Evening star., 1928-03-14
RADIO ALLEGATION
STILL UNDER FIRE
Powerful Interests Plan to
Continue Opposition to
Proposed Ruling.

"The licensing authority shall make
an equal ALLEGATION TO each of the five
zones of broadcastins licenses, of wave
leNgtis and of station power. and With
in each zone shall make a fair and
equitable ALLEGATION among the differ
ent States. including the District OF
Columbia. Territories and possessions
in proportion to population.
The foregoing is radios now famous
equalization clause, which passed the
House by a vote of go 10 1888. as an
amendment TO the bill extending the
Federal Radio Commission for another
year. 1t passed after a bitter fight,
and il will have the effect of reShap-
Ing the whole broadcasting structure
If It prevails in its next legislative
steps. First, it must so 10 confer
ence with the Senate, where renewed
onslaught Will be made upon 1t by
the radio industry. which almost unani-
nnously is opposed to ii. Then it must
be approved by President Coolidge.
The fight was largely on sectional
grounds, coalition Of Southern and
Western Representatives succeeding
against the vigorous opposition OF East
srn Representatives and members from
the metropolitan areas. Three primary
causes contributed to put it over:
!. A deep-rooted prejudice against
New York and other big cities furnish
ins the programs that are picked up
inland, and a desire for more local
stations, particularly in the South.
Members from small towns predomi-
nate in the lower house of Congress-
. The fact that the 10 stations of
the Radio Corporation-G General Electric
Westinghouse group almost all have
high powers and are the only ones
using as high as $4,000 watts. the pres
ent maximum. and that their combined
power exceeds that of all the stations
IN the South or all the stations in the
Pacific-Rockv Mountain region.
;. Representative Whites espousal Of
redistribution program as chairman
OF the House committee in charge of
radio. based largely on his expressed
dissatisfaction with the work Of the
Federal Radio Commission during the
last year. His influence bore much
weight with members who gave little
study 10 the complicated problem and
were content TO follow his lead.
Senator Dill, father of the radio Law.
says he does not believe the Senate
would accept the amendment in its
present form. though he expects the
upper chamber will be constrained TO
meet some OF the House demands He
is still dissatisfied with the Radio
Commission, and he is particularly con-
cerned about the concentration OF high
powers in the comparatively few sta
tons belonging TO the so-called trust"
group But he also is apprehensive
OF the plan which makes geography
the basis Of ALLEGATION. for his own
State OF Washington is likely TO lose
out on that score with its wide spaces
and comparatively small population.
Expert analysis OF the reallocation
procedure that the commission may
follow shows that any way consid-
cred. some cities and States are bound
10 lose some of their stations and
power and others gain them under the
distribution amendment. The commits
sion may equalize by cutting stations
and power down to the lowest zone
denominator, which will mean looping
of stations and power in all zones
but the South Or 1t may increase
stations and power 10 the highest
Genon1inator OF the present. which
would increase the number of stations
by nearly 300 and add some 100000
watts OF power on the ether lanes.
Taking an average Of the present
number Of stations and amount of
power and bringing each zone TO the
average. some sections are bound to
lose stations TO be given TO other zones.
The losses would be greatest in such