Evening star., 1948-03-01
Radio Networks
Demand Right
10 Editoriiaize
| FEC Opens Hearing
On Move to Lift Ban;
Witnesses Hit Policy
By Chris Mothisen

wv nAOuStNoceAAAS AAStWoAA PA Coa-
dents today demanded before the
Federal Communications Commis-
sion that radio station licensees
be permitted to air their own opin-
ions on controversial issues.
Operation in the, public interest
places positive duty on the broad
casters to editorialize vigorously
whenever they believed that 1t is in
the public interest to do so" declared
Mark Woods, head of the American
Broadcasting Co.
The FEC policy against this comes
down to a distrust Of the owners
and managers of American radio
stations, and, indirectly, a distrust
of the American people themselves" !"
added Frank Stanton, president of
the Columbia Broadcasting System.
All FEC Members Present.
They were the first witnesses
as the FEC opened a hearing on
proposals to change the position
enunciated in its so-called May
flower Decision" The decision, an
nounced in January, 1941, held that
"the broadcaster cannot be an
advocate" and "as one licensed
to operate in a public domain the
|. licensee has assumed the obligation
of presenting all sides of important
public questions fairly, effectively
and without bias"
All seven members of the COM
mission were present for the first
session OF the hearing and the
! Interstate Commerce Commission
hearing room, borrowed for the
occasion, was crowded with broad
casting executives.
1T would seem to me that the
broadcaster, in his effort to serve
the public interest, should have
the right to state his opinion, ex-
press his viewpoint and to urge
his audience to understand the
significance of his editorials" Mr..
/ Woods said.
Admits Possible Need for Policy.
He insisted there was no need for
regulation requiring broadcasters
to present both sides of controversial
issues. since "the licensee might
conceivably still be operating in the
public interest even though he deny
the use of his facilities to opposing
factions because other local stations
or newspapers have, in his opinion,
given sufficient publicity to their
views"
Under questioning by Benedict P.
Cottone, FEC general counsel, Mr..
Woods admitted there might be
need for a Government policy with
respect to fair presentation of issues
in situations where a community
! had but one station.
Broadcasting, Mr.. Stanton stated,
''has been singled out among all
the media of communication OF
thought for Government regulation
over and above necessary technical
regulation"
UNLESS this commission is willing
to take the position that the news
papers of this country should not
have the right to editorialiZe, I do
not see how the commission can say
that radio stations should not also
have the right" he argued.
Would Offer Opponents Views.
Both network chiefs testified their
companies. If permitted to editor
ialize on the air, would provide time
for the views of opponents and
would not require afflliated stations
to broadcast network editorials If
managements of the afaliates held
contrary opinions.
AS part of his presentation, Mr..
Stanton had played for the COM
mission recordings of sample ed
itorial program produced by CHS
as an experiment but never broad
cast.
The editorial, consuming about IS
minutes, indorsed the legislation
which would provide Federal finan-
cial aid for schools throughout the
Nation. ,
This was followed by recording
purporting to present criticism and
comment in letters from listeners
which the network proposed to