Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
FEW WAVE LENGTH
CHANGES EXPECTED
Some Stations, However, Are
Experimenting Under Ruling
of Attorney General.
BY CARL H. BUTMAN.

The Department of Commerce has
advised all broadcasting stations that
they are authorized to continue to
operate on their present wave lengths
until new applications are hled con-
tanning the normal wave lengths
selected by the stations. 1t is not
anticipated that very many changes
in radio channels will be made, at
least by those stations now using
wave lengths of SOC meters or higher,
although a number of the broadcasters
assigned lower waves appear to be
experimenting with new routes.
Needless to say, those who change
viii find congestion III almost every
ETHEREAL route, and the more they shit
about the greater will become the Con-
fusion. Some of those which nave
begun experimenting with new wave
lengths have evidently found 1t mex
pedient, for they have gone back TO
their original channels. This Is
natural result Of any close study of
the ether routes. because the plan
which the Department of Commerce
has been endeavoring to enforce dur
ing the past year or two was the
result of careful study and one calcu-
lated to accommodate as large a num-
her of broadcasterS with as little con-
fusion as possible.
Chaos Might Result
Chaos will most certainly result if
MANY stations strive to better their
channels or improve their effective
ranges independently 1t will cause a
situation similar to that in automobile
traffic in large cities, wherein traffic
regulations are suddenly lifted and
all drivers go as they please. 1t would
slow up traffic, cause many accidents
and result in jams. Just so in the
ether, but as the lid is OF any re-
sulting confusion will be upon the
heads of the broadcaSters which cause
it. and it may result in serious loss
of respect among the listeners anu
the general public.
In an effort to carry on with the
least possible confusion the nine radio
supervisors have been directed by the
department as follows:
I'm the enforcement of the act to
regulate radio communication. ap-
proved August 10, 1912, the depart
ment will be guided by the opinion
of the Attorney General, dated July
S. 1926. copy of which has been sent
you.
Licenses Issued TO All.
Under this act. and in accordance
with the decision, licenses for the
operation of radio transmitting sta
tons will be issued to all applicants.
A copy of the new license form is in
closed herewith. When a formal APP
plication for license is filed with you
an inspection must be made to de-
termine if the station exists ana Is
ready for operation prior to recon-
mending the issuance of the license.
The applicant must designate GER
tain definite wave length below bOO
meters or above 1900 meters as the
normal wave length of the station.
The wave length designated VIII De
recited in the license. The depart
ment is not assigning wave lengths
and under the opinion OF the Attor-
ney General. stations are free 10 use
wave lengths other than the one
designated as the normal wave length.
The license will not contain any re-
strictions on the poser to be used by
the station or the hours of its opera
ton or any other limitations not
shown on the license form.
You will confine your activities 10
the following: l. Enforcement OF the
shin act 2. Inspection of stations Ior
licenses. 3, Examination and licensing
of operators. A. Observation and re-
port of any apparent cases or Wiitui
or malicious interference 0. OpSeI va
ton of priority requirement for dis
tress signals, under the act OF Au-
gust 10, 1912. g. Report of the Depart
ment the operation of any station on
a wave length other than the norman
wave length designated
Reference to Canada.
should applicant for station licenses
designate a wave length used by Ca
madam stations attention should be
called to the departments view as eX-
pressed in the statement accompany
ing the Attorney Generals opinion.
"Under existing conditions and In
view of the opinion of the Attorney
General you will confine yourseh 10
the above instructions as they apply
10 transmitting stations only and the
GENERATORS thereof. The department
has no Jurisdiction over receiving sta,
lions and correspondence in regard
10 such stations therefore is outside
of the departments authority and
should be reduced to the minimum.