This story was published in the Dec. 12, 1956, edition of the Lewiston Tribune.
A television translator station here would result in an increased TV audience in this area and a wider choice of programs, the Lewiston Orchards Community Television Assn. maintains.
John Maynard, secretary of the association, yesterday said it has sent the Federal Communications Commission a list of reasons why it should be permitted to operate a TV translator in the Lewiston-Clarkston-Asotin area.
The FCC informed the association on Nov. 14 that the permit would be granted if the association could show the following things: a need for additional TV service in the area; the ability of the association to meet the need if it exists; and proof that the public would not suffer from less TV service if KLEW-TV were forced to go out of business as a result of the association’s competition.
The FCC said that if the association is unable to convince the commission on these points, a hearing will be held “on the issues then obtaining.”
KLEW Protested
A protest against the association’s current application has been presented to the FCC by KLEW-TV, on the grounds that it is providing adequate service and that it would be forced out of business by the translator.
Maynard said the following are the main arguments the association made to the FCC:
“The audience of this area would be increased by service from networks other than Columbia Broadcasting System, with which KLEW-TV is affiliated.
“KLEW-TV gives the general public no choice of programs.
“The quality of KLEW’s transmitted signals is weak.
“The Orchards association does not intend to compete with or duplicate KLEW.
Increase Seen
“There would be an increase rather than a decrease in the audience for KLEW because over much of the area served by Pacific Northwest Television Co., a cable company, the customers don’t watch KLEW. The latter’s signals are not carried by the cable and it is inconvenient for customers to adjust their sets in order to view KLEW.
“A large part of the area is not served by the cable, resulting in no choice of programs.
“KLEW, in its protests against a permit for the translator, has admitted that the area needs more television service.
“The only loss to the public if KLEW were to go out of business would be the loss of CBS programs and a few short local programs.”
“Channels 34 and 40 have been allotted to Clarkston and there is no certainty that other companies will not utilize them.”
