WGBH Will Apply for TV Channel To Broadcast Educational Programs

Chances for non-commercial educational television looked better than ever yesterday when the special legislative commission studying the matter announced that the WGBH Educational Foundation would file an application for Channel 2 before June 2. This is the the deadline set last year by the Federal Communications Commission.

According to the commission report, the WGBH foundation, which operates the FM radio station with the sponsorship of the Lowell Institute Co-operative Broadcasting Council, will receive the necessary $500,000. It has been promised approximately this amount by the Fund for Adult Education and several similar foundations established by Edward A. and Lincoln Filene.

The proposed Channel 2 station, one of three temporarily reserved by the FCC for non-commercial television in the state, would cost $406,080 to $500,130, depending on the power used. It would be ready to go on the air by the summer or fall of 1954.

At the same time, the commission recommended immediate establishment of an unpaid state board of Educational Television by the Legislature; the group would consist of the nine members of the State Board of Education plus four others named by the governor with the approval of the Executive Committee.