Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
COMMISSION HITS
BACK AT STATIONS
Will Demand Added Equip
ment If They Are to
Get More Power.

A gesture at the bank rolls of broad
casters is made by the Federal Radio
Commission in its latest determined
effort TO Quell the riotous demand OF
stations everywhere for more power.
Hereafter, under new regulations is
sued by the commission, when a station
wants an appreciable increase In power
so that 1t can serve greater audience
1t will have to go to the expense OF
putting in new equipment. The clamor
for more watts and less kilocycles, which
constantly grows louder, Is founded on
the fact that stations can realize
greater profits with better facilities.
A general order adopted by the COM
mission, effective at once, places def
mite limitations on the maximum rated
power of transmitters used by broad
casting stations. That is, station
using 100 watts power may install q
transmitter of that maximum output
and no more. The transmitter capacity
Is rated for the various categorieS OF
stations, according to power.
Has Double Objective.
The regulation has a double barreleo
objective. First, it is designed to dis
courage the applications for increased
power and improved channel assign
ments by creating a new economic
factor in radio. Secondly, it will, In
large measure, do away with the exist.
ing situation of stations running out
Of bounds by unlawfully stepping ur
the Juice" of their transmitters beyond
that licensed.
Heretofore there have been no regu-
lations governing the power output Of
transmitters installed, regardless of the
licensed power There are scores Of
low-powered stations which have in
stalled transmitters of high power, but
profess only to use their licensed
amount Of "juice." But some of these
stations are trying to use to advantage
the fact that they have these high
powered outfits. On the ground thai
their financial investment justifles it
creased power, arguing that they have
the facilities and should be allowed Il
use them.
viii Discourage Applications.
The effect of the new order, how.
ever, should discourage these applica.
tons, the commission reasons. The
order prescrihes that, hereafter, sta
tons with power up to 100 watts shall
have equipment Of that top output
Those using 250 watts during the day
only can install transmitters Of that
order of power.
In the next class, or that Of
regional" stations, the maximum power
will be 1000 watts. Stations in this
category use power at night ranging
from $50 to 1000 watts. Those using
from 1000 to 5000 watts will be al.
lowed transmitters of the latter output
Cleared channel, or high-powerec
stations using 5000 watts or more
up to the present maximum of $4,000
watts, shall have maximum power
which corresponds to its licensed power
That is, a 6,000-watt shall use 5000
set.
Although the order is not retroactive
it should have complete effect in three
years. Transmitting equipment be.
comes obsolete in about that length Of
time, it is estimated by the commits.
sion, and when new equipment is in.
stalled, the law specifies that a permit
be obtained from the commission.
In the power pirating" phase the
order should put an abrupt stop to 1t
the commission believes.
(Copyrignt, 1929, by the Consolidated Pres
Association.)