Evening star., 1928-03-21
POWER RADIO
MAY Be CURTA|LED
Observers See Curb on
BroadcaSting in East.
Gain in South.

Drastic curtailment of high-power
broadcssting in the East and an early
increase i'll the number of stations and
the amount Of power used in the South
are seen by observers here as the most
significant immediate effects Of the
eoual.zstion clause OF the radio act as
it has come out of the conference COM
mittee Of Congress. Although much
of the sting has been taken out Of the
clause by the mitigating language in
serted in conference, 1t is anticipated
that the Federal Radio Commission will
be hound 10 accede to the plain intent
Of Congress that redistribution snail
be effected in order to establish an
eouslity Of transmission and reception
service in the five zones.
General policies remain 10 be laid
down by the commission as soon as
the bill is approved by President Cool
i6se. These will determine whether
the pruning process shall be applied
70 the zones now most thickly popu-
lated with broadcaSting stations and
using the most power. 1t is hardly
likely, irr view of the overcrowding al
ready existing III the ether. that more
stations will be added III each zone
in order 10 bring ii up to the level
O. the highest
But the Southern zone will undoubt-
e6lv get more power and probably
some more stations. Today its 100 sta
tions use only about $4,000 watts of
power all told. Many. would like 10
boost their wattage and the policy Of
the commission almost necessarily is TO
gran: such increases upon application
and where the stations public service
warrants. There are only about IS
applications for new stations from the
third zone. and some of these may be
granted The third zone embraces the
States Of Oklahoma, Texas. Arkansas.
Louisiana. Mississippi Alabama. Ten
neSSee. Georgia, North Carolina. South
Carolina and Florida.
The drastic power cuts will probably
be suffered by such stations as WEAF
New York: WGY. Schenectady. and
kDKA. Pittsburgh, each now employ
ing $4,000 watts and by WIZ. New
York. 10000 watts They are the
highest powered stations in the coun-
Try with probably the widest consistent
range of listeners. It was because
they are clustered in the Northeastern
part OF the country that much OF the
sectional prejudice arose which led to
the congressional demand for greater
quality in radio distribution
The course also is open TO the COM
mission 10 parn1it the establishment of
similar high-powered stations in each
Of the other radio zones. thus bringing
about the desired equality. while per-
nlittlng the present big stations to keep
going as heretofore. They represent.
however, a tremendous investment. and
so far only a few applications have
come from any Of the zones for more
SO-kilowatt stations. Applications for
boosts 70 10 kilowatts are innumerable
Some talk has been heard of the DOS
sibllity OF the Mackay interests taking
advantage Of the situation TO enter the
broadcasting field with hieh-powered
stations in the zones not now having
them This concern. the Postal Tele-
graph group. recently went into com
mercial radio and has applications be-
Tore the Radio Commission for many
more short-wave stations. In that field
II proposes 10 compete with Radio Cor
poration OF America. 1t also may de-
clde 20 compete with the RCA and its
af1liated companies. now operating ali
Of the Eastern stations Of 30 10 50
klloEatts power in the broadcastina
field with the leeway presented by the
new Law.
new feature TO be known as the
American magazine hour, T1ll be intro
ouced tonight By WRC. II all fea-
tore adaptations and dramatiz1tions OF
magazine articles.
WRc's other principal attra.1ions to-
night ineluce tabloid version OF Dom
lzettiS opera, Il Elisir d Aenore," by
the National Grand Opera Ensemble;
the weekly concert of the Ipana Trou-
badours, resume Of the Political Sit
uatton IN Washington" bv Frederic Will
Lam Vile. and the Kit hour Of music
featuring Milton Schwartz. young Amer
lean Yioisnast
The Woodlotnian Chorus under the
direction Of William Fl. Siarnell as
sisted oY group Of vocal artists will
pr0Fice the leading attraction tonight OF
WAfAL. Other musical features include
concert Dy the Imperial Hawaiian En-
tertsiners, the Brunswick hour OF music.
sno recital by Ethel West. soprano.
interpreting these attractions viii be
tax On WaSn!ngton's system Of auto
matte rraMc lights by M o. Eldridge.
assistant director Of traffic.
A varied program VIII be broadcast
rom z 70 II O'Clock tonight by WTFP.
1ne Warrington College Of music hour.
snd talks Dy Representative Hill OF
Wssnington and Mayor Jonn o. Bacon
OF San Diego, Calf, are the features.
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