Evening star., 1924-10-20
j. S. RADIO POWER
SCALE ANNOUNCED
1900 Watts Fixed as Initial
Limit; Increase to 5000
to Be Allowed.

The new radio policy Of the Depart
inent of Commerce regarding In
creased power for broadcasters, sets
the initial limit at 1900 watts on an
experimental basis. An increase in
power up to 5000 watts may be per-
mitted. in jumps of 500 watts. pro-
vided 1t Is shown that public interest
Is served by the stations SO licensed.
A close watch over these develop
ment stations will be conducted by
radio supervisors to ascertain wheth-
er or not undue interference in re-
ception or the blanketing Of lower
powered stations results, In which
case the power must be reduced.
This action on the part of the Com
merce officials follows recommends >
tions Of the National Radio confer
ence for additional power to over
come static and increase ranges. but
1t does not apply to projected super
power stations Of 25 to so XIV.
Many inquiries for increases Of power
have been received. but no specific
request for the erection OF a station
Of over 5000 watts has been filed.
Policy IL DeAned.
In defining the policy the Commerce
Department states:
Licenses for the use, in broadcast
ing, of power up to 5000 watts on a
purely experimental basis will be
issued under the following conditions:
l. Experiments may be carried on
only after due notice to tho super
visor of radio of the district and
must be al all times under the con-
troll and regulation Of the super
visor and the department.
=. Stations operating under expert
mental licenses may at the outset use
power input to the antenna not
exceeding 1900 watts. Whenever the
radio supervisor OF the district and
the department are satisfied that the
public interest is served by the use
of such increased power and that no
undue interference with other sta
tions or with receiving sets results,
its use may be continued. All ap-
plicants for such licenses must agree
In advance they will reduce the
power used during the course Of the
experimentation whenever the de-
partment or the supervisor Of radio
deems such a course to be in the
public interest and so directs.
VIII Allow Increase.
8. II, as a result OF the expert
mentation above specified. the use of
the additional power Is found TO be
tion desires TO make further in
crease. such increase will be allowed
in successive steps OF 500 watts, and
experiments may be carried on at
each Of such increased stages, under
the same conditions and restrictions
as are above specified for the first
increase.
4. The department anticipates diff
Guilty In laying down any general rule
which will be OF universal application
to all such stations. 1t WILL therefore,
consider each station AZ a separate en-
tity and deal with it according to the
local conditions involved.
5. 1t Is anticipated that the location
Of the station will be a factor Of great
Importance and that the amount OF
power that may be safely used will be
in direct proportion to the distance of
the station from congested receiving
centers.
6. All such experimentation will be
absolutely at the risk Of the station
conducting it. both as to location and
power used, and notice is given in ad-
vance that these licenses will carry
with them no permanent rights or privi-
leges of any character, are entirely tenn
porary and experimental in their ma
ture, and are subject to withdrawal or
revocation by the department at any
time in it's absolute discretion.
The prime consideration OF the de-
partment is directed to the listening
public. The operators OF stations must
necessarily take the same attitude. for
broadcasing is finally dependent upon
them for its support.