NAEB Washington Report (November 01, 1963)

Volume IV, Number l6 November 1, 1963

FCC PROPOSES REVISED ALLOCATION OF UHF CHANNELS

On Oct. 24, the FCC issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in Docket
14229, proposing a revised allocation plan for UHF channels that will add over 400
new assignments to the present Table of Assignments, and invited comments on or
before Jan. 3, 1964. No changes in VHF channel assignments are proposed.

Out of approximately 1,975 UHF assignments in the proposed table, about 600
are reserved for educational, use, a substantial increase over the 230 UHF reserved
channels in the present table, (in addition, 99 VHF channels are currently-
reserved in the continental U.S.) The selection of communities for educational
reservations was based on the earlier NAEB survey of the needs of education for ETV
channels, modified in some cases by subsequent specific plans submitted by states
or local and regional ETV groups. Two ETV reservations are proposed in 44 communities,
which include the 8 communities now having two reserved channels. No community was
given more than two educational channels.

The NAEB has recently completed a detailed computer study to determine a table
of UHF allocations which differs somewhat from that proposed by the FCC, in that more
channels are reserved and some communities are given more than two reservations.

A s ummar y of the NAEB study will appear in the next Washington Report .

COMMENT INVITED ON REGULAR AIRBORNE EDUCATIONAL PROPOSAL

On Oct. 24, the Commission invited comments by Jan. 3> 1964 to a petition by
MPATI that its operation be authorized on a regular basis and that six UHF channels
be provided for that purpose. The present experimental operation transmits on
Chs. 72 & 76 . MPATI now requests Chs. 72, lb, 76, 78 , 80, & 82 for regular operation.

The Commission invites comments on whether substantial spectrum space should be
devoted to the proposed operation, and points out that the states involved (Indiana,
Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin) have indicated interest in exten¬
sive ground-based ETV networks. The FCC stated that in their proposed new UHF
table (above) they were unable to provide fully for ground-based ETV needs as set
forth by the NAEB in its survey, and added, "Further, if airborne TV service were
considered on a nationwide basis, 12 or 18 alternate channels would be needed exclu¬
sively for such operation and 13 to 19 adjacent channels would be seriously limited
in use. In addition, MPATEmay require other spectrum space in the 2000 me and 2500 me
band for ground-to-air relay and for translators required in certain high-rise urban
centers." The FCC adds: "It may be questioned whether such an impact can be justified,
especially since the transmissions of the airborne stations are intended primarily
for reception in specially equipped schools and the material is tailored for in¬
structional purposes rather than for viewing by the home audience. It may be that
such an operation is more properly to be provided for as a private service."

The Commission also points out that the new 2500 me service was established
— "to accomplish objectives similar to those of the MPATI proposal." The FCC has listed

Ik specific questions -which they are inviting interested parties to answer in their
comments. Those interested in details should write the FCC, Office of the Secretary,
Washington, D.C., 20554, and ask for Report No, 4842, Oct. 25, 1963.

HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE CLEARS EDUCATION BILI5

The House, on Oct. 29, approved resolutions sending HR 6l43, the college facilities
hill, and HR 4955, the NDEA renewal-vocational education-impacted areas hill, to
conferences to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the two
measures.

HR 4955, as originally approved hy the House, contained no provisions regarding
NDEA (which is due to expire June 30, 1964 unless extended), while the Senate version
authorizes a three-year extension. It is under Title VII of the NDEA that extensive
research in ETV and other media has been carried on hy the NAEB and member institutions.
Members of the House are generally taking the position that the student loans program
should be expanded and extended for two years while the remaining titles of NDEA
should be granted only one-year extensions.

ADDITIONAL ETV GRANT APPLICATIONS

The following additional applications for grants under the ETV Facilities Act
have been accepted for filing by HEW: (Amounts indicate total project cost)

Metropolitan Pittsburgh Educational TV (File #34), to improve operation of ETV
station WQED, Ch. 13. $212,174.

Community TV of Southern Calif. (File #35), for new ETV station, Ch. 28, Ios
Angeles. $ 1 , 056 , 656 .

Twin City Area ETV Corp. (File # 36 ), for new ETV station, Ch. 17, Minneapolis-
St. Paul. $168,470.

Kentucky State Board of Ed. (File #37), for new ETV station, Ch. 46, Lexington.

$ 762 , 088 .

Kentucky State Board of Ed. (File #38), for new ETV station, Ch. 29, Somerset.
$426,065.

Penn. State Univ. (File #2), to amend its application for new ETV station from
operation on Ch. 69 , State College, to operation on Ch. 3, Clearfield. $639,907*

FURTHER HEARING ON WOI AND WNYC

On Oct. 24 the FCC remanded to the Hearing Examiners fo t further action the pro¬
ceedings on applications for special service authorizations of WOI, Ames, Iowa
(640kc, 5kw, Daytime) to operate additional hours from 6 a.m. to local sunrise CST,
with 1 kw, and WNYC, New York City (830 kc, 1 kw operating between sunrise in NYC
and sunset in Minneapolis) to operate additional hours from 6 a.m. EST to sunrise
NYC and from sunset Minneapolis to 10 p.m. EST. Initial decisions in 1956 and 1957
looked toward granting the authorization, but were deferred pending outcome of the
Clear Channel proceeding. WOI and WNYC have been given 30 days to amend their
applications and bring them up to date and to apply for regular licensing for the
hours desired. Both 640 and 830 kc are clear channels, in Los Angeles and Minneapolis,
respectively, but WOI and WNYC have been operating the additional hours since 1944
under a series of special service authorizations.

FORM FOR ITV FIXED STATION APPLICATIONS ADOPTED

On Oct. 24, the FCC adopted Form 330P to be used by nonprofit educational organiza¬
tions in applying for CPs for ITV Fixed Stations in the 2500-269Gmc band. Form is
similar to ETV Form 340, but tailored to elicit information pertaining to transmission
and other noribroadcast characteristics of the 2500 me service.

Scanned from the National Association of Educational Broadcasters Records
at the Wisconsin Historical Society as part of
"Unlocking the Airwaves: Revitalizing an Early Public and Educational Radio Collection."

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\\KWAVEs

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