Evening star., 1938-11-14
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

BY BLAIR BOLLES.
system of voluntary self-regula-
ton for Americas gigantic broad
casting industry was suggested to-
day by David Sarnoff. president of
the Radio Corp. OF America, at the
outset of hearings before the Fed
eral Communications Commission
on alleged monopolistic tendencies in
the industry.
The F. c. C has regulated broad
casting since 1884, when it replaced
the Radio Commission. which in
1927 had assumed control of the
ether waves and the business con-
nected with them.
MIR. Sarnoff, who also is chairman
OF the board of the National Broad
casting Co., owned by R. C. A., Of
fered self-regulation as the demo-
cratic solution for the problems of
the American system of broadcast
ing He urged the combination
OF the experience of the different
groups within the industry for the
production Of an industry code that
advances beyond all previous stand
ards with Legitimate censorship
by public opinion
Probe to Be Long One.
The inquiry, launched in the De.
partmental Auditorium on Consti-
tuition avenue this morning. prom
lses to be one of the longest and
most searching investigations ever
held in Washington. The National
Broadcasting Co.'S parade of wit
nesses alone is expected to last three
weeks. After that. the Columbia
Broadcasting Systems and the Mu-
tual networks representatives will
be heard before a host of other
witnesses.
The public inquiry may require
altogether more than three months,
and Chairman Frank McNinch Of
the F. c. c.. who also heads the
committee of the commission hear.
ing the investigation testimony,
promised today that the hearings
would be recessed from November
! % to November 20 for Thanksgiving
| and from December % to January
for the Christmas holidays The
hearings will be held on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fri
DAYS.
The F. C. C. is hopeful that it will
be able to prepare a report on its
findings for the coming Congress
Tor amendments TO the existing
Communications Act before ad-
journment. The investigation was
ARRANGED by Mr.. McNinch to offset
the demand for a congressional
probe Of radio, and the F c. C.
plans to search into all aspects OF
the industry.
Three Commissioners sitting.
Commissioners Eugene 0 Sykes
and Thad H. Brown sat with Chair
man McNinch at today's hearing
William j. Dempsey. jr,. is ccGnsel
for the commission at the hearing
In urging seif-regulation OF the
industry by code Mr.. Sarnoff. who
granted that the R. c. A. is engaged
IN every field Of radio-communica
tions, broadcastine. manufacturing
and research-said:
In writing this code the industry
should gather the views of broad
casters, OF groups representative of
pubic opinion and Of this commits
sion.
After the code is formulated the
pubic should be made thoroughly
familiar with it, All broadcastinp
networks and stations should be in
Vlted and encouraged 10 adopt II.
The code should be subject to
periodic review by the industry.
and kept up to date. II should be
administered by suitable agency
representative of the entire in
dustry.
Believes II American Answer.
Il make this recommendation in
the belief that such self-regulation
is the American answer to an
American problem.
In every consideration of radio
oroadcasting, the public interest we
are pledged to serve is that of the
entire Nation. This public interest
is reflected directly by the 27.0OO 900
receiving set owners who represent
an overwhelming majority of the
countrys homes.
by their control of the Nations
radio dials, they give approval or
dlsapproval to radio programs. and
decide the ultimate fate of the
broadcaster. Here we find legitimate
censorship by public opinion. 1t is
the democratic way in a democratic
country"
Mr.. Sarnoff reminded the F. c. C..
that the National Broadcasting Co.
and many stations have codes now,
and that the National Association of
Broadcasters adopted a code Of
ethics in 1885.
But the time has come for more
positive action" he said.
Radio Likened to Boy.
He urged that the radio be kept
free and that control of radio be
kept flexible, and added:
The situation is like that of a
growing boy and his breeches. The
breeches have got to have wide
seams so they can be let out when
they get tight. Otherwise something
is going to give way, and it seems to
be a law of nature that it won't be
that boy. He just keeps growing" ;"
Radio keeps on growing, too, Mr..
Sarnoff said, and even 18 years after
the first election broadcast. over
Station KDKA, Pittsburgh, the
industry is still pioneering, with tele-
vision bound to 90 farther in the
nIn iAA