Evening star., 1938-05-29
L0NGERL|CENS|NG
SOUGHTFORRAD|0.
&c. c. Probably to Withhold
Action Until Adoption OF
Havana Treaty.

Radio broadcasting interests are eX-
pected to wage fight for an increase
in the license period for radio sta
tions at hearings before the Federal
Communications Commission week
from tomorrow.
Although the broadcasters are re-
ported to have some backing In polit-
ical circles. 1t was indicated yesterday
the F. c. c. will not take any definite
step on the request to allow licenses
to remain in effect for more than six
months until the Senate acts on the
so-called Havana treaty. This treaty
would allocate certain frequencies to
the United States and adjacent coun-
tries.
Although the Communications Act
permits the regulatory body to allow
license period up to three years. under
its present rules every station must re-
new its license every six months.
Broaden Hearing Basis.
Originally the forthcoming hearing
was scheduled primarily to consider
the question of raising the power limi-
tations of stations above the present
maximum Of $4,000 watts. The COM
mission, however. has decided to
broaden the scope of the hearing to
include testimony on the proposed new
rules recently announced, including
the licensing period limitation.
Oficials pointed out yesterday that
failure of the United States or any OF
the other countries affected to sign
the treaty would leave broadcast bands
in a chaotic state because of the inter-
ference that would result. Ratification
Of the treaty would allocate definitely
various bands of the broadcast spec
trum to the countries and would elm
mate some of the serious interfer-
ence now encountered. 1t was said.
When and If the treaty becomes ef-
fective, it will necessitate shifting OF
some frequencies in the United States.
This is one of the primary reasons
why nothing definite can be done at
present with the licensing period prob
lem. Extension Of licensing periods
might provide complications in the re-
ALLEGATION scheme, ofilcials said.
Economic Risk Great.
Commission experts are cognizant OF
the fact that radio stations are handi-
capped financially by the six-month
limitation on licenses because the sta
tions have to operate practically on
a cash basis since every six months
they must face the question Of whether
they can remain on the air. Gen.
orally, these licenses are renewed i'm
mediately whenever there is full COM
pliance with regulations. but there al
ways is q possibility the license will
not be renewed and thousands Of dol
lars worth Of equipment will have to
be discarded
This possibility became reality for
three stations last week, when the
commission ruled that two stations
in South Dakota and one in Brook
lyn, N. Y, must forfeit their licenses.
effective next Saturday. The COM
missions decision held that renewal
of their licenses would not be in the
public interest. The stations affected
were KWTN and KGDY in South Da-
kota and WMBG in Brooklyn. All
were charged with violation Of regu-
lations.
The commission also reiterated its
position against any person or cor
poration owning more than one broad
cast license in the same general area
when 1t denied an application request
ing authority for the transfer Of Sta
ton WREN to the Kansas City Star
Co.. which operates Station WDAF.
To meet the lack Of data necessary
to the proper direction of the indus
try, the Communications Commission
has before it several recommendations
for obtaining the information. These
include one calling for revision of
existing forms for license renewals to
secure better factual data with refer
ence to revenue, expenses and pro-.
grams Aonther seeks revision of ex-
isting station log forms to obtain bet
ter data on the character Of pro-
grams and their sponsorship. A third
calls for organization Of the commits
sion's staff to summarize this infor-
nation into readily usable form for
Interpretation as to social and eco
nomic trends.