Evening star., 1927-12-03
eODAYS ALLOWED
TO IMPROVE RADIO
Commission Predicts Radical
Changes if Conditions Are
No Better Then.

Sixty more days should find radio
reception in the best condition pos
sible with the present number Of
stations on the air" Behind this
statement by the Federal Radio
Commission is the forecast of an
other determined change in policy.
The gist of it all is that if the best
condition possible" is not good
enough, radical steps will he taken
to effect Improvement along other
lines.
Definitely and distinctly, the COM
mission, through its spokesman, Com
missioner Sam Pickard, has an
nounced that il is ready to throw
down the gauntlet to the broadcast
ing stations not sufficiently serving
the public interest convenience o.
necessity" Individual members of
the commission, ii was stated, have
from the first realized that elimiua-
ton Of some SOC broadcasters was
eventually the only real solution for
the present oVercrowdinS of the air
channels.
This number being approximately
the total which came on the air dur
ing the breakdown of Department of
Commerce control last year, the
inference was plain that the COM
mission is prepared to go into the
courts to fight constitutional claims
OF stations ordered off the air, which
will be primarily on grounds Of prop
erty rights and their deprivation
without due process of law. In fact
Commissioner pickard said that the
commission felt it was time to have
the radio act of 1927 tested and that
a legal showdown would be well
coined.
1t was not definitely stated that
800 stations would be Topped off the
list, which now numbers 6S3. But
il was stated that 500 or more will
be closely scrutiniZed-and with the
help of the listening public. which
was invited to send in its observa-
tions after January Ito see wheth
er licenses shall be reissued to them.
If they fail to serve the public in
tereSt, convenience or necessity, the
rather broadly phrased criterion set
up in the radlo law, licenses will be
denied them.
With 25 channels cleared since De-
cember l, the present plan of the
commission is to clear % more III
similar fashion, according TO Mr..
Pickard. -Four or five stations di-
viding time or properly separated by
distance and power output can oper-
ate without Interference on these
places for 200 to $50 stations. The
others will be crowded on the re-
manning 40 wave lengths, with in
evitable interference resulting, often
even over their local service ranges,
Licenses will be renewed for only
one month after January l, 1928. On
February i, the judgment will prob
ably be rendered as TO which stations
are fittest TO survive. While 300 are
threatened, it is not expected that
that many will be refused licenses.
Some horrible examples" are to be
made of stations which still are
deviating from their assigned fire.
quencies; others will be summarily
ordered to quit the air in the inter
est OF better radio.
By far the most pointed announce
ment since the commissions incep-
tion, this attitude on the eve of the
convening of Congress is certain TO
create grave apprehension in the
ranks of the broadcasters. There is
assurance that none of the stations
of first order, whether purporting to
cover national or local areas, are in
danger of extinction. The Federal
Radio Commission will undoubtedly
suffer adverse criticism from Con-
gressmen representing districts con-
tanning some of the stations deemed
net to be serving public interest,
convenience or necessity. On the
other hand, with reception made
highly favorable on so channels al
lotted to 200 or $50 ffrst-class sta
tions, it has indicated its purpose to
rest its case with public opinion.
Victor Herbert's two-act operetta,
"Sweethearts," and the weekly con-
cert of the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra are the outstanding musi-
cal attractions tonight of WRC. The
former will be presented during the
Philco Hour. while the New York
Symphony Orchestra's s program will
be offered as the r. G. A. Hour.
WRCs dinner music will be pro-
vided by the Waldorf Astoria, St
Marks and Mayfiower Orchestras
The late dance program will come
from the Wardman Park Hotel.
Several talks. interspersed with
musical features. make up the pro-
gram tonight of WMAL. The talks
will be given by Lieut.. Col II. Ed
mund Bulls and John NJ. Riordan,
executive vice president of the Bank
of Commerce and Savings. The lat
ter will speak on Interesting Facts
on the Christmas Savings Club.
while Col. Bulls has selected for his
topic, "a Government That Is Run
for Profit"
The Honolulans, Yeoman and Nc
Clure, entertainers; Harold King,
tenor, and the Cohmbians. Dance
Orchestra, are WMALs other attrac-
tions.
WRHF will follow it's usual prac-
tice tonight in devoting its dinner
concert to selections requested dur
ing the week by it's listeners. The
concert will be broadcast as usual
from to o'clock.