Evening star., 1925-08-16

Secretary of Commerce Hoover will
call a national radio conference here
this Fail, he announced on his return
to Washington last week. Although
he has not had time to set date or
draw up a program, he feels that a
conference is necessary once year
and believes the three already held
have benefited the department in it's
work. They also have demonstrated
the willingness of the fans. manufac-
turers, broadcasteB, amateurs and
other interests to cooperate in keep
ing the air as clear and clean as pos
sible.
The conference will be called in Oc-
tober or November, il is now believed,
partly because of the many other
problems confronting the Commerce
head, and in order TO give the depart-
ment radio officials and the represent.
atives Of the industry time to draw
up plans and suggestions to be con.
sidered by the general conference.
Officials of the department believe
one of the most interesting questions
to be discussed will be the limitation
of power. or perhaps the removal of
the power limitations now in force. If
public sentiment backed by expert
ments now going on indicate that
there is no reason for limiting the
power Of broadcasting stations.
Forty-two broadcasting stations are
now using 1000 or more watts; seven
of them are operating with at least
5 kilowatts, a once dreaded figure. al
though no complaints have been re-
ceived since these broadcasters went
on the air. Two stations are now ex-
perimenting with, or about to try. so
kilowatts. WGY's tests seem to have
been satisfactory, and 1t Is said that
WIZ, the Radio Corporations new
high-power project located outside of
New York, will soon start testing its
new 50-kilowatt set. Other stations
are preparing to try out broadcasting
with 5 kiloWatts or more. It Is esti-
mated that at least 90 B stations are
equipped to go to 5 kilowatts, although
only have been licensed to do so at
this writing.
Whether or not the recent increase
in power will continue to spread over
the country is not. known; neither is
1t definitely known how far apart very
high-powered stations must be located
to prevent undue interference, or how
great a separation there must be be-
tween the wave lengths they employ.
If large number OF the present
stations went TO high power, regard,
less of their proximity to each other
or the relationship of their broad
casting channels. there would prob
ably be difficulty in separating them.
1t may be found desirable to locate the
very high-powered stations in distant
States or perhaps a hundred or two
miles apart, assigning them wave
lengths separated by SO meters or
more. This would. Of course. tend TO
limit the number Of such stations. but
this will probably adjust itself. There
Will not be many operators rich
enough to build and maintain 5o-kilo-
watt stations, which cost almost a
half. million dollars to install.
Nevertheless. the views Of the pub
lie will be sought, as we'll as those of
the broadcaster. before any definite
or limiting action on power Is taken
by the department. II may be neces-
sary to have the old radio regulations
and even the laws amended, and II is
understood that the department will
probably have a tentative radio law
in shape for discussion by the time
the conference convenes.
Secretary Hoover Is a great believer
in radio as a public service and he also
is disposed TO let the public in on any
hearing which will affect such a pub
lie service-hence the FAN conference
is a certainty.