Evening star., 1922-02-26
RADIO PAY STATION
SOON TO BE A FACT
Rapid Development of Wireless Communi-
cation Stresses Need of Federal Reg
ulation of Wave Lengths.

purpose they may use them" H
points out that the broadcasting that
mas been done by a number of cor
Germs has interfered with the use o;
the air for other purposes.
\ \ xx
somehow this problem must be
worked out" Representative White
says
we must lodge in one of the de-
partments Of the federal government
pienary powers with respect to the
whole matter
we must delegate tc some govern
mental authority the right to class
iiy stations-transcontin trans
/ oceanic, ship-to-shore. amateurs. etc
we must give this federal agency
authority to assign wave lengths 10
'hese oinerent classes of stations.
we must give this agency author
'.S' II necessary, to assign portions
OIL the day to these classes of stations
ana limit the kinds of use to which
the wave lengths may be put.
\
inns Is not" he explained "b.
cause OF any theory. but to meet a nb,
sical condition that cannot be oyo.-
come. Unless the wave lengths are al
iocated to classes of service. none i.
going to get any service.
We see a sharp conflict now" bo
pointed out. between the branches of
'iie government and private users. and
controversy between the branches Of
! government itself At the present ti,,e
tne Navy Department is very large
user OF radio and is aggressive in iIs
! eHort TO extend its facilities and field
VI operations. The Post Office DEPART
mene Is anxious to develop radio ro-
garding it as legitimate function of
communications. over which the Post
once Department contends 1t should
nave complete jurisdiction il all i,s
phases. The War Department ha, :ts
radio feature and is taking a dee, in
terest in the question.
some one has to put each Of tbe
cohnictlns Interests within the pronsr
limits. Undoubtedly We must have leo
isiation to cover it. The question cor,.s
up as to whether the control OF radio
| so far as the government may control fl.
and the use Of radio by the government
snail be by one Of the military or bv
one OF the civil agencies. Personally
1 oeIeve that there is a great future for
fadio communication. Properly IL is
| a handmaid of commerce, and control
| should be lodged in the civil "a ther than
IN the military branch of the govern
ment.
If could have my way, I would give
the Department Of Commerce very nucb
larger authority over the general sub
Ject than 1t now has, and. in fac na:a
| the Department Of Commerce the agency
for regulating this new means of com
munication."
Representative White points out and
emphasizes that radio communicate
Is undergoing very rapid changes, IT
| Is impossible to lay down BY leeislation
rules which will be appropriate for any
length OF time. We might wake IN .he
| next morning and find that oyernigb,
| improvements or discoveries had entirely
revolutionized the art.
eosioA "iSH respect to radio
oeVeiepment Is SUCH he says, that
control OF it must be delegated in some
what general terms to a body that can
change its regulations from time to
| time as changes come in the art. We
must provide hexibility. That can be
done only by giving the control to a de-
partment or body that can change quick
iy as changes come about in radio
science. We must give very general
and very comprehensive authority to
some body or to some Individual to act.
and not make it necessary to wait for
| Congress"
Representative White pointed dout that
IL a private concern proposes to build
a shore wireless tower costing 50, 900 900
or $4,000. 900. it has every right to come
to the government and ask for guar
anteed use of a certain wave length.
1T ought to have a guarantee that Il
will be able to operate. and that guar
antee can only be given by licensing
to 1t certain wave length which It can
use without interference" he says. He
insists that the difficulty now is caused
by the fact that there are too many
saving in. all the time"