Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-12
RADIO COMMISSION
AWAITS REACTION
Members Hold New Plan
Most Equitable Possible,
but Expect Complaints.

With its plan for reallocation of the
radio facilities of the country now for
mally announced, the Federal Radio
Commission is waiting with hopeful
apprehension for the reaction which is
expected to follow this. the most drastic
move in the history of Federal control
OF radio broadcasting
Members of the commission express
the conviction that the new plan is the
most equitable arrangement which
could have been worked out. having in
mind the hard scientific facts involved
on the one hand. and the requirements
of the radio act on the other. They
believe that reception conditions will
be improved for listeners throughout
the country, that there will be an elimi-
nation of much of the heterodyning
and cross talk annoyanceS and that
flrst-class programs will be made avail
albe to listeners in remote sections
But they also believe there will be e
storm of protests from broadcasters
particularly from some of the smaller
stations which have been ordered to
divide time or to operate on less de-
sirable frequencies.
Some May Be Forced Out.
Approximately 70 per cent of all OF
the broadcasting stations in the United
States have been ordered to change
either their power of their wave lengths,
or both, under the new scheme. Many
of the stations have been ordered to
share time: in some cases as many as
seven stations are assigned to one
channel The opinion is freely express
ed at the commission offices that this
division of time may mean the elimina-
ton of some stations which will find 1t
impossible from financial standpoint
to continue operation on their reduced
time allowances.
But the commission has taken pains
to fortify itself against the anticipated
opposition of some of the broadcaSterS.
After the Davis amendment to the radio
act was adopted, the services OF many
of the most prominent radio engineers
were obtained, and these experts drew
I'D what they termed an ideal" plan
of reallocation-a plan which, in their
scientific Judgment, would insure the
best possible broadcasting conditions
Had this plan been adopted there would
have been a far more drastic realloca-
ton than in the one the commission
has finally approved and many stations
would have been eliminated entirely.
The plan finally adopted is compro-
mise between the ideal ALLEGATION and
the desires of the broadcasters them
selves
Hours Left to Stations.
The one detail of the new ALLEGATION
which the commission has not prescribed
Is the actual division of time among
the various stations 1t has said what
stations must share with others, but it
has not fixed the hours or the respec-
tive shares for each station. There is a
disposition to allow the stations them
selves to agree upon the actual division
If possible, with the Federal authority
stepping in where disagreements result.
AS a matter Of fact, each commits
sioner has already made out tentative
plan for time divisions in his particular
zone and will attempt to obtain the
agreement of his stations to put it into
effect Either by agreement or by order
this division will have to be made be-
fore october IL, because on that date
the commission will issue renewal Ii
cenSes to all stations and each license
will specify the power, frequency and
the exact time allotted to each station.
The stations will then have the right to
appeal and ask for hearing and. if still
dissatisfied. to appeal from the COM
missions decisions to the courts.
(Copyright. 1923, by Consolidated Press)