Final answer:
True, the FCC placed a freeze on the issuance of new TV station licenses from 1948 to 1952 to manage the surge in requests and address frequency interference problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Between 1948 and 1952, a freeze was indeed put in place on the issuance of new licenses to construct and operate TV stations in the United States. The primary purpose of this freeze was due to the massive influx of requests for new station licenses which overwhelmed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The commission needed time to re-evaluate its licensing procedures and deal with frequency interference issues as television technology rapidly evolved.
The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and given the authority to issue licenses for using broadcast frequencies and monitor compliance with regulations. By making this move, the FCC aimed to better organize the airwaves and ensure that broadcasters would serve the "public interest, convenience, or necessity." During the freeze, the FCC worked on plans to accommodate the growing television industry and resolve the technical problems associated with television broadcasts.