Evening star., 1928-12-16
: OW that the radio listeners
of the 43 States have
about exhausted their vo-

| u vi 10 otAbSc AAS$ -
" about exhausted their vo-
cabularies, worn out their
pens and spent the surplus OF
their Christmas savings telling
the country in general, and the
radio editors of newspapers III
particular, what they think OF the
wave length shake-up OF Novem-
Der IL, the Federal Radio Com
mission finally has come tofth
with a pronunciamento outlining
it's views on the situation.
Despite the walls, the howls and
the bitter criticism that followed
in the wake of the frequency re-
distribution, the country now, &C
cording to the commission otf1-
cial statement, is Supremely Satis-
fed that a decided Improvement
has resulted in the broadcast
situation. Extracts of scores OF
letters are quoted in support
thereof. And modestly the COM
mission accepts the congratula-
tions. pointing out that it expect
ed little or no favorable comment
on the theory that pleased listen
erS would not take the trouble tc
write.
Following the broadcasting re-
ALLEGATION of November IL, When
the wave lengths and dial po-
sitionS of nearly all 900 stations
were changed Tin order to comply
with the redistribution of wave
lengths according to population
by States) it was naturally eX--
pected that a large number OF
complaints would flow into the
Federal Radio Commissions offices
at Washington" the statement
declared, These complaints have
materialized. but analysis OF the
letters reaching the commission
shows that the complaints have
been chiefly centered about f1vc
or six local cases of station time
sharing or interference, while
comparatively little general pro-
test or complaint about the allo-
cation has developed in contrast
with what might have been eX-
pected from radio audience
numbering 100000.
ION the other hand it had
been supposed that little or 10
favorable or approving comment
would find its way into the COM
missions mail, on the theory that
pleased listeners would not take
the trouble to write. Here again
a surprise faced those predicting
the human reaction, for several
hundred kilograms and letters al
ready received from all parts OF
the country, tell eloquently of the
writer's appreciation of the relief
afforded to radio listeners, and
particularly to those locations
away from the large cities force
them to depend upon distant sta
tions for their regular programs"
The extracts of the commenda-
tory letters cover four and one
half mimeographed pages follow
ing the official opinion of the
commission on the effect of the
wave length changes. Most Of
them are of the patent medicine
testimonial type. For the delecta-
ton of those listeners who have
not yet found solace In existing
conditions, we quote a few picked
at random:
81 am very well pleased with
the wonderful improvement '"
Radio is great now
81 must express appreciation of
the new lineup"
'"The first night we didn't like
the changes but each night re-
ception is getting better and
better"
1.-The writer has been selling
radios for eight years and is well
qualified to tell you Of the i'm
provement you have made in the
reallocation."
The new ALLEGATION is working
out better every day"
1--WE find reception 100 per cent
better than before"
Last week I wrote you COM
planning about the new allOca-
tions, but now l want to retract
most of these complaints"
There Is a really tremendous
Improvement in broadcaSting con-
ditions. I swept the whole broad
cast band for three hours and en-
countered only two weak hetero-
dyneS."
The complaints received by the
commission are not included in
the list.
X X X
It was perhaps a coincidence