Break for FM

Last May FCC decided that Frequency Modulation was sufficiently advanced to warrant its undertaking commercial operation. Freed from the confines of experiment, staticless FM began to loom formidably on radio's horizon. But while some operators were struggling to transform their experimental stations into high-powered outfits for commercial use, the national-defense program suddenly slowed down delivery of equipment. Last week FCC did right by FM once again, announced that it would permit experimental FM units to operate commercially (provided they had received commercial construction permits) until big-league transmitters are delivered.

Spotted over the U. S. now are eleven FM stations privileged to operate commercially, and ten more experimental outfits. On tap are 54 applications, which FCC will shortly pass on. Liveliest developments in FM are taking place around New York City, to which FCC has allotted eleven channels. With seven of these already assigned to stations, FCC has received ten applications for the other four spots. Among those that would like to take over a place on the FM band are Joseph Medill Patterson's News, Musak, The Yankee Network, and an outfit called FM Radio Broadcasting Co., headed by Investment Banker Charles E. Merrill. Hotfooting after Banker Merrill, et al., are stations ranging from the 1,000-watt WHOM to municipal station WNYC. Although the battle may be warm, big shots like Messrs, Patterson and Merrill, Musak and The Yankee Network will probably come out on top since they have the cash to live up to FCC operating regulations.

To give everybody a chance at FM, FCC has established the rule that no station can bounce its signals beyond the basic trading area of the city in which it is located. All FM stations in the same area must give identical coverage. Because of this rule, the biggest FM station in the land, The Yankee Network's 50,000-watter at Paxton, Mass, may not benefit by FCC's decision. The Paxton station, which cost $300,000, booms over Boston, Worcester, Providence, Springfield and Hartford, will probably have to receive special treatment if its experimental activities are to be transformed into commercial operation.

The 20,000 FM set owners in the U. S. are currently entertained mostly with music, occasional network shows. Not until this summer, when commercial FM is expected to be better organized, will programming become a major item with FMers. Nowadays their chief worry is the installation of commercial transmitters. Best place for transmitters is upon mountain tops. Trouble is that mountains crop up in sparsely populated areas, don't often soar over cities where the largest audiences are available.

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