Evening star., 1932-12-08
SOVIET LAUNCHES
/ RADIO 05YEAR PLAN
Development Held Likely to
Surpass Remarkable U.
S. Achievements.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Contrasting with the more or less
happenstance growth of radio in Amer
ica and the rest Of the world In the IS
years or so since Marconi first demon
strated practical wireless telegraphy
and In the IL years since vocal and
musical broadcasting was introduced,
Soviet Russia has embarked upon new
Five-Year Plan of radio development
that probably will enable it to catch up
with the rest of the world.
Russia's radio, indeed. adapting as it
does the best features of the radio arts
and sciences of other countries, may
within another generation even sur
pass the remarkable achievements Of
the United States, England and Ger
many, hitherto the world leaders in
almost every field of radio
Plans for broadcasting stations with
powers ranging from 100000 to
1000 900 watts, for something like
1000 new short-wave stations to fur
nish an overland long distance radio
telephone service and for schools and
laboratories to turn out technicianS by
the thousands to furnish the man
power for this system-these are some
of the features of Russia's tremendous
radio scheme described by DR.. Louis
SOllCllY AiIlCLACdll 4dAAO SIACA~
tist, who has just returned from that
country.
Engaged by the Soviet Weak Current
Trust as a consultant, DR.. Cohen spent
two months in Russia and Is continu-
ing some of his consulting work for
sthe SovietS here, instead of spending
syear in Leningrad, as he originally
planned. As an immigrant youth, DR..
Cohen came to America from Russia
,many years ago, was educated in Amer
tican universities, was for time at
.Jached to the Bureau of Standards
and various international technical
commissions, and has achieved wide
recognition as college professor at
George Washington University and as
q scholar, inventor and consultant.
Politics Not Concerned.
His Russian observations, in an in
terview with the writer, were In no way
concerned with the politics of the
Soviet idea. Rather, he described only
actual or projected radio accomplish
ments as he viewed them or as they
were outlined to him by his technical
colleagues during his tour. Part of his
duties included lecturing to scientific
groups at the electrical institutes in
Moscow and Leningrad.
The basic plan of radio development
In Russia, according to DR.. Cohen, is
to coordinate radio with all other
forms of communication, and to use
radio as it fits best into the national
scheme of economy. DR.. Cohen found
tremendous respect in all quarters for
American radio science, and especially
for the products of American factories,
although Russia is buying far less radio
oru1inn3ert froa1, fhyc
did up to two years ago; first, because
1t Is now turning out its own equip
ment on tremendous scale and, Sec
ondly, because it cannot always get the
credit 1t wants for imports due to the
political situation.
Five broaocasting stations of 100,0 900
watts power have already been built,
and 10 more of like power are projected
under the new Five-Year Plan which
began with the anniversary of the rev.
olution last month. One station of
,0C0 watts, near Moscow, is about
to go into operation-the highest-pow-
cred station in the world. Plans for
1000, ,000-watt station are to be con-
sidered at conference of technicians
in Moscow this month. 1t will be built,
DR.. Cohen said, only if it is determined
that the potential increased range of
listeners with such super-power war
rants its erection.
In the United States the maximum
power allowed is $4,000 watts, but Eu-
rope has several other 100, ,000- waters
like those in Russia (the first of which,
incidentally was an American installa-
tom. and there are few of powers
up to 100000 watts in other European
countries.
reception of radio programs, which
DR.. Cohen said are not unlike those
in America except that there is no
advertising, is now provided through
some 100000 so-called receiving
points" These are simply loud speak
ers installed in assembly halls, at street
corners and in some cooperative apart
ments, which are fed choice of three
broadcast programs as picked up by
central receiving stations and relayed
to the speakers via wires.
20.00O,0O0 Receiving Points.
The five-year plan embraces the in
stallation of total Of 100000 900 such
receiving points" said DR.. Cohen, and
besides the high-power broadcasting
stations many more of lesser power are
to be built. (There are now about
100000 radios in the United States