Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-09
RADIO COMMISSION
SPLITS ON CONTROL
Difference of Opinion Exists
Within Body on Stations
to Be Allowed.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Radios normal Summer d0ldrumS
promise to be shaken into gusts of fury
by happenings in Washington during
these Summer months. Within and
without the Federal Radio Commission
q conflict is raging that will determine
the future of good radio reception
hope that has been dangled before
radio fandom during practically all OF
the is months since the commission
was set up by Congress to bring about
order in the ether.
Within the commission there Is Diff
ference of opinion on how to proceed
That body. it is true. has ordered 164
stations off the air as Of August G.;
first step. To survive, these stations
must prove more public service merit
than has been apparent in their pro-
grams heretofore in the public hearings
scheduled for them before the commits
sion all this week.
But regarding the next most impor-
tant step toward clearing up man made
interference the commission Is at odds
within itself. Some of the i've members
still favor an engineering plan OF allo-
eating equitably, but on scientinc
basis. stations, powers and wave lengths
to the respective zones In compliance
with the new radio law. Others are
loath to alter the status quo. they
want the necessary equalization to begin
with certain existing stations retaining
the wave lengths and powers they are
now using.
Agree on Two Points.
The best engineering minds In the
radio industry. repeatedly called In by
the commission for consultation. nave
agreed on two points--flrst, there must
be a substantial curtailment In the
number of stations: secondly. the equal
ization provision of the new radio law
can be carried out with the elimination
of interference only through scheme
based on sound engineering principles.
The first step the commission has
taken. The upShot OF the curtatlnient
order will probably be that about 100
of the stations viii be ordered on per-
manently. The others viii save them
selves by proving merit. by voluntary
consultations and possibly by success
full litigation against the commission.
The second phase Of the problem
makes mandatory a shake-up OF the
whole broadcasting system II mterfer-
ence-free hroadcasting and reception
to be attained The engineers proposed
so cleared channels of the available 90
for so leading stations. 10 In each OF
the five zones into which the country
has been divided for radio purposes.
The other stations would be crowded
with lower and non interfering powers
on the remaining wave lengths.
Out Of the closed sessions OF the
commission reliable word emanates that
a majority Of the commission opposes
the engineering plan and the 50-cleared-
channel idea, and Is insisting upon the
scheme that will involve few changes
and little hardship upon the broad
casters. The insistence is that present
conditions are quite satisfactory, and
should be changed only to comply with
the equalization amendment.
Air Too Crowded.
Outside the commission -- In fact. In
most localities OF the country-the con-
trary view prevails as to the quality OF
reception. Even aside from static and
! fading there are few places I'm the
country where heterodyne whistles,
| caused by crowding the wave lengths
with too many stations using too much
power are not disturbing program re-
| ception.
| The public demand has been for inn
proyement In this condition. even II It
means the mortality OF many stations
| The commission. faced with political IN
| fiuences favoring this or that station
| to retain its license or its favorable
wave and power assignments, and some
Of its members. eager TO be continued
/ in permanent Federal ONCE, where
their posts are now only temporary. Is
at q critical tuncture In Its career BY
/ August changes must necessarily be
ordered for September !.
That latter date signals the season of
| Autumn and Winter reception. when
radio fans stay at home and when they
become more and more critical OF the
| avoidable,s noises that distort the pro-
grams they have stayed at home 10
/ hear