Evening star., 1928-12-17
REPORT REVIEWS
COMMISSIONER
Volume of ESQ Pages Pre-
sents Argument for Radio
Boards Continuance.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

The annual report of the Federal
Radio Commission, which has just been
issued, contains little that is new to
those who have followed the fortunes
of the newest and best-agented OF the
Governments divisions.
1t does, however, cast a glaring light
upon the immensity Of the task the
commission is facing. If only by ns
bulk grown in one year from mere
nanphlet to q thick volume OF 2oO
closely printed pages, it presents an eio,
ouent argument for the continued neeo
of such an agency to regulate ana con
troll the rapidly changing art OF raolo
The question of continuing the com,
mission comes before congreSsloliai
committee January 8, making the is
suance of the report to Congress mosC
timely. Study of the report VII! oHeE
a liberal education in the elements anu
ramifcations of radio as the Govern.
ment has had to deal with 1t THESE iaSS
two years. 1t explains, the makeup VI
the commission, showing tnaI ule @ NV
men appointed by the President 1rom
as many zones now are WORKING "A'Ai
a staff of 81 persons.
One phase of the report reVeaIS d
weakness in the commissions organlAa-
ton that Congress will be calleo upon
10 remedy-that is the fact that the
commission has been able to secure en-
gineering and legal help only on part
time basis or for a limited period OF
time.
Bands Most Discussed.
The report reveals that the commits
sion had appropriated to it $102, 900 tor
the last fiscal year, and spent all put
about $4,000. Salaries totaled $84, ,uVu.
The broadcasting band necessarily Is
the subject most discussed IN the re-
port because it is the subject which mas
been occupying practically all OF the
commissions attention. The limitations
in the use of this parcel Of intermedl-
ate channels, as imposed upon Itself py
the commission out of technical llmlta-
tions. as required by the famous DAVIS
equalization amendment to the radlo
act. and as restricted by the interna-
tional radiotelegraph treaty In enece
next January /, are fully explained.
The long and short wave cnannels'
however are not dismissed without a
great deal of comment. These are the
wave lengths of greatest utility for
communications purposes, and around
this portion of the spectrum Will center
the main activities of the commission
during the ensuing year. 1t was prob
ably to keep Congress and the pubnc
posted on the highly technical consider
ations involved in allccating channels
for tranSoceanic, ship, aircraft, tele-
vision, amateur and other services tnat
the commission expanded its report SO
greatly this year.
This report which contains much de-
tailed data about radio, along with
highly valuable lists of broadcaSting
and radio stations under United States
Jurisdiction, the commission states in a
conclusion, has ben permitted to as
sumo substantial proportions because
of the fact that the commission has
felt it necessary to acqua1nt Congress
with the problems with which it is
faced.
Problems Largely Technical.
"These problems being largely Of a
technical nature, it has been necessary
to explain them somewhat in detail.
Furthermore, because of the rapid de-
velopmentS which have been taking
place in radio communication, large
number of subjects had to be covered.
The likelihood is that, as the art pro-
crosses, radio problems will increase
rather than decrease.
1.-The possibilities of the high fire.
quency spectrum are almost without
limit. The future of such matters as
radio-televiSion picture and facsimile
transmission and relay broadcasting can
only be matters for speculation. How
soon and to what extent the frequency
spectrum above $4,000 kiocycles viii be
developed for practical use is also
matter of guessWork. To what extent
future advances will make possible an
increasing number of channels and the
accommodation of a large number Of
stations is unknown
1.-The commission is convinced, how
ever, that Congress acted wisely in
providing for its standard that of pub
lie interest. convenience or necessity,
and it is endeavoring to apply this
standard to each new set of problems
in manner consistent with the best in
terest of the public, both present and
future"
(Copyright. 1923, by North American News
paper Alliance