Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-26
RADIO OFFENDERS
TO Be RULED OFF
Commission to Revoke Ii
censes of Stations Deviat-
ina From Wave Lengths.

The Federal Radio Commission took
steps today to WELD the big stick of its
authority over offending radio stations
which do not adhere closely to their
assigned ether channels. Broadcasters
who deviate more than one-half kilo-
cycle from their wave length during
the period between August / and Au-
gust 5 will be prevented from further
broadcasting by loss of license. The
commission expects quite number"
of stations to fail to meet the fire.
quency requirements and to be ruled
off the air after August IS, but cannot
predict how heavy the mortality
among brOadcasters would be.
About SO per cent of the broadcast
ing stations in the United States are
now deviating from their assigned
wave lengths under the ALLEGATIONS of
June IS, some of them seriously off
and others off a half kilocycle or less,
but enough to cause interference with
other broadcasters. The action of the
commission has been predicted for sew
eral months, but the announcement
today was the first definite indication
that the commissions punitive powers
would be invoked in the case Of sta
tons which vary from their assigned
frequency. The penalty for broadcast
ing without q license is a fine Of s.. 900
or five years in Jail. Reports on WRC
declare it seldom deviates from it's
channel.
ViOlatOrs to BE Notified.
The commission has before it re.
ports from radio supervisors showing
the manner in which broadca stinc
stations have been straying from
their air channels and next week will
notify them they must stay on their
frequency for a test period Of two
weeks. Those unable to keep on the
assigned channel will not be given a
renewed 60.day license on August Is.
I'VE have no doubt many stations
will not be able to get renewal of
license" Commissioner Bellows said,
adding that on October Is another 60.
day license period would start, so the
radio control body may retain control
Of licenses for the period necessary
for experimentation and transfer.
mo three;year licenses will be grant
ed until we are sure Of our ground"
Mr.. Bellows said
Licenses Not Purchasable.
Many small stations with inadequate
equipment have remained on the air
hoping that they may be commercially
saleable and with the idea of making
a profit from their sale. Mr.. Bellows
made it plain that station licenses can
not be purchased, but that buyer Of
a radio station today purchases only
the physical equipment and not a
license to operate. The new purchaser
must make application for a license,
he said. This applies also in the case
Of WTRC, new station proposed to
be established in Virginia, near Wash
ington.
Mr.. Bellows said Congress un.
doubtedly will be asked to amend the
radio law at the next session by add
ing a provision to control air adver-
Using. The claim has been made that
a station in Iowa has advertised ex-
tensively over the air, and sold mer-
chandise by such advertising, to the
direct loss Of merchants in the same
community who have not access to
the air advertising. In addition, he
said there Is no way to prosecute such
stations for unfair or misleading ad-
vertising, whereas in the case Of mail
advertising fraudulency can be ex.
posed and punished.