Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
H|GH-POWER TREND
IS GRIPPING WORLD
Cleared Channel Broadcast
View Taking Hold Every
where Except in U. S.
BY ROBERT MACK.

High-power broadcasting is smash
ing its way around the world in . big
r parade Of development that reaches
from the steppes of Russia to the I'M
derbrush of the Dark Continent.
Following the lead of Uncle Sam,
nations all over the globe are becoming
reconciled to the cleared channel
view of broadcasting, of placing single
'superpowered" stations on exclusive
wave lengths The engineering theory
that high power makes possible the
coverage of vast geographical areas
with a minimum number OF stations
has taken hold everywhere.
Ironical as it may seem, in the
United States where the cleared-chan-
mel process originated and its virtues
are most loudly extolled, serious OPP
position to high power has developed.
Even now the Federal Radio Commits
sion, which rules radio. is considering
applications of some IS broadcasting
: stations which desire boosts to the
maximum power of $4,000 watts, where
as 1t has decreed that only Of them
shall be allowed
Detected In Consular Reports.
In the rest of the world, however
the trend toward high power is detected
in current reports to the Commerce
and State Departments from consular
representatives. More than a score of
stations of booming power-Some OF
them surprising even the most power
Aful of American stations-are con-
templated or in process of construction.
Russia, although virtually econom-
ically marooned from the rest of the
world, is planning at least four sta
tions of 100000 watts output, or just
double the power Of the American CO.
lossi of broadcasting. In Johannes
burg, South Africa, 15,000-watt sta
} ton recently was inaugurated, to break
through the tropical static which i'm
pedes the coverage of radio signals.
The tenor OF these consular reports
indicate that perhaps every town of
more than 10000 population in the
world, with the possible exception Of
those in the United States, is con-
sidering the establishing of high-pow-
cred stations, 1t was said today by L.
D. Batson, statistician of the electrical
division of the Commerce Department.
He pointed out, however that there is
the great economic factor to be con-
sidered, for a high-powered station
represents an investment running into
hundreds of thousands of dollars, when
adequate program material is con-
sidered.
Networks to Be Replaced.
Great Britain and Germany are in
the forefront of this high-power de-
velopment, followed closely by Russia,
italy, Japan and the Balkan countries.
The first named countries are planning
to scrap their present regional" sta
ton alignmentS, or networks, and re-
place them with high-powered stations,
strategically located, according to Mr.
BatSon.
Germany now has eleven regional
networks, serving as many distinct
regions of the country, with a total
of % stations. These are to be re-
placed by IL high-powered stations,
each of so 900 watts power, one to each
region. Two of these superpowered
stations, at Heilsburg and Muehlacker,
already are under construction.
Italy plans two new stations Of $4,000
watts EACH one at Rome and the other
at Milan. 1t is reported that the Rome
station will be used by Pope Plus X1
in broadcasting ecclesiastical messages
throughout Europe, and by short
wave link, throughout the world.
Oslo, Norway, has a 60,000-watt sta
ton, Japan has eight 10,000-watt out
lets, while Lahti. Finland, and Huizon,
Holland, each have 40.000-watt sta
tons. ireland is planning national"
Irish station and France is considering
a s,iperstation for the sole purpose
of reaching its colonies scattered over
the globe.
(copyright, 1880. by the Consolidated Press.)