Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-13
RADIO BODY FORMS
NEW COMMITTEE
Two Commissioners to Han
die Applications Instead
of Whole Group.

Seeking to dispose of approximately
| $50 applications upon which hearings
! are scheduled within the next three
| and half months, the Federal Radio
| Commission has announced drastic
change in policy whereby hearings be-
| fore the entire Commission have been
abolished. A hearings committee has
composed of Commissioner Sykes and
Commissioner Lafount, and hereafter
all hearings will be held before one of
these members or preferably" accord
! ing to the Commission order before
special examiner selected from the Com
MISSIONS staff for this purpose.
Existing law provides for the expira-
ton Of the terms of all Of the present
Commissioners and for cessation Of the
Commissions licensing and other adj
miniStrative functions December 81.
While it is regarded as probable that
Congress will decide to extend the life
OF the Commission as an adminiStra-
tive body, there Is desire on the part
OF the present membership that all
pending business be disposed of before
December 81. In the event the ad-
ministrative life of the Commission is
not extended they desire to have q
clean slate to turn over to the Radio
Division Of the Department of Com
licensing authority and similar duties
now exercised by the Commission.
In addition to the increased efficiency
which Is expected to result from the
new policy, another effect is that ap-
plicants for licenses and construction
permits will now be forced to present
their cases in such manner as to con-
vince one man Of their importance. The
possibility of applicants relying upon
he ga Il
who might be particularly sympathetic
to the interests Of their own zones
has been removed.
Adoption of the new policy Is in line
with recommendations made by the
United States Bureau of Efficiency.
Besides changing its policy with re-
spect to hearings, the Commission has
adopted a new ALLEGATION of work by
creating four divisions, each headed by
a commissioner.
Commissioner Sykes heads the legal
division and will have general super
vision over legal policies, activities and
conduct OF litigation. He will act after
consultation with the general counsel
of the Commission.
The engineering division is headed by
Commissioner Saltzman, who, in col
liberation with the chief engineer, will
direct the technical activities.
COMMISSIONER LaIOunC mas Qeeu as"
signed to head the division of field in
vestigations, which includes supervision
over inquiries made by the Commission
in various parts of the country and
legal matters arising from such work.
The other division, headed by Com
missioner Starbuck, Is to act as the
liaison agency of the Commission. 1t
will be the point of contact with other
Governmental and quasi-public bodies.
Commissioner Starbuck will represent
the commission at meetings with the
Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Com
mittee, the Interdepartmental Commit
tee for Coordination of Activities in
Aid of Aviation, the Always Division
of the Bureau of Lighthouses, the Army
Signal Corps, the Division of Naval
Communications and similar bodies. In
addition he will maintain contact with
proposals for international conferences
and conventions relating to radio COM
munications.