The Washington times., 1925-11-09

Secretary Hoover Favors
Zone System, Subject to
Public Choice
By ROBERT $. THoRNBURGH


With the worlds most intricate
traffic enigma to solve that Of
hntangIing the almost hopelessly
congested radio transmission
channels-400 Of Americas lead
ing wireless authorities met to-
day in the fourth annual radio
conference.
Secretary Of Commerce. Hoover
made plea for local option"
to meet the radio puzzle. The
outstanding points of his recon-
mendations were:
List Of Proposals
Radio traffic regulation by the
Federal Government to the extent
Of allotment OF wave lengths, con-
troll Of power, and policing Of the
mir.
Division Of United States into
radio service areaE.s'
Delegation to the radio public of
these zones q large voice in deter
mining what broadcasting stations
are to occupy the wave lengths as
signed to- various areas.
Radio is not circumscrfbed by
State lines, Hoover declared.
t ID possible, however, to essab-
hsh zones which viii roughly ap.
proximate the service areas 81 sta
lions and to q considerable extensl
to intrust to these zones the settles
ment Of their local problems.
Under Hooverss plan It would be
necessary to set up some form of
machinery before which applicants
tor broadcasting permits would APP
pear to establish their right to
take the air. = This machinery
would report to the Department Of
Commerce, which would issue
licenses on local recommendation
Public Interest Only Aim
81 have no frozen views on radio
except that the public interest must
dominate, Hoover said II am
not one of those who seek to ex-
tend any sort Of government regu-
lation to any quarten that is not
vital In these suggestion / am
endeavoring to create enlarged local
response ility
The rudimentH of radio control
must be written into q Federal
statute, Hoover told the conference.
He said the major problem for
consideration of the conference are:
Is the public interest para
mount2
SHAH we limit the total number,
of stations in each zone pending
further developments OF the art?
What basis shall be established
for determining who shall use the
radio channels?
What administrative machinery
shall we create to make the de-
termination?"
Of further dividing the time OF sta
ton operation. This would give the
listener q degenerated service,
and introducing those offering in
ferior programs.
Cost Is High
Capital investment in good
station is about $50 or. " Hoover
said "To provide technical staff,
good talent and interconnection the
cost of operation has risen to $780,.
900 annually. The costs are the
same whether the station operates
one. or seven days a week.
"If we impose more division Of
time than at present we shall drive
the best stations out of action"
Freedom of the air cannot mean
q license TO every person or cor
poration wishing to broadcast his
name or wares, and thus monopo-
lie the listeners set, Hoover de-
clares. While the ether is public
medium, its use must be for the
public interest. IS
Ar.
abandonment of the present sys-
privilege to everyone who can
raise the funds necessary to erect
a station" Hoover asserted.
Hoover opposed the suggestion
Of widening the band Of wave
lengths on which entertainment
broadcasting is conducted. The
majority OF receiving sets would
not cover a wider band; such action
would invade the field OF amateurs,
TO whose constant experimentation
radio development is greatly in.
debted, he explained.
Recent Developments
Outlining developments in radio
In the last year, Hoover referred to
remote control" by which trans:
cities, with consequent reduction
Of "blanketing.
Interconnection has developed
from a curiosity TO the common.
place, making possible nation.
wide broadcasting of events.
The number of people whU
throbbed with joys and sorrows at
the dramatic presentation Of the
mlnute-to-minute events of the
world series, is one of the most
astonishing landmarks OF broad
casting" he declared
The menace" of super-power has
proved a bugaboo, according to
Hoover. Thirty-two stations are
operating on 1000 watts power,
twenty-five on 5000 watts and two
on higher power, a total OF fifty.
nine over 500 watts, compared to
two last years. Hoover declared thai
higher power is not only harmless
but has meant general rise in
broadcasting efficiency.