Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
GOOD RADIO" SEEN
IN NEW L|NE-UPS
ReaIIocation Order Is Most
Drastic in 18-Month Ex-
istenCe of Board.
RY FRANK CODEL.

An initial upheaVal III the uiooutof>'
ing realm--and then good radio. mat
is the probable effect of the tederai
Radio Commissions newly accepted
basis for a scientific reallocation of all
broadcasting stations. General order
No. 40. announced Friday with the f1nal
technical details, Is without doubt the
most drastic action taken by the radio
board since 1t was established IL
months ago
The industry's reaction to the plan.
which will change the operating cono1-
tons of nearly every broadcasting sta-
ton In the United States, cannot be
gagged this early. Among members OF
the commission the general attltuoe Is
that the terms of the Davis equaliza-
ton amendment have been met WIN
an equitable plan approaching the IDEAL
in broadcasting from the listener
point of view.
The reallocation is ordered effective
October l. when station licenses must
be renewed The status OF particular
stations has not yet been determineu:
the commissioners from each zone sun
having before them the task OF nlling
their groups OF stations into the pattern
Clears Channels.
Until the assignments are announced
and the numerous changes VIII require
the use OF an entirely new log OF sta-
lions by radio fans--thea tate OF the re-
snectiye stations will not be known.
Then only will 1t be known, also
whether the project will be enjoined by
any dissatisfied station or group OF
stations by means of court action. III
is conceded by counsel for the COM
mission that legal test OF the Vailolty
of the order might delay 1t further,
The reallocation plan equalizes broad.
casting facilities among the several
zones on the basis of the use Oh wave
lengths. Its outstanding merit Is the
virtual clearing of "a channels for m
reference free broadcaSting. Forty OF
these channels are to be used by nigh
power stations of 5000 watts and above.
capable of delivering strong signals lor
radio of several hundred miles. ~
expected that about 100 tranSmitterS
can be accommodated on these 40 cnan-
nels but on each channel only one sta-
ton will be permitted to operate at any
one time during nocturnal hours IN
order TO insure clear reception along
It's whole service range.
The "a channels will have two 10
three stations of $50 TO 1000 watts on
each. spaced generally from 1000 to
500 miles apart This should furnish
vast improvement over the present
geographical SpacingS, which are as low
as 500 miles.
Promises Good Radio.
Each Of the Ave zones gets eight full
time assignments for stations OF 5t0oo
watts and above. "a positions for the
$50 to 900 watt stations and 30 post
tons for the 10 to 100 watt stations. In
other words. each zone gets th1 use oil
81 wave lengths. Stations must be ae-
commodated on these on the basis OIL
the population OF the States within the
zones,
All members OF the commission were
agreed that the plan promises good
radio" at least on the six other CHAM
nels set aside for local low-power sta
lions, They were generally agreed. too
that the public will welcome a plan
which takes broadcasting out OF the
muddle OF the last two years.
There was varying opinion, ho.ever
concerning the effect on particular
zones. Commissioner Caldwell foresaw
the need of many time divisions In the
first zone of New England and the
North Atlantic States. Commissioner
Lafount said that time sharing Will De
required 10 some extent in his zone OF
Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast
States. but that very little hardship viii
be worked on his zone as whole.
Commissioner Sykes docs not expect
that stations in his zone of Southern
states will be affected adversely to any
aupreciable extent. He signed the gen.
eral order as acting chairman Com
missioner Robinson the chairman. be-
ING the only member who voted against
II Judge Sykes said he favored the
plan because 1t insured good radio,
while fulfilling the legal requirements
OF the. Davis amendment.
Protests Fourth Zone.
he,,brious note was sounded by the
commissioners from the fourth zone OF
Middlewestern States, Mr., Plckard. his
zone under any conceivable pian VI
uaiIzatton must necessarily SuHeI inost
on account OF its excessive NUMBER OF
stations. largely clustering around Chi
capo. He voted for the plan. but pro-
tested that an abrupt effort to approach
the ideal in reception limits the Ia
cilities In his zone to margin where
some stations cannot possibly exist.
Time divisions will be so drastic III
the fourth zopc that many oI me ieho-
ing stations will have their actiVities
rurtatIed Commissioner Pickard ac-
cepted the plan as an improvement ana
AS a fultillment of the equalization Jaw
but asked that any ALLEGATION OF sta-
tons based upon this plan be not mace
effective until the public and members
OF Congress have had reasonable op-
norhnity TO study the commission
Interpretation of the radio act ano
their reactions be made known 10 Inc
commission"
On this score. he was oVerilooeIl pI
members of the commission, VINE alsuso
that Congress gave them q task IL eX-
nected completed before next March
rs when terms of the present commits
sioners expire and the body becomes an
aupalInte hoard