The Washington herald., 1922-06-04
FAIR PLAY DEEMED
VITAL FACTOR TO
GROWTH OF RADIO
Expert Says Steps Must
Be Taken to Avoid Air
Tower of Babel

tBy L. r. Krumm. superintendent
OF radio operations of the westing-
house Electric and Manufacturing
Company.)
On February 81 of this year. there
was held in Washington an open
hearing before a committee Of radio
engineers. military officers and gov
ernmental Representatives, appoint
ed by the Secretary of Commerce TO
formulate proposed laws and regu-
lations to meet the new radio con-
ditions which have developed since
the termination OF the war. Nearly
two hundred representatives. Of va
rious commercial, amateur and gov
ernmental radio Interests attended
this conference. The large number
OF reporters. photographers and
moving picture operators in attend
snce also indicated the great pub
lie interest in this meeting.
What caused this sudden interest
In new radio legislation? There
have been no radical changes in the
radio art as applied to international
communication between the high
powered stations in this country
and those in foreign lands. Neither
have there been any particular
changes In radio communication be-
tween ships and between ships and
shore stations. There have been
some developments in radio tele-
phone Communication between ships
and airplane and ground stations and
in regard TO locating ships at sea
by means OF radio and even some
advance IN communicating with
submarines, while submerged. but
these were not the answer to our
question.
Many Problems Arise.
The main purpose of this confer
ence was TO devise means to meet
the problems which had arisen
through the establishment Of the
radio telephone brosdcasting sta
tions which are sending out news.
live stock and grain reports. wealth
er forecasts. sermons, speeches and
entertainment and which have
caused the Installation during the
last year and a half Of anywhere
from 100000 to 100000 radio re-
ceiving stations. representing a
probable expenditure Of approx
mately s75.0oo.ooo.
IL was estimated before the world
war that there was some 5000
licensed amateur Transmitting sta
tions and probably $4,000 receiving
stations which required no license.
All these were closed during the
war. The amateur receiving stations
U-e-" allowed 10 reopen April 15.
1913. On October !. 1918. amateur
transmitting stations were allowed
dio activities had languished during
the war period and probably there
were fewer amateur stations after
than before the war.
Sees Head for System
H. p. Davis. vice president Of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manu-
featuring Company, who was re-
sponsible for his company entering
the radio field. had been watching
not only the technical development
of equipment, but also the attitude
Of the public toward broadcasting.
He realized the necessity OF pro-
viding this service in a systematic
and properly organized manner as
a part OF his company's business
operations, and therefore. in the
fall of 1920 began the construction
Of a broadcasting station at the
East Pittsburgh works.
Experiments were carried on for
several weeks previous to election
night in November. 1870. when IL
was intended to inaugurate this
service by broadcasting the cleo
tion returns. A wave length Of $50
meters was originally assigned to
this station.
II was Immediately evident that
suitable programs must be provided
for Sundays as the ordinary enter