Evening star., 1936-07-19

clal time winch nao 10 DC cduCeleo,
salaries to performers under contract
but not used and payments to special
commentators. Columbia Broadcast
ing System estimates its costs at $l25,-
900 and the Mutual Broadcasting Sys-
tenn, new network, calculates its ex-
penses at $4,000. No expenses are
estimated for the N. B. c. and c. B. S.
broadcasts of the Socialist and Com
munist Conventions, but only an ag-
gregate of a few hours Of these was
carried and no commercial" were
lost on account of them. Tentative
plans also have been made to broad
cast parts of Father Coughlin's con-
vention of his National Union for
Social Justice August IA and Is and
also the nominating convention Of
the new Union party backed by the
Detroit radio priest.
THE rigors of broadcasting reallo-
cation, which may mean the shift
ing about Of assignments Of the ma
jority of the $40 stations now licensed,
face the broadcasting industry for the
first time in a decade. Just before 1t
recessed over the Summer the broad
cast division of the Federal Communi-
cations Commission decided to call a
general reallocation hearing beginning
October S. 1t will analyZe the broad
cast band from top to bottom, hear
ing the views of broadcasters. tech
nicians and others identified with the
industry before deciding how far it
should 60 in reshuffling the existing
broadcast band.
Not since 1928 has there been a
broadcasting reallocation. Then the
old Radio Commission, which preceded
the present agency, changed the as
signments of 80 per cent of the sta
tions on the air. As a part of this
gigantic upheaval. it ordered the elm
ination of more than 100 stations on
the ground that there was no room
for them in the broadcast spectrum.
This was worked out through consoli-
dations, mergers and outright refusal
to issue licenses to stations. For sew
eral years afterward there was litiga-
ton over this shift.
To the listener the 1928 reallocation
meant a complete change in dialing
habits Stations received at certain
dial settings were picked up on others
far removed. 1t took weeks before
they became accustomed to the new
ALLEGATIONS and, for that matter. be-
fore the stations themselves were in
position technically to provide any
degree Of good service The reallo-
cation proved beneficial, however,
since much of the interference which
had been caused by the hodge -podge
of stations in the ether was soon
eliminated.
Since 1928, however, radio broad
casting has made rapid strides. I'm
provements in broadcasting technique
have been such as to warrant changes
in ALLEGATIONS. it is felt. Moreover,
much of the good that resulted from
the 1928 allocations has been undone
through the licensing of stations in
violation Of technical regulations. AS
g consequence. the general feeling is
that a cleanup job is to be done It
is felt that by redesigning the entire
broadcast structure it will be possible
to provide greater degree Of service
to listeners everywhere.
In ordering the hearings this Fall
the Broadcast Division did not state
definitely there would be reallocation.
1t said simply that the hearings would
be called to ascertain whether it is
desirable to have one.
At present 10 of the bigger stations
in the country are applicants for au-
thority to use "superpower" of 500 900
watts. Originally the r. C. c. de-
cided to hear these applications in
September. In calling the hearings
for October. however. it postponed
indefinitely the hearings on the super
power applications in order that it
may hear testimony pro and con on
the policy with respect to superpower
in advance Of considering the actual
applications. There Is considerable
opposition developing to superpower
on the ground that it will tend to-
ward monopoly in radio and also on
the theory that smaller stations will
be so overshadowed by the giants that
it will be difficult for them to survive.
Present indications are that all
groups Of broadcasters will be repre-
sented at the hearings. The stations
operating in clear channels, antici-
pating a possible reallocation, formed
an organization more than a year ago
to protect their interests. Their sole
argument is that clear channels are
essential to provide adequate cover
age for people in rural and remote
areas. A clear channel is one on which
only one station operates during eve
ming hours with high power.
On the other hand, there is strong
sentiment for reduction in the num-
ber of clear channels to accommodate
a greater number of stations in that
etheral sardine can called the broad
cast band. This would be brought
about by reducing the number of clear
channels from 40 provided for in pres
ent regulations to perhaps 20 or IS
on which stations would operate with
superpower.
The small stations, called locals"
in trade parlance, also have organized
in group to be presented at the Oc-
tober S hearings. Presumably they will
favor a horizontal increase" In their
power from 100 watts at night to $50
watts.
And now the third large group of
stations. called "regionals," have an
nounced plans to organize. They set
up a temporary organization several
weeks ago and contemplate an or
ganization meeting later this month
to perfect their plans. There are 40
regional channels upon which some
$50 stations operate. These stations
are limited in night power to 1000
watts. It is expected they will petit
ton the commission for minimum
night power of 5000 watts. which
would enable them to do vastly more
complete job Of geographical cover