Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-18
RADIO LICENSES
AWAIT HEARINGS
Permanent Issue to Con-
tinue on Present Wave
Bands Presents Problems.

The Federal Radio Commission Will
not issue permanent licenses TO broad
casters to continue operating on the"
present wave bands until after the
public hearings scheduled by the com
mission for March %. 80, 81 ana
April !. SO lengthy study must pe
made of the various technical prop
lens entering into the problems al
fectinc hroadca sting that the "omnls'
sion has decided not to issue any
broadcasting licenses of permanent
character until the views of broad
casters can be learned through per
sonal testimony and by replies TO me
missionaries which are to be sent
out next week.
O. KID For UneXpired Periods.
In the meantime all licenses issued
to radio operators as individuals. VaiN
at the time of passage OF the new
radio law. February %. have been eN'
tended for the uneXpired period OF such
licenses. This order applies principal
~ to persons holding operator S licenses
for ship communication and 10 the
great army of radio amateurs, OF
whom there are about 10000 in the
United States. All of the latter class
have successfully passed the eXamina-
tions for their grades and the commits
sion feels ii unnecessary TO impose a
second examination before expiration
of the licenses now in force.
Warning Issued.
Stations which jump off their as
signed wave lengths may find them
selves in danger of losing their H.
Censes after the program of license as
signment gets well under way, Of
ficials of the commission intimated TO-
day, at the same time indicating that
a less gap in the present 1O-kilocycle
separation between stations may be-
come necessary in order to space out
the greatly increa sed number of sta
tons seeking permanent licenses. The
task of patroling the air to see that
stations remain on their assigned
wave bands and do not deviate so s
To form side band interference with
others, falls to the radio division of
the Commerce Department. headed by
W. ID. Terrell.
Sykes Speaks to Millions.
Speaking to an invisible audience
of millions over a "hook-up' of
40 radio stations from coast to coast.
Acting Chairman Sykes of the Ra
lilo Commission declared that serv-
ice to the listening public is the domi-
nant force behind all actions of the
commission. Only once before in the
history of radio had such an extensive
station combine had such a vast audi
ence, when President CoolIdge's Wash
ington birthday address was relayed
over all America and across the seas.
Mr. Sykes emphasized the magni-
tude of the task of regulating radio
by pointing out that more than IS 900
transmitting stations are operating un-
der Federal license. He compared the
broadcasting situation to a crowded
city street without well understood
traffic rules
AS little interference with legitimate
radio traffic will be made as possible,
Mr.. Sykes said, to eliminate the
danger of accident" The commission
Is counting principally on the broad
casters for advice. he added, because
he considered them likely to suffer
most from accidents
Opposes Partial Solution.
I'VE cannot solve this problem over
night, nor would you want us to at
tempt any partial solution which
though 1t might clear away one local
ulmculty, would do so only to set I'D
new troubles elsewhere" MIR. Sykes
said
Ihere are certain general prin-
cipleS which we must formulate as
our guides in determining how in
reference between stations NAV best
be eliminated i'm the interests of the
listening public.
II is, l think, a very fortunate
thing that these plans. and their ap-
phcation 10 each special case, are not
made by the law the duty of any
one man. Here is a problem in
Volving many millions of dollars in
vested in broadcasting equipment.
half billion dollars of annual sales
of radio sets and supplies, and, by all
odds most important, millions of
American people in whose lives radio
has come to play an established part.
Asks Patience of Public. a..
I'VE are approaching our task in
full recognition of its importance and
magnitude. We are under no obli-
cations, political or otherwise. except
TO the radio public. We ask your
help, and also, for awhile, we ask
your patience. ] can make you only
one promise, and that is that i'm
everything we may do we are going
TO be guided by the principle that
the right to broadcast is dependent
not on selfish interest. but on serv-
ice to the listening public"
John r.. Dillon of California, the
Pacific Coast member of the COM
mission, greeted the radio audience
in "A short address in which he dedi-
Gated the work OF the commission
TO the public interest