[BC] They really said that?

[Mark Humphrey]

On 8/9/06, WFIFeng at aol.com <WFIFeng at aol.com> wrote:
> > Hint:  A major change in world politics took place during the four
> >  weeks before this statement was made public.
>
> WWII?

The Commission said "...It is economically and socially unwise to
concentrate the control of broadcast facilities in the hands of a
select few..."  in its Allocation Report of May 25, 1945.

This was released by the FCC about three weeks after the Nazi forces
surrendered.  Hitler had committed suicide on April 30 and "V-E Day"
was celebrated by the western Allies on May 8, 1945.  Willie, I think
you deserve credit for that guess!

I found an excerpt of this Report in an article discussing the initial
channel plan for the 88-108 MHz FM band, including the original table
of allocations for the Northeast Corridor.

It's interesting that the FCC considered reserving a 20-channel
portion of the FM band for "newcomers", to prevent existing
broadcasters from grabbing all of the new frequencies.  Commissioner
Clifford J. Durr explained why:  "... There are undoubtedly many men
and women still in the armed forces who would like to apply for
broadcasting licenses and who could bring to broadcasting the
imagination, energy, and freshness of approach which it so urgently
needs.  Upon their discharge from the service, they may find in their
communities the best channels, if not all of them, have already been
fully occupied."

Things in Washington have certainly changed since then.

Mark