Evening star., 1927-03-20
RADIO Commission
POLICY INDICATED
Nothing Official Said, But
Preference for 'Non-PRates'
Is Believed Likely.

While there has been no declara-
tion of policy. by members of the
Federal Radio Commission as 20 the
course IL will pursue in squeezing
something more than 700 broadcast
ing stations on to about 90 available
wave channels, little doubt is held by
those who have talked with members
of the radio control body i'm Washing
ton that limited preference will be
given to those stations which have
been in operation for some time and
have not unduly increased their
power or skipped around ON ''pirated'
wave lengths during the period when
there was no Government control of
the air. At the same time efforts
are being made by the commission to
take care of Canada in the reassign-
ment of wave channels So the sister
nation 10 the North may secure wave
bands on which its stations may
broadcast without interference from
United States broadcasters.
Canada is understood to be ready to
ask for at least a dozen wave lengths
for exclusive use of its broadcasters,
and representatives of the Canadian
government have accepted an invita- s.
tion to meet the new commission
Monday to discuss the claims of the
Dominion in advance of the four day
public hearings scheduled for March
29-April /, inclusive.
Will Favor Fair Players.
Neither the commission nor any of
its members have admitted that "A
policy with respect to realloCation of
wave bands for broadcasting has been
laid down. But members, discussing
the general situation. have admitted
that there undoubtedly will be a dis
position to play fair with the broad
casters who have played fair with
the listening public and the Govern
ment by adhering TO the ether chan
nels they occupied prior to July /.
1926, when the Government formally
relinquished all control of the air
channels. The stations which have
foreGone the temptation to pirate"
other channels will probably find
themselves in an advantageous posi-
ton when the time comes for reas-
signment of wave bands
AT the same time, members OF the
Air Control Board admit there must
be a reduction of the number of sta
tions now broadcasting if side band"
interference and heterodyning (alf of
which come under the general term
of howls) are to be eliminated from
reception. This reduction. members
DcIIeNe, VIII come as the result OF
public need and necessity and not he
cause of political or business inhu-
ence.
Many Problems Arise.
Ii the number of stations is not ma
terially reduced or time divisions
made TO eliminate interference. the
possibility of adding so-caIled local
oscillators to receiving sets to permit
of closer tuning. may arise This
would make possible separation of sta
tions by less than the 10-kilocycle sep
aration now regarded as standard.
But the radio law now in effect pro
vides there shall be no necessity for
introducing new mechanical devices
which will aid in reducing the chaos
Elimination of interference must
come about by regulation and not b.
mechanical means. Then, according
to members. there still remains the
possibility of taking over part of the
amateur range and reducing the
broadcast range from its lowest
point-200 meters--down to $50 me-
tiers. This step, it iss admitted, is yet
only "A possibility-One of many that
the commission now has before it for
consideration in it's complicated task