rn

MTHPn
Office of Executive Secretary
Urban©g Illinois
February 1* 1940

substantiating w h a claims

Regular telephonic broadcasting of weather Information and reports

was begun by the Madison office of the U-S* Weather Bureau on
January 3, 192Q* over the University of Wisconsin experimental
station 93£MC This is verified by federal records*

Eric R» Miller9 meterologist now in charge9 was in charge then*

too* having taken over the Madison bureau in 1908*

Telephonic reports on the weather were broadcast as early as 1917

on an experimental basis over 9XM, the station which later became
WHA. These ©re distinguished from telegraphic reports which were
sent out as early as 1916 by the same offioe0

Mr* Miller recalls how in the early days he supplied the station’s
engineer Malcolm Hanson (later Admiral Byrd’s chief operator on
the first flight over the South Pole) with report forms to send
out to the radio observer© who had receivers* and these would be
filled in and posted several hours before those sent by mail could
be received in most communities*

In a twentieth anniversary broadcast over WHA on Wednesday (Jan* 3)

Mr* Miller was interviewed by Carl Brose* state-station announcer*
at the weather bureau office« Mr- Miller reviewed the early attempts
at broadcasting and cited the changes modern methods have made
possible in weather forecasting work*

At the present time three official broadcasts each day are given
directly from Mr* Miller’s office in the weather bureau- The
preview is at 8:15 A.M* At 10:50 A.M« the complete morning summary
and forecast is presented- The final review comes at 3:58 P.M*
Other reports over WHA come at 12:30 and 1:00 P.M.- and at station
sign-off time* In extremes of weather the temperature is reported
hourly on the hour* A microphone set-up and lines are maintained
in the weather-bureau office and broadcasts can be picked up on
a minute’s notice*

Among Mr* Miller’s listeners is Carl Sandberg* the poet* who

listens at his home across Lake Michigan* He says the broadcasts
have "an air of officiality" which he enjoys*

The reports from the weather bureau not only tell what the forecast
is* but tell also why things are apt to happen as predicted*
Farmers with crops to watch* motorists planning trips* sportsmen
going hunting or fishing* shippers of stock and produce* skating
rink tenders* and other weather-conscious individuals rely on the
‘ NAEB NEWS LETTER...Fob 15, 1940,..Pag© 2

broadcasts in making their plans*

The beginning of Mr* Miller’s regular broadcasting, it is interesting

to note, is earlier than the dates on which the so-called "pioneer”
broadcasting stations began their operations* 'This is further
evidence to support the Madison station’s claim that it is
America’s oldest station*

NOTES ON W I L L

"Historic Illinois” is the name of a new series of programs being

carried 4:30«5:00 p.m,, Tuesdays, on the University of Illinois
station, WILL* This series, written by George Jennings, continuity
editor of the Chicago Radio Council, seeks to present phases of our
rich history, bringing to life past events, and making real some of
the men and women who made Illinois the great state it is* It is
especially suitable for the upper grades and high school students,
as well as for adults* The first three programs: Joliet and
Marquette; Abraham Lincoln; Robert Cavalier Sieur de la Salle*

War, floods, and politics; a record low in highway deaths and a

renewed increase of them; death of Borah and others; world events
with repercussions or potentialities flop ©very Illinois community;
local problems of interest because similar problems occur in many
communities--all these have been discussed in more than 4,000
editorials read during the past three years in the "Illinois
Editorial Review” of the University of Illinois radio station, WILL,

During the past year, nearly 1,500 editorials from the leading
daily and weekly newspapers of Illinois were read in this unique
program of the state's only non-commercial, educational radio
station. Total circulation of the newspapers received is just
short of two and a quarter million persons. More than 200 copies
of newspapers are scanned each week in preparing the two 15-minute
broadcasts--l:45 p0m, each Tuesday and Friday, The papers include
24 dailies and 66 weeklies,

MEET IN FLORIDA?

Garland Powell writes: "The thou^it occurred to me that our

association should meet at different places from time to time, I
mean by that, it is a logical thing to do, to meet at a central
location, but on the other hand it may help out situations and would
be just as cheap in the long-run to meet at distant points. In
other words, I am trying to convey the thought that the University
of Florida would like to have an NAEB meeting,” Now there it is, a
repetition of Major Powell’s previous invitation to hold the next
NAEB convention in Florida, Soon a mail vote on dates and place
will be taken. Watch the News Letter for further details,

EDUCATION ON WNYE

There is quit© an extensive story of the work being done by WNYE,

in New York City’s Board of Education ultra-high radio station, in
the December issue of "Pick-up"* Some of you may have heard M,S<>
Novik of WNYC describe the start of the ultra-high stations at the
Ames Convention, In any case I think you will enjoy reading this
article*
NAEB NEWS LETTER...Feb 1, 1940...Page 5

BROADCASTING AT MONTANA STATE

Montana State University, Missoula, is going to furnish between one

and five hours a week to Radio Station KGZOo According to Inform¬
ation from Professor E. M« Little of Montana State, plans are being
made to set up campus studios so ©s to facilitate the handling of
programs on the campus* The Montana State University Radio Station
KUOM was discontinued in 1929, Preliminary plans call for a program
from the Department of Music, Journalism, Speech, and others0

WTAW DIRECTOR NAMED

John Rosser is the new managing director of the Texas A. and M.

