Evening star., 1949-09-29
Public Pressure Cited
As Problem at FEC
Hearing on Color ~
By Robert K. WoIsh

the Federal Communications Com
mission between the devil and the
deep the commission was told
today at hearings on the question
Of allowing color TV for CONNER
cial use.
Contending that the time is
now right" for such operations,
David B. Smith, Philco Corp.
executive testifying for the Radio
Manufacturers Association, said
the increasing public demand and
curiosity for color programs is all
the more reason why the FEC
should protect the public. He
added that the commission should
see that the public gets color
pictures at least as good as present
black and white showings.
The witness warned, however,
that color system standards hastily
adopted by the FEC might be
suddenly upset or outmoded at
great cost and trouble to set own
ers, manufacturers; telecasters and
investors.
Surveys Are Cited.
Thomas T. Goldsmith of Du
Mont Laboratories. Inc. also tes-
tifying for RMA, explained engi-
neering surveys which he said
proved that none of the currently
developed color system would offer
the type Of efficient and economi-
cal service that the public should
have.
FEC Commissioner Edward M.
Webster raised the possibility that
the FEC might establish tentative
standards before freezing" the
type Of color system and require
ments. This, he indicated. might
let the public get some color TV
programs but at the same time
leave the door open to further
hearings, home and field tests
and revisions before adoption of
final standards. g
Mr.. Webster commented that
"public opinion and pressure nec-
essarily has great deal of weight
In this matter"
Mr.. Smith agreed but added
that we're between the devil and
the deep because we don't want
to make a mistake"
Time Estimate Sought.
Asked to estimate when the
time will be right" for CONNER
cial use of color TV, he replied
only that "it will be in the near
future
Commissioners Robert F. Jones
and Frieda Hennock wanted to
know whether RMA has made a /
comprehensive effort to obtain
data on color TV and the attitude
Of small manufacturers. Mr..
Smith said the organizations in
formation is still incomplete, but
that the manufacturers are "justf
as interested in having color TV
improved as everybody is in hav-
ing atomic power developed"
Lets stick to one problem at a |
time" Commissioner Jones inter-
rupted.
Producers Push Tests.
The, Columbia BroadcaSting
System, Radio Corp. of America
and Color Television, Inc. mean
while pushed tests of the color
systems they plan to demonstrate
October Z and 10 to the FEC.
A portable converter to change
black and white reception into |
color and "simulcolorcast" of a |
regular radio network program |
were disclosed today by CHS. The
two other companies have been
testing their devices daily here
and In San Francisco. but will not |
unveil them until the official
demonstration for the FEC.
A request for comparative tests
Of color and black and white sys-
TENS on sets in the same room
at the same time was made to
the commission by Du Mont Lab
oratories, Inc. William A. Rob-
erts, Washington attorney for the
company, filed a petition asking
that "the initial demonstrations
Of color systems be required to
include comparable demonstra-
tions Of black and white COM
mercial systems under conditions
controlled by the commission"
Du Mont. Philco, the Emerson
Co. and several others In the tele-
vision field oppose the group in
cluding RCA, CHS and Color Tele-
vision, Inc. which contends that
color television is ripe for COM
mercial use.
Outdoor Test Due Today.
The first outdoor test of color
casting in Washington will bel
made between 8 and PM today.
CHS announced. A color program
of q football scrimmage session atl
Woodrow Wilson High School field
was to be shown privately on re-
ceiving sets that will be used In
the official demonstrations next
month. -
In test last night, CHS coined
the word "simulcolorcast" when
broadcasting an interview with
Senator Margaret Chase Smith.
Republican, of Maine in a regu-
lar network black-and-white pro-
gram and simultaneously sending |
the program in color television.
Owners Of television sets in
Washington cannot see these color
programs. The CHS color pro-
grams are being seen only on two
receiving sets In Hotel Statler
suite. One set is especially built
to get only color. The other has
converter and adapter devices so
that q color telecast can be picked
up in color by a regular black
and-white receiver.