Evening star., 1925-04-13
NEW RADIO RULES
ARE WORLD NEED
International Convention to
Take Up Broadcasting.
Must Come Soon.
BY j. C. RoYLE.
Special Dispatch to The star.


NEW YORK, April 1s.--An interna-
tional convention to regulate radio
has been rendered necessary by the
tremendous development of interest
in foadcasting here and in other
portions Of the world. The need for
such convention has been evidenced
by recent court decisions. At pres
ent the use of radio is regulated by
an agreement entered into by the va
rious nations long before broadcast
ing was heard of. These regulations
refer solely to spark telegraphy.
These old regulations, therefore,
are now obsolete and are being gen
orally ignored, each nation govern
ing the use OF broadcasting and re-
ceiving equipment for itself, although
along the lines of the old convention
when possible.
Legal Trouble Possible.
The increase in the number of
broadcasting stations and the i'm
proyement in receiving apparatus is
making such an arrangement impos-
sible. For example, the old conven-
tion provided that q message sent
by radio was a confidential matter
and operators of radio equipment
were prohibited from making 1t pub
lie any more than telegraph COM
panies could make wire messages
public.
This rule was made before broad
casting was perfected, but it has
never been abrogated by interna-
tional consent and might possibly
figure in any legal battle between
theatrical and operate producers and
those who broadcast the efforts of
operate and stage stars.
New Code Greatly Needed.
Men closely identified with the
business feel that new code Of
procedure must be outlined and
agreed to which will regulate broad
casting and receiving in much the
same way that the rule of the Postal
Union regulates transmission OF mails.
No law has yet been drawn provid-
ing penalties for using the air to
defraud, out without question such
measure shortly will become a neces-
sity unless broadcasting is stringently
regulated.
Radio broadcasting has been far
more restricted in other countries
than the United States and installa-
tien Of radio receiving sets still is
prohibited in some countries. These,
however, are rapidly lifting the ban
Propaganda is far more subtle
weapon and one much more feared
in Europe than America, and, in addi-
tion, foreign countries have feared
the effect on their own trade of a
big influx of American-made sets.
How British System Works.
The British system, according to E.
A. Brofos Of the International Cen
ePal Electric Co, centers about the
British broadcasting company which
| now operates IT stations in Great
Britain. To listen to these, about
100000 people pay a license fee to
| the government, part of which fee
reverts to the broadcasttng company.
1t is notable that this company
| broadcasts direct from various the
aters, whose managers have not
| found radio a menace to their at
| tendance.
Holland has seven stations operated
| by big electrical concerns and other
! industries, but the government is con
| sidering a proposal to consolidate the
| various interests and operate only
! one large station for the whole coun-
try. Sweden has been broadcast
| ing two years under direction of
! the state telegraph administration.
| Norway has a broadcasting company
| backed by manufacturers, which
hopes to receive a five-year conces-
| cast within radius of $50 kilometers
| from the capital.
VIII Rent Receiving Sets.
In Germany. power companies plan
| to render a breadcasting service and
rent receiving sets to subscribers
There are now 10 stations in the coun-
/ try. mostly owned by the government
| and operated by private companies.
France has five stations, of which
! three are operated under governmental
| control.
! The radio manufacturers of Italy
/ have received a concession for broad
casting throughout that country. Each
| receiving set is taxed, two-thirds of
the amount going to the broadcasting
! company, which also received a serv-
| ice free from the listener and one from
I the manufacturer.
In Spain it is permissible to broad
cast publicity matter and a general
! company has put broadcasting on a
| commercial basis. The first station in
! Turkey has just opened and Syria has
| lifted the embargo on American re-
cefving sets. Recent broadcasting ex-
| periments with Australia have paved
! the way for large sales of APPARATUS