Evening star., 1961-11-20


mel 10, Miami, Florida, ceased operation. This
results from an order entered by the Federal
Communications Commission, the agency of the
United States Government having Jurisdiction
television and radio. All of this comes after
this station has been serving the people in the
Miami area for more than four years.
The Commission originally authorized Public
Service Television to build and operate Channel
10 in early 1857. That authorization was chal-
lenged as invalid because of charges of alleged
ex parte representations made to a member of
the F. C. C. WPST-TV defended its award before
the Commission and in the Federal Courts. We
denied then-and we deny with equal vigor now
that anyone connected with this station, or the
corporation which operated it, has done anything
improper.
The Commission has entered final order
for the time being. 1t goes without saying that
we will fully comply. But that does not mean
that we will not make every reasonable and
proper effort to return to the service of the
people of the Miami area in this important
medium of communications.
In this connection, | think it is appropriate
to comment editorially = and effectively - on
what comes next after this unprecedented change
over in the operation Of television channel. The
new operator takes over a temporary basis.
Some months hence the Federal Communications
Commission will consider awarding the Channel
10 license for full three-year term. How it goes
about this is a matter of great interest to the
country as a whole as well as to the Miami area.
Surely, the primary concern of the public is with
the quality and character of television program
ming.
Since the Commission issued its Channel 10
ruling more than year ago, fOrthrig ght new
chairman, Mr.. Newton Minow, has been appointed
by the President of the United States. And from
the Commission has come the unmistakable inn
preston that jor changes and improvements
are due in the entire institution of television
brOadcasting. As move in this direction,
pect that the Commission will take fresh look
at Channel 10. And we respectfully urge that it
consider several basic steps to insure that the
long.term license ultimately to be awarded. will
be in the best interest of the people of Miami,
as well in the interest of televisions response.
bility to the public well-being.
We urge, first, that the Commission should
encourage the filing Of applications by as strong
field of competitors as it get, in order that
it will have real choice. Certainly, it should not
let the license go by default.
Second, and in accordance with Chairman
Minow's expressed determination to hold local
hearings, the Commission should schedule full
public hearings, in Miami, all of the applica-
tions 1t should enable the community's religious,
cultural, economic and professional leaders to
comment on the programs and facilities offered
and to appraise the relative competence of the
applicants to provide first quality televsion for
Miami.
,;rJ - r.f
the principle enunciated in the various proceed
ings during the past year, the private, informal
contacts with members employees of the Com
mission on behalf of an applicant are prohibited.
1t should invite anyone, including public officials,
to make any pertinent representations on the rec
ord-and before the Commission-where their
views and expressions will be subject to scrutiny
and cross-examination.
Any responsible applicant for television
license, anywhere in the country, should welcome
such sound and reasonable test of its capacity
to serve. Certainly we of WPST.TV do so with.
out any reservation whatever.
During the past four years we have served
the people of Miami with the best of our energies
and devotion. We feel justifiable pride in our
record of attainment and we will match the pre-
formance of WPST.TV against that of any tele-
vision station in America.
We believe confidently that WPST-TV has
been alert and responsive to the needs of its COM
munity. Educational, cultural, charitable, and
other civic groups have had our full cooperation.
We have brought to Miami stimulating and en-
tertaining community programs We have not re-
manned static, but have soug ght, rather, TO grow
in our scope and our coverage -. just the
Miami area itself has grown. As home-based
organization, we are deeply proud of Floridas
great progress and the part we have played in it.
As we 60 off the air, we thank our many
friends for their encouragement, for their con.
structive criticism and for their kind support
over the years. 1t is our firm hope that in the
not too distant future we will again be serving
Miami with the finest in television and with con.
tinued dedication to the public welfare.