The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-06
III PROVE D
SERVICE
URGED
IlcnopoIies Must Be Avoided
70 Develop Industry, say
y. s. Experts
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH
IntnrnationaI Ne1va Earvloa

"a +
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH
Internatlonal News Service.
American radio leaders gath
sred here today to perfect volun
tary agreements that are neces
sary to assure entertainment FOL
25.OOO,OOO wireless dsvotees thil
winter.
Newspaper men, representative
Of the big broadcasting stations
scientists, government experts and
manufacturers Of radio equipment
were included in the delegations
$4OO,OOO,OOO Spent Yearly.
Authorities estimated that nearly
4 $500, 900 900 has been expended in
the last year for radio equipment,
and that within five years half OF
the people Of the United States will
be among the nightly listeners In
to the various broadcasting services.
Secretary Of Commerce Hoover,
who will open the convention for.
mally tonight, said today that the
program calls for ALLEGATION Of
wave lengths, studies Of interior.
ence problems, and campaign to
obtain from Congress adequate
regulatory legislation.
mot only are there questions Of
orderly conduct between the multi
tude OF radio activities in which
more authority must be exerted in
the interest Of every user, whether
nMgadnva YHrNt
ton OF monopoly in radio commluni-
Hoover declared.
''It is not conceivable that the
american people viii allow this new.
born system Of communication to
fall exclusively into the power Of
any individual group or combina-
ton. 1t cannot be thought that any
single person or group shall ever
have the right to determine what
communicate may be made to the
American people,
Opposes Censorship.
Hoover placed himself against
censorship Of broadcasted material
either by individuals or the Gov
eminent. While favoring y free
development Of radio cornmunicA-
ton, Hoover emphasized the,fneces-
sity OF further legislation. He said
the problems involved in, Govern.
ment regulation are s'the most com.
pick and technical that have yet
confronted Congress"
'"The fundamental thought Of
any radio legislation should be to
retain possession Of the ether in
the public, and to provide rules for
orderly conduct Of this great Sys-
tenn of public communication by
temporary permits to use the
ether Hoover continued. "It
should be kept open to free and
full individual development. We
should assure that there can be no
monopoly over the distribution of
material"
Among the subjects for considera-
ton will be- division OF wave lengths
among the several classes Of sta
tions, possible revision of the
coming plan, power requirements
and limitations, improvement OF
programs, revision Of class require.
ments and the question OF licenses
Tor operators.
Radio authorities were already
discussing proposals for adequate
Congressional legislation, which win
take the public utility from the
rather uncertain status of the pres
ent and place it on solid founda-
ton. Twice Congress has failed to
adopt legislation regarded by the
Secretary Of Commerce as essential.
The winters entertainment for
radio fans depends on the results
obtained here. New radio traffic
laws are essential to conserve the
ether. already damned to overflow
Ing.
Wave Lengths.
Among the problems to be faced
win be the regulation of point to
point communication. It was ex-
pected system Of wave lengths Of
about ten meters would be arranged
to take care Of the point to point
stations. With the short wave
length a radio beam NAV be di-
rected to any desired point.
Among the technical matters Of
interest that may be discussed is
an effort by the United States Blu
reOu of Standards to eliminate the
dynamo hum from alternating cur
rent so that electric light current
may be used instead Of batteries to
operate receiving stations.
international Progress.
Outside Of the United States the
development has been greatest in
Europe. In the British Islands.
France. Germany, Sweden, Switzer-
land, Holland, Belgium, Denmark
and Czechoslovakla the broadcasting
OF entertainment programs and
news Is on regular basis.
In South America, Argentina
stands out as having made the
greatest progress, with Chile next.
Australia and New Zealand have
. displayed much interest. In the
Orient. little progress has been
made. In Japan, adequate legisla-
ton has been enacted, making pro
vision for broadcasting stations.
Progress In the industry is de-
clared to be nothing short Of phe-
! non1enal since 1922. Although the
number Of broadcasting stations,
now $50, fell thirty since last Sep.
TENDER, the nightly radio audiences
are said to be between 10000, 900 to
fully 26,O00,O0O.