Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-25
Bv the Radio Editor.

~
| A HALF DOZEN stations may be
~ pounding through the Ameri-
a can ether within the next
a a year with superpower equaling
that Of WLW. Cincinnati, the Goliath
Of world radio, which has achieved
such remarkable success with half
million-watt operation.
Ever since WLW began its epoch
making experiment with this hitherto
unheard-of power just year ago, the
entire broadcasting industry has been
watching with intense interest the re-
suits of superpower operation. Despite
innumerable difficulties which 1t en-
countered, the station proved the
theory of its owner, Powell Crosley, jr.,
and its chief engineer, Joseph A.
Chambers. that the greatest number
Of people could be served with super
power without disturbing the opera
ton of other stations.
Signs are plentiful in official Wash
ington, where Federal authority first
must be procured for changes in the
operation of broadcasting stations,
that a number of the larger outlets
soon will seek permission to follow the
lead of WLW. AS a matter or fact,
one station-KNX. Los Angeles-al-
ready has petitioned the Federal Com
munications Commission for authority
to boost its power from $4,000 watts to
100000 watts, as the first of two steps
toward the goal of 100000 watts.
GENERAL of the so-called clear
channel" stations, or those au-
thorized to operate with the maximum
regular power of $4,000 watts on an
exclusive wave length at night, are
known to be flirting with the super
power idea. In the main, these sta
tions, like WLW, are located in the
interior of the country. where they feel
superpower would do the greatest good,
since they disseminate their signals in
something of concentric circle from
their transmitterS. In the case Of
coastal stations, it is pointed out, a
portion of the signal Is dissipated over
water, and much of the value of super
power operation, designed to serve a
greater number of listeners, is lost.
In the year that it has operated
with a half-million watts WLW has
found that its coverage has increased
some 300 per cent. In other words,
it has discovered that its tenfold in
crease in power lit formerly used
$4,000 watts has resulted in a three
fold increase in area served. 1t is
more than satisfied with the results.
Upward of 100000 was invested by
the station in the 500,000-watt plant.
To permit regular operation of sta
lions with power of more than $4,000
watts will entail a revision of the ex-
listing radio regulations by the F. c. c.
The regulations, which were adopted
originally in 1928, specify that the
maximum power which may be used
is $4,000 watts. This was on the
theory that any greater power would
result in undue "blanketing" of the
signals of stations on adjacent chan
nels and impair service to listeners.
This theory. however, has been ex-
ploded by the WLW operation. 1t
was found that progress made in the
development not only Of radio trans
hitting stations but of receiving sets,
minimtzes the amount of blanketing.
Still, the F. c. C. permitted WLW to
20 to 100000 watts only under the
most rigid experimental restrictions
and has not yet altered its regulations
to allow regular operation with more
than $4,000 watts. Therefore, WLW
actually is operating with a regular
power grant of $4,000 watts and an
experimental grant of 100000 watts.
WHEN the former radio commits
wv sion adopted its original regula-
tionS in 1928, it specified that there
should be 40 clear channels set aside
for the use of high-power stations,
and that their obligation should be
to serve rural and remote areas with
high power. The minimum power al
lowed. on these channels then was
5000 watts and the maximum Is 900
watts. 1t also allowed another $4,000
watts experimentally. In 1880 it de-
cided to permit regular operation with
$4,000 watts but no more. Thus. 1t
is seen that the trend has been toward
higher and higher powers.