Evening star., 1932-01-24
Behind the MicrOphOne
LII OF the Nations broad

LII of the Nations broad
n casting stations-some $40
~ of them-were busy last
"A week mulling over the
ponderous questionnaire they re-
ceived from the Federal Radio
Commission upon which that
agency will base it's report to Con-
gresS covering the much-agitated
question of radio advertising and
the feasibility of Government
ownership Of American broad
casting.
Propounding 10 main questions
and twice as many "subques-
tionS," the QUESTIONABLE is the
first step in the commissions sur
vey Of broadcasting in this coun-
try in compliance with the
Couzens-Dill resolutions. Many
hitherto undisclosed secrets of the
broadcaSting industry will come
to light for the first time when
these stations, under oath, record
their answers to these basic
queries.
The investigation is recognized
by the radio industry and by the
commission as of paramount i'm
portance. Coupled with the study
of the feasibility of Government
ownership of broadcasting along
European lines, free of CONNER
cialism, as against the American
plan" of private enterprise with
advertising paying the way, is the
less drastic course of ameliorat-
ing the advertising complaint by
control Of the amount OF sales
talk to accompany programs. In
addition to this general study OF
commercial broadcasting, the in
vestigation will go into the entire
educational-radio situation and
the questions of alleged network
monopolies.
The commission first selected q
Typical Broadcast week" to be
covered in the QUESTIONABLE.
Naming the week, November 8 to
IA, it asks stations to designate
the number of hours devoted to
commercial and sustaining pro-
grams during the day and night,
and whether they were local or
network programs. Similar In
formation, but more minute in
detail, Is requested as to educa-
tional programs and contacts and
cooperation with educational in
stitutions in the broadcasting
line.
Emphasizing the Importance of
the advertising questions, the
commission cautions broadcast
ers to be very accurate" in an
swering the queries. 1t asks how
many hours were devoted during
the typical week to sales talks or
descriptions Of commodities ad-
vertiSed, the terms of contest, and
the like; first, with respect to
chain programs during the day;
second, on chain programs at
night; third, on local programs
during the day, and fourth, on
night local programs. 1t asks,
too, how many hours were used
to advertise the business of the
station owner, or that of any prin-
cipal officer or stockholder.
Detailed financial information
covering the 1881 calendar year is
requested. Financial data on the
amounts of money received from
the networks, If any, for CONNER
cial programs, or paid to the net
works for sponsored features, also
Is sought.
The commission intends to
make the report to the Senate as
comprehensive as possible, but Is
expediting the study. Whether
hearings will be held after the
missionaries and other perti-
nent information are analyzed,
has not yet been determined, al
though intimations have been re-
ceived by the commission from
interested parties that they would
like to be heard.
EXACTLY % years ago, on Sun
IL day, January "a, 1909, radios
first major rescue at sea was ac-
complished. Jack Binns, now
with the Hazeltine Corporation,
New York. was the hero of the
wireless, as it was then called
The occasion was the ramming
of the White Star passenger liner
S. S. Republic on January % by
the Italian S. S. Florida, during a
thick fog off the Nantucket
Island.
The Republic had left New York
for Liverpool the night before
with 1900 passengers on board.
Almost Immediately after clear
ing Sandy Hook 1t ran into a
heavy fog bank. Jack Binns was
at his key until midnight handling
traffic and exchanging location
reports with other vessels. He
was sound asleep, when, at about
am, he was awakened by a
crash and tremor that shook the
ship to its bulwarks.
Through the darkness he could
discern that the Republic had
been hit by another yesseI fyIj