Evening star., 1950-01-19
Muzak Wont Renew
Contract 10 Provide
Music for Buses

Inc MuZak Corp. will not renew
It's contract to supply records to
WWDC-FM for transit radio music
broadcasts, it was learned today.
The Office of Senator Benton,
Democrat, of Connecticut, who
owns Muzak, said the corporation
was opposed to its products being
used in connection with such ad-
vertising purposes.
1t cannot control secondary
contracts entered into by it's Gus
toners for such use as in transit
radio. however, the spokesman
said, and the only recourse is not
to renew its contracts in such
cases.
The contract with WwDc ex-
pires in May.
FEC Hearing Sought.
Harry E. Houghton, president
of Muzak Corp. and Paul A. Por-
ter, the corporations counsel, an
nounced. meanwhile, they will ask
the Federal Communications
Communications for public
hearing in connection with their
request for amendment of cer-
tain regulations.
The amendment would permit
the utilization of frequencies al
lotted to FM broadcasting for
supplying Muzak's specialized pro-
grams to subscribers across the
country. the statement said.
The statement explained that
FIN stations are using the super
sonic signal in connection with
broadcast and leasing the neces-
sary receiving equipment to COM
mercial establishments. Mr.. Por-
ter said he thought that under
existing FEC regulations these
stations are violating at least five
specific rules as well as the gen.
eral policies of FEC relating to
FIN station operations.
Ben Strouse, vice president and
general manager of Capital
Broadcasting Co., issued a state
ment charging that Muzak had
distorted and withheld the basic
information as to why it's re-
cordings are being withdrawn
from the transit radio field. Mr..
Strause said Muzak's attorney
would have been closer to the
truth If he stated that Muzsk
made its move for competitive
reasons.
Petitions Filed.
"The fact of the matter is that
FIN stations throughout the Ma
tion, including WWDC-FM, are
now going into the functional
music business on a competitive
basis" Mr.. Strouse said.
"WWDC-FM is already making
arrangements to supplement it's
present music library from sources
other than Muzak and pipe its
facilities to commercial and nom
commercial establishments now
using music supplied by the Muzak
monopoly"
Meanwhile, petitions asking re-
consideration Of the Public Utili-
ties Commission decision last
month approving continuance of
the FIN radio reception were filed
yesterday by the Progressive Cit
izens' Association of Georgetown,
the Transit Riders Association,
the National Citizens Committee
Against Forced Reading and
Forced Listening, and 12 individ-
uals.
Want Approval Defined.
TWO of the latter group were
Attorneys Franklin s. Pollak and
Guy Martin, who spearheaded
opposition to transit radio at the
public hearing this fall.
They asked that the commits
sion prohibit reception of the
broadcasts or reopen the hearing
for new evidence and for evidence
excluded at the hearing.
The attorneys asked further
that, in case of approval of the
installation and use of radio re-
ceivers, the commission define
exactly what Is approved and
direct that the receiver in any
bus or streetcar be turned off on
request of single passenger.
The Transit Riders Association
charged "willful determination by
the commission to close it's eyes to
the opposition" It pointed out
the New York Central Railroad
decided to discontinue broadcasts
IN Grand Central Station because
OF the Ill will they stirred up."
A group of eight attorneys de-
elared the commissions action
errs in that it fails to deal with
constitutional questions, does not
consider the. legal rights of indi-
viduals nor the limitations on the
rights OF majorities and does not
contain detailed findings of fact"
Others Submit Petition.
The attorneys are Hector G.
Spaulding, Thomas M. Woodward,
Huston Thompson, Mary Connor
Myers, David w. Richmond, Rob-
ert N. Miller, Seth w. Richardson
and Abram F. Myers.
Others submitting petitions in
cluded Bernard Tassler and Paul
N. Temple, jr., both of whom
took part in the earlier pro-
seedlings.
A letter to the commission from
Paul Sifton. national legislative
representative of the CIO United
Auto Workers, declared that ap-
proval of forced listening now
may mean that political poison
will be poured into our ears before
the elections of November 7, $780,
Mrs. Ethel Roy Barber Dies;