Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-04-01
Where Is A Policy
For Video?
BY BRADFORD v. CARTER
LPA CnlumniSt

THERE'S fight brewing in Washington that
might determine what you see on your
television set during the next ten years-or
whether you have television set at all.
The issues in the battle aren't black and
white. But, as is usual in such cases. they're
complicated by the fact that somebody is max
ing money from the business-lots of money.
A recent story in the Journal of Commerce
pointed out that the television industry will
make over a billion dollars this year
Last month Sen. Edwin c. Johnson Cd.
Colo), chairman of the Senate Commerce
Committee sent a letter to Chairman Wayne
Coy of the Federal Communications Commis-
sion asking him to answer six questions about
television Lack of a definite FEC policy on
vdeo, johnson hinted, might result in the pub
lie getting fine rocking.
For one thing, people getting television
sets now might find themselves with hunk
of Junk on their hands within short time.
When and if licenses are granted in the ultra
high frequencies, television sets being manu-
factured now will be obsolete While the sales
men of televsion sets say converterS can be
provided the ones now used for FM frequency
shifts have often turned out to be not much
good.
For another thing, the industry has every
possibility of becoming complete monopoly.
Under the present system, there just aren't
enough television channels to go around so
some cities don't have TV at ALL nor do small
towns or farms.
Here is brief summary of the six ques-
tions asked by Johnson, and the FEC answers
to them
/. Has consideration been given to plan
of television frequency ALLEGATION which will
insure the use on broad commercial scale of
every Improvement in the art, including the
use of color?
At a hearing held last September it was
agreed that color was still not ready and that
the channels it would take up are needed for
the present television system. Everyone who
testified, the Commission pointed out, is in the
broadcasting industry and has his money in
vested in the present system They don't want
to see it outmoded in a hurry.
q Has consideration been given to the pre-
vention of the element of monopoly control
both in the manufacture of the equipment used
for transmission and reception of teleVlslon as
we'll as in the broadcast of the programs?
Monopoly regulations in the television field
were carried over almost bodily from regular
radio, with separate investigation held. 1t s
possible that conditions in TV are sufficiently.
different so that additional regulations are
needed to guard against monopoly in the field.
Even the rules for regular radio networks are
clumsy and at times unavoidable 1t is almost
impossible, for instance, to prove when net
work is coercng its affiliated stations, be-
cause the pressures it exerts often subtle
and indirect.
g. To what extent, if any, would the perma
nent assignment of the very-high- -frequencies
presently used for television, prevent rapid
development and use of the ultra high-fre-
quencies when and if ultra-high is made avail
able for commercial licensing?
Permanent assignment of the VHF bands
would slow down televison progress. Mem
bers of the Radio Manufacturers Assn not
only want to hold on to their present VHF
channels, but want the same standards trans
ferred TO any UHF ones that are assigned.
,,tI,1
ed to cities where there are already VHF
stations (all cities that now have television).
UHF would mean clearer black and white
television
a. To what extent, If any, would such con-
tnued use of present televsion frequencies
have the practical effect of denying entry into
television operation by the large majority of
present-day smaller operators of AM radio
stations?
If additional channels are not made avail
able, most of the present radio operators will
not have an opportunity to become televison
broadcasters.
s. What study, if any, has been given to
the potentially monopolistic features of the
so-called "stratovision" television scheme of
broadcast?
g. Would the "stratovision" system be used
solely for relaying nationwide television pro-
grams or would the system be used as a tele-
vision broadcast medium whereby a single
operator, or two or three operators would be
granted licenses to serve the entire United
States with their own televsion programs?
Westnghouse is experimenting with STRAIT
DIVISION broadcasting with air-based antenna.
If the system works, II could mean television
service to extensive rural areas which would
otherwise be outside the range of any tele-
vision stations utilizing land-based antenna
If single broadcatser is given astratovisiono
license, he will have one-man control over a
very large area, The FEC may decide to
stratovision for relay programs only.
These six questions pose the possibilities
of the extent of televison, and its dangers as
a monopoly. In addition, televison is so ex-
pensve that only the biggest broadcasters can
afford to go into the field
The Federal Communications Commission
has, yet clearly defined policy on these
things. If they don't develop one soon Con-