The Washington herald., 1922-02-27
RADIO EXPERTS
CONFER TODAY ON
RULES OF ETHER
Will Seek Best Method
For Prevention of
Interference.

4 unique conference of American
radio scientists assemblies here to-
day to formulate traffic rules of
space.
As a result of this movement to
regulate Americas latest craze
wireless telephony-the day of the
ether policeman" is dawning for
amateurs as well as experts, and
certain stipulated limits are to be
placed on the activities of both.
The conference was called by Sec
retary Hoover at the suggestion of
President Harding when it was dis
covered that unreEulated broadcast
ing of wireless news, market re-
ports. government business, band
concerts. political addresses and
what-not had created such a chaotic
state of confusion in the air that
not only business but safety de-
manded a change.
FIJI Air with Chatter.
On top of this, the wireless tele-
phony craze, according to Secre-
tary Hoover. had resulted in thou
sands OF boys as wsu as grewn-ues
~hIling the air with chatter'-the
unrestrained outgrowth of their in
itial texperime nts with the new in
Yention.
1t is, therefore. to protect not
only government and business
agencies that the radio conference
meets here today, but also to set
up rules by which small boys and
other amateurs-the potential ex-
perts of the future-may carry on
their experiments. Its purpose is
to establish control over wireless
work in such manner as to prevent
interference, one agency with an
other, and it is likely that central
lied sending stations, under gov
eminent supervision for special
types of broadcastinG will be one
of its recommendations.
May Recommend Laws.
IF the impartial deliberations of
this conference require legislation
supplementary to the radio laws
already enacted. the conference will
recommend it," said DIR. S. w. STRAIT
ton, chairman of the conference and
director of the government Bu-
reaa. of Standards.
1T is to be hoped. however" he
added. that if legislation is rec
commended, it will not strike at the
details of this rapidly improving
art.
Generally speaking. the confer
ence will be guided largely by sug-
gestions OF experts coupled with
those already made by competent
amateurs, regarding the limits of
wave-lengths all should observe in
carrying on their conversatiin.
This avowed interest of the con-
ference committee in the American
boy is not a matter of sentiment.
We simply realize that his inventive
genius is a help rather than a him
drance.
Twelve on Committee.
But the conference will not ex-
clude the testimony of grown-ups.
All interested amateurs, old or
young, will be invited to plead their
cause. Even the commercial organ
ization may make its position clear.
THE conference committee num-
bers twelve, a small number, picked
deliberately 20 the end that the
public can get in on the radiophone
broadcasting traffic most equitably.
"In the end, this will have be-
&C me an international problem. But
We believe the maximum results
can be obtained at this time by
having only those men vitality inter-
ested in the problem,
The committee will include, among
others, Gen. Amos o. Squire, chief
of the army radio service; Comdr.
Hooper. of the navy; Senator kel-
lcgg. of Minnesota; Hiram Percy
Maxim. president of the American
Relay League leading amateur or
80 = nd
Alfred N Goldsmith, secretary of
the Institute of Radio Engineers.
Secretary Hoover will open the