Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-30
RADIO STATIONS
PUT ON PROBATION
Four Pennsylvania Broad
casters Have 80 Days to
Clear Air of Personal Row.
BY MARTIN CoDEL.

WDlIE GlSCIdIl1ltlE any nltCltttUU Oh
usurping the constitutional guaranty of
freedom of speech. or exercising an I'M
due censorship authority, the Federal
Radio Commission took vigorous
stand against imposing upon the radio
public the diSagreeable burden of hav-
ing to listen to the broadcaSting OF per-
Sonal disputes over stations"
Four Pennsylvania stations were in
volved in noteworthy opinion rem
dered today--a document which I'M
doubtedly will be utilized as precedent
in the great body Of radio law that re-
mains 10 be written by the courts.
Along with the opinion an unusual
order was entered, placing the four
stations on probation for 80 days be-
cause Of personal determinations ex-
The stations are WRAK, Erie: WABF,
Kingston; WBRE. Wlkes-Barre, and
WMBS, Harrisburg.
The Erie station. 1t was complained,
INDUCED in continual personal con-
troversy with a rival local station, in
which charges of perjury, libel and
SANDER were constantly exchanged. The
commission does not undertake to pass
upon the responsibility for the con-
troversy, but finds that the community
has suffered.
Under Probation.
Because the city is entitled to local
broadcasting service. being in a region
Of peculiar fading phenomena and much
static. which precludeS distance recep-
ton, the station will be permitted to
continue operating. but under the duress
of the probation.
The Kingston and Wilkes Barre sta
tons were said TO be allied on one side
in a controversy with WBAX, another
Wilkes-Barre station. This was de-
clared TO be "diSagreeable to radio lis
teners" and to serve no public inter-
est"
The situation at Harrisburg was de-
Scribed as being of the same character.
All the stations have been subjects of
repeated complaints to the Federal au-
thorities
The commission cites the case Of
WEVD. the Socialist party's station at
New York, whose license was recently
continued after a public hearing as an
earnest of its intention of avoiding the
invasion of the right of free speech
when particular station Is serving as
the mouthpiece of a substantial political
or religious minority.
License Renewed.
Further evidencing its intentions In
this respect. 1t announced today that
the license Of Station WIBA, Madison,
Wis. said to be spokesman of the La
Toilette progressive movement, had been
renewed despite many complaints
against its programs
1T is self-evident," said the opinion
In the cases of the Pennsylvania sta
tons, that the constitutional guarantee
of freedom of speech applies to the ex-
preston of political and religious opin-
ions, and to discussions fair comments
and criticisms on matters Of general
public interest
Does this same constitutional guar
anty apply to the airing of personal dis
putes and private matters? 1t seems to
the commission that 1t does not. Two
neighbors may indulge in any verbal
dispute they please in their own back
yards where no one is within hearing
distance Let them try TO conduct the
same dispute in a public place. such as
on a busy street or in theater. and
they find they are not protected by the
Constitution It will soon be terminated
as nuisance.
Listeners have no protection unless
it is given them by this commission, for
they are powerless to prevent the ether
waves carrying the unwelcome messages
from entering the walls Of their homes.
Their only alternative, which Is not to
tune in on the station, is not satisfac-
tory, particularly when in a city such as
Erie only the local station can be re-
ceived during large part Of the year"
Copyright, 1928. by North American News
paper Alliance