
instances and contrary to the ex-
pressed wishes Of a majority Of the
residents on affected areas.
Mr.. Meadows criticized the grant
ing OF a permit to Richard Eaton,
He asked not only that the permit
be revoked but that the Congress
sional subcommittee cake a special
investigation Of the circumstances
surrounding issuance Of the permit.
Mr.. Brown, Mrs. Perna and Mrs.
r ossi complained particularly
against the dangers of having a 300
foot television tower within $50 feet
of their houses and within two
blocks Of three school buildings in
the Brandywine street neighbor-
hood. They cited the danger Of
low flying planes and the possibility
that a severe storm would blow
down the towers.
THE lives of my husband and
me and our two children are en-
dangered." Mrs Rossi declared.
Also. there are $500 school children
within two blocks of the proposed
tower. The District Commissioners
have violated the law in issuing
permit. I say with Patrick Henry,
Give me liberty or give me death, |
but I am going to fight this because
I am not going to be killed"
Nee Resumes Stand as
Divorce Fight Continues |