The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-30
BUGS SHOULD KNOW LAW ABOUT RADIO
Many Little Points Come Up That May Cause
 Complications

It seems If it isn't one thing it's another, this will seem more to the reader after he finishes this article. Well, let's get down to brass tacks, Radio Is in itself most compH-
 cated matter. that is in the theory of 1t, but there Is stil1 another point
 which is more important. but has not been stressed in print as 1t should until in this months Popu- lar Radio Magazine we find an
 article which just hits the point we are trying to get at.
 This article is headed "The Law and the Radio Amateur" which gives you an idea of what we are driving at. From this article we find that there are several laws concerning and involving the radio amateur, which most of us are ah- solutely ignorant of and therefore violate unknowingly. These rules were laid down by our government to better radio as a whole and they must be obeyed. If they are violated whether intentionally or not, they may bring on very serious trouble. For this reason we are warning our readers.
 Most of you have no doubt thought that you could do no harm with a receiving set only, but this idea is entirely wrong as ore can easily violate serious law with only a receiving set. This statement comes under the head of secrecy of messages. If you are listening and hear some one talking to another station even if your name is in- volved in the conversation, you have no legal right to copy the message. no more than to read a post card addressed to some one else just be- cause 1t is not sealed. You are vio- lating the law if you publish any wireless communications to some one else, although this Is not the case when news or any other mat ter is broadcasted not to any par tlcular person or group of persons.
 Would you have a right to run railroad over your neighbor's prop erty without his permission? Then why would you have right to run an aerial over his house or yard without his written or oral permis- sion? This Is done quita often and should be stopped. Is 1t all right to broadcast copyrighted music2 This is also bringing up more legal prob- lens.
 False distress signals are one of the important things to be watch ed by the owner of transmitting set, whether licensed or not. Some boys who are just starting in the game and do not realize the serious ness of radio communication have small spark coil sets using no helix. thus sending on very broad wave send out s. O.. S., just for the fun of it. not knowing how much trouble they are causing by sending on such a broad wave which can hardly be tuned out. and they are also liable to get themselves into serious rrou- bIe by the occupation. A sending sta ton has no right legally to send without a government license. This can be easily obtained without cost at the custom house of New Orleans. Just write for an amateur license blank The radio inspector of your district will furnish you with tni- This is the fifth dis,rict with our to call attention to something's headquarters at New Orleans.
 In concluding this article. l wish which are not written. but should be The amateurs should cooperate in their sending. that Is when you hear someone working another amateur in another city don't break through the ether send- ing c. O, just for some conversa- tion with the boy next door, wait till the stations that are getting some real distance get through. Of course there is no law keeping you from sending while others are send iEg, but to better radio, you should try to cooperate with your fellow amateurs.