[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 19710] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CONGRATULATIONS TO BILL PUTNAM ON BEING INDUCTED INTO THE BROADCASTERS HALL OF FAME ______ HON. RICHARD E. NEAL of massachusetts in the house of representatives Thursday, October 11, 2001 Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments today to pay tribute to Bill Putnam, a friend and constituent of mine, and a pioneer in the broadcasting arena. On November 12, 2001, in New York City, Bill Putnam will be inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame for his long and distinguished career in television. It is my privilege to share with you his many accomplishments and to recognize his great work in the Springfield, Massachusetts area. I am pleased to share these remarks and his accomplishments in the Congressional Record and to congratulate him on his well-deserved honor. Bill Putnam started WWLP in Springfield, the first licensed UHF station in the United States. WWLP has a long history of ``firsts'' in Springfield for a small market station. The station ran editorials, used longer news formats, ran an ``As Schools Match Wits'' high school quiz show, and aired a considerable amount of local programming. For more than 30 years, Bill Putnam himself did the editorials for the station, making WWLP the example of what local television is supposed to be. Bill Putnam concentrated not only on the local market, but was a visionary into what broadcasting should become. He lobbied extensively for changes that would treat UHF signals on televisions the same as VHF signals. In the 1950's, many television sets either did not have UHF tuners or had tuners that were simply not as good as their VHF counterparts. The ``All Channel Act'' and subsequent FCC regulations, of which Bill Putnam was an outspoken advocate, made UHF stations able to get the market share that made them viable in mixed markets. In turn, this created the platform that gave us independent television, and is today the backbone of FOX and the UPN and WB networks. Bill Putnam later served on the MSTV Board, a reversal that some found ironic since it was a group started by VHF owners trying to keep UHF people out of their market. He was the Secretary of the NBC Affiliates Board and was the head of the All-Industry committee on Teletext in the late 1970s. His contributions were integral as to why Fin-Syn regulations were redone in the early 1980s. Bill Putnam was an outspoken advocate on this issue. Bill Putnam's interests are greater than broadcasting alone. Bill is a past President and Treasurer of the American Alpine Club and continues to serve as a U.S. delegate to the UIAA, the international standards club for climbing. He is the longest serving member of that group. In addition, he was written and had published 11 books, with more than two currently underway. Bill Putnam is also a decorated and distinguished patriot. He is a World War II veteran with two Purple Hearts, a Combat Infantry Badge, and a Silver Star, and he has the scars to prove it. He enlisted as a private in the military and came out as a first lieutenant. Bill Putnam is currently the Sole Trustee of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona where he resides with his wife, Kitty Broman, who is also well known in broadcasting circles. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Bill Putnam on being recognized and honored by the Broadcasters Hall of Fame for a long and distinguished career that has benefitted the lives of so many in the Western Massachusetts area. Congratulations on the good work. ____________________