Evening star., 1925-07-19
EUROPE SEEKING
/ CONTROL OF RADIO
Proposal to Include Broad
casting in World Telegraph
ParIey So Interpreted.
BY CARL III. BUTMAN.

Every radio listener and amateur,
as well as all branches of our CONNER
cial radio industry, may be affected in
either the pursuit of happiness or the
routine Of business if Europe attempts
to regulate radio for all countries of
the world. The proposal abroad to in
clude radio in the international tele
graph conference, scheduled TO be held
September ! in Paris, is the new bone
OF contention. The joker is that the
United States is not party to the tele-
graph conference and has no vote.
Although the United States Govern
ment will be represented unOfficially
a. the telegraph conference, it is un-
derstoOd that a protest against includ-
ing radio in the general articles will
shortly go forward
With an international radio confer
ence scheduled to be held in this coun-
try within a year, it is only natural
that the radio interests here should
object to having matters pertaining to
radio discussed and possibly settled
prior TO that convention and for the
Government to hold the same view.
As the United States has never
signed the telegraph convention, our
Government and industry will be un-
able TO more than express their views
on the radio situation at Paris. In
Europe it is the aim of most of the
larger countries, particularly England,
France, Italy and Belgium, to include
telegraphy, cable and radio regulations
under the one head of telegraphy. This
is because they are all interlinked in
one way or another, and in general
are controlled or operated by the gov
ernments. American views are differ
ent, although there is almost the same
rela tionShip between the operating
companies. Our industries do not want
the Government to join the telegraph
union.
Chief Reason Assigned
The chief reason is believed to be
the fact that this Government exer-
cises no control or regulation over in
dependent cables, telegraph, telephone
or radio companies. If the United
States did sign the articles agreeing to
accept the international regulations
and requirements it is feared that
Government regulation here would
soon follow-that is, that body SINH
lar to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission would be authorized to regu-
late communications just as the Inter
state Commerce Commission regulates
transportation. Rates would then
come up for standardization or re-
vision, and might put radio and cable
rates on a parity. To date no attempt
is being made to regulate or supervise
tariffs on communications. and all
branches of the communication indus
try would fight such a move. There
are, however, Legislators who favor it.
The creation of such a regulatory
body might or might not interfere
with our communication rates, which
are not considered excessive over for
etgn rates, although the service is re-
ported better here than abroad.
U. S. to Declare Position.
although Government officials will
not discuss the situation with regard
ence, it is known that a statement CIV
ing the position of this Government In
the matter of radio is soon to go for
ward to Paris. A list of unofficial
delegates. now thought to be on the
Presidents desk awaiting his approval,
will also be forwarded to the headquar-
ters of the telegraph convention. 1t is
believed that no Government repre-
sentatives will serve in the capacity
of delegates, and that no officials of
any communication company will be
designated, but that either unattached
electrical engineers, scientists or well
informed educators or business men
will constitute the United States dele
CATION of observers.
considerable concern is manifest
against the inclusion of radio into the
telegraph conference, because radio
has come to form such an important
function in American business and
pleasure. Without an active voice at
Paris the American de gates would
be helpless in opposing regulations
which might interfere with CONNER
cial, amateur and broadcasting radio
activities in our own country. Any at
tempt to regulate radio under the rigid
terms laid down for telegraph and
cable communication between coun-
tries would affect both our amateur
and broadcast activities when they
reached beyond the confines of the
country.
Wants America Protected.
AS both amateur and broadcast
trstnsmissions are going abroad with
increasing regularity, America should
reserve it's right to protect the in
terests of her citizens in any effort to
create universal regulations. Another
feature is that if the Paris conference
does include radio in its program. and
settles all the points regardless of
America g stand, there would be little,
If any, use in holding separate radio
conference here either next Spring,
as has been suggested by the Euro
pean powers, or at all.
1t appears that either the Govern
ment must enter the international con-
ference as an active member or remain
aloof, trusting that having filed its
protest the matters affecting radio will
be left for adjustment at the conven-
tion scheduled to be held in Washing
ton early next year.
Within a short time it is believed
that the Government will issue a pro-
nouncement indicating its position,
which will be of interest to every fol
1aIUe,. of "a din rlroprasc