Evening star., 1928-04-03
FANS SPECULATE
ON STATIONS CUT
Recent Decisions of Commits
sion Arouse Interest in
Future Policy.


her Of broadcasting stations9 Radio
fans everywhere are asking this oueS-
ton. now that the Federal Radio COM
mission is fully manned, its member
ship confirmed and its policy more or
less defined by Congress. With only a
cne-month lease on life definitely al
lowed them under the blanket exten-
sion Of all licenses until May !. station
managers are even more anxious TO
know Ss.at will be done.
The only answer obtainable frc>i ofii-
cial sources is that the full commission
has not yet met to map out its course
OF action. But the scattering decisions
OF last week leave some doubt as to an
ultimate purpose to eliminate share Of
the zoo stations now on the air. Alto
gether. Just % new stations were au-
thoTised to be built or to so on the air
for the first time under these decisions
Far from reducing the burden on the
ether, this increases 1t. Sixteen of the
new stations were in the South, re-
gsrded as beneath its quota in number
Of stations and in radio service, Five
were in the Far West. One was III New
England. Their power in almost all
cases was below 500 watts. although
Hollywood. Calf, got 1000.
There was 10 power increases. all in
the South. There we're IS frequency
changes. all on the West coast. Eight
permits TO move stations or change call
letters were granted, and miscellaneous
minor changes were made relating to
time divisions. etc.
Now. all of this would auglIr policy
Of imposing all the traffic viii bear on
the ether. except for the certainty of a
public reaction against more interfer-
ence due 10 higher powered transmits
sion on identical channels. Observers
generally agree that the public demand
is for better reception by the obvious
expedient of reducing the number of
stations. Innumerable letters to the
Radio Commission and TO others in
touch with the situation carry a mes
sage to that effect.
1t is agreed that highly desirable
condition could be brought about If
about $50 stations were Topped of and
about $50 left to broadcast on the lin
ited number Of channels available, But
the $50 have an unmistakable property
right in their transmitting apparatus,
and Congress has provided no means
for reimbursing their owners If they are
arbitrarily ordered to &C. Yet the pub
lie service" clause of the radio act Is
open 20 broad construction, and the
equal distribution clause gives even more
latitude 70 the commission II it decides
On policy Of curtailment.
A way out suggested would be to
cluster the stations Of so watts power
or less on one or two wave lengths.
There are about ITS Of these. The
same would be done with those Of so to
100 watts. There are also about ITS Of
these.
with two lawyers now on the commits |
sion, it is expected 10 be able 70 formu-
late definite policy with respect to the
minor stations. RepriSalS viii undoubt-
edly be sought IN the courts If they are
ordered TO quit, but Judge Z. o. Sykes
and Judge Ira @. Robinson should be
able 20 carry the brunt of all court
actions. Both have been chief JUS
tices of the highest courts of their re-
spective States Of Mississippi and West
Virginia.
program of Russian Easter music
viii be presented during the Eveready
Hour. which WRC viii broadcast to-
night at O'Clock. An orchestra of 35
pieces and q Russian male chorus viii
participate in this hour. Selections Of
both Russian htureical and folk music
win be given. .anamu. aam
James Melton, E&xz 49, sing the
beautiful aria M AppAd III Amor.
from Won Flotows opera Martha" IN
the program Of the Seiberling Singers
% Be heard at $50 o'clock The more
popular types Of songs are represented
by De Syiva's Just Memory" and
''That Waller Gal"
Two attractions which will originate
IN WEC's studio are a concert BY The
w. 3. e. A. Male Quartet and the
weekly voters service program. Get
ting Ready for the observation-disclosures
racy az Work" viii be discussed in the
latter By J. Fred Essary. proninen.
Washington newspaper. correspondent.
Charles O. Ross, another newspaper
correspondent. also VIII give his fort
nightly review Of What Congress Is
Doing"
A musical revue, Hey! Hey!" viii
feature the radio movie club program,
which WMAL will broadcast tonight az
its chief attraction. There also will be
q number Of other musical features and
several talks On interesting subjects.
Ambrose Durkin. baritone: Carl Caul,
baritone: Laure Beauregard Diamond
contralto, and Eugene S. Costa, man
dolfnist, are the artists who VIII take
part IN the program.
George SHADING and his CongreS-
siorals win provide the dinner concert
this evening Of WRHF. The only other
attraction scheduled Is the Town Cr1er