New Britain herald., 1927-11-29
RADIO REGI LAYTON


 ing a federal radio commission. such . ae at present exists, in order to rcgu- {. late interstate ethering badly in need l. or the guiding hand of Q govern ment bureau.
 It is hard 10 understand the sys- tenn being followed in some particulars, however. The latest or der of the commission is that inc wave bands affecting twenty-five ! important and powerful stations are to be cleared so as to make it pos siblc for long distance fans to fol- low their hobby with some degree of satisfaction.
 Well and good; but-and here the dark man in the Woodpile is spotted
 An analysis has shown that the stations affected are nearly all mcm- bers Of one of the three great chains" that have been formed, so that the DIX fan can have the satis- faction more than half the time of tuning in on a faraway station only 10 get the same program his local station, or nearby powerful and popular station, is broadcasting.
 The plan has the color of an at tempt 10 clear the air lanes for the chain stations, thus giving them an advantage over the non-chain broad casters. When it is considered, too, that the chain stations are identified with the most far developed com- mercialiZation of radio broadcasting the commissions scheme looks like one of giving them commercial ad- vantages over rivals.
 Long distance radio is the life of the industry. People buy expensive sets for no other purpose than to be able 10 connect with far-diStant stations, regardless of the programs, but merely for the thrill of it. When they find that by connecting with Chicago stations they obtain the same programs as are offered in New York, and this more than half the time, they naturally will come to think it is no advantage to possess high powered set.
 It used to be quite a feat in these parts for the average fan to get WEAF in New York. Now that this station has begun operating a high powered new transmitter at Bell more, l.. l., it is no longer q feat. But it is rather disconccrting to find that WEAF is farming out it's pro- gram 10 1 ? to 20 other stations, and that it is no advantage in landing if. The same holds true for WIZ.
 Another important point about chain broadcasting that does not re bound to the advantage Of local station is that local talent is given q severe blow. Indeed, if the chain hroadcasting idea is much further developed local talent will have scarcely look-i at local station at least, some Of them. Yet when i the radio commission was started one Of the first announcements made was that the function of local station would always be recog- nized, and one of it's chief functions was to give local talent an outlet to assert itself. It seems to be getting less of an outlet all the time, as it is evident to anyone with eyes to sec and ears to hear that an in creasingly large part Of the time on q great many local stations are be- ing taken up with chain programs. ! Obviously, the quality of the pro- grams in most instances thus are rnproyed, this unqucstionaby is a benefit to the listener, and source ot satisfaction to the radio listener who does not go in for DXing. h. 1 dividuality and local enterprise by stations however, is lost. l. becomes ! child's play to operate q station when all that is necessary is 10 keep the transmitter hooked up with a tolc- i phone wire from New ' ork. The de vclopment Of local features and the use of local talent thus lapscs.