Evening star., 1926-02-21
REVISED RADIO BILL
/ UP FOR VOTE SOON
White Measure Undergoes
Many Changes Since Of
fered in House.

The revised radio bill, reintroduced
by Representative White of Maine,
now bears the caption II. f. 910S,
and awaits the pleasure of the House
for a vote. This bin was favorabiy
reported by the merchant marine and
fisheries committee. with the eNcep-
ton of one vote.
Basically it is our old friend Fl. r.
b5S9, originally presented in Decem-
her. However, it has been amended
10 prevent price fixing or the restric-
ton of the use of radio tubes and ap-
paratus. to insure the reservation OF
Rt least one radio broadcast channel
TO each State, TO redistrict the coun-
try into five zones, and reduce the au-
thority and personnel of the radio
advisory commission.
In assigning wave lengths and in
determining the location of stations
the Secretary of Commerce must do
so with due consideration of the
right of each State to have allocated
TO it, or to some person, firm, COM
pany or corporation within it. the use
OF a wave length for at least one
broadcaSting station located or TO be
located in such State, whenever ap-
plica ton may be made therefor. "
Practically every one agrees that each
state deserves the right to broadcast
If it wants to and that at least one
channel should be reserved. Nevada
fans may yet have brOadcaSter.
Distribution of Licenses.
Following out the same line, the
authors of the bill require that in con-
sidering applications for licenses and
renewals of licenses. when and in so
far as there is demand for same, the
Secretary of Commerce shall made an
equitable distribution of licenses,
wave lengths and of power among the
five zones established In the act. and
shall apply the same principle as be-
tween applicants from the different
States and communities within each
zone.
One of the chief revisions changes
the number of radio zones of the
country from nine to five. Prevl-
nusly the number of zones and the
present radio districts coincided but
1t is not clear whether the bill aims
TO change the territory covered by
the nine supervisors of radio. AS
each district supervisor has more ter
ritory now than he can cover, many
experts hope the rezoning will not
affect their jurisdictions nor the des
ignations of the amateurs by the
nine significant numerals used in
their calls.
Under the new ZoninG plan the
first zone embraces Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont. Massachusetts,
Connecticut. Rhode Island. New
York. New Jersey. Delaware, Mary
land. the District of Columbia, Porto
Rico and the Virgin Islands; the
second zone embraces Pennsylvania.
Virginia. West Virginia, Ohio. Michi-
gan and Kentucky; the third. North
Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia.
Florida, Alabama, Tennessee. Missis-
sippi, Arkansas. Louisiana. Texas
and Oklahoma; the fourth. indiana
Illinois. Wisconsin. Minnesota. North
Dakota, South Dakota. Iowa. Ne
braska Kansas and Missouri. and the
fifth. the States of Montana, Idaho.
Wyoming Colorado, New Mexico.
Arizona Utah, Nevada. Washington.
Oregon, California, Hawaii and
Alaska.
The Commerce Secretary'S advis-
DRY committee is renamed the Fed
eraI Radio Commission. The five
commissioners will be appointed by
the President with the consent ot
the Senate. Each commissioner
must be a resident in different
zone and none may be financially in
terested in the manufacture or sale
OF radio equipment nor in radio com
munication of any type. Further
more not more than three members
may be of the same political party.
May Appeal to ID. {. Court.
To this commission the Secretary
Of Commerce may refer problems in
volving applications for licenses,
wave lengths or power, or other mat
terS. The decisions of this body
l.. I,.A hi,,li on, la
Secretary, however. as was originally
provided 1t would hear all appeals
over the Secretarys decisions. and
appeals on its rulings might be car
ried to the Court Of Appeals of the
District of Columbia.
According to the new wording Of
the bill every radio station on ship
board must he equipped To transmit
radio communica tionS or distress sig
nails on specified wave lengths 100
miles in day or night. an Increased
marine safety preca ution.
new section proposes legislation
against the fixing of prices or restrict
ing the uses of vacuum tubes OF
radio apparatus. 1t will he unla wfuI
under the bill for any person or firm
20 ship or carry from one State to
another. or to import into any state.
vacuum tubes and radio apparatus or
parts dHeclt'l bS any CollillioiiS
which fix the price al which they may
be resold or restrict their uses.
Matter broadcast for pay must be
designated over the air paid for
or furnished by" the individual or
firm. but need not be labeled "Adver-
tisinG" as originally provided in the
first bill.
The committee has changed the
word "broadcasted" 10 broadcast" "
4 1a Tor,
for good.
H. r. 910S is on the calendar and
is expected TO be brought up for dis
cussion and vote at an early date.