Evening star., 1925-10-04
RADIO MAY REST THIS WINTER
TO CATCH UP WITH OWN GROWTH
Breathing Spell Needed Put Business on Healthier
Basis and Solve Some of Problems Which Have
Been Inevitable With Rapid Development.

there will convene in Washington the
fourth annual radio conference, called
by the Government and attended by
representatives of every element of
radio broadcasting. Secretary Hoover
will present a picture Of the present
problems of the air and hroadcaSting
and ask what's to be done. Then will
come the task of deciding. after all,
what must be done.
What about limiting the number of
stations to be licensed by the Govern
ment? What about the present sys-
tenn of licensing? Should the Govern
ment require station to be built be-
fore 1t can formally apply for a license
or should it change its policy and issue
instead permits to build? What about
Superpower? Does it cause interfer-
ence or not? Do we want it or not
What about altering the broadcasting
wave bands, enlarging them or chang
ing them? What about obtaining
legislation to cover the whole subject?
What about the suggestion that a
commission be appointed to control
radio? What about the amateurs?
And who, by the way, is to pay for
broadcasting?
Free of Taxation.
To attempt to answer any of the
questions in advance of the confer.
ence would be either TO violate conf
dence in revealing official opinions al
ready formed or else to hazard pure
and simple gueSSeS.
One thing is certain. however.
There will be no change from the
present system of listeners being free
or any governmental taxation for the
privilege of hearing whatever is on
the air.
In the past most of these problems
have not been serious enough to call
halt on the laissez-faire policy that
has been followed in regard to radio
That they are now important enough
10 make some action necessary is the
belief OF Government officials.
Congress, too, has intimated that it
will have considerable to. talk over
about radio and radio broadcastinr
this Winter. and there is the oft-con.
tinued hearing of the alleged radio
trust which probably will get under
way before the snow flies or shortly
after it has flown.
Some time in the Spring it is hoped
that not only the United States will
have formed fairly definite opinions
as to what to do with radio, but that
all the important countries of the
world Will have come to a mutual ull =
derstandinE on the subject and will
HoS0 idiu uo"I II agreements and rules
for broadcaSting and other forms of
wireless communication as they are
performed internationally.
No Let-Up OH Air.
While conferences, meetings and
hearings are being conducted this
Winter it is not to be understood
that the air will suffer any let-up in
the quantity of programs that are
transmitted either for. altruistic or
commercial purposes.
There are approximately 600 broad
casting stations on many wave
lengths and of greatly varying power
Ii anything, the quantity of their pro =
gram material will be increased, and
from present indications. the quality
Will be generally improved. BY way
OF novelty and of pointing out the
eventual possibilities of interna tiona
broadcasting there will be frequent
exchanges of American, British and
German concerts and important ad.
dresses. rebroadcast through the an
tennae of the Radio Corporation of
America, the British Broadcastins
Co. and the German government.
And there is a distinct trend in the
off1ces of program managers to de-
Helop their own radio presentations
instead of using the stock types OF
programs that came into existence
when kDkA submitted its first reEu-
lar Schedule" to the press for pub
lication--a form of schedule that has