Evening star., 1932-01-17
AIR BOMBARDMENT
FROM CUBA LOOMS
Radio BroadCasters Obtain
Concessions on Island
and in Mexico.
BY MARTIN CODEL.


A RADIO bombardment from
n across the Southern interna-
~ tional border, sufficiently force
4 \ full to disrupt operations OF an
appreciable number of Amer
ican stations, is threatened by develop
ments in Mexico and Cuba.
Authentic word has reached WASH
ington that because of a combination
of factors precipitated by unsettled
political conditions in both nations, the
radio bars are being let down so that
almost inaiscriminate "squatting" on
channels being used by both American
and Canadian stations Is being per-
mitted. A price" is being placed on
radio station concessions, it Is reported,
to help the governments out of their
financial plights. Practices closely ap-
preaching "blackmail" in some in
stances are being pursued by parties
not associated with the governments.
For some time the situation has been
serious with respect to Mexico as more
and more stations of substantial power
have taken the air and have caused
stations Cuba, however, is new and
serious factor. The little island repub-
lie heretofore has maintained rigid
control over its broadcasting ALLEGATIONS
to avert interference with domestic
stations.
Cuban Sites Investigated"
Because Cuba, only 125 miles from
the Florida mainland, is strategically
located for coverage of wide sweeps of
American territory, it is understood
that certain American radio interests
are Investigating" the feasibility of
building stations of substantial power
there. This follows directly the tack
taken by other groups, financed with
American capital, known to be build
ing stations in Mexico.
1t Is apparent that neither the Mexi-
can nor Cuba government has any
compunctions about locating broadcast
ing stations within its boundaries to
operate on frequencies used by Canada
or the United States. The reason is
that neither country is party to the
agreement whereby the SO wave lengths
available to the North American con-
tinent are divided among the United
States and Canada. These countries
| feel that they have not received a
square deal' from the United States.
Canada, which has assigned to it six
of the 96 wave lengths exclusively, as
we'll as IL on a shared basis, similarly
holds that 1t is entitled to more
channels.
A movement for invasion of the long
waves, situated just below the broad
cast band, and now used by ship and
military communication, to relieve con-
gestion in the broadcast band, is going
| forward in Europe. There is no organ
lied movement to that end in the
United States as yet, although some
groups are talking about it. Should
this band be opened for broadcasting,
1t Is contended that the demands of
the border countries could be met and
American broadcasting would be un-
molested and freed of the intercon-
ttnental interference.
Situation Held 'IntoIerable."
The existing situation is viewed by
some as becoming "intolerable" Certain
stations in the United States have been
warned by private clique, it is reported,
that unless they paid substantial
amounts, high-poWer stations would be
built in Mexico to operate on their
channels and blast them off the air"
To relieve depressed financial condi-
tions in Mexico it is said, special fe0j
are being paid by American interests
for radio franchises above the annual
fee Of two pesos ($D per watt of power.
Three of Mexico's stations have been
boosted in power from 1000 to 5000
watts, and are said by engineers to
menace" the operation of American
stations on the same or adjacent chan
ncls. The new 75,00O-Watt station
XER, at Villa Acuna, Mexico, just
across the border from Del Rio, Tex, is
causing interference with Stations WSB,
at Atlanta, and CKAC. Montreal. Owned
by DR.. John R. Brinkley the former
Kansas medico-broadcaSter who was
ordered off the air by the Federal Radio
Commission because of his goat gland
and other medical practices" over the
air, this station is operating on the mid
| channel Of 735 kilocycles, in between
these two clear-channel stations.
Mexican Stations to Boost Power.
XEO, Mexico City, operated by the
| National Revolutionary party, has been
| authorized to increase its power from
1000 to 5000 watts on $40 kilocycles.
This channel is used in this country
by WCSH, Portland. Me; WAIT,
Jersey City; WFIW, Hopkinsville, Ky;
VIVA, Madison, Wis; WDAY. Fargo,
N. D., and kOIN, Portland, Ore. Also
on this wave is KGU, Honolulu.
In addition xEQ, Jaurez, opposite
| III esoOs lldS pCCLI dulIIUlEtu W III
| crease to 5000 watts on the 75O-kilo-
cycle channel. This frequency is
| used by WJR, Detroit. KEW, Mexico
| City, operating on 9lO kilocycles, the
Canadian exclusive channel used by
CJGG-CNBL London, ontario, with
5000 watts, and CFQC- -CNRS, Saska-
| toon, Saskatchewan, with 500 watts,
also is now using 5000 watts. XED at
| Reynosa, across from McAllen Tex, is
operating on 965 kilocycles, with 10000
watts. On the neighboring channel of
$50 k1locycles are five Canadian sta
tions, while on 970 kilocycles are
VIGIL, Chicago, and KJR, Seattle
American capital is moving into
Mexico, and probably Cuba, because the
Saturation point has been reached in
the United States in so far as new
| high-poWer stations are concerned.
These interests plainly intend to cover
| American territory, rather than the
markets in the countries in which they
are located
Cuba heretofore has been an incig-
nif1cant factor in North American
broadcasting because of the self-regula-
! ton designed to prevent interference
with and from American stations.
These were drafted by the late Au-
gustus York, an American who went to
| Cuba as a soldier in the Spanish
American War and afterWard became
the Government official charged with
radio regulation. He was an uncle of
Sergt. Alvin York, outstanding hero Of