College radio station, WTAW. and master of ceremonies of the
Institution^ Texas Farm and name Hour ivhich goes on the air each
week-day at 11:30 A.M. over the Texas Quality Network.

He succeeds Dr. E. Pc Humbert, who has served for some eight years
in that capacity. The job has grown to a full time one, and Dre
Humbert asked for relief so that ha could give his full attention
to his duties as head of the Department of Geneticso

Rosser began his radio experience as news editor and director of

special events at KGKO, Fort Wor th. He came to WTAW from New York,
where he was the Herald Tribune’s newscaster over WQXR and prepared
scripts for the Consumers’ Information Division of the Crowell-
Collier Publishing Company.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS PAMPHLETS

Most of you have seen the pamphlet published by the Public Affairs
Committee, 30 Rockefeller Plaaa, New York City. If you are not
familiar with them, see listing of publication enclosed in the
packet. The Public Affairs Committee is © non-profit, educational
organization*

Some of the publications lend themselves well to adaptation for

educational broadcasts. If any of the non-commercial educational
stations desire to use these on the air, the Public Affairs Committee
would be glad to receive your request, outlining the form in which
you intend to us© them.

Pamphlets scheduled for 1940 publication include: PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC

HOUSING, MIGRATORY FARM IABOR, THE COSTS OF DISTRIBUTION, OLD-AGE
SECURITY, CIVIL LIBERTIES, MONEY* 0tco

TO INQUIRE INTO MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

To determine whether broadcast licensees are themselves discharging

the rights, duties, and obligations under their licenses or whether,
on the other hand, such rights have been turned over to and are
being exercised by outside operating companies under so called
management contracts, the Federal Communications Commission has
ordered hearing on certain pending applications for renewal of
radio station licenses, and for other and similar renewal applications
as they come before it.
' "NAEB NEWS LETTER.... Fob. i* 1940... Pag© 4

Those stations already designated for hearing* under this move* et

a date to be set later* are Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company licenses for WBZ and WBZA. both at Boston; EYW* Philadelphia*
and KDKA* Pittsburgh: WGY* General Electric Company* Schenectady*
N.Y.; WESG. Cornell university, Elmirafl N»Y,; WWL, Loyola University*
New Orleans; and WIFI; A1 abama Poly:fechnTc~‘lri81itute and University
of Alabama* Birmingham* Ala*

LONGER INTERVAL FOR ANNOUNCING RECORDS

In the interests of public service and radio station convenience*

the Federal Communications Commission today agreed that station
announcements of the us© of mechanical records can be made at
30»minute intervals instead of the 15-$inute requirement as hereto¬
fore. This is to avoid interrupting the entertainment continuity
of a recorded series of records, or of the long records now quite
generally used* particularly of recorded programs relayed by wire
facilities.

At the same time. Section 3.93(e) of the broadcast rules has been
changed to read:

"The identifying announcement shall accurately describe the type

of mechanical record used* i.e., where a transcription is used it
shall be announced as a ’transcription’ or an ’electrical trans¬
cription* and where a phonograph record is used it shall be announced
as a ’record’.”

The Commission added religious service to the types of continuous

recorded programs - speech* play, symphony concert or operatic
production - of longer than half an hour for which the 30-minute
announcement rule is waived. This change is already effective.

NEW TELEPHONE RATE REDUCTION STUDIES

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to institute

studies as to the possibility of further reductions in the long line
rates of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Commissioner Paul A. Walker reported that figures before the

Commission indicate a substantial saving to te?.©phone subscribers
might be made without reducing net earnings of the company below
a fair return on the reasonable value of the property used in the
interstate service.

The Commission will proceed under the order of September 9* 1936*

authorizing an investigation which subsequently was stayed by
negotiations with the company resulting in reductions.

"THE NEXT STEP FORWARD” TO BE DRAMATIZED OYER NBC STATIONS

Questions that touch as all in our daily living—such as "Who pays

our taxes?”* "Can we do without the ’middle man’?,” "Are sales
taxes fair?”, and a score of others—will be posed and answered in
a new series of dramatic radio programs called ”The Next Step Forward”
The Twentieth Century Fund, a non-partisan research foundation* is
collaborating with the Educational Division of the National Broad-
NAEB NEWS LETTER. ...Feb. 1, 1940... .Pag© 5

casting Company in presenting this series which is based on the

factual findings of surveys in current economioso Beginning
February 7, the programs will be broadcast over 7/EaF and stations
of the NBC Red Network on Wednesdays, from 11:15 to 11:30 P.M., EST.

An unusual style of technique which is new in educational radio

will characterize the dramatized portions of these programs. This
technique which has proved brilliantly effective in radio drama haB
been adapted to give color and impact to research findings,, At
the same time the factual content, based as it is on the Twentieth
Century Fund’s scientific investigations, will be fresh material
even to some of those who specialize in the field of economies,.

Each dramatization in this radio series will be followed by a brief

discussion by one of the eminent, nationally known experts who
comprise the Fund’s Special Survey Committees. In a terse dialogue
with the characters of the drama he will explain his Committee’s
recommendations for ftThe Next Step Forward, "(See Packet)

C CURT RULING ON RECORDS

An Associated Press dispatch from New York City reports that by a

3 to 2 decision the Appellate Division of New York State Supreme
Court has ruled that the musicians’ and stagehands’ unions should
be permitted to use legal and peaceful means to oppose an opera
company’s use of "Canned Music"®

The ruling reversed an order issued just a year ago by Supreme

Court Justice Kenneth P, O’Brien which permanently enjoined the two
unions from interfering with Opera-On-Tour, Inc., in a dispute over
the use of amplified recorded music versus living musicians.

Opera-On-Tour, Inc., was organized in February, 1938. It was

designed to take popular-priced opera to smaller cities and instead
of an orchestra, the accompaniment arid some choral singing was
produced from records.

The company opened at Richmond, Va., November 4, 1938 and closed at

Chapel Hill, N.C., on November 22 after the stage hands walked out
at the request of the Musicians’ Union. The suit for an'injunction
then was filed.

RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

The South’s first radio research bureau recently started its

machinery at the University of Texas, A. L. Uhapman, director, has
announced. This new agency, the University Bureau of Research in
Education by Radio, has been set up by University Board of Regents
as a subdivision under Dean B. F. Pittenger of the School of Eduoation0

The term "education" Chapman expects to interpret broadly, extending

it to adult fields and to the cultural and entertainment programs.
Projected avenues of investigation embrace studies of listening
habits of children and adults, consumer-popularity of radi<b~
advertised products, school use of radio programs, effect of radio on
teacher efficiency in the classroom.
 NAEB NEWS LETTERS....Feb. 1, 1940.Page 6

One immediate project will be to determine the present status of

radio as an instrument for education, whether in direct classroom
use or in leisure-time home use, Chapman indicated. Place of the
University in training people for the radio profession* either from
a technical or a performer point of view* must be studied* he slgni-
fled.

"The number of ’glamorous* radio performers is so small in comparison

with the number of people who go into radio work as a job ar profe¬
ssion," he emphasized* "that we must decide whether those people
need professional instruction, whether adequate training is avail¬
able in Texas—and whether a University siiould offer that type of
education."

New statistical methods, gearing average pupil intelligent quotients

to large scale testing of listening habits* will be used to measure
Texas school children’s responses to radio-vitalized education. Four
graduate students have already started research studies in the radio
education field, one having been completed this summer, Chapman said.

LITTLE EXPECTED IN CONGRESS

"Broadcasters are anticipating a quiet session of Congress as far

as radio legislation is concerned, although there are about fifty
bills pertaining to radio in the Senate and House, there appears
little prospect, according to Washington observers, that more than
a half-dozen may arise to plague the broadcasters.

"Reorganization of the Federal Communications Commission and

resolutions demanding investigations of networks and "radio monopolies"
are definitely reported dead. Copyright legislation, which has been
pending before Congress several years, may have a revival.

"Legislation which probably will have the best chance of enactment,

observers believe, Is that designed to forbid beer and liquor
advertising on the air. Such a bill is now on the Senate calendar,
having been reported favorably by the Interstate Commerce Committee.

"The FCC budget will be reported in the House within a few weeks by
the House Appropriations Committee.

"President Roosevelt in his budget message to Congress asked for

$2,125,000 for total appropriations for the Federal Communications
Commission for the fiscal year 1941, composed of $2,100,000 for
salaries and expenses and $25,000 for printing. For the present
fiscal year of 1940 the total appropriation for the commission is
#1,838,175, composed of $1,800,000 for salaries and expenses, $259000
for printing and $13,175 for special investigations." - New York
Times, Jan. 14, 1940
 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."

'oiTu> c KTwe
\\KWAVEs

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