Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25

i" HROWN into a chaotic state
by the decision of q Chicago
judge in April-a condition in
4 which the reins of govern
mental jurisdiction have been
completely removed and the express
sion free as air" became an absolute
truism-radio broadcasting stands to-
day before the bar of public opinion.
On the attitude of the broadcasting
industry-this giant of many millions.
which has sprung up full-1edged in
less than five years-toward the pub
lie, the only customer it has. will rest
the fate of the industry. For if Con-
gress comes back to Washington in
December with reports of broadcasters
interfering with one another, jumbling
up the air channels until no listener
can tune into a program capable of
proper reception, the legislative
branch may clamp down such rigid
restrictions as to make broadcasting
and it's resulting business benefits far
more difficult than in the old free and
easy days just passed, when the De-
partment of Commerce ruled the
ether.
The situation today is hopelessly
jumbled up. William J. Donovan, act
ing Attorney General, has ruled that
neither the Department of Commerce
has power to stipulate wave lengths
and hours of broadcasting. 1t all
came about through a test case begun
last February in Chicago, when sta
ton WJAZ, the station operated by
the Zenith Radio Corporation, dissat-
1Sfied with its time and wave length
assignment, jumped off its band on to
the wave length used by six Canadian
broadcasters, thereby violating an in
ternational agreement which the United
States had been anxious to keep in
violate.
Lost i'm Conference.
Congress also has had a share in
the present chaotic situation, for two
bills were before the Senate and House
when Congress adjourned on July g.
either of which would have cleared up
and altogether prevented the present
mess in the air. The Dill bill had
passed the Senate. The White bill
had passed the House. Both had gone
to conference and had not come out
when Congress adjourned. Both bills
carry explicit authority to the Gov
| eminent to assign wave lengths limit
power and time and establish in the
Government the fundamental prop
erty In the channels of the ether
Since 1912 the Commerce Department
mas supervised radio in the United
States, including broadcasting in all
It's forms. under law passed in that
year. which has now been found in
adequate to meet the present situa-
| ton.
II radio broadcaSters want to be real
| pad boys and jump around through
the air onto the other fellows toes
tweaking the nose of the big &C, 900
| watt chap who boomS clear across the
continent during their Summer plaY.
time, they can do it, for until Congress
enacts some radio legislation the
oroadcasters are absolutely on their
| own. The air is free to any and all
of them to use as they see fit Their
only restriction is that they STAY in
the wave band between 200 and SOC
meters. for above 600 come the shin
stations with their frequent distress
calls, and below 200 come the amateurs
| the brasspoundersw who have contributed
SO much to the development of mans
newest method of sending thought
across space. There is little doubt
that Congress will jump right into
radio legislation early in the coming
session. Upon the attitude of the
oroadcaSting depends the severity OF
the restrictive legislation 1t will enact
in the view of many observers in
Washington. So the bad little boys
would do well to do an about-face anC
become good little boys to save then
own radio skins.
Limit Is 1870 Stations.
! Even after radio legislation is en-
acted next Winter there will still not
be room for more than 80 broadcast
ers. comfortably spaced, with ample
broadcasting time. This number OF
stations can be doubled by assigning
time limitations to all stations, but al
the outside not more than $50 station:
can be ION the air. in the Unitet
States any given "a hours.
The one ray of hope Is that th<
forthcoming international radio con
ference to be called some time durine
the next year by Secretary Hoover ii
Washington may by internationa
agreement jump the ship band up 20(
meters to 500. thereby opening up 6
channel for as or so more full-timt
broadcasters. No one predicts that such
an eventuality may come out of tbs
conference, but it is just possible thai
the higher wave bands may be opened
up to some degree. Least of all doe:
Judge S. B. Davis, solicitor of the
Commercial Department and until re
Gently the real radio "cZar," believe
that additional wave bands will be
lever in strict regulation, the strictel
the better, for radio in his judgment
must have the most rigid regulation
for it's own good and that of those
who support it'd, 000,0 900 listeners
with sets and as many more who rur
across to their neighbors to "listen tC
the radio"
"It is a hopeless thing" Judge
Davis says, Ito try to regulate radio
unless we can limit the number OF
broadcasting stations.
1--WE have about 80 available wave
lengths between 200 and 500 meters
It is perfectly obvious we cannot cram
| 200 stations in on that limited mum
Der of bands without doing harm tc
many 1t is purely a question oil
mathematics and we must solve the
situation by considering alone the
greatest good for the greatest mum
ber."
Value Measured by Service.
/ Judge Davis and, it might be added
his chief also - Secretary Hoover
believe that radio broadcasting, it
utility and its value, Is measured only
by the service 1t renders to the pub
lie. 1.-THE first step we must take,
Judge Davis adds. lis to fix a limit or
the number of stations broadcasting
based on public convenience ard neces
sity" And here Judge Davis EN-
phaticaIiy denies that radio inspector:
have ever taken any steps to criticize
or comment on the quality of pro
lgrams broadcasters send out through