Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
BY WALTER r. McCALLUM.


HOME time during the next six or
eight enthusiastically before
Christmas-the symphony of
~ squsals, the medley of howls,
which have accompanied all dis
lance reception and much local radio
reception in Washington and other
cities, particularly on the Eastern sea
board, viii have been entirely elimi-
mated. Signals from broadca sters, big
and little, with good programs and
Indifferent programs. will pursue their
uncharted and devious course through
the ether unaccompanied by the un-
pleasant and inconvenient whistles
and bowls which have now been in
order on the air for nearly year.
This is the promise of the new
Federal Radio Commission, which has
now been funetioning for nearly a
month, given willingly and gladly
in the hope that 5000. 600 radio listen
ers may sit down in the evening and
enjoy a good radio bill free of bowls
and whistles.
How is this to be brought about?
How is this chaos in the air 10 he
eliminated? How can 1872 broadcast
ing stations be put on SO wave
lengths to send out their varied air
menu without interference? VIII the
big broadcasters with upwards of
$4,000 watts power blanket the little
fellows so their meager little 50-watt
signals will be heard even in the
localized communities they serve?
Biggest job of all, can the lion and
the lamb, as exemplified by the hun
dredS Of broadcasters, each jealous Of
the other fellows place on the air, be
brought together in harmony to work
out a broad-minded and forward
looking policy which will satisfy their
audience?
Public First Thought.
Many millions of Americans are
looking for the answers to these oues.
tions. No less the commission itself,
for this group of men has attacked
Its job in open-minded fashion, ready
to meet the problem on the field of
fair play for all, prepared to throw
discord for a loss. ready with the big
stick" of litigation and ready with
minor Gehenna for those broadcasters
who don't play as the commission
likes, all in the interest of the public.
For the guiding principle of the new
commission is that the public is the
party, abstractly and individually,
which must be served first, last and
always.
Three major problems confronted
the commission at the outset Of its
work. Two. of them have been set
tied to the complete satisfaction of
a major group and to the partial sat
lsfaction of all. One of them, the
knottiest Of all, remains for solution.
The possibility that the amateur
wave band below the present broad
casting lower limit of 200 meters has
been definitely removed. for the time
being, at least. At the same time
the commission has set down as a
principle both Of theory and fact that
separation, electrically. between dis.
fant broadcasting stations OF less than
10 kilocycleS is Impractical These
resolutions solve two of the ma 3or
problems. The third, total elimination
OF some part OF the large number of
broadcasters on the air, remains 'sin
the air, so TO speak 1t may never
be solved without expensive litigation
(some challenge the right of the COM
mission to refuse to issue broad
casting license). and It may be solved
by some panacea not yet discovered,
At present it remains the weightiest
matter now before the air control
body.
Broadcasters Called.
That il viii be solved within two
months is the hope of the commission,
which now has in contemplation call.
Ing all United States broadcasters into
conference 20 the cards may be
spread upon the table and the broad.
casters required TO show their right
TO operate, based on the quality Of
their programs, the technical pres.
entatfon and, most important of all.
whether the public likes their stuff.
In high-sounding language it is
called public convenience and ne.
cessity."
Actually it SINNERS down to
whether the broadcaster presents pro-
grams liked by the listening public.
1T Is certain that no decision in this
important matter will be made before
Rear Admiral w. H. G. Billiard.
chairman Of the commission, takes up
the reins Of office. He has been in
China for several months. In the
meantime the job has been taken up
by the other members of the commits.
sion: Judge E. o. Sykes Of Missis